Now we’re cooking — likely on the flame-licked grill of a barbecue — as July brings full-on summer into play: radiant days, sultry eves and kick-the-covers-off nights. While the make-the-most-of-it weather lasts, give your passport a good airing, hopping over to a heavenly Tuscan hamlet turned hotel, Austria’s verdant Alpine slopes or a Malibu retreat that’s all about sand and surf. Read on to see which stays the Smith team have the hots for this July.
Tayko Sevilla
Spain
I like architecture with a superiority complex — statuesque buildings in full regalia that just know they’re important. Seville’s streets resound with swagger, from the soaring ogee arches of Real Alcázar to the look-at-meee pointiness of the Torre del Oro. In the Puerta de Jerez neighbourhood, not far from the aforementioned landmarks, Tayko Sevilla hotel feels like one of the gang, with its early-20th-century, Regionalist shell, built by noted local architect José Gómez Millán. Fittingly part of La Casa de la Moneda (the House of the Money) complex, it looks and feels expensive, thanks to design collaborations with many of the city’s artisans. But the attention is lavished on guests: whether staff ferry you around in a luxury car, organising in-room massages, or serving cañas to your perch by the rooftop plunge pool.
Don’t miss The Plaza de España caters to a wide range of music lovers in July, when it acts as a stage for US hip-hoppers Cypress Hill, legendary rockers Megadeth and French electronica icon Jean-Michel Jarre.
Kate Weir, Deputy Editor
Outbuildings
Dorset, UK
Although I never thought I’d find myself comparing west Dorset to seafood and steak, this pocket of south-west England has a surf-and-turf appeal that is undeniable. At its heart, Bridport is both a farm-fringed market town and a nautical contender for its Broadchurch-famed coastline. This enticing double bill is the reason I was so pleased to welcome Outbuildings (on Bridport’s borders) into the Mr & Mrs Smith collection. On their family farm, Ed and Dominic have updated some standalone buildings and introduced new ones — each deftly kitted out with handcrafted interiors that draw heavily on Dorset talent. But it’s the curated experiences that steal the show, from movie nights to woodland hot-tub soaks, to orchard-set picnics. And what better time of year to enjoy them than the long, hopefully sun-warmed, days of July — before the full tide of school-holiday bustle washes ashore.
Don’t miss Bridport Folk Festival from 25 to 27 July brings a friendly bustle to the streets and a weekend of music and dance to three main stages around the town.
Queenie Blackburn, Hotel and Villa Curator
Cielo Samui Boutique Hotel & Spa
Thailand
July is a surprisingly good time to visit Thailand, but not everyone knows this — which means far fewer people than can usually be seen during its winter-sun prime. Of course, the third season of hit show The White Lotus recently brought Koh Samui to the fore and Cielo is as fine a resort as any fictional one, with jungle-framed walkways, a pool above the beach and a palm-lined coastline to paddle-board or kayak along. In case the hotel’s peaceful beige palette hasn’t made you serene enough, there’s a spa and yoga studio to help you reach enlightenment.
Don’t miss Thailand may not spring to mind when thinking of the school summer holidays, but it’s quieter in July — when it’s dry season and Koh Samui’s beaches are at their best — so it’s a great option if you’re thinking of taking the kids long-haul. The 10th is the big Buddhist holiday of Asahna Bucha, where the temples host ceremonies and there are candlelit processions; and the 28th is the King’s birthday.
Charlotte Heyman, Regional Manager, APAC Partnerships
Amyth of Nicosia
Cyprus
Within the Venetian walls of Nicosia, time moves at the pace of a Mediterranean fishing village. This is no criticism; quite the opposite, in fact. Its mix of cultures and rag-tag architectural styles are worn like a vintage shirt, rather than a hand-me-down. Amyth of Nicosia, a tasteful townhouse on a quiet corner of the Old City, exudes the same mellow dignity. There are warm materials here, some Cypriot touches, a mythology-inspired cocktail menu; but nothing kitsch or overdone. Breakfast in its courtyard was the simplest of pleasures — calm, not staged. This is a lifestyle that other more hurried metropolises might do well to take note of.
Don’t miss The hotel offers historian-led tours of the city’s 19th-century mansions, Byzantine churches, Ottoman bathhouses and contemporary galleries, with opportunities to explore the surrounding area, too. For theatre buffs, the International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama runs from 9 July to 2 August, taking place at many of the city’s open-air amphitheatres.
Martin Dickie, UX & Production Editor
Refugium Lunz
Austria
As a child I spent several happy holidays in the Austrian Alps, flying down trails on a mountain bike and cannonballing into lakes flanked by mountains. After years of flying under the radar, I’m glad to see these offbeat destinations finally getting their time in the sun. A lot of that is down to stays like Refugium Lunz, a stylish retreat in the lakeside village of Lunz am See, in Austria’s Ybbstal Alps. The building has been treated to an award-winning refurbishment by a duo of Vienna-based architects, who’ve paired heritage materials with modern, minimalist touches. It still feels like a well-loved home, though, with a parlour that dates back to the 16th century and an open kitchen that you can wander in and out of as you please, helping yourself to just-baked cakes or a glass of Riesling. But be warned: the placid pace of the lakeside locale is infectious, and once you begin exploring the wildflower meadows and pine forests, you may find you want to keep extending your stay — rather like the Davos-residing protagonist of Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain.
Don’t miss The Wellenklaenge festival is the highlight of Lunz’s summer social calendar, running from 11 to 26 July this year. Its music events run the gamut from classical to electronic, and there are often readings, workshops and other performances during the day. The main stage is atop a floating platform on the lake and many of the headline acts begin around sundown, adding to the atmosphere.
Hamish Roy, Senior Associate Editor
La Monastica Resort & Spa
Italy
While the heel of the boot sizzles come July, Tuscany’s hilltop towns and villages remain pleasantly mild in comparison, a welcome relief for freckle-skinned Italophiles like me who prefer their summertime serving of dolce vita without an every-hour SPF re-application. The mediaeval village of Buggiano Castello is one such haven — an under-the-radar spot surrounded by olive groves and ancient cypresses with views across the Valdinievole valley – a landscape which you can observe from every angle at La Monastica Resort & Spa, which houses no less than nine terraces. Originally a 16th-century monastery, the resort has retained its serene, sacred appeal, with a spa built on ancient ley lines (if you’re into that kinda thing) and a chapel turned showpiece restaurant. Here, chefs tend to an organic kitchen garden that thrives thanks to the region’s unique positioning amid nearby marshes, breezy coast, and sheltering hills. Get me to the nunnery, stat.
Don’t miss Back in its eighth edition, Sgranar per Colli returns to Buggiano on 6 July for a special sunset edition, starting at 5pm. This annual 10 kilometre walk winds through the area’s charming towns and landscapes. Along the way, hikers can taste local dishes and wines, and enjoy live performances by local musicians.
Stephanie Gavan, Associate Editor
Keep some space in your calendar for our new arrivals