Whether you are a city slicker or a country mouse, Europe’s treasures, vaunted cuisine, vibrant nightlife and shopping beckon – especially in the summer. After being holed up for more than 2 years, travellers are out again to look for the best luxury travel deals to visit cooler climes. Confused as to which country should feature first on your post-pandemic passport? Let us help you plan the perfect summer getaway for couples and families after vetting hundreds of great hotels, activities and places to eat. Here are our top recommendations:

Good ol’ London
Whether it’s your first time or umpteenth, London is a city that one can never get bored of. From history and culture to fine food and culture, there is so much to do that you could have never checked the boxes on all the things. Eye-opening antiquity apart, London also makes for a great base for places around. You can keep London as the base and explore Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bath, Cambridge, Newcastle, Oxford, Cardiff and Liverpool amongst others to get your fill of great architecture, food and natural surrounds.

Off the beaten track in Italy
If you are looking at the less-visited corners of Europe, plan Italy with us. Italy might be a favourite for food, wine, history, art, landscapes and people – but is still there to be savoured, and has all the more rewarding off the beaten tourist tracks to explore. We are putting our money on Le Marche. Beaches, rolling hills and medieval towns – what else could you ask for. The pearl of Le Marche is the walled Unesco-listed city of Urbino. This one is for both history lovers and those who just want to unwind. Southwest of Sicily, Lombardy and Grado are some of the other places that would feature if we were planning this for you.

French Alps
With stalwarts in its kitty, we feel that the rest of France is really underexplored. If you are looking to hit the slopes of the French Alps, consider the pristine turquoise waters of Lac d’Annecy, forested limestone ridges and escarpments and verdant oasis of green, cut by deep gorges and ravines. This is a nature lover’s dream. You can also explore the Col de Cayolle, one of the most beautiful and unspoiled mountain passes in France. The upper valley along the pass is both magnificent and relatively quiet, perfect for a summer holiday in Europe.

Amsterdam
It’s the canal woven core of Amsterdam that becomes the talking point of most Instagram posts, but Amsterdam has so much to offer more than that. Plan a luxury holiday with your family, exploring the treasure-packed museums, vintage shops and uber-creative drinking, dining and design scene of the city. This summer treat is full of unique experiences – a fun club and bar culture, a working tram that takes you around the city, architecturally interesting hoods like Zuid and of course the red-light district if that’s something you haven’t already done. Explore one of Europe’s most picturesque, liveliest cities.

There simply is no way to travel to Europe and not be awestruck by its stupendous natural beauty, epic historical gems and dazzling artistic and culinary diversity. Be back to Europe to beat the heat.

Write to us to plan the perfect summer holiday for you