be my guest... issue 70
Where to go next: 6 under-the-radar late summer destinations to know (and book!) before everyone else does.
Summer in Zurich always turns me into a weird person. Everyone says it, and I don’t disagree. I don’t particularly love hanging out by the lake. I don’t buy the season pass for the Badi. I don’t love the heat, the sweaty skin, the sunscreen, or sitting skin-on-skin with people I don’t know. When everyone becomes more social, I become anti. Don’t you dare ask me to go swimming with you on a Saturday.
And yet, my tan can easily compete with everyone else’s. Why? Because the second I step on foreign ground, I’m the one lying in the blazing sun for hours on end. I’ll jump out of bed at sunrise. I’m so full of energy, no one knows where I get it from. I don’t mind the heat, and I replace the word sweat with glow. I’m pretty fun to be around—just take me far away from home.
When it comes to my private trips, I, too, like to go against the grain. I prefer raw and wild to polished and fancy, secluded bays to buzzy beach clubs, and I will always choose a local taverna over an influencer-approved restaurant (people dancing on chairs give me the ick). In fact, few things satisfy me more than discovering places that still fly a bit under the radar. And judging by your responses to my recent trip to Greece, I have a feeling you and I are made of the same stuff.
On that note, here’s a list of destinations I’m currently eyeing for my next getaway. They are mostly off the beaten track, some up north, others down south. They come with history and stories, generous hospitality, delicious food, and unique landscapes. I also did my best to suggest spots which are reasonably priced, and still fabulously great in the late summer.
Which feeds perfectly into the second quintessential thing you need to know about me: I never commit to a trip more than a month in advance (sorry, friends).
In that sense: Enjoy, and don’t forget to send postcards!
x Charlotte
Hotel Le Provençal, Hyères
I keep stumbling across this seaside hotel in the South of France. Nestled on the edge of the Giens Peninsula just off Hyères, Le Provençal is a true gem, with a natural pool that looks straight out of a Slim Aarons postcard. Founded in the 1950s by Marius Michel—a celebrated Parisian chef who returned home to craft his Riviera dream—I love that it’s still family-run today, attracting a crowd that moves between creative and culinary disciplines. The recent makeover by interior architect Rodolphe Parente only adds to the charm.
Where: Giens Peninsula, Hyères, France. The nearest airports are Toulon or Marseille.
Facts: 37 rooms, 4 suites. An additional 23 apartments at The Residence, 400m from the main house. 5 restaurants/bars.
Go for: A seaside escape à la Slim Aarons. The natural pool, secret coves, and hidden beaches. The food (Parisian chefs approve). Interior design by Rodolphe Parente.
Price point: Doubles from €225.