Journal

Why we keep a journal

Written for the questions guests ask

We keep this journal for the questions our guests ask most often, and for the things we notice when we return to a place. When is the light kindest in Kyoto? Which Caribbean island suits a family over Christmas, and which suits two people who want to disappear? How early should a harvest week in Tuscany be held, and what does a first safari really ask of you? The answers rarely fit in a brochure, so we write them down here, for anyone beginning to think about a journey and for the guests who already know us and want to know what has changed.

How we write

Every house we name is one we would be glad to send you to, and we would rather leave a list short than pad it to look complete. Where a season, a reopening or a calendar matters, we say so plainly and suggest you confirm it with us for your dates. Each story links to the stays and destinations it mentions, so you can read further or begin a plan from the page.

If a story sets you thinking, begin with Plan My Trip, or browse our destinations and collections first.

What you will find

• Seasonal notesThe weeks that fill first, the months when a place is at its most generous, and the quieter shoulder seasons we often prefer. Our winter notes cover ski houses from the Dolomites to Jackson Hole; our festive notes cover the Caribbean islands we return to each December.
• Places, read closelyLonger pieces on a single destination or a way of traveling: private islands that still behave like islands, safari camps in East and Southern Africa, and wine country at harvest.
• Getting there, gentlyHow the journey between places is best made: the seaplane after a ferry from Singapore, the small-aircraft hop between islands, the train from Tokyo to Kyoto, the drive over a mountain pass, and where a rest day belongs when the flights are long.
• The houses themselvesWhat a particular villa, lodge or palazzo is like to live in for a week: the rooms that catch the morning, the walk to the water, the table worth holding, and who it suits best.