The Insider’s Guide To Crowd-Free Summer Holidays

‘Off the tourist tracks, but with the luxurious touches of a stylish boutique stay,’ is how travel journalist Rosalyn Wikeley describes her ideal holiday. She adds: ‘It’s the best way to scratch behind all the clichés and really peer into the soul of a place.’ Aimee Hodgkin of Mr & Mrs Smith echoes this view, revealing a ‘curated but curious’ approach to travelling and a preference for escapes that have ‘charm, character, and a strong sense of place.’ For Tanya Burr – whose 4.2 million Instagram followers eagerly tune in for her latest travel tips – it’s the art, jewellery, and homeware from local markets that she most looks forward to when exploring a new place. ‘I love having little pieces in my home that remind me of our trips and the memories we’ve made,’ she explains. Similarly, fellow souvenir collector and luxury travel expert Jules Perowne’s Norfolk home is a shrine to her globetrotting lifestyle: ‘I have beautiful hand-carved bowls from Botswana; a painting from the Bahamas; and textiles, blankets, cashmere socks, and ceramics from Scotland,’ she says.

From sustainable travel tips to the hole-in-the-wall restaurant to book, we ask a selected group of insiders – who always seem to be holidaying in the most fabulous destinations – to share their secrets for crafting the perfect summer itinerary away from the crowds.

The Expert’s Guide To Crowd Free Summer Holidays

Gleneagles

Jules Perowne: Scotland

Jules Perowne (@JulesPerowne) is the Founder and CEO of global communications, sales and marketing consultancy Perowne International.

Favourite under-the-radar destination? Scotland. I crave space, nature, and being around good people. 

Hotel you’re checking into? Gleneagles with my family for a touch of Highland glamour and a stay at one of the charming cottages. For a more remote and wild moment, Aldourie Castle on Loch Ness. gleneagles.com; aldourie.scot

Restaurant we should book a table at? The Strathearn at Gleneagles for a grown-up night out, or the Dores Inn on the loch for a very casual early supper.

Tips for travelling more sustainably? Take the train wherever possible. I recently took the train from Inverness and it was a wonderful, relaxing journey through the Scottish countryside and then down the East coast of England. 

Where do you go for crowd-free recommendations? Yolo Journal (@YOLOJournal) has superb industry intel. Then there’s Valentina de Santis, Emily Fitzroy, Jules Maury, Gina Jackson. For London restaurant intel, I follow Paula Fitzherbert and Adam Hyman.

Top of your bucket list? I’m plotting a trip to Singita Grumeti in Tanzania. I also want to go to South America – particularly the Awasi properties in the Atacama, Patagonia and Mendoza. Closer to home, my eyes are on Malta. We have a very special hotel opening in Attard in the Spring called Casa Bonavita. singita.com; awasi.com

Rosalyn Wikeley: Scicli

Rosalyn Wikeley (@RosalynWikeley) is a travel journalist with work published in world leading titles and a Substack brimming with insider tips.

Favourite under-the-radar destination? Scicli – the lesser-known of the southeast Baroque towns in Sicily. It’s a handsome, crumbling labyrinth of 18th century architectural splendour. Locals play chess on the street, shaded by elaborate wrought iron balconies; cafés are very much anchored in the community, and bejewelled palazzi interiors whisk you back to an era of lavish aristocratic balls. It’s also a five-minute drive to Sampieri beach. 

Hotel you’re checking into? Tenuta Delle Cava, a tastefully respun 18th-century masseria on The Thinking Traveller’s books. If actually dropping your bags in Scicli, I always recommend Sanbartolomeo Casa e Putia – a charming guesthouse with balconies over its namesake church and a craggy, limestone backdrop. thethinkingtraveller.com; sanbartolomeocasaeputia.it

Restaurant we should book a table at? My Name is Tannino, a  wine bar with a terrace hanging over the canal with tasty small plates for lunch. For dinner, go to candlelit Ùmmara for traditional Sicilian recipes and al fresco dining on the cobblestones.

Tips for travelling more sustainably? Hop on the Eurostar. Then from Paris you can shoot down to the French coast in hours, or even the Alps, which make for a heavenly spot for summer back-to-nature hikes and surreal-blue lake swimming. 

Where do you go for crowd-free recommendations? I love following Gina Jackson for foodie tips and I like Lucy Williams’ vibe when boutique hotel hopping.

Top of your bucket list? Norway to retrace my husband’s family history on the Swedish-Norwegian border, as well as some Arctic skiing with views of the sea, and a sauna to wiggle home for.

Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel (© Ana Lui)

Tanya Burr: North Ibiza

Tanya Burr (@TanyaBurr) is a digital creative, actor, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, and passionate traveller. 

Favourite under-the-radar destination? It’s definitely not under the radar, but at the moment it has to be the north of Ibiza – it’s much quieter than the rest of the island and full of little hidden gems. The beaches are stunning and there are so many amazing spots to eat. It’s got this beautiful, bohemian energy, but it’s also super easy – something we’re fans of now that we have a little one – and familiar.

Hotel you’re checking into? I love Atzaro; it’s just dreamy, but I would love to stay at Six Senses next. sixsenses.com

Restaurant we should book a table at? I love the gorgeous garden at La Paloma. Or for pasta, Macao Café – it’s in the heart of Santa Gertrudis and the whole place is illuminated by candles.

Tips for travelling more sustainably? Little things really add up, so I always travel with a reusable water bottle, tote bag, and try to avoid single-use plastics. I also make sure to pick the most eco-friendly hotels; the smaller, more boutique ones always feel more personal too.

Where do you go for crowd-free recommendations? Luckily, all my friends love to travel, so I am always saving their posts for destination inspiration.

Top of your bucket list? I would love to go to one of the more remote Greek islands, stay in a simple little Airbnb, and pretend we live there for a week – I’ve had my eye on a stunning one in Serifos, with whitewashed houses, quiet beaches, and that peaceful, slow-paced Greek island life.

Aimee Hodgkin: Corsica

Aimee Hodgkin (@AimeeHodgkin) is the Hotel Curation and Partnerships Director at global travel club Mr & Mrs Smith.

Favourite under-the-radar destination? I’m completely taken with Corsica – it’s one of those rare places that still feels truly undiscovered. There’s a wild, unspoilt, unhurried beauty to the island – mountains that plunge into turquoise coves, sleepy hilltop villages, and stretches of coastline where you might not see another soul all day. 

Hotel you’re checking into? Aethos is exactly the kind of retreat I gravitate towards – it feels like a well-kept secret, perched in the hills with sweeping views of the bay, and a real sense of soul and intention behind the experience. mrandmrssmith.com

Restaurant we should book a table at? If you’re venturing beyond Aethos, A Mandria di Pigna is a charming auberge renowned for its sunset views and authentic Corsican home cooking – think hearty brocciu cannelloni and richly-flavoured meats grilled with herbes de maquis.

Tips for travelling more sustainably? I always encourage people to travel deeper, not faster. Choose one destination and really immerse yourself: get to know local producers, take the train if you can, and seek out independently-owned hotels that give back to their communities. And never underestimate the beauty of off-season travel.

Where do you go for crowd-free recommendations? Sophie Ashby has such a beautifully considered eye and Lucy Williams brings that perfect blend of laidback elegance and genuine discovery. Kirthanaa Naidu always introduces me to places through the lens of food and community in a way that feels fresh and grounded. 

Top of your bucket list? A Wilderness safari in Botswana or Namibia is right at the top of my list at the moment. There’s something profoundly humbling about being in landscapes that feel untouched and vast. wildernessdestinations.com