When your commute becomes your sanctuary + 5 hotels where spring comes alive
This week, I'm trading cramped underground journeys for peaceful park walks through London. Plus, I'm sharing five pretty hotels where nature puts on its best spring show... #102
Our office has moved locations, and it's completely transformed my daily commute. Instead of cramming onto packed tubes at 6 am (I'm a bit claustrophobic, so that was never fun), I now have several lovely options to get to work.
This morning, I walked the whole way - it took about 1 hour and 15 minutes, but with the sun shining and a route through both Clapham Common and Battersea Park, it was actually enjoyable. I listened to podcasts, heard birds singing, and had time with my thoughts. Such a different way to start the day compared to my old underground journey.
I can also run it (45 minutes through Battersea Park, about 7km) or grab one of those Lime bikes if I'm in a hurry. The new office itself is bigger and brighter, which seems to be drawing more people in. It's only week one, but there's already a different energy - more space for creativity and catching up with colleagues. It almost feels like starting at a new company.
This has made me realize how much location matters for motivation. Not only am I getting closer to my daily 10,000 steps, but I'm arriving at work feeling energized. It's amazing what a difference a few miles can make.
The other change that brings me joy is summer time. I love those longer evenings, leaving the office knowing that there’s still plenty of day light. It means that I can also enjoy that scenic route home after a day in the office, stopping in the park, sitting down on the grass and just appreciating nature and life.
It’s also what travel brings us, doesn’t it? A change of scenery, even a small one, can shift your whole perspective. My morning and evening walk might not be quite the same as strolling through Paris (we’re going there next week!) or hiking in Mallorca, or taking the ferry to Greek islands, but it gives me that same sense of discovery and peace.
Hope you are similarly joyful those days, despite some of the gloomy news in the world. We have to take every little bit of peace and happiness we can find wherever and whenever possible.
5 Extra finds - spring in the air
For another change this week 😉 I decided to query my hotels database (using AI) for a suggestion of hotels based on a specific mood. Hope you like it.
Parco dei Sesi, Pantelleria, Italy
From 250€ - Check latest prices and availability
The setting alone makes this place special - perched 200 meters from the sea with views stretching all the way to Africa. What works for spring is how seamlessly the property blends with its surroundings. The archaeological park gives it this timeless feel, and when everything starts blooming, it's quite magical. The exteriors are thoughtfully designed but not overdone. It's the kind of place where you can really feel the season changing - especially at sunset when the light hits the water. Perfect for those first warm evenings when you can finally dine outside.
Oasyhotel, Tuscany, Italy
From 672 € - Check latest prices and availability
This is what spring in nature should feel like. The sustainable wooden lodges sit within a nature reserve in the Pistoia Apennines, and each one has these enormous picture windows that bring the forest right into your room. The verandas are particularly lovely - ideal for morning coffee while watching the mist lift from the chestnut and beech trees. They offer guided walks and meditation by the lake, which is perfect for spring when everything's waking up. It's quite special to be able to swim in the lake too, though you might want to wait until later in the season for that!
White Exclusive Suites & Villas, Azores, Portugal
From 175 € - Check latest prices and availability
Nine suites and two villas, all with ocean views (except La Maison). What makes this work for spring is the location - the Azores has this incredibly lush landscape that comes alive in spring. The rooms all have kitchenettes, which I actually appreciate because sometimes you just want to prepare something simple and eat on your terrace while watching the sea. The design is clean and simple, letting those ocean views do the talking.
Glebe House, Devon, UK
From £139 - Check latest prices and availability
This is a new find that really gets the spring mood right. Five bedrooms on a 15-acre estate in Colyton, each with what they call "dreamy interiors" - and they are, but not in an overdone way. The real joy here is the setting. The views over the Coly Valley are lovely when everything's starting to green up, and they have a tennis court and pool (though maybe wait a bit for swimming!). The restaurant does proper Devonshire food, and you can really taste the seasons in their cooking. It's small enough to feel personal but with enough space to properly enjoy spring coming in.
La Tartane Saint-Tropez, France
From 750 € - Check latest prices and availability
The fruit garden here is the star - 86 citrus trees that perfume the air, especially in spring when they're blooming. It's not just about the scent though; the whole place has this fresh, vibrant feeling that works perfectly with the season. The design is elegant but not stuffy, letting that Mediterranean spring light do its work. You really feel like you're in someone's particularly lovely home rather than a hotel.
