What do you do by the poolside?
#36 A very honest review of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons + 2 questions to figure out the direction of this newsletter. And my motto of the year.
Bonjour !
This week, I attended a really good masterclass by Géraldine Dormoy, a French writer and author of
. She talked about finding the why, identifying which value you bring to your readers, being authentic and having a unique tone.And that made me think of two questions I’d like to ask you:
1. Which value do you get from this newsletter?
You may have noticed that over the past few months, I opened up a bit more about some personal questions (such as ‘how do you evolve in your career’ after a long term in corporate life) because am keen to benefit from the collective insights and experience of all of you. I also think “well if I’m in this conendrum, surely others are too and it could help them”.
Is that of value to you? Do you skip that section all together just to jump straight to the list of new hotels - which is perfectly understandable of course!
2. What comes to mind when you hear ‘poolside’?
I know, you’re like ‘uh, what’s the link here’? It’s all about the tone and the content of the newsletter. Géraldine says that the name of the newsletter already sets the tone.
So that made me think “what comes to mind when you hear ‘poolside’?”
For me, it means relaxation, reading, time with my family but also time for reflection and introspection.
What are the words that come to your mind when you think “poolside” and also what do you DO by the poolside?
It would be fab if you could answer both or either of those questions in the comments or, if you want to stay anonymous via this form !
My motto for the year
Last year, my word was “listening”. To be honest, most of the times, I forget my word of the year half-way through it but at least I start with good intentions!
In 2023, I choose “Just Do It”. I could also have said “courage”. The idea is to stop dwelling or reflecting too much on something and just jump!
I started this week when someone approached me to be a guest on a podcast. I immediately thought “oh no, I’m not enough of an expert” but then stopped myself and answered the podcaster asking to learn more. We will have a call to discuss if it’s a good fit this coming week. I’ll report back here !
To ensure I won’t forget my mantra, I set up a reminder in my calendar every month. Let’s see if I’ll be more successful this year.
If you set yourself a motto or a word or a direction for the year, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
You are probably impatient to now read about hotels so I’ll stop there. This week, I added a bit more info on new openings for those who are kindly supporting this newsletter.
Have a good week.
On the blog
Belmond Le Manoir updated review
My very honest review with 3 recommendations on how to best enjoy the hotel without paying over the odds. Read the review
5 Extra finds
Hotels with or without pool not on the blog
Beach Villa no. 26 - Buqez, Croatia
From 250 Euros - Check latest prices & availability
Beach Villa no. 26 is situated in the Buqez Resort on the Adriatic coast. It is a group of 48 Eco Tiny Houses made of wood sitting right on the beach in the south of Biograd. Because there are other houses, you are not totally living the Robinson Crusoe life but certainly stepping right onto the sand when you wake up is appealing. There are 2 bedrooms, a spacious terrace and a private daybed on the beach.
Cycladic Oia Cave House, Greece
From 300 Euros per night - Check latest prices & availability
Here is a way to enjoy one of the whitewashed homes towering along the cliffs of Santorini without having to pay for a luxury hotel rate. Perched on the cliffs of the caldera, this home is part of a complex of traditional cave houses, renovated by local craftsmen. Arched doorways, organic steps and a cocoon cave bedroom all add to its charm. It even has a small plunge pool and of course the magnificient view.
Warszauer Hotel, Poland
From £116 per night - Check latest prices & availability
In Krakow, Poland, Warszauer is a small boutique hotel offering 10 rooms and apartments, ranging between 15 and 40 square metres, some with private balconies or terraces. Each room is different and unique in terms of design. Free coffee and fresh baked cakes available for guests all day.
Villa Fluggi, Italy
From 700 Euros per night, 3 nights minimum - Check latest prices & availability
Villa Fluggi is a legacy of the 1960s in Obermais, which is the most beautiful part of Merano in South Tyrol. A villa rental, it is owned and connected to the Miramonti hotel, therefore you can access their services. The design is very bright and has many classic design pieces such as the Thonet chairs in the dining room, and mid-century design gems throughout the villa.
La Pescaia Resort, Italy
From £486 per night, minimum 2 nights - Check latest prices & availability
La Pescaia Resort is a piece of authentic rural patrician history brought together by a careful restoration. With only 14 rooms and 2 apartments, with elegant "family" interiors, a spectacular swimming pool created from the ancient "pescaia" pools and its well-kept gardens on which the centuries-old cedar stands out in the middle of the farmyard courtyard, the Resort offers an atmosphere that is always private and relaxed, suspended in time and farthest from daily pressure. A "home" restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, offers local recipes and dishes prepared with organic vegetables from the garden and products of the highest quality, served "al fresco" under the pergola of the large terrace or in the halls of the villa.
New hotels openings
The latest openings you can now book and news about rejuvenated properties.