What's in your newsletter bag? and a summer destination tease

Why I like to read a diverse range of newsletter plus a few small boutique hotels in Paris, the UK and Belgium #48

I am not a writer - as you probably noticed - but I do like those moments every week where I sit at my keyboard and try to add a little intro to my list of hotels or B&Bs.

Sometimes I’m inspired, sometimes not. I always hope that my ramblings resonate with some of you, and at least that will have been worth my sharing my thoughts. And if they don’t, then you can always skip to the “extra finds” and start exploring places, can’t you 😉

I am good at curating: identifying the best sources, researching them, looking carefully at each hotel or villa, deciding that yes, they are “from the poolside” approved. I enjoy offering you that selection and creating tools - a map (you need to be a paid subscriber to accesss it), an app, soon an online directory.

But writing, not so much. And I didn’t make things easy for myself by choosing to write in English rather than in French.

Which is why I am admirative of those who seem to effortlessly put pen to paper in their newsletter. I list Nathalie as an example below and will regularly highlight others that I enjoy.

My “newsletter bag” is half full of those individual writers - often ladies like me rather than well known authors - and half full of more geeky newsletters - about AI or Productivity or Online business. And of course a few about hotels.

I do like opening my bag every day - which for me is the Substack inbox rather than my email - and deciding whose world I’m going to immerse myself in for a few minutes.

What’s in your newsletter bag? Do reply or list them in the comments so that we can each get more ideas.

Oh and in travel related news, we finally decided what to do this summer. We are going back to Cap Ferret. I’ll tell you more in next week’s newsletter.

Trying to adopt an “influencer” pose in Cap Ferret 😀

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Jolies Choses

Those red Carel shoes - a modern version of Dorothy’s red dancing shoes!

A fun way to find your next book - pick one just based on how the first sentence attracted you and reveal who is the author and the book after.

East London Cloth - a beautiful maker of those linen short curtains that you can have on windows like in old fashioned shops or small French houses.

From Baiona with Love - a newsletter in French by a self-published author. I like her easy friendly and fun style. She wrote a few novels and will have one coming out soon.

Extra finds

L' Officine, Belgium

From 185 euros - Check latest prices and availability

A guesthouse situated in the coach house of an early 19th century Manor in the region of “Hesbaye” in Belgium. The 70m2 building has been restored with simplicity and authenticity in mind and now houses a living area with a small kitchen with a dining table, a lounge area with fireplace and a separate bedroom with king size bed on the split level. The house is dressed with high quality linens, handmade ceramics and mix of vintage and Belgian design.

The Reading Rooms, Margate

From £380 for 2 nights minimum - Check latest prices and availability

The Reading Rooms is a luxury boutique bed and breakfast in a restored, Grade II Listed Georgian town-house in Margate, England. Built in the 1770s, the house has two spacious guest-rooms, each covering an entire floor, with windows overlooking the tree-lined Georgian square. Situated in Hawley Square, The Reading Rooms is less than five minutes walk to the beach, the historic Old Town, vintage shops and Turner Contemporary.

Maison Proust, Paris

From 500 euros – Check latest prices and availability

Maison Proust in the Marais district, opposite the Carreau du Temple is a 5-star hotel paying homage to the literature salons of the 20s. Distributed over 6 floors, the private house has 23 rooms and suites ranging from 20 to 100 m². The library, installed under a rotunda taking up the style of a vestibule of the Opéra Garnier painted with gold leaf, was thought of as Marcel Proust's ideal library and consists exclusively of works prior to 1922. On the ground floor, the spa hosts a 10-meter lap pool. The price of the night includes private access for 1 hour to the wellness area, which is an extension of the rooms.

Hotel Rosalie, Paris

From 149 Euros – Check latest prices and availability

This recently renovated Paris hotel has the additional benefit of a rooftop terrace with flowers. 60 elegant and floral rooms decorated by the architect Marion Mailaender and a garden where brunch is served every day from 7am to 3pm. No pool.

The Eastbury, Dorset

From £235 – Check latest prices and availability

The Eastbury was originally designed as an 18th-century “gentleman’s residence”, and now houses 27 individually styled bedrooms. The walled garden is also the location for the hotel’s spa, with an outdoor hot tub as well as two treatment rooms. On Friday and Saturday nights there is live music in the restaurant. No pool.