Caroline Feiffer is a storyteller by heart, telling stories through her pen and lens, as a freelance travel and design editor, and as a strategian for hospitality and lifestyle brands, with an inherent interest and passion for authenticity, setting, aesthetics and details, stemming from a professional background in PR and holistic branding in the field of luxury lifestyle.
In this PRC Stories feature, Caroline guides us through her favourite holiday destinations and best travel tips.
As a travel and design editor, which places do you recommend travelling to this summer?
The past few years I have really been fond of spending some summertime in the Alps before heading to a favourite summer destination, Italy. I really can’t recommend heading to the Alps enough, it’s truly special off-snow season too. With climate changes, our fast-paced society and if living in a city, there’s nothing more rejuvenating than mountain air and nature. The hospitality scene is sublime with so many wonderful places to stay, with or without kids. Nature is embracing almost everywhere, with views of serene valleys and the dramatic Dolomites, plus endearing mountain villages. Alto Adige in South Tyrol is an overlooked Italian region, where the food is a perfect combination of crisp climate produce (the greens are so intense in flavor, and the dairy products are out of this world), paired with Italian traditions.
There’s this old family owned pensione in Merano, which I’d keep secret, but also want everyone to experience, then there’s this family-owned spa heaven just above Bolzano overlooking the “green riviera”. Just below in Bolzano is Parkhotel Mondschein (owned by brothers and part of a small group of incredible chic hotels, including the spa haven Schwarzschmied). This old castle hunting lodge is a rejuvenating relais and chateau (also family owned) high above Merano, speaking of heights this mountain resort is well worth the lift up to stay. Without kids I would surely head to Eriro,Forestis and Villa Arnica. If a larger family or group of friends travelling together, I would rent this chalet in a heartbeat. Many hotels have half board due to their unique (read: effort to visit) locations, the food is incredible and everything you would want to eat after days of exploring or unwinding by the pool or a lake in this landscape. Read my South Tyrol guide on Via Oltra for more. I would combine South Tyrol with a trip to Liguria to get a bit of that magical Italian sea vibe, or a lake stay at Lago di Como or Lago D’Orta for some freshwater swims.
When planning a trip, what do you recommend looking for?
To me, a trip always starts with curiosity triggered from something, perhaps a movie, a book, someone I met, a culture, architecture and very often a certain property. Then I’d imagine days in a specific place, what would we do, would we feel charged, inspired and educated.
If you’re a family there should be something for all, that said I believe parents should lean back a little and rest assured that kids are just as curious travellers as grownups fairly easy to impress with no need of an amusement park to concur that, a high mountain climb with some snow in the middle of summer can be just as surprising and memorable. I have a few things that are important to me, food being one of them, nature, history and architecture, why I like a trip to succeed in including a good portion of these elements.
Tips to make life easier when planning a trip?
Draft a scenario plan, what are you picturing for this trip, plan with some room to change, lean back and enjoy the ride. My best advice is to push yourself out of your comfort zone, accomplishing new travel methods and destinations is such a reward and accepting some “turbulence” beforehand will make the trip smoother.
Tools when planning a trip?
As with most things in life, doing research comes in handy, read books, follow your favourite travellers on Instagram or Substack and save collections of places in your notes or wherever feels natural to you. I gather info from tons of different sources, be it old books, tales from parents, movies, inspiring people with similar fascinations in lifestyle, interior, architecture and digital platforms (it’s a habit of work). I save these in destination notes, and whenever travelling somewhere, I plot them in my Apple Maps for easier navigation upon arrival. My husband has a hobby that comes in very handy when travelling. He somehow always tends to know what’s happening on the food and wine scene of a destination.
Where did you travel to recently?
I just got back from a mixed business and pleasure trip to one of my favourite cities, Florence. I travelled with my 6 years old daughter. It was her second time visiting Florence, and it was so funny to see how she remembered some of the places and things we did when she was 4 years old, proving that kids are curious travellers as well.
I absolutely love Florence despite its petite size and many visitors, it’s incredibly elegant, historic and modern at the same time, and its beauty is without comparison. I would always try to visit in spring or early fall, and wouldn’t go without a walk by the Arno River, in the Boboli Garden, a dinner or lunch at Trattoria Cammillo, Sostanza and Alla Vecchia Bettola.
Top 3 destinations, including hotels?
Imagining this is how it would be to choose between your kids… Yikes, I hate to choose. I believe everyone is doing such a fantastic job, so much good out there, why I love to share in publications. I have profound memories of both Campania, the land and the islands, in Ravello at either Belmond Caruso or Palazzo Avino, on Capri, Capri Palace. Basilicata (from the sand coloured cave city of Matera and the family Coppola's hideaway villa) and Liguria’s poetic coast and mountains, with Monterosso al Mare being our family favourite. In Greece, from Symi and the many beaches you sail to, in Bodrum, the hidden Macakizi for its bohemian feel. Also for its bohemian feel Terenka on the Balearic island of Formentera. The Caribbean private island Pine Cay, with the relais and chateau of the same name will always have a special place, as will California where we lived for a period, I love the dramatic scenery at Big Sur and Carmel, the hilly landscape of Sonoma and Napa, not to leave out the wild north around Mendocino, and the sandy shores south with Laguna and further down San Diego’s gorgeous coastline with Encinitas, Solana, Del Mar and La Jolla. Common for almost all is incredible nature, with mountains and or the sea or history and architecture.
"I am always in a full cashmere suit on airplanes, as I tend to be cold (and it's comfortable)"
Favourite things you always bring with you for a successful holiday?
I always pack a minimum of one sweater during summer and plenty more in coulder seasons, including shortsleeved ones to wear under a longsleeved cashmere sweater. I am always in a full cashmere suit on airplanes, as I tend to be cold (and it’s comfortable). I love PRC pieces as they’re sophisticated and fitted, while comfortable.
During spring, my favourite pieces are the shortsleeved pullovers as they keep me warm while looking “springy” with some much needed kisses of sun on bare arms, these double as summer evening tops on cooler summer nights as do the short skirts paired with a crisp shirt for a cosy and elegant look. If meandering to the mountains, as I would highly recommend, I’d pack a few elegant and cosy sweaters for the evenings.
….You opened Pandora's box, I could go on and on about all things travel which I am doing over at my Substack Via Oltra, including destination ideas, reviews and packing tips. Hope to see you there!
Content by: @carolinefeiffer