My Life In Travel: Charlotte Bland

The last holiday I took was to Croatia, where I spent a week with friends. We spent our time on a boat, sailing along the Dalmatian coast from Split to Dubrovnik. Drinking coffee on deck at dawn departures from tiny ports, swimming in the clear water, and mooring in little villages to find tiny harbourside markets full of hyper local produce was very special. I came back with a bag full of figs and olive oil. 

My favourite country to travel to is France – a place I fell in love with on a school trip and have gone back to as often as possible ever since. There isn’t a part of France I’ve visited that I haven’t loved – the food, cities, landscapes and coastlines are endlessly inspiring. I particularly love the beaches in the southwest, especially Collioure, a charming seaside town with calm waters and a protected harbour perfect for blissful swims. There are little bars and restaurants right by the water, so you can order tapas and beer in your swimsuits. It’s on the Spanish border, so the food is a wonderful mix. 

I’ve also been on lots of road trips through France. Some to the west coast, some down to the Charente and others all the way south for sun and beaches. Driving from London to Collioure in the south is my favourite route, stopping overnight in Beaune for a night for an aperitif and dinner on a leafy square. I usually leave at dawn and check into Relais des Trois Mas, a waterside hotel, in time for sea swims and sundowners.

For a city break, I’ll always choose Paris or Florence. I love Paris for old favourites like Merci for wonderful homeware, E Dehillerin for kitchenware and Musée de l'Orangerie in the Tuileries Gardens for Monet’s waterlilies. I always find new discoveries and the Eurostar couldn’t make it easier. I’m getting to know Florence more slowly and love it in the shoulder seasons when the heat subsides and it’s easy to wander around the ancient streets, visiting all the artisan workshops and seeing the art without the summer crowds. 

When I was growing up, my family went to Burgau on holidays. It’s a tiny fishing village at the very western end of the Algarve, which is unspoiled and friendly with a lovely, safe beach. My sister and I made local friends and spent all our time in the sea, only getting out for lunch at the fantastic beach bar. I can still remember how good a burger and 7UP tasted there after a swim. 

Now, family holidays are usually spent in Tenuta di Murlo in Umbria. I go with a big group of friends and family, and we stay in a secluded, converted farmhouse set within a private estate. It’s so tucked away that we often don’t see another person, just rolling, emerald-green hills. We enjoy sunrise swims, barbecue dinners, and pizza at Il Caldaro, the estate’s excellent restaurant.