Your girl made it out of Home Goods and made it to Europe. Bless! So this Summer, my husband and I yearned to do something EXTRA for our 18-year-old daughter Ava’s college sendoff. She’s leaving the proverbial nest this August (queue the situational depression) so when asked for her dream destination she easily fired off, “Ibiza!” I was reluctant as the island has a reputation for hedonistic partying, but there’s a surprisingly family friendly and crunchy-hippie-granola side to the Spanish isle. It’s more nuanced and complex so more on that epiphany later.
As always, I enlisted the help of Eddie Mena of Mena Travel in Miami, Florida to book all flights, airport transfers, hotels, tours and lunch/dinner reservations for a seamless experience and he can be reached at (786) 395-8887. Our final destinations? Three countries in 10 days — Rome, The Vatican, Sorrento, Ibiza and Madrid. I’m only including places I genuinely LOVED because ain’t nobody got time for crappy experiences — especially when abroad.
ROME
Where we stayed: Hotel de la Ville. Nestled at the top of the (exhausting AF) Spanish Steps, this property is so over-the-top luxe, we didn’t want to leave the room. Literally. A hop, skip and jump away from the chic shops on Via de Condotti and Trevi Fountain, I simply love this hotel’s central location. You can literally walk everywhere that’s poppin’. Be sure to order up the gnocchi at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant because they’re lifechanging. Swear!
What to see: Trevi Fountain, The Colosseum, Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica and The Pantheon. Soak in the glory that is the area’s rich history and “Eternal City” vibes. Peep a Sunday service from the Pope. Toss a coin in the Trevi or cosplay a gladiator. You do you, boo!
Where to shop: Via de Condotti. This infamous cobblestone street is home to Pucci, Loewe, Miu Miu, Prada, Max Mara, Golden Goose, Bottega Veneta, Hermès, Cartier, Bvlgari and more boutiques. The prices are slightly cheaper than the U.S. especially when you take into account that hefty VAT tax refund at the airport. It’s girl math, people!
Where to eat: Our favorite restaurants here were Dal Bolognese, Tullio’s, Hostaria Da Pietro and De Russie Hotel‘s courtyard for drinks and appetizers.
THE AMALFI COAST
Next, we rented a car and took the three-hour drive from Rome to Sorrento, but you can also take a shorter train to nearby Naples. The Amalfi Coast options feel much like Sophie’s Choice as there are so many options — namely Capri, Ischia, Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, Nerano, Praiano and Amalfi. We ultimately decided to make Sorrento basecamp due to its proximity to Naples and the aforementioned hotspots. Our plan was to pop in and out of each sun-drenched town brimming with gargantuan lemons, quaint churches, ceramic shops (give me all the heads!) and yummy cafes replete with excellent people watching.
Where we stayed: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento. Perched atop a cliff, this hotel boasts stellar ocean views and gorgeous rooms brimming with stunning antiques and marbles galore. Centrally located, it’s within walking distance to all the shops and restaurants. We LOVED eating on the property and where disappointed the few times we ate in town to be earnest. We especially enjoyed the roomy pool peppered with trees and sunset cocktails on the terrace. This hotel was a perfect 10 and hit all the marks.
Where we went: We day tripped via car to Positano (photographed above) and caught a sunset cruise via boat with a marina-based company called Nautica Sic Sic Sorrento. You can book private charters or take ferries to the neighboring islands of Capri (we did that last summer but it’s frankly too overcrowded for my taste) and Ischia.
Where we ate: Aside from our hotel, must-visit spots for grub are La Sponda & Bucca di Bacco (both in Positano). Other de rigueur eats are Lo Scolgio in Nerano, La Fontelina in Capri and Bellmond Hotel Caruso in Ravello. Celebrities love those spots! Just call me Deuxmoi.
IBIZA
We took a 2-hour plane from Naples to Ibiza. As mentioned earlier, I was leery of coming to this Balearic island best known for partying and, well, partying with two teenagers. But there’s an authentically FUN energy here and we felt completely safe (unlike Barcelona). The vibes here are high, happy and warm. Everyone’s just elated to be here. If I could bottle this feeling of utter elation I would. Also worth noting? The cooler weather in Ibiza was glorious compared to stifling hot and sweaty Italy.
Where we recommend to stay: Nobu Hotel or Six Senses. It just depends on your vibe!
Where we ate: Casa Maca, Nobu, Zuma and for the best Mexican food ever — Taco Paco
Best beach club: Jondal
Where to party: Hi Ibiza, Unvrs, Pacha and Ushuaïa Ibiza. Each club offer IT DJs each night of the week such as Calvin Harris, Black Coffee, Peggy Gou, John Summit, Fisher, Martin Garrix and more. My geriatric ass made it out two nights in a row because the energy here is fire. Boom! As for event tickets, we bought them online the day of over at ticketsibiza.com
Where to explore: Wander around Old Town Ibiza, Eivissa, and explore a fortress, church, museum and open-air cafes. We didn’t have time to hike but many friends nudged us to try Ibiza Hike Station where you hike rocky terrains and wind up swimming in the crispy cool Med.
Travel hack: Rent a car at the airport so you can explore the island to the max. Taxis and Ubers here are a ripoff. I personally loved digging into the smaller towns which were brimming with locals and home cooking.
Also worth noting: Ibiza, while known for its vibrant nightlife, also has a thriving organic scene with numerous farms, markets and restaurants offering locally sourced, organic food and experiences. In fact, Soho Farmhouse just opened in the Ibizan countryside. My in-the-know friend Tara Benmeleh tells me Juntos Farm, Juntos House, Delean, Aguamadera hotel and restaurant are the best crunchy spots. There’s also a farmer’s market in Old Town near the castle.
MADRID
We then took a snappy 1-hour flight to Madrid. This was my first time visiting the capital of Spain and I am OBSESSED. Real talk: Barcelona feels waaaaaaay less safe and less chic than Madrid. I said what I said! We just need to wok on that 9:30 p.m. dinnertime. Hello, heartburn, my old friend.
Where we stayed: Mandarin Oriental. Just bury me here. It’s so FABULOUS.
Where we ate: Casa Lucio, Botín, Casa Salvador and the Mandarin Oriental. I still dream of all the mouthwatering jamón, croquetas, patatas bravas and oxtail.
What to see: The soccer fanatic boys in my crew had to tour the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and score some Real Madrid swag. Ava and I loved wandering Calle Serrano which boasts the flagship Loewe, Sephora, Bimba y Lola, Corte Ingles and more. Below I am linking everything I wore and bought while abroad on this breathtaking trip.
I needed this guide and I always love your writing.
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Thank you SO much for the compliment!