Our 2023 travel plans: Here's where Team What's On are spending summer
If you haven’t got your flights booked yet, here’s some last-minute travel inspiration…
From South Korea to Rio, Bali to Greece, keep scrolling to see where Team What’s On are heading on holiday this summer.
Tuscany, Italy
This summer, I am heading to the Tuscan Hills as the one-year countdown to my wedding begins. We’ll be saying “I do” at Dievole Wine Resort, a charming hotel and vineyard in Chianti. I’ve got a particularly romantic attachment to this stunning slice of Italian countryside, as it’s where we also travelled to on our first vacation, and got engaged four years later. – Alice Holtham, Group Editor
Seoul, South Korea
Since I’m into Korean drama, I tend to adapt to their culture from food to fashion to music. So, every time I watch K-Drama I dream of travelling to Seoul, Korea and exploring some of the Mapo district, which is famous for its traditional Korean BBQ restaurants. I can’t wait to try their speciality dishes, such as charcoal-grilled pork and aged kimchi, then visit a traditional pub and go for a market tour with my family. – Sheila Deocareza, Art Director
Bali, Indonesia
After my 2020 Bali travel plans never came to fruition, I’m still desperate to go. This summer will finally be the time I get to visit the beautiful rice fields, incredible beaches, trendy beach clubs, and stay in a huge villa. My only concern is that I won’t want to come back! – Elise Kerr, Deputy Editor
Athens, Greece
We’ve started slapping on stopovers on the way back from our summer trip home (to the UK). This year, our sights are set on that crucible of democracy, western society and salads with feta in them – Athens. I’m a history nerd, a huge fan of Greek food, and the idea of smashing plates without losing deposits appeals to the
rest of the family – so it really is an ‘all-win’ scenario. – Miles Buckeridge, Senior Online Reporter
Florence, Italy
My love for renaissance art is one of the sole reasons I would visit Florence. From paintings and sculptures, the galleries and museums, the cathedrals (high on my list is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) and so much more, I plan to soak in as much as I can. And while I’m there, I will, of course, indulge in as much divine Italian food as possible from pasta to pizza and all the tiramisu. – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter
Dubai, UAE
Dare I say it, I rather enjoy summer in Dubai. There’s the discounted pool and hotel deals, plenty of indoor family-fun, quieter shopping malls, day trips to Fujairah (where the sea is always that bit cooler) and making the most of the early mornings and late evenings. Bliss! – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter
Cyprus
Nothing quite says ‘summer vaycay’ like lounging around on European island Cyprus. I’ll be checking out the stunning scenery, coupled with the country’s incredible history and, of course, gorgeous beaches to top up my tan before I return to the sauna that is Dubai. – Shelby Gee, Junior Reporter
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I have dreamt about going to South America for the last five years, and this summer, long after our pandemic stress, I will finally be going to Brazil. This luscious, exotic and vibrant country has always fascinated me, with its beautiful coastal towns and cities, tropical islands, Portuguese culture and bosa nova music. I’ll be travelling from the south, passing through Rio, and up to the north to the pristine beaches of Itacaré. I can’t wait. – Romy Hunt, Junior Reporter
Images: Unsplash