What Does Your European Vacation Destination Say About You?
I'll spare you what I'm doing this summer instead (office, spotted lantern flies, hazes of existential dread in subway cars without air-conditioning), but I will say this: Every night, in my New York City apartment, I scroll through it all. Not just the boats, but the villas in St. Tropez; the beach clubs in Ibiza; the girls who treat Cartier Love bracelets like they're bangles from Claire's, but keep asking if anyone wants to sublet their Nolita apartment for three weeks in August.
It's a strange feeling, being stuck in this uncanny vacation valley. Once you view one post of the Hôtel du Cap or Le Sirenuse or Scorpios, the algorithm keeps sending you more. Suddenly, a lifestyle very few people can afford begins to feel like a lifestyle that everyone has…except for you. And I think about how eerie it is that we're constantly bombarded with cyber versions of the sirent from Greek myth: beautiful, alluring, visions that, if you aren't careful, will lead you to ruin.
But then I turn my brain off, throw on The Summer I Turned Pretty, and decide to be a little bitchy instead.
Below, my musings on what your European summer vacation says about you. If you're offended, just remember…your credit card limit is likely triple mine.
St. Tropez
'But babe, I want to go to Shellona. BLOND:ISH is playing,' your girlfriend* says as the tender approaches. 'I told you already,' you say back, exasperated. 'They couldn't do a 3:30 seating. So we're going to Cinquante Cinq.'
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In the 1960s, these idyllic shores spurred a tourism boom that created the Costa Smeralda ('Emerald Coast') in the island's northeast, now a perennial playground for glitterati from all corners of the globe. But arguably, Sardinia's most intriguing resort lies some 200 miles away, on the island's idyllic southern coast. Comprising some 120 acres of verdant gardens and greenery in the picturesque enclave of Santa Margherita di Pula, Forte Village Resort is a world unto itself, spanning one of Italy's most dazzling stretches of coastline. And given the luxury resort destination's seemingly countless options for compelling ways to while away the blue-skied, diamond days–from world-class dining and wellness to top-tier sports academies, for starters–it's literally impossible to run out of things to do. The resort encapsulates a true world unto itself. Forte Village With four five-star properties (among its eight hotels), more than 40 elegant suites, and 13 ultra-private villas, the sprawling resort offers luxury accommodations to suit virtually every taste, whether steps from the sparkling white sands, or nestled amidst the property's 3,000 varieties of native plant species. An elegant, terracotta-colored palace, Hotel Il Castello presides over a pristine swath of beachfront as the grande dame of Forte Village's five-star offering. Besides amenities including a heated infinity pool exclusively for guests and direct beach access, the hotel recently unveiled a redesigned lobby and bar, Bar Bandiere—a Mediterranean-inspired, soignée spot for an Aperol Spritz or an ice-cold glass of prosecco. The rooftop Real Suite's amenities include a private infinity pool and dazzling vistas for miles. 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Speaking of families (and friends), Forte Village's 13 private villas–each with two to four bedrooms, a heated pool, manicured gardens, and 24-hour butler service–are spacious options for multi-generational vacations and milestone celebrations. One of its most luxurious, the two-story Villa Elina, was expanded to four bedrooms this season with the addition of a new suite. The addition of a new suite this season makes Villa Elina one of the resort's largest, most luxurious private accommodations. Forte Village Exceptional Restaurants from Culinary Icons Peerless gastronomy is a cornerstone of Italian culture–a perennial point of pride that Forte Village champions with one of the most dynamic and diverse culinary landscapes in luxury hospitality. The resort operates 21 restaurants during the high season, helmed by more than 100 chefs–including some of the most celebrated icons in the culinary world. Heinz Beck's Beachcomber restaurant offers a master class in seaside elegance. 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