Where are the SUITCASE Team Travelling Post-Lockdown?

Where are the SUITCASE Team Travelling Post-Lockdown?



We’re
a bit excited about our first, post-pandemic trip. We
might have adjusted to travelling from home – gorging on stacks of
worldly cookbooks, scrolling through albums from travels past and
emulating those trips by sipping zesty cocktails against tropical
Zoom backgrounds – but nothing beats rocking up in person.

Now, as the final struts are being added to air bridges across
the world and quarantine policies are gradually falling by the
wayside, we’re strapping on our masks and preparing to get back out
there. From doorstep destinations to fabulous new frontiers, these
are the places we’re hitting up.

UK staycations, far-flung escapes and our post-pandemic plans
laid bare


North Norfolk Coast, UK

England

India Dowley – Editor-in-Chief

I’m just bloody glad to be leaving London to be honest, so will be pootling around
the UK on plenty of staycations. We often forget to explore what’s
on our doorstep, and I’ve certainly been guilty of this, especially
as I spend a lot of time on location for SUITCASE. First up, I’ll
be heading to the North Norfolk coast where I’ve been going since I
was a child. Sailing, beaching, windy walks, garden suppers – the
simple things that make for the good life. Then I’ll be making
tracks to Cornwall, where I’m ashamed to say I’ve only
been once, and I’m hoping to follow that with long weekends in East
Sussex’s Rye and Bruton in Somerset.


The Amalfi Coast

Italy

Caroline Baneth – Head of Content and
Strategy

I’ve been dreaming of the Amalfi Coast from my couch since lockdown. I’m
not sure precisely why. Perhaps it’s the allure of old-world
glamour or the promise of long days spent sailing from one
glittering cove to another, or maybe it’s simply the prospect of
eating bottomless bowls of linguine alle vongole and drinking wine
on tap. Whatever the reason, I’ve long been intrigued by the Amalfi
Coast and look forward to finally putting my expectations to the
test by paying a visit post-lockdown.


Rathmullan

Ireland

Sarah Bentley – Head of E-Commerce

As per annual tradition, I’m making tracks for the small seaside
village of Rathmullan in County Donegal. Having truly dredged
Netflix of its most redeeming content, I’m now
reading up on the Fight of The Earls – a huge clash which took
place in Rathmullan in 1607 – and hoping I might be able to probe a
clued-up local for some more insights upon arrival. There are
tables booked under my name at the traditional Rathmullan House as
well as at the less-conventional An Bonnán Buí, where Irish,
European and South American cuisine are blended with expert
precision. Of course, dinner in Ireland wouldn’t be complete without a Guinness
digestif; I’m taking mine at The
White Harte Bar
where you’ll also find me jumping around until
the wee hours to The Chieftains and The Dubliners, with total and
unabashed faith in my ability to Irish dance.


Mollans-sur-Ouvèze

France

Sebastian Bland – Creative Director

My sights are set on the delectable, pocket-sized village of
Mollans-sur-Ouvèze in northern Provence. It’s familiar ground for me, having
spent many summers pootling about its olive groves with an
ever-shifting contingent of my French cousins. After a hectic few
months, the plan is to eat and drink well, to properly switch off
(strictly no Zoom allowed) and to venture out into the surrounding,
crunchy, sun-baked countryside on foot. As a long-time fan, I
should know every little off-road trail like the back of my hand,
but I always stumble upon something new.


Dierhagen

Germany

Linda Blank – COO

If it weren’t for the threat of catching a potentially deadly
virus, I’d rather like a no-holds-barred city break – the type
where you hop from gallery to café to restaurant to wine bar,
carelessly flinging yourself on public transport and making new
friends as you go. As it happens, I’m going to continue this
prolonged period of social distancing by roosting at New Haus, right on
Germany’s northernmost tip. It’s a secluded
cluster of houses, sheltered by feathery pines and right on the
Baltic coast – like a pocket of Scandinavia in Germany. The best part? Dodgy
phone reception and a sketchy internet connection.


Løvøya

Norway

Line Charles – E-Commerce Manager

Ever since I was a child, I’ve looked forward to long weekends
at grandma’s cottage on the secluded island of Løvøya. Built by my
great grandfather, it’s a real family heirloom and imbued with
memories of drowsy days spent splashing about in the clear waters –
memories I hope my children will inherit in years to come. Every
day starts the same: a newspaper delivered by boat, followed by a
bracing morning swim. Depending on the weather, we’ll play board
games or go fishing before grilling whatever we manage to catch for
dinner. It’s about as “digital detox” as it gets.


St Ives

Cornwall, United Kingdom

Jacob Elwood – Senior Creative

The question on the tip of everyone’s tongue: “Where are you
heading after lockdown?” While I’d love to reply with some exciting
edge-of-the-world, off-the-map adventure, I’m really just pining
after a homemade Cornish pasty and a pint or two of beer down on
Porthmeor Beach in St Ives. Now that the weather’s picking up, my
Instagram feed is flooded with photos and videos of my pals cooling
off by the coast. It’s heartbreaking, not least because I haven’t
seen them properly since Christmas, but I know that come July I’ll
be contributing to the Insta-spam myself. You’ve been warned…


Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

France

Robbie Hodges – Assistant Digital Editor

Coronavirus can have my sweaty spin classes, my socially awkward
barber and lazy weekend brunches, but I draw the line at my annual
family holiday. Every year, we drop a pin somewhere along the
Mediterranean and spend a week slow-cooking in
the sun to the clicking of cicadas. This summer, we’re taking
comfort in the familiar and pitching up in a crumbly old village
just off the French Riviera. There’ll be plenty of sandy
bottoms, Van Gogh landscapes and a gut-wrenching amount of gluten.
I’ll admit, it’s not exactly the stuff of SUITCASE cover features,
but there’ll be plenty of time to adventure later in the year.


Ibiza

Spain

Fleur Rollet-Manus – Content Editor

I’ve made the pilgrimage to Ibiza every year since the tender age of 18; the White
Isle is first on my list of places to visit. Don’t worry, like the
rest of the nation, I’ve tie-dyed my own face mask for the flight
and I’m expecting things to be a little different this time. My
beloved place of worship DC10 is closed for the foreseeable, so
I’ll be paying homage to the glorious coves and beaches scattered
along the island’s perimeter instead. Cala Tarida and Cala Bassa
are two of my favourites.


Santos

Brazil

Layla Pacha – Marketing Executive

It was all going so well. Our flights were booked for February,
I’d packed my suitcase (mentally, at least) and booked time off
work, then everything went downhill. Fast forward six months and my
mum, myself and a gaggle of family members – four generations of
us! – are finally going to take the trip that never was. We’ll
start by flying and flopping onto a beach in Santos, before heading
onwards to my family’s farm in Mairinque. If you’re looking for the
middle of nowhere, this is it. The nearest town is 40 minutes away
by car, so I’m expecting to do a lot of lounging around, peppered
by stints in the pool, spots of fishing with my uncles,
horse-riding and the occasional hike. Hopefully we’ll make it off
the tarmac this time, at least.

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