Who coolcations are secretly made for

You don’t have to be a hardcore hiker or an outdoorsy type to enjoy these trips. Most of the people I end up planning coolcations for are just normal people who are done with baking in the sun all day.

Families with kids who don’t cope well with heat

If you have little ones, teens who sleep badly when it’s hot, or you are permanently chasing shade and reapplying suncream, then gentler temperatures can change the whole feel of a holiday. You still get water, fresh air and fun, but without everyone being cranky and fed up by lunchtime.

Couples who want to feel rested, not frazzled

For anniversaries, honeymoons, “big birthdays” or just that long‑overdue escape together, coolcations work brilliantly. You can actually enjoy a long lunch, a walk, a glass of wine on a terrace, and still sleep comfortably at night instead of lying on top of the sheets wondering why on earth you thought 38 degrees would be romantic.

People who are all about food, scenery and atmosphere

If your happy place is a beautiful view, a good plate of food and the feeling of really “being” somewhere, then cooler destinations are full of quiet little moments you will love: mist over a lake in the morning, fjords at sunset, forest walks that smell of pine, tiny harbours and warm, cosy restaurants.

Anyone who quietly prefers a cardigan to a crowded beach

Some of us will always be “I’ll bring a light jumper for the evening” people, and that is completely fine. If you would rather have a comfortable 22–25 degrees, with a breeze and a good book, than fight for a spot on a scorching beach, then yes, I am absolutely talking to you here.

What slow luxury actually means (and what it doesn’t)

Before I jump into specific places, it is worth talking about the way of travelling that ties all of this together.

When I say “slow luxury”, I do not mean gold taps and butlers. I mean:

• Fewer hotel changes.
• More time in each place.
• A bit of thoughtfulness in the details.
• Space in the day to breathe.

So instead of racing through five cities in ten days, you might pick one or two bases and really settle in.

You unpack once, you find your favourite café, you work out the nicest walk back from dinner, you know which bench has the best view of the lake. You find a rhythm, rather than running a race.

My job in all of this is to listen to what you need, then quietly do the fiddly work in the background so that, by the time you go, the holiday fits you rather than the other way round.

Norway & the Fjords: cool air, calm water and clean design

Norway and its Scandinavian neighbours are basically the poster children for coolcations.

Summer days are long, the light is beautiful, and there is this lovely blend of city life and wild landscape that you can move between very easily. You get that airy, relaxed Scandinavian feel, but without needing to trek into the Arctic wilderness to find it.

A trip here might start with a couple of nights in a city like Oslo, Bergen or Copenhagen. Think:

• A stylish little hotel near the water.
• Wandering between cafés, markets and museums at your own pace.
• Dipping into a few “must‑sees” without the feeling that you have to tick off twenty things a day.

Then, once you have eased into the holiday, you head out to the fjords or the coast.

This is where it really comes into its own:

• Scenic train or boat journeys where the travel is part of the experience.
• Small fjord side or coastal hotels with spectacular views.

You can dial the activity level up or down, depending on what you fancy. We can build in an easy hike, some kayaking on calm water, or keep it all to slower wanders and coffee stops if that is more your speed.

Alpine summer: lakes, meadows and long lazy evenings

The Alps in summer are one of those things you don’t really appreciate until you have done it once. We are all so used to seeing snowy ski photos that it can be a bit of a surprise when you realise that in July and August those same mountains are green, the lakes are clear and inviting, and the villages are full of flowers.

A slow‑luxury Alpine holiday usually looks something like this:

We pick one lake or mountain town and use it as your base for example Lucerne in Switzerland. It might be somewhere right on the lakefront, or a little resort with good walking trails and a bit of life in the evenings.

Days might include:

• Taking a cable car or train up into the peaks.
• Doing easy, well‑marked walks.

• Swimming or renting a pedalo or boat.
• Sitting in a lakeside café with a book and a cold drink.
• Day trips by rail to explore the wider region

For families, there are often brilliant little extras like summer toboggans, adventure playgrounds, easy bike routes and paddleboarding, so the kids are busy but not wired and overstimulated. For couples, it can be a very romantic getaway with spas and gourmet restaurants to explore.

And the temperatures are warm enough for shorts and sundresses, cool enough at night to sleep under a duvet.

Canada: cabins, lakes and that big‑sky feeling

If you are in the mood for a “proper” trip, Canada is a fantastic coolcation choice. You still get that sense of going somewhere far away and special, but the climate in the right regions and seasons are very ‘kind’ compared to many traditional long‑haul beach spots.

One way to do it is to pair a friendly, walkable city with a lodge or lakeside stay.

You could, for example:

• Start with a few days in a city like Vancouver or Montreal, basing yourself somewhere central enough that you can just walk out and explore.
• Do a food tour, a harbour walk, maybe a bike ride or a visit to a nearby park or island.
• Get over the journey, find your bearings and enjoy the buzz of city life.

Then you head out to the quieter bit.

This might be:

• A lake with a handful of cabins or a small lodge.
• A coastal retreat where you can watch boats or even whales in the right place and season.
• A countryside inn tucked into forest or farmland.

For families with older children, there is a lovely balance between “wow” moments and proper downtime. For couples, it can feel very special, private and restorative, without needing to spend all day frying on a beach.

Northern Spain & Portugal & the Atlantic coast: softer sunshine, serious food

When people think of Spain or Portugal in summer, they often think intense heat and packed beaches. The north is very different, and it is a brilliant option if you like the idea of good food, culture and beaches but your soul shrivels a bit at the thought of 40 degrees.

Up along the Atlantic you get greener landscapes, prettier harbours, surf beaches, fishing villages and historic towns, usually with more comfortable summer temperatures and a more relaxed feel.

A coolcation here might involve:

• Staying in a small coastal town or a historic city close to the sea.
• Mornings on the beach, exploring markets, pottering through old streets and along promenades.
• Long lunches of fresh seafood, pintxos or tapas, with a glass of something cold and local.
• Afternoons for a little siesta, a spa visit or a scenic drive out to a viewpoint or lighthouse.
• Evenings spent wandering from bar to bar, sharing plates and people‑watching.

This is a really good “halfway house” if you are not quite ready to give up the idea of a beach holiday, but you know in your heart that you do not want an all‑inclusive resort with blazing heat.

If your idea of a good holiday isn’t 35 degrees…

If this blog has you quietly thinking “yes, that sounds more like me”, then a coolcation with a slow‑luxury feel might be exactly what you need next.

You do not have to know where you want to go yet. A rough idea of dates, who is coming with you, and how you would like to feel on holiday is enough to start with. From there, I can suggest a couple of ideas, talk you through how they would work in real life, and we can shape something that feels like it was made for you.

You bring the daydreaming, I will bring the planning.

When you are ready to start playing with coolcation ideas, just get in touch and we can chat it through properly.