The June EDIT
Mandarina, the Amalfi Coast, and slower days ahead.
Greetings from the delicious Red Antler Bungalows in Round Top, Texas.
It’s July 1st, and while I am not making my deadline for the June EDIT, I’m sitting here with the cicadas chirping, the leaves blowing, and the sun falling beautifully over the landscaping. It’s given me just enough bandwidth to settle in and write a few notes from everything I gathered over last month.
June started with Lolo’s gorgeous birthday trip to Rosewood Mandarina. I have a full edit, a playlist, and a wardrobe for you below. After that wonderful getaway, life trucked along with work and Father’s Day celebrations, and led us here: a full week in Round Top, splitting time between Lolo’s parents’ farm and our beloved Red Antler.
Our dear friends built these bungalows a few years ago and they are an actual dream come true. About a mile from the center of town, each one has two bedrooms with en suite baths, a fully equipped kitchen with full-size appliances, washer/dryer included, a fireplace, stunning furnishings, and the James Cabana next door, where the bar, dining, and lounging live alongside the perfect pool to beat this Texas heat. If you book early enough you may score the Branca Bungalow which is a treat beyond belief.
We’re here two nights before heading back to the farm for more birthday celebrations, but will BRB for the annual 4th of July parade watching party in the James Cabana. It will be bittersweet this year, with last year’s tragic events in Kerr County still in our hearts every day.
I hope you enjoy this edition as much as I enjoyed penning it. It’s been a wild few months, and there’s no slowing down in sight, but these little blips of stillness let the mind renew, a day at a time.
2. MANDARINA — Rosewood Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit. The month’s headline trip.
If you followed along on my Instastories, you got a sneak peek at magical Mandarina. And I am in love. Every part of this landscape, which is actually a little different from most of Mexico.
The palette here is earthy, not the bright colorful Cabo you’re picturing. Muted tones, light and airy fabrics, everything blending into the jungle around it. You can read all about it here:
The Most Private Beach in Mexico: Rosewood Included
If I were sitting across from you at dinner, this is the place I’d tell you about after the second glass of wine.
And I’m linking everything I packed here:
Mandarina Magic
Pops of color are the usual when it comes to most Mexico getaways, but Mandarina is different. It’s earthy, silky, and soft. Breezy with the right light nestled in the jungle surrounded by the blues of the Pacific. Here’s everything I wore on our most recent visit:
3. THE CONCIERGE DESK — this month’s departures
This month we shipped some of our best itineraries to date.
It started with an Italian summer on the coast at La Roqqa in Porto Ercole. Then a mother-daughter trip I adored: Le Bristol in Paris, on to Positano and Le Sirenuse for their newly opened beach club, then Capri. Both of those journeys ended the same place, in Rome, and both left me thinking about the same thing.
The rooftop at Orient Express La Minerva. Gigi. Same restaurant group as the Paris spots, and oh, it shows. If you’re ending a trip in Rome this summer, end it up there.
We also had departures for a very fun 50th in Barcelona, winding up in Amsterdam by way of Antwerp, plus a fabulous weekend at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where my clients lunched at the Hotel Bel-Air. (A spot I fell for during our week in California for the core conference.)
And one of my favorites just landed back home: an Italian road trip, a 12-day Tauck cruise along the Seine, and a Paris finale with a full day in Champagne.
Positano and Capri are in the mix of all of our itineraries this summer up until late October, so I put together a few guides: Positano now, Capri later.
4. THE GIFT SHOP
Last month’s relinks, corrected
The sleep contraption that has single-handedly saved every time zone I’ve ever crossed — how anyone travels without this is genuinely beyond me.
The carry-on tote that does it all, including fold flat when you’ve inevitably over-shopped.
The travel makeup pouch I’d stake my reputation on. And I have tried. Every. Single. One.
5. THE SPA — the first Guerlain Spa at sea
One of the most glorious ships to ever sail launched a few weeks ago and it has the world of travel reeling. Billed for non-cruisers, the brand-new Orient Express Corinthian has set sail.
The Orient Express Corinthian is a genuine one-of-one: the world’s largest sailing yacht, three masts, actual wind power, 110 guests looked after by 170 crew. Five restaurants under Yannick Alléno. And tucked inside all that French savoir-faire, the part that made me sit up: the first Guerlain Spa ever to go to sea. Treatment suites, a hammam, two saunas, a thermal suite that comes included.
Sailing season’s just begun. Come find me when you’re ready to go.
6. THE LOBBY LOUNGE — what I’m into right now
Watching
We’ve restarted Ozark, and it’s eating most of our nightly TV. Dark, with a wild twist around every corner. Worth it.
Four Seasons on Netflix for the nights we want easy and breezy. The perfect palate cleanser.
And we’ve got DCC season three queued up. Easy weeknight binge.
Listening
Magical Mandarina Playlist best played from the patio of suite 109 with waves crashing, marg in hand.
Alan Jackson played his final concert in Nashville last weekend, so it only feels right to add COUNTRY SILVER to this month’s note. A stellar little compilation of nostalgic gems and newer beats, made for summer sessions on the patio.
Entering into July welcomes slower summer mornings, late afternoon swims, the not-checking-my-phone-for-a-whole-hour kind of days.
But when you love what you do and do what you love, even from a pool chair in Round Top, I’m already deep in planning mode, because the holidays are closer than they look. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, spring break: the good stuff books early, and the very good stuff is already moving.
If any of those are even a maybe for you, let’s talk now while there’s still room to dream. Reply to this note or find me the usual way. I’d love to start scheming.
Ciao for now,
Libby
Love this & love you!!!