Photo credit: Borgo Santandrea 

Amalfi Legends 

Legendary nymph Amalfi was courted by Hercules, Roman god of strength and travel. Today, sensual travellers love Borgo Santandrea, two miles west of Amalfi. The Mediterranean’s spread some 300 feet below. The 49-room Borgo’s a vertical paradise, soaring mountains behind (eight elevators connect the rooftop to the beach). Elegantly serene in and out, perfectly lovely. 

Van Gogh’s Cypresses

Van Gogh loved cypress trees. He compared their elegance to Egyptian obelisks (the emotions they evoked initiated fainting).  There’s a breathtaking selection of his passion in Van Gogh’s Cypresses, New York’s Metropolitan Museum, until 27th August.

Seine Sundowners

There’s nothing like your own Champagne. Michel Reybier’s eponymous label is critically described as rich and creamy with apple and citrus flavours. Next to the Elysée Palace, Reybier’s La Réserve Paris Hotel, designed by Jacques Garcia, has a wood and leather Venetian motoscafo—90-minute Seine sundowners, toasting the City of Light in chilled bubbles.

Classy Coffee

Louis Vuitton plans a Paris hotel but already there are LV cafés. Newest on the block is at Doha airport, a lounge and restaurant above the Louis Vuitton store. Sit in heritage Martin Eisler chairs, with food from Yannick Alléno, Michelin’s eternal culinary wunderkind best known for menus at Le Meurice Paris and One&Only Le Royal Mirage in Dubai. (Doha-based Qatar Airways, by the way, is upping its usage of Sustainable Aviation Fuel SAF to 5%.)

Trailblazing Art

Classical jewel-bedecked female nudes in gorgeous glory at Dublin’s National Gallery through August. Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer Rulebreaker celebrates the late-16th century artist who somehow managed eleven children (one husband). The Merrion Hotel, 300 yards away, shows 160 paintings (people are clothed). Add garden sculptures of James Joyce and Jack Yeats. Work out in the two-bedroom 2,200 sq ft Presidential Suite’s gym, cedar hot tub awaiting.

Divine Drives

Drive divinely through Arizona 23-27 July. A Bentley Motors Extraordinary Journey supplies up to ten cars, with three support vehicles. Bentley VIP welcome at Albuquerque or Santa Fe airport. Overnights at Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Collection. Fly-fishing. Tour Georgia O’Keefe’s art-filled home. And drive, drive, say Bentayga EWB SUV followed by an open-top Continental GTC Azure. Throw in celeb-chef dinners and on-hand photographers.

Dress To Impress

From Spice Girl to Gucci Girl, Geri Helliwell, whose husband Christian Horner heads the Red Bull F1 team, mesmerised the Monaco Grand Prix in Gucci, white Gucci. White is the colour of the century, gentlemen and girls. ELF has been to two white parties in as many weeks (anyone daring to dress differently stands out, disastrously)