At B&B Hotels summer never really ends, because although the hottest season of the year is over the desire to travel is as strong as ever.

With B&B Hotels Italia, an international chain with more than 650 hotels in Europe and around the world, it's possible to enjoy lots of destinations by the sea, in the mountains and discover some of the most beautiful cities even when the last of the summer heat has faded.  

Alternative mobility is the name of the game

So with the complicity of the cooler days why not enjoy a biking trip? Choosing a sustainable mobility alternative is definitely one of the trends of the moment as it allows us to enjoy the outdoors and nature, exploring places with an abundance of scenic and cultural beauty.

The Venetian Islands Cycle route from Chioggia to Venice

This route starts in Chioggia, crosses Pellestrina Island and the Lido, and ends with a breathtaking sunset over eternal Venice. And right in the heart of Chioggia, which is known as the Little Venice, the group recently inaugurated the B&B Hotel Chioggia Airone. This is an ideal choice for those seeking relaxation without having to renounce the typical holiday atmosphere of seaside resorts and the many activities the area has to offer. With 96 comfortable guestrooms - Single, Economy, Deluxe and Family - the hotel also has a 140sqm luxury flat on the top floor with two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, jacuzzi, sauna and a splendid sea view.

Mountain cycling routes in Cortina

From mountain bike routes steeped in history and nature on marked trails for all levels of difficulty, to road biking to discover new horizons, to freeriding for experts. And why not, to e-bike excursions for a more relaxing holiday for the whole family. Cortina is an unmissable stop for lovers of two-wheeled holidays.

The B&B Hotel Cortina Passo Tre Croci 

The perfect starting point for embarking on the discovery of this UNESCO World Heritage site is the B&B Hotel Cortina Passo Tre Croci, a splendid property in the Cortina D'Ampezzo area, at an altitude of 1,858 metres, nestled between the slopes of Monte Cristallo to the north and the Sorapiss and Faloria mountains to the south. The hotel has 124 single, double, triple and quadruple rooms with all comforts and it is ideal for a relaxing stay with the quality that has always been guaranteed by B&B Hotels.

For more information: www.hotelbb.com 

For Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais, a five-star luxury Relais & Châteaux and Virtuoso Preferred Hotel, vineyards and wine therapy take pride of place, as in addition to the estate's production wine is used in the spa’s therapy treatments.

Taking part in the wine harvest 

Villa Cordevigo is a wine relais in the Bardolino area, a few kilometres from Lake Garda. This elegant patrician residence, where ambience, hospitality and cuisine complement the vineyards, has welcoming traditional rooms and splendid views. Guests can follow the grape harvest, even taking part in it, and discover the benefits of grapes with wine therapy treatments. 

Visiting vineyards on foot or by bike

Any stay here becomes an opportunity to learn more about viticulture, especially if it is harvest time. The grape harvest is a crucial phase in vine cultivation and participating in it is a privilege. Vineyards wind all around Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais, and guests are invited to visit them on foot or by bicycle. In the vicinity of the Villa the vineyards extend from the pool in the gardens as far as the horizon, and it is possible to visit the Villabella cellars to discover the vinification process and ageing in oak barrels.

Holistic treatments in the Essentia Spa

A one-night stay for two people in a double room with breakfast is combined with a welcome drink on arrival and a tasting of six Villa Cordevigo wines. The experience includes use of the swimming pool and access to the Essentia Spa with its holistic wellness treatments, Finnish sauna, infrared sauna, Turkish bath, whirlpool baths, emotional showers, massages and Ayurvedic treatments, while there is also a gym and relaxation rooms.

Boat trips on Lake Garda

Around Villa Cordevigo there is a world to be discovered. By bicycle (available to guests) or on foot, you can take a network of well-equipped trails through vineyards, meadows, woods and hills, accompanied by a local expert. And for those who cannot stay away from the charm of Lake Garda, boat trips on the lake are planned.  

Trento, a blend of Alpine elegance, history and legends is right in the centre of the north-eastern Trentino region.

It is a lively, cosmopolitan city that seamlessly blends an Alpine soul with Italian sophistication in a heady mix of Medieval monumentality and graceful Renaissance frescoes.  

Neptune is a symbol of the city

The central Piazza del Duomo is dominated by the Palazzo Pretorio, and the 43-metre-high Piazza Tower.  On the eastern side stands the Romanesque-Gothic 12th-century Cathedral of St Virgil, while in the centre we find the splendid late-Baroque Neptune Fountain. It may seem strange to find the god of the sea in a mountain city, but Trento's ancient Roman name was Tridentum, for the three teeth or three city hills that are symbolized by the trident Neptune holds in his hand. 

Fresscoed buildings and the Gothic Cycle of the Months

Another gem of Piazza Duomo is Casa Cazuffi, the most important domus picta of Renaissance Trento, with depictions of characters and scenes from classical mythology on its façade.

The majestic Palazzo Bonsignore, with its massive walls and crenellated towers, residence of the Prince Bishops who ruled the city up to the Napoleonic era, is one of the most important castle in the Trentino.  It houses art and archaeological collections, and in the Torre Aquila the walls are frescoed with the famous Gothic masterpiece, the Cycle of the Months.  

Delicate frescoes and the Devil’s Palace

Behind Piazza del Duomo, restoration on the main façade of Palazzo Niccoli has revealed beautiful Renaissance-era frescoes dedicated to the Madonna, while on the corner with Via Diaz we find other delicate frescoes, this time on Palazzo Cazuffi.  Not far away behind a massive wooden gate stands the Palazzo Fugger Galasso, better known as the Devil's Palace. Legend, and Goethe who mentions it in his Italian Journey, would have it that the palace was built in a single night by the wealthy banker Georg Fugger who made a pact with the devil.

Renzo Piano’s MUSE Museum

Trento’s modern face is best encapsulated in Renzo Piano's MUSE, a six-floor light-filled space dedicated to nature, mountains, sustainability and technology. On this extraordinary exhibition tour you encounter dinosaurs, primitive man, mammals, glaciers and Alpine forests in a succession of visual, interactive and sensorial experiences in one of Europe's most evocative and fascinating museums.

Ever since Greta Gerwig’s hotly anticipated Barbie movie was announced to hit the screens next summer Barbiecore has been in an all-round pink state of mind.

What’s more, this girly aesthetic is now making its way into the world of luxury holidays, so if you’re ready to embark on some of your own hyper-pink escapism, we’ve got you covered.

Explore Barbie’s dream house at Forte Village in Sardinia

Barbie fans can get in on the action at Forte Village, home to a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. This playhouse is the perfect place for children to enter the magical world of their favourite doll and has many exciting games and activities to be enjoyed with Barbie herself. And parents and children can enjoy quality time together over a joint manicure and facial session.

For information: www.fortevillageresort.com

Villa Paola

Villa Paola. A pink adults-only hidden gem

Dating back to the 16th century, Villa Paola is a charming and romantic adults-only escape. The pink hotel is steeped in local history, originally part of a Franciscan convent it was converted into a private home in the 1920s and fully restored to an elegant villa in 2000 by Lugano-based architect Bruno Haber.

Coast of the Gods

Beautiful beaches on the Coast of the Gods

The area also boasts some of the most beautiful beaches, still lesser known to the international traveler but favoured by the locals. At the foot of the Villa, in Marina Vescovado di Tropea, lie the estate’s citrus groves and vegetable gardens. Mesmerizing views from one of the many manicured terraces overlook the Coast of the Gods which is an unbeatable setting for an aperitivo in the evening, framed by the gorgeous pink glow of the hotel itself.

For information: www.villapaolatropea.it

The Almar Jesolo Resort & Spa in Jesolo has new owners though the management remains with Hnh Hospitality.

Taken over by a French group

The Venetian property, already owned by the Castello sgr Star fund, has in fact been acquired by the French asset management company Perial on behalf of its own fund Scpi Pf Hospitalité Europe.

Rooms and suites with private sea-view terraces.  

Located approximately 30 kilometres from Venice, the luxury resort has 179 rooms and 18 suites with private sea-view terraces. The facilities also include six meeting rooms, four F&B outlets, a spa and 12,000 square metres of private beach. It will be managed by Hnh Hospitality under an 18-year lease.

Relais Villa Balis Crema is a 17th-century Venetian villa with old-world charm and two Michelin stars. 

In the Valpantena valley close to Verona

In the little town of Grezzano in the Valpantena Valley which is half an hour from Verona, the property has been transformed by the Zecchini family into a cozy Relais with refined interiors. The ancient residence, which belonged to a branch of Florence’s historic Medici family, has a restaurant which is one of the finest Michelin establishments in the Veneto region. 

Chef La Cru Restaurant

Elegant contemporary rooms and suites

The interiors with old-world charm, contemporary and refined rooms and suites, and the outdoor area with a biodynamic swimming pool and a concentrically shaped herb garden, combine as an ideal setting for the Michelin-starred La Cru Restaurant.   

Homemade breakfasts

The rooms and suites in the main building and in the adjoining annex are intimate and elegant and some have personal spas with emotional showers, saunas and Turkish baths. Breakfast is a sweet awakening with homemade delicacies from the Michelin kitchen, and is served in the brick-vaulted breakfast room or on the patio.

Seasonal menus with local delicacies

Two Michelin stars shine on the Relais, with Chef Giacomo Sacchetto's Michelin star awarded in 2020, followed in 2021 by his Green Star for sustainable experimentation. On the menu, which changes seasonally, there are local delicacies such as game and wild asparagus and fish from the Adriatic all embellished with Chef Sacchetto's mastery and flair.

For information https://villabaliscrema.it

The itinerary of the new "Calabria Trail” (Sentiero Calabria), which is accessible to all and is dedicated to sportsmen, trekkers, and nature lovers, is on 654 kilometres and divided into 34 stages. Officially it links the national parks of Aspromonte, Sila, Pollino, and the Serre Regional Park for the first time in history.

An eco-sustainable and accessible trail

The project, which is being carried out in collaboration with the bodies of the four national parks, aims at promoting a type of tourism that is eco-sustainable, respectful of the environment, and accessible to all. The Calabria Trail was completed on the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

Ph credits: Carmelo Fiore

Cooperating and achieving important common goals

"The Calabria Trail project brought the national park bodies to join forces, cooperate, and achieve important common goals," said Robert Piattelli, member of the Scientific Coordination of the World Tourism Event.”  Giovanni Aramini, director of parks and protected natural areas of the Calabria Region says "the most important goal is to give visibility and voice to Calabria by promoting sustainable tourism, which is growing fast . Today’s tourist wants to discover our region and its many stunning natural attractions."

“We are in the centre of the Mediterranean” 

“Our mission is to protect the Earth, - says Giuseppe Putort, director of the Aspromonte natural park authority, - and the Region has given us the opportunity to work alongside local communities and institutions.”  “This is a very important project that enhances our land, which is in the centre of the Mediterranean and can boast extraordinary geology and biodiversity,” adds Silvia Lottero, head of the Aspromonte Natural Park's promotion service.

Raising awareness of ancient landscapes

Gaetano Osso, councillor of the Sila National Park authority says the initiative is “a huge springboard to raise awareness of landscapes formed millions of years ago, when a fragment of the Alps broke away from the Mediterranean. Anyone who comes to experience the Calabria Trail will discover a variety of different Calabrias.” 

Lefay posted an excellent 2021 with over €33.5 million in total turnover for a growth of 30% compared to 2020, 100% carbon offsetting and a total of 302 employees, 60% of whom are local. These are some of the most significant numbers of the new Sustainability Report 2021, produced by Lefay Resorts & Residences and certified by third parties.

The spas use only vegan products 

In 2021 all direct CO2 emissions from the Group’s two resorts were in fact fully offset. Both the properties and the parent company have confirmed their management, quality and environmental system certifications. Both spas are also certified for Organic & Ecological Spa-level Excellence and use only vegan products and a cruelty-free cosmetic line. They self-produce 100% of their thermal energy and 51% of their electrical energy, and extensive promotion has been devoted to electric mobility.

A third resort in Tuscany

The group now aims to complete its portfolio of directly owned and managed properties in Italy with a third resort in Montalcino in Tuscany. It is also developing a fee-based model and seeking new opportunities, particularly abroad, with Lefay acting as an operator through management or rental contracts.

“We are ready to face the next challenges”

"I am really proud of the results achieved by our team," commented Alcide Leali, CEO of Lefay Resorts & Residences. "Not only did we brilliantly overcome the difficulties of the pandemic crisis, we also completed the restyling of the Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda. We are ready to face the next challenges.”

Italy’s northern regions have a variety of lake breaks just made for romantic getaways. 

From candlelight dinners with a view to tailor-made private couples’ spas and from panoramic suites to vintage car tours and time to enjoy nature. The lake is the perfect place to fall in love, and the ideal destination for romantic getaways, especially in autumn when nature is cloaked in magical colours. 

Lido Palace in Riva del Garda Credits Francesca Bocchia

Romance and gourmet dining on Lake Garda

If you are looking for an exclusive stay you can surprise your sweetheart at the Lido Palace in Riva del Garda (TN), a refined 5-star adult-friendly hotel. Here history meets contemporary luxury and enchants with a waterfront location on the Trentino side of Lake Garda.  With concierge service, romantic gourmet dinners on the lake-view terrace, and wellness rituals to be experienced together in the private spa, as well as penthouse suites with a 180-degree view over the shimmering lake (www.lido-palace.it).

Nature and Michelin dining

In the Brescia area the Romantik Hotel Relais Mirabella Iseo in Clusane sul Lago (BS), which dominates Lake Iseo from the top of a hill and is surrounded by olive trees, is the ideal destination for a full immersion in nature. Explore caves and take cycle tracks or paths that wind from the mountains to the shores of the lake. And whatever you do, don’t miss the fine dining in the Da Nadia restaurant of Michelin-starred chef Nadia Vincenzi. (www.romantikhotels.com).

Lake Carezza Val d'Ega

A home away from home in the Dolomites

Lake Carezza in the South Tyrol is an unmissable gem, especially if experienced with a stay at the Romantik Hotel Post Cavallino Bianco in Nova Levante (BZ). Nestled in a 45,000-square-metre park in the heart of the Dolomite peaks with spectacular views, guests delight in tailor-made hospitality with a homely touch, the excellent local cuisine, and the 1,500-square-metre wellness centre (www.romantikhotels.com). 

A family-run hotel

The Romantik B&B Art Hotel Jagdhof (BZ has an ancient spirit. Overlooking a Mediterranean garden and Lake Caldaro, the Atz family has been welcoming guests here for three generations. The historic Torgglkeller wine cellar celebrates the local wine culture and mountain bikes, city bikes and e-bikes are available, while the Bellavita SPA has a heated indoor seawater pool and a small sauna area (www.romantikhotels.com).