Florence and Tuscany wine valley

Where to stay: Villa Mangiacane. Very nice location of this boutique hotel. It was convenient to go to Florence, run in the morning and discover the villages and country side around.
They did a fantastic job renovating the place. It is a mix of old and comtemporay. I really like the eclectic interior design of the reception. The room are big and very comfortable, the bathroom is large and modern.
 However, I am not so sure about the South African art in the garden....some Tuscany sculpture will probably have been more appropriate but this is just our own opinion.
The property include a vineyard and a forest so it was a fantastic place for our jogging. We had the great pleasure to meet to permanent sweet and lovely pretty guess : 2 small poneys.

What to do : Discover Florence, the Gucci museum and enjoy shopping.
 Cruise in the Chianti wine valley, discover the local village and market, buy some wine. Enjoy the swimming pool at the Villa after a hot day in the Tuscany heat.

Where to eat: Diner :there is a good restaurant walking distance from the Villa, you cross the vineyard to go there is very nice.In Florence : Cibreo. The service is excellent, the maitre Di take the time to sit at your table to go through the all menu. The cuisine is typical Italian. It is a real pleasure.Lunch: at Cinque di Vino in San Casciano.

On the way back home we stop at Portofino and had a delicious lunch on the beautiful terrace of the famous luxury Spendido Hotel

Venice

We are going to Venice at least once per year I love it. What is fantastic we always discover new places. We decide to try hotel Palazina G for a change. 
The Palazina G is a typical Boutique hotel so expect no reception and no sign outdoor.  The all hotel is very "Stackish", beautiful, every thing has is place and has been thought about. You recognize the Starck signature at first look. However, the restaurant  is very dark which can work in winter but is a bit oppressive in summer. The room are all white, full of mirror to make it bigger has in most hotel design by Stark and it works they are very comfortable.
However, the roof lounge lack of attention and staff.

Where to eat: 
Lunch : Osteria is part of the Venice life style so it is a must to go there we select
Osteria Alla Vedova:  probably the oldest Osteria excellent food very local atmosphere. 
Osteria Ai Artisti: "un regal"...the place is very small, the pleople are lovely and they serve a delicious Italian cuisine
Diner
For a very romantic diner one of the best place is Harry's Dolci on the Giudecca canal. You eat outside and profit of the view while enjoying the famous Italian cuisine of Harry's
What to do: time to visit some museum and to discover the fish and vegetable market 
Drink : Stop and enjoy the place Saint Marco fat café Floran

LONDON

London is in constant movement, the Shard is finish.....bikes have take over the all city, the street art is all over Shoreditch  as well as a new shopping place BoxPark made of containers and new restaurants have pop up every where. So in my week stay I try:

In Mayfair : the up market 34, the meat restaurant of Scott's excellent, great service

In Soho: the cool  tiny but excellent Dicksoup and of course I have been back to the excellent Barrafina and Bocca del Lupo

Lima a Peruvian restaurant where you can drink a Pisco sour, eat a fabulous Ceviche and of course a Dulce de late ice cream

In Shoreditch : a lot of new place in this district, I did not try them just had a look. I just had a glass of champagne on the roof terrace at Boundary ... lovely
Save for my next trip for lunch a very little place with no name next to the Boundary there they seams to save fantastic pizzas and the new Hix restaurant which has a enormous peace of Damien Hirst art.....

Quick quick until September 9 you can visit the fabulous Damien Hirst exposition at Tate modern...don't miss the Butterflies room absolutely amazing.

Saint Barth

 We have been on Saint Barth few times and love to go back. This time we choice  Eden Rock. This is the best hotel on the island. Best for location, right on the beach not to far from Gustavia . The service is good, can always be perfected. The beach restaurant is good and the diner restaurant is one of the best on the island. Forget about the gym, there is a nice path at the end of the beach where you can run.
This year the car to rent on the island: the mini convertible..... lot of fun

France : Cap Ferret

We decide to spend a week end In Cap Ferret in June and we have been seduce by the place. Gorgeous beaches, many jogging and biking trails. Beautiful landscape, friendly people, nice little village to visit.
What to do: Climb "dune du Pilat" the highest sans dune in Europe. Take a  boat ride in the Bassin d'Arcachon, visit the village L'Herbe and of course eat oysters.







Where to stay:

La Maison du Bassin :This small hotel is very charming and fit totally with the overall ambiance of the Cap. It fell a bit that you are staying in a old family vacation house. The breakfast is very good (so please not to have a buffet)
The restaurant is delicious with a very nice atmosphere and the bar is the best place to have a drink in Cap Ferret.
However, make sure you book a big room if you are a couple. Unfortunately, we did not stay there because they had only a tiny room available and it was really to small for 2 persons to stay there, specially as there is no outdoor space. But I will go back and make sure I book the biggest room available

Coté Sable :

I really appreciate the room, the size was reasonable with a big italian shower and a nice outdoor space. Our room "Joyce" is probably one of the smallest there but in the garden level. The decoration is nice, waxed concrete all in the shade of beige and brown.
Did not feel like we where in a 4 stars hotel (French standard) but more in a 3 stars. 
The hotel will not leave any special memory to me ... a bit dull, leak of personality.

For a pre diner drink: La Maison du Basin

Where to eat: for lunch in one of the many oyster place, Chez Bolan.

For diner: La maison du Bassin, Chez Hortense (make sure you book in advance)