English pub dog | Hampshire County

The English countryside is overlooked as a destination by many upscale travelers, but there are many reasons to consider England, especially in the busy summer travel months. Here are my top five reasons to visit the English countryside:

1. Pleasant summer weather.
2. Uncrowded.
3. Easy to reach, a short non-stop flight from the U.S. east coast to London, with non-stop flights from hundreds of international destinations.
4. Lots to do. I saw Winchester and the famous Winchester Cathedral before (I spent the night in Hampshire before flying to Venice the next morning). There's also Stonehenge, Avebury, the Cotswolds, Bath, and dozens of other fascinating towns and villages.
5. Save money. Luxurious hotels are less expensive than city hotels. I spent the night at Four Seasons Hampshire, a traditional manor house that has been converted into a family-friendly resort — a great value when you consider the free daily breakfast for two and the $100 food and beverage credit you receive when you book through your Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultant.

And where else will you find charming country inns like The Gamekeepers with Guinness on tap, gourmet pub grub, and a dog behind the bar? I had a great dinner there.


English countryside (search here on Google) 

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Italy in October

My next trip is officially planned ... I'll be going to Italy in October for some hotel site inspections. Here's what my plans entail:

Four Seasons Hampshire. OK, this is not in Italy, but as getting to Venice with one stop from SFO means an airport change in London and a very late evening arrival in Venice, I decided to treat myself to an overnight in the English countryside. Just 35 minutes from Heathrow, I'm looking forward to the chance to see the county of Hampshire, have pub grub and Guinness for dinner, and maybe even visit Winchester Cathedral. Then, my sensible 9:20 a.m. flight the next morning lands me just past noon in... 

Venice, city of canals. I haven't been to Venice in 34 years. I'm looking forward to wandering the streets and bridges of Venice. I don't expect to visit all 10 Virtuoso hotels in a day-and-a-half, but I do expect to visit a fair number including the Cipriani, Danieli, Europa & Regina, Londra Palace, and Ca' Sagredo.

Verona, where Romeo and Juliet lived. I will be the guest of Palazzo Victoria, one of three hotels that are hosting this trip for a number of travel consultants. I have never before visited Verona, so I'm especially interested in exploring this destination, especially the pink marble Roman amphitheater. 

Florence, city of the Renaissance. This will be my third trip to Florence. I've seen the two major museums (the Accademia and the Uffizi Gallary) and have climbed the famous dome of the cathedral designed by Brunelleschi. It's an amazing story, and you should read Brunelleschi's Dome before you visit. We will be hosted by Il Salviatino, and I'm planning to do site inspections at the Four Seasons Florence, Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy, and Helvetia & Bristol.

Milan, site of The Last Supper. My 15 minutes in front of Leonardo's classic masterpiece The Last Supper was the highlight of my previous trip to Italy, and if given the chance, I'll see it again. It's a special feeling to spend time with a classic work of art. Our host is the new Armani Hotel, and I also plan to visit the Four Seasons Milan, Park Hyatt Milan, and Principe Di Savoia.

Virtually every hotel mentioned in this blog is a member of Virtuoso. You can receive the Virtuoso amenities (free daily breakfast, room upgrades when available, and additional added-value perks) just by making your booking through a Virtuoso travel consultant. It's a great way to enjoy the most luxurious hotels in the world, while getting the best value for your euros.

Italy in October (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.