European Beach Clubs & Some Hard Travel Lessons
La Réserve à la Plage on Pampelonne, the chicest of the St-Tropez beach club set
Greetings fair readers,
I am back from death’s door.
You see, I brought an unexpected guest home with me from Mexico.
Montezuma
Montezuma is not my friend. While I don’t think this is the worst case of food poisoning I’ve ever had, it’s definitely in the Top 4. Other top events and culprits? A suspicious shrimp at a Thai restaurant in London back around 2008, a slice of regretfully tasty rosemary bread from a vendor on the side of the road outside Damascus in 2010, and a questionable slushy cocktail at the pool at my resort in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand back in 2019.
Funnily, these incidents resulted in some of the best hotel stays of my life! In Damascus, I recovered at the Four Seasons Damascus, where a male staff member offered to spritz me with Evian while I was lounging at the pool post-recovery. And then in Thailand, I recovered in my lovely little villa at the stunning Rayvadee outside Ao Nang and Krabi, reading books (I read 50 books in 2019) and ordering room service.
On Isla Mujeres, I think it was either accidentally brushing my teeth with the hotel sink water on Isla Mujeres or the breakfast burrito I had the morning I departed. (It is also possible that I picked up the bug at home a week earlier and it was just germinating in me the entire time I was in Mexico. I do like a bagged salad.)
Luckily I was home in West Palm Beach before Montezuma arrived, but the situation reminds me to remind you — should you find yourself ill in another country, your travel insurance policy likely has telemedicine. And remember that for most hotels, this is not their first rodeo — they have a doctor on call who can visit you in your room and prescribe what you need. Do not suffer in silence. Seek treatment. And hydrate.
Now let’s move on to more interesting topics.
I’m Going on Vacation!
A working vacation, but a vacation nonetheless. With the exception of some work with a river cruise line and Swiss Tourism, this is my very own trip! Given my time taking care of my mom during her last years with Parkinson’s Disease, I haven’t done one of these types of trips in over six years—I always had to prioritize work travel over my own trips. So I am excited to choose my own adventure. Follow my trip these next few weeks over on Instagram at @antidote.travel
Tip: Your Hotel Room Isn’t Going to Be Ready at 9 am This Summer
I've been so sick these past two weeks, so I'm coming in a touch grumpy but full of love. Grab a coffee and let me walk you through how travel really works. You'll thank me at check-in.
In peak travel season, I find myself doing a little education about how hotels work. Hotel housekeeping in most parts of the world starts at 8 am. (If they start earlier, people complain about the noise.) The average hotel room at a 4 or 5 star hotel takes 45 minutes to clean for a full turnover. (One client checks out, next client checks in.) If you show up at your hotel at 9 am in peak tourist season, there’s just no way your hotel room is going to be ready unless the hotel is not at full occupancy. But even then, let’s think about a hotel with 50 rooms at 90% occupancy. That means they have 5 rooms free. Hotels have different room categories. What are the chances that one of those 5 rooms is your specific category AND that it’s available for the entirety of your stay? LOW. If you expect to go straight into your hotel room when you arrive before 3 pm at a 4 or 5 star hotel in Europe this summer, I have some bad news AND a lovely spot in the lobby bar for you.
Want to definitely go straight to bed on arrival? Pay for the night before. I know it can feel expensive, but it’s worth it. You’ll just be cranky and lose a day in destination otherwise.
Middle of the road option: Some hotels are capitalizing on early check in by charging a small fee to prioritize your room for housekeeping. Hate this all you want but it’s a decent option. The math just isn’t mathing for the hotel otherwise. Especially in tight labor markets.
This is why booking through me at 5 star hotels worldwide is a good strategy — you’ll be prioritized for early check-in. (No guarantees though!)
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk!
The private beach at Cala di Volpe, Sardinia
A Note on European Beach Clubs
Now I want to talk to you about European beach clubs. If you are heading to France, Italy, Spain, Greece, or Portugal this summer, you are likely to an encounter a beach club or two. Here’s the thing: Beach clubs are expensive. Clients are sometimes surprised by this. The best organized beach clubs often carry a fee — sometimes it’s an entrance fee but most of the time, it’s a fee per chair/umbrella.
The fee you pay depends on the location of your chair. Want the front row? Be ready to pay for it. What are you paying for? A guy or gal to bring you drinks and food, a chair and towels, and if you are lucky, some chillaxing music. Many beach clubs require reservations in advance, especially on weekends. Plan for that. Here are some of my favorite hotels with beach clubs in Europe…nearly all of these are Virtuoso properties where there’s an advantage to booking through me. Ready to talk beach clubs? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes France: The original. The Eden-Roc pavilion with its saltwater pool blasted into the rocks and diving board over the Med is arguably the most famous "beach club" in the world, even without sand. Cabanas book out a year ahead in summer.
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat (Four Seasons) France: Club Dauphin, the Olympic seawater pool at the tip of the cape reached by funicular from the main building. Non-hotel-guest memberships make it a real Riviera scene.
La Réserve Ramatuelle France: The hotel itself is clifftop and serene, but clients get access to La Réserve à la Plage on Pampelonne, which is the chicest of the St-Tropez beach club set (much calmer than Club 55 next door).
Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda Sardinia, Italy: Boat shuttle to a private beach with full service, plus the famous seawater pool. Peak Aga Khan-era glamour; pairs well with a Silversea or Explora Med sailing.
Il Pellicano, Porto Ercole Italy: No sand, but the cliffside beach club with sunbeds on the rocks and elevator down to the sea is iconic Slim Aarons territory.
Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay Spain: Sits directly on Talamanca Bay with its own chiringuito; the polished-but-fun option for clients who don't want the party hotels.
One&Only Aesthesis, Glyfada Greece: The newest serious player. Mid-century "Athenian Riviera glamour" concept with a proper beachfront club, and closer to the city than Vouliagmeni. Good alternative when Astir is sold out or the client wants something fresher.
Santa Marina (Luxury Collection) Greece: The only resort on Mykonos with a genuinely private sandy beach, plus Buddha-Bar Beach on-site. Best answer for clients who want the Mykonos scene but a calm home base.
Cali Mykonos Greece: Newer entry on Kalafatis with its own beach club on a quiet bay; better for couples who want Mykonos without the Nammos circus.
When Does Your Passport Expire?
I collect passports from clients for any international trip. This is to confirm legal names and dates of birth for things like flights, cruises, and sites that require registration like The Vatican. (You’d be surprised how many people have an entirely different name on their passport than what they go by.) Recently, I let my guard down with some friends who booked last minute trips. Only to find that their passports were expiring imminently!! Not good. The general rule of thumb is that your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date from your trip. Honestly, I worry about the random gate agent more than I worry about immigration — all it takes is one gate agent who is a stickler for the rules to deny you boarding.
After I had my little menty-b about expiring passports, my friends started sending me all sorts of AI hocus pocus on why my concern was unfounded. While I am always willing to be wrong, please do not risk traveling on a passport that is going to expire within six months of your return. It’s just not worth the drama. If the airline won’t let you fly, travel insurance won’t cover you for this sort of trip issue.
And yes, this has happened to me! Virgin once wouldn’t let me check in for my flight from London to Orlando because my US passport was expiring in five months. I tried arguing that I was flying back to my home country to no avail. So I waited 10 minutes and then queued up for Economy even though I was in Upper Class. The Economy agent let me check in, no problem. This was 20 years ago and the technology has probably caught up so I don’t know if this hack would still work today.
Italy is Crazy—Pricing and Availability Changes Rapidly
Italy is having a moment that refuses to end. In 2025 the country welcomed roughly 185 million tourists, and the biggest wave of foreign visitors comes not just from the US — Germans are actually Italy's number-one international market, followed by Americans, Brits, and the French, with China, India, and Japan climbing fast every year. Translation: you are not competing with "some other American family" for that room. You are competing with the entire planet.
Bear in mind, the top luxury hotels in Rome and on the Amalfi Coast are tiny. When you picture a famous five-star Italian hotel, you're probably imagining hundreds of rooms. Nope. On the Amalfi Coast, Le Sirenuse in Positano has just 58 rooms. Il San Pietro down the road has around 55. The Caruso, a Belmond hotel perched up in Ravello, has 50. Even Hotel Eden in Rome — a grande dame with a Michelin-starred rooftop — is only about 98 rooms. Then subtract the suites, the room categories that are already booked, and the guests extending their stays, and the number of rooms actually available for your specific dates in your specific category shrinks to almost nothing.
Do the math with me. Fifty rooms. Peak season. The world showing up. This is why I beg you: do not dilly-dally. When I propose hotels that work for your dates, the answer is not "Let me think about it for a few weeks and circle back." By the time you circle back, La Sirenuse is gone, the Caruso is gone, and I'm calling you with options that start with the word "unfortunately." Ready to book Italy? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.
What’s Next?
I had plans to write about all sorts of other things this week but I was not up to the task of the research required. Back to regularly scheduled programming next weekend and then follow along for some updates from my grand European adventure!
About Krista
I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in Palm Beach, Florida. I attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad and I have my MBA from the University of Chicago. Before building my travel business, I spent 20 years in the investment management industry and over a decade living and working in London, England. I’ve personally traveled to 80 countries and now design thoughtful, highly customized trips for travelers who value expertise, access, and a seamless experience.
I offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation for travelers considering a custom itinerary or luxury cruise.c
For travel inspiration and real-time updates, you can follow along on Instagram or connect with me on Facebook. I also share a curated list of travel products I genuinely use and recommend in my online store.
What I Offer…
Custom itinerary design for complex, multi-stop trips
VIP hotel benefits through Virtuoso and preferred partner programs (including complimentary breakfast, hotel credits, and priority for upgrades where available)
Luxury ocean, river, and expedition cruises with added onboard credits
Vetted villa rentals with concierge services worldwide
Private guides, small-group touring, and unique local experiences
Private aviation and yacht charters through trusted partners
Airport transfers, VIP arrival and departure services, and full ground logistics
Travel protection and support when plans change
I work best with travelers who want expert planning, trusted partnerships, and someone in their corner from start to finish. That’s what I am best at! Ready to talk travel? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.
