We have been on the move this summer from St Barths to the English countryside, the Mexican Riviera to the Smokey Mountains – and beyond. Every quarter, I do a quick Q&A with our team. I love seeing which categories we fall into: beach vs. mountains, carry on vs. checked bag, etc. In this edition, we dig into the treasures we brought home from recent trips.

Annie Chambers (Founder)

Favorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

My new favorite travel obsession is stalking the local pharmacy (or spa) and bringing home skincare from that country. At Cliveden House (just outside London), I had an amazing facial with this pillow-like mask from Oskia, and I bought it at the spa gift shop. In Greece, I fell in love with the brand Korres – and purchased half the pharmacy – I particularly love the Santorini mud mask, the yoghurt serum, and the undereye roller. I also picked up some olive oil in Corfu from the farm where we did a tasting, and brought home candied kumquats. I found local artisans in Crete and had to come home with some gorgeous pieces of pottery as well.

Most underrated destination you’ve been to?

Morocco! It was such a departure from my usual European trips. The call to prayer from the loudspeakers, the beautiful mosques, the shops in the souks. I’d never experienced anything like it. Such a rich cultural experience, and the food was incredible.

Mountains or beaches?

Beach! My favorite beach property is Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla.

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Alex Cutler

Favorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

The most amazing smelling candle and skincare from Lili Bermuda. Their scents are inspired by the florals and beaches in Bermuda. My favorite is Fresh Water. You can also order online and they ship internationally, but if you’re visiting Bermuda it’s worth a visit to their very charming perfumery in St. George’s.

Most underrated destination you’ve been to?

Oaxaca! It’s a city I likely wouldn’t have visited had I not been invited to attend a wedding there; I think serious foodies and culture travelers have known about this gem for years but compared with other popular destinations like Mexico City, Cabo or Riviera Maya, it deserves far more attention than it gets. Think authentic Mexican in a culturally rich, beautiful, historic, walkable city.. with truly incredible Michelin star food! The hotel we stayed in, Quinta Real, was a former convent and felt like a hidden retreat within the city. I’d recommend pairing Oaxaca with Puerto Escondido for an amazing city + coastal vacation.

Mountains or beaches?

I’m normally a beach gal, but lately I’m loving the mountains! Hotel Jerome (Auberge) in Aspen or Lake Placid Lodge (Relais & Chateaux) are new favorites.

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Catherine Perez

Favorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

My favorite thing I brought home from recent travels is a Sicilian ceramic head from Taormina. You see these colorful Teste di Moro all over Sicily, and I loved learning about the local legend behind them while we were there. They’re such a distinctive part of Sicilian art and culture, so I knew I wanted one as a souvenir. I found mine while wandering the shops in Taormina, and now it’s one of those pieces in my home that immediately takes me back to the tripFavorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

Most underrated destination you’ve been to?

Crete. I think it gets overlooked in favor of some of the more famous Greek islands, but it completely surprised me. It has beautiful beaches and scenery, but also incredible food, charming towns, so much history, and a really strong sense of local culture. We only had a taste of it during a recent Mediterranean cruise, and I left wishing we had several more days to explore. It’s definitely somewhere I’d go back to for a longer stay.

Mountains or beaches?

Mountains/lakes always but beaches have been growing on me in recent years.

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Elizabeth Erhart

Favorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

When I travel, I always look for a piece of artwork to bring home. A painting of sailboats from a sailing day in Greece, giraffe sculptures from a safari in South Africa, a watercolor of the Ponte Vecchio to remember the vibrant streets of Florence — each piece holds a memory. I love exploring local galleries and markets to get a feel for the artists and their culture. We also love collecting Christmas ornaments, so when we decorate our tree every December, we can reminisce on all our travels!

Most underrated destination you’ve been to?

Iceland! We booked a last-minute trip to celebrate our anniversary and went in June, when 24 hours of daylight let us pack in so much — whale watching, incredible hikes, and relaxation at the Blue Lagoon. The sheer number of waterfalls and views still take my breath away.

Mountains or beaches?

Beach, hands down! Especially with a little one- being able to plop him in the sand and watch him dig and build for hours is an absolute dream. There’s something about wide open spaces that puts my mind at ease while he plays.

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Viviana Bertinetto

Favorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

I usually go for small art pieces, specialty food, or jewelry. I bought some adorable gold earrings at a street market in Kilkenny, Ireland, and they are my absolute favorite! On my last visit to my home town of Turin, I went a bit crazy at a local chocolate factory, and came home with two pounds of gianduiotti, our famous chocolates made with hazelnuts and shaped like little ingots. Venchi is my favorite sport for both chocolates and gelato – I just can’t resist every time I travel home!

Most underrated destination you’ve been to?

I am still dreaming about Vancouver Island and British Columbia! The nature, the wildlife, the incredible food scene…in my opinion, it is the perfect spot for couples, friends groups, and families with kids alike. There is so much to do: lots of spas if you want to focus on wellness, incredible boat tours to see whales and hot springs, kayaking and hiking if you like to stay active. I truly cannot say enough good things about it!

Mountains or beaches?

I am a beach gal but the mountains have been calling my name recently – and my husband may have influenced me a bit! Our trip to Switzerland is still one of my favorites to this day, and I will take a week in the Jüngfrau region any time! I love Chateau Gütsch in Lucerne which you can only reach via funicular, and Beau Rivage in Lausanne for unbeatable lake views.

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Megan Stauffer

Favorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

Like Annie, I completely fell in love with the Korres product line while in Greece. Their yoghurt after-sun lotion and lip balms became my favorites. Sun of a Beach is another Greek brand to love that makes the most fun and colorful terry cloth products (think towels, mini dry bags, totes, etc). Lastly, anything from this adorable boutique in Paros, but especially the hand embroidered loafers or colorful bucket bags.

Most underrated destination you’ve been to?

Naxos is an island that really rewards a different type of travel. You don’t show up and get “wowed” the way perhaps Santorini or Paros does, but after a few days, once you’ve explored the local tavernas, cooked in the home of a Yiayia (grandmother), and seen the bioluminescence in the caves, you fall in love.

Mountains or beaches?

Beach! Bonus points if you can see the mountains (or volcanoes / rolling hills), from the beach.

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Laura Dugan

Favorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

Laura: I like to buy perfume if I can! Yes, you can buy a lot of these online from the US, but it’s a fun memory to buy something in the destination where you will always remember the trip when you wear the perfume. This year I bought a bottle of perfume while in Capri, and in Paris I went to the original Diptyque store and bought a bottle of “Eau Capitale”– a tribute to Paris!

Most underrated destination you’ve been to?

York, England – A lot of clients will take the train from London – Edinburgh directly, but York was a perfect stop between the two. Small enough to walk, so much fascinating history, a real sense of character. You can explore the Shambles, the famous medieval street that may have inspired Diagon Alley, and of course eat Yorkshire pudding!

Mountains or beaches?

Mountains, definitely. Locally, the Swag is my favorite mountain retreat, but we also loved our stay at the Rosewood Schloss Fuschl near Salzburg with views of the Austrian Alps over the lake.

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Cassie Lochridge

Favorite thing you’ve brought home from your recent travels?

I love to support street artists or local shops whenever possible. On a recent tirp to Nashville, I purchased a bandana for myself and a shirt for my husband at imogene + willie. My BFF since age 3 and I like to keep the best friend necklace tradition alive. We got matching second ear piercings on a recent trip and matching handmade bracelets in Cartagena.

Most underrated destination you’ve been to?

Southeast Asia. There is so much to love about Southeast Asia. If you’re drawn to nature, incredible architecture, unforgettable food, and experiences that immerse you in a different culture, this part of the world is hard to beat. And then there are the people.
Every culture is different, but one thing that stays with me is how warm and welcoming many locals are. And a bonus…the value. Southeast Asia can offer an incredible level of luxury, service, food, and experiences at a price point that can be hard to match elsewhere.

Mountains or beaches?

Torn! We live on a barrier island near Charleston so we can always head to the beach, but it truly never gets old. But I have to say, the mountains in the summer hit different when you’re struggling through a Low Country summer. I’m originally from Colorado, and the Ritz-Carlton at Bachelor Gulch is the perfect setting in any season.