Luxury honeymoons in Italy, girls trips to Paris, and slow escapes for two.
Here are four of our favorite destinations — Italy, France, Greece and Portugal — hand-picked for their cultural depth, architectural significance, and the quality of their stillness. Whether you're planning a honeymoon in Italy along the Amalfi Coast, a girls trip to Paris, or an anniversary in Santorini, every trip below is designed one-to-one by Jamie Leigh, who lived in Europe for over 20 years.
Italy
Where sun-soaked cliffs meet the Mediterranean Sea · Ideal for honeymoons & couples
From the ancient grandeur of Rome and the Renaissance romance of Florence and Tuscany to the sun-soaked cliffs of the Amalfi Coast — Italy is a country of infinite moods, each one designed for slow, luxurious travel.
Rome
History & romance
- Private Colosseum and Forum access
- Vatican after-hours tours
- Evening strolls through Trastevere
Tuscany & Florence
Art, wine & slow travel
- Florence's Uffizi and hidden palazzos
- Private vineyard lunches in Chianti
- Sunset drives through the Val d'Orcia
Amalfi Coast
Coastal romance
- Private Amalfi to Positano by sea
- Ravello garden lunches
- Capri by chartered boat
Choosing between Italy, France, Greece and Portugal
A luxury honeymoon in Italy
Italy is still where most honeymooners land, and for good reason. An Amalfi Coast honeymoon gives you cliffside terraces, lemon groves and boat days to Capri; Tuscany gives you long vineyard lunches and hill towns at golden hour; Rome gives you the ancient stories in between. The version I plan most often for newlyweds is Rome for a few nights, Tuscany or Positano for the rest, and no more than two moves — a honeymoon in Italy should feel like a rest, not a race.
A girls trip to Paris — or Provence
A girls trip to Paris works in any season: markets and grand magasins in December, garden mornings and rooftop evenings in spring. Add Normandy for history and Provence for lavender, markets and the slow Southern France pace, and you have a week that suits a solo traveler and a group of six equally well. If shopping is the point, start with my Paris holiday shopping guide.
Greece for couples and anniversaries
Greece rewards couples who want water and quiet. Athens for two nights of ruins and rooftop dinners, Santorini for the caldera sunsets people travel across the world to see, Mykonos when you want the evenings livelier. A Greece honeymoon or Anniversary-Moon usually wants seven to ten days so the ferries and flights never feel rushed.
Portugal when you want value and warmth
Portugal is the destination I recommend for travelers who want Europe without the crowds — Lisbon's tiled hills, Cascais by the sea, Sintra's palaces, Porto and the Douro Valley for wine, and the Algarve for beach days. It suits babymoons, small groups of friends, and anyone taking a first trip to Europe.
Still deciding? Tell me your dates and the occasion and I'll tell you honestly where I'd send you — start a conversation.
Other popular destinations Jamie Leigh plans
- England
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Spain
- Costa Rica
- Hawaii
- Alaska
- Morocco
- Netherlands
Don't see your dream destination here? Jamie Leigh plans journeys throughout Europe and beyond — just ask.