In this monthly column, we share a selection of travel stories from members of RHC located around the world, along with our best recommendations for some of the globe’s most exciting destinations. From unique local dishes to hidden gems and breathtaking sights, these trips have provided us with unforgettable memories, and we hope our insights will help guide your own adventures.
Sacha Bell, Senior Vice President
Last month I visited Bratislava in Slovakia for the second time. The first time was in December, when it was crisp and beautiful, but bitterly cold. For this second trip, I enjoyed seeing the city in a different light, in a slightly milder season, when there were blossoms and leaves on the trees. Sandwiched between Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Romania and Austria, it’s an ideal city from which to explore the other lesser-known parts of Europe. The country as a whole has something to offer every type of traveler. I can only describe the hospitality there as like a warm embrace, its people are welcoming and humble and their approach to service truly sets them apart. Highlights from this most recent visit include the spectacular and visually stunning cocktails, and unforgettable service at Mirror Bar; entering an otherworldly dining experience at Eck which was chillingly similar to the restaurant in the culinary thriller, The Menu (except we made it out very much alive!), eggy bread at Otto and foraging in Stupava, where we later dined at the magical Wild Kitchen. I can still taste the minestrone soup and local cheese. Bratislava is an undiscovered gem that I’d recommend to any lover of food, travel and history but also any proponent of true, exceptional hospitality.
Ava Buchwald, Publicist
Last summer I had the opportunity to travel to Thailand with my dad and my sister for 10 days. It was truly a one of a kind country, each city we went to was different from the next – not only in the activities we did but the culture, too. Our first stop was Bangkok, where we explored the amazing temples and the city life there. This was the first time in Asia for all of us, so it was really special to see what that side of the world was like. The food was incredible – it was my first time trying pad thai and it was delicious. We then flew to Chiang Mai, which couldn’t have been more different from Bangkok. We saw a few more temples here and learned how to plant rice, but the highlight was definitely visiting the elephant sanctuary. As someone who is easily scared of animals, this was the most surprising part of the trip for me. The elephants couldn’t have been friendlier, and this felt like a true once in a lifetime experience. From there we visited Phuket, where we hit the water and got to experience the most gorgeous blue oceans and the famous islands. The trip was a dream and I can’t recommend visiting enough if you have the opportunity to do so.
Chloe Guay, Publicist
I traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico at the end of July for five days. It was very special to see the place where a lot of my family is from. My favorite part was the beautiful ocean and getting to swim in crystal clear waters. I explored historic Old San Juan and ate a lot of delicious food. My favorite restaurant was Cafetería Mallorca, where I ate the best breakfast, mallorca (bread) with ham, egg, and cheese, topped with powdered sugar. I also visited La Factoría, a bar with the best, buzziest vibes. It was named the Best Bar in the Caribbean in 2024 and is currently number 18 on the North America’s 50 Best Bars List. I highly recommend their delicious signature Lavender Mule.
Zoe Allen, Publicist
I traveled to Barcelona for four days last month and had the best time. Barcelona is so special for a number of reasons, but so much so because of what you pass by on the street – houses designed by Antonio Gaudi that feel like adult wonderlands, such as Casa Batlló and Casa Mila. I went to Paradiso, a true immersive cocktail experience that blew me away. It is truly deserving of its ranking within the top five of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Can Fisher was a highlight as well, it is a bright and spacious restaurant along the Barceloneta, also home to the best paella I’ve ever tasted. It was a beautiful place to spend even a very rainy afternoon. Tapeo is another restaurant I loved, it’s a tiny tapas restaurant in the Gothic Quarter offering fried anchovies I’ll never be able to forget. My boyfriend and I stumbled upon it after arriving in the city. We also took a train to Sitges, a coastal town just an hour away from Barcelona, this was the perfect day trip for a dip in the most beautiful Mediterranean waters.
Kaitlin Egan, Senior Director
Last summer, I kicked things off with a trip to Paris, arriving just in time to see the city preparing for the Olympics! It was my first time in Paris, so I checked out all of the iconic spots like the Eiffel Tower, but also explored more local gems for dining, drinking, shopping, and sightseeing. I walked up to Montmartre (well worth it for the view!), shopped at Le Bon Marché, visited the stunning Dior Exhibit, and dined at places like Ober Mamma, Freddy’s, Barawine, Le Charonne, Candelaria, and Café les Deux Gares. Later, I spent a week in London for my birthday, where highlights included hiking the Seven Sisters cliffs, visiting the Elton John photo exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and checking out The Black Dog (Swifties IFYKYK), Chiltern Firehouse, Jacuzzi in Chelsea, The Holly Bush, Spaniards Inn, Camden Market, Borough Market and meeting RHC’s London team at Bistro Freddie!
Sacha Bell, SVP
Last month I was lucky enough to visit Lisbon and Madrid on two separate trips. Lisbon was first and we stayed at Hotel Hotel, a gorgeous gem of a hotel that came highly recommended by journalist, travel expert and good taste extraordinaire, Alia Akkam. We could not stop eating at their restaurant, Animal – which serves incredible sushi (not expected in Lisbon), and truly memorable inventions that play on classic Lisboan dishes. The perfectly cooked wild broccoli florets (rolled in peanut cream, black garlic mayonnaise and puffed rice) were divine. There is much debate about which is the best Pastel del Nata in Lisbon, but after quizzing a few locals, it turns out that the best Pastel del Nata can only be found outside of the city, and also that it’s purely up to personal preference–how crisp you like your pastry, how dense the custard and how caramelized on top. That didn’t stop us sampling and ranking the Pastel del Nata in every single bakery we passed, however!
Madrid I fell in love with immediately; the Gothic architecture, the wide, clean streets, sunny blue skies and late night cafe culture were all major ticks for me, and it’s somewhere I could imagine living year-round. We enjoyed tapas and quick chilly pool dips at the Thompson Madrid, which was ideally located right in the center of the city. Our evenings were a whirr of cocktail bars, with some standouts including Lovo and Marrufo Coctelería. The most memorable culinary experience was at Sala de Despiece, a cult-favorite restaurant in a captivating, lab-like setting. We sat at the countertop and enjoyed beef tomatoes injected with balsamic and sea salt; burrata with pistachios, and chocolate dulce de leche for dessert. This restaurant should be on the hit list for any food-lovers’ Madrid itinerary.
