Fun fact: Venice is a city built on water and has 391 bridges throughout.

Set in the heart of Venice, a city of art, design, and fascinating historical heritage, the Il Palazzo Experimental is a renaissance palace transformed into a modern jewel box.

Water lapping beneath hotels and restaurants, flowing gently under bridges, meeting the stairs of grand villas, and splashing against ferries and boats.

We feel so lucky to have stumbled upon its wisteria-covered terraces, view-swept balconies, and a swimming deck with direct access for lakeside dips.

The seaside city of Nice has proven to be the perfect place to say our goodbyes to this diverse country, close to countless towns along the French Riviera.

Strolling around the streets of Saint-Tropez for the past five days, the seaside port burst with colour, character, and charm.

We checked into La Figuière, a Mediterranean villa estate surrounded by olive, fig, and lemon trees, with gardens just as full as Monet's.

The past week has been spent up high among hillside towns or down below winding through rolling greens — so today, we say goodbye to Provence with giant gleeful grins.

A magical place to start and end the day, to work from overlooking the countryside from our bedroom’s window — or even cancel an entire day’s plans to laze by the pool.

The past three days exploring the Bordeaux region has been overwhelmingly beautiful.

Sleep in a chateau: ✔️

The perfect introduction to the French countryside by way of the Loire Valley, home to Château de Chenonceau.