Vacation Is The Best Time To Learn Something New
More travelers are using their getaways as a chance to uncover new passions or take up fresh challenges. Off the clock and away from the pressures of daily life, the brain can better absorb new skills and new ways of moving.
The windy thrills of kiteboarding are best learned in the shallow waters of Long Bay, Turks & Caicos. There are plenty of schools for beginners and guides for the advanced who can lead visitors to harder-to-reach locations.
In the south of France, watch the grandchildren learn to swim in a gorgeous pool carved out of basalt rock at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. This villa hotel in Antibes was once a favorite of European aristocrats and post-war Americans, who made it a summer retreat. Five clay tennis courts will enchant both beginners and advanced players.
Riders can discover the joy of horseback travel in stunning Patagonia at Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Ask me to book an estancia and a tour operator that works with the local gauchos. Or head north to British Columbia’s rugged interior, where luxury ranches and resorts offer immersive riding programs for all levels and all-inclusive adventure.
Sharpen a second language in a country where it’s dominant. Head to Granada, Spain, for intensive lessons at your level, then wander the stone streets of the Albaicín district and explore the Alhambra palace. In Sancerre, France, a popular language school offers classes in a medieval hilltop town surrounded by 4,000 wineries. Learn the language and discover a new appellation.
Learn how to move like a pro in Vienna, where every Austrian masters the waltz in school to keep this cultural tradition alive. Visitors can join classes and, if visiting in January, experience the glamour of Ball Season for a night to remember. Or, take your evenings up a notch with bachata lessons in the Dominican Republic or tango in Argentina.
In Scotland, a stay at the historic Gleneagles estate allows guests to train in the ancient art of falconry and/or work with Labrador retrievers in training to be gun dogs. This is a great one for young families.
Italian nonnas or top-notch chefs show visitors how to make pasta in humble homes or gleaming five-star resort kitchens. And of course, I’ll make sure the setting comes with a view worth savoring. Or book a week in London and sign up for lessons at the Jamie Oliver Cookery School, where two locations offer hands-on expertise in everything from knife skills to perfecting choux and Indian street food favorites.
Lean into your wanderlust by picking up a new skill on your next holiday.
Happy Travels!
