by Camilla Ridley
The change in quarantine rules suddenly makes a holiday abroad viable. Here are our five favourite destinations and five fabulously floral holiday dresses for you to wear
Haven't booked your holiday in the sun because of ever changing government restrictions? Not to worry; it isn't too late. It's a matter of knowing where to go, what you need to know before you travel and the best fashion edits.
And suddenly it’s August and we’re into the holiday season. While many of you are already away or jetting off to far flung and exotic places, I know lots of others are basing themselves here in the UK this summer. However the recent change in quarantine rules for double vaccinated travellers visiting amber destinations suddenly makes a last minute booking and change of scene seem very appealing. But where to go? To inspire you, the team here at Ridley London have compiled a little guide of our five favourite holiday destinations including our favourite places to visit and stay in each of these green and amber locations. Along with our recommendations of our favourite holiday dresses to wear while you're there. We hope you enjoy reading these and that you have a lovely holiday…where ever you are.
Malta, a must visit microcosm of the Meditaranian
Kat Farmer of @DoesMyBumLook40 wears Ridley's Soho Cotton Serena dress - the perfect floral maxi dress for transition from day to evening. Earrings from Tara Rosenbaum Jewellery
Ancient Greek myth has it Odysseus was shipwrecked in Malta and held captive by Calipso for seven long years. Homer couldn’t have chosen a more visually impressive landscape for his poem, from its dramatic escarpment, sapphire sea, to its narrow streets with elegant balconies dotted with bougainvillea and perfumed with wild orchids, Malta is a feast for the senses. Steeped in 7000 years of history, the archipelago is home to megalithic temples along with Renaissance and Baroque architectural gems from the 15th and 16th centuries. Best of all, Malta enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year.
In the morning head to one of Malta’s beautiful beaches or take a dip in St Peter’s pool, a scenic inlet of sparkling aquamarine water surrounded by dimpled crags. During the hottest part of the day, leave the beach to explore the amber sandstone streets of Mdina or the buzz of the fish market in Marsaxlokk on the harbour peppered with brightly coloured boats called Luzzus.
The island of Gozo is just a ferry away where you can visit the citadel and take in the breath-taking views of the island. Hop over to Camino Island for a swim in what is the most beautiful crystal clear water in the aptly titled Blue Lagoon. Of course, the nightlife of Valetta will not disappoint, with an impressive display of restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Whether your designs for a summer holiday are centred on catching the trendy hotspots or simply escaping the hubbub, Malta’s seven islands offer a rich variety of possibilities. Odysseus could have suffered much worse.
What you need to know:
Malta is only accepting tourist (over 12 years of age) with two vaccinations
Flight time: 3 hours 15 minutes direct from London
Average August temperature: 35-40 degrees F
Our top picks:
Our favourite place to stay: Cugo Gran Malta a stylish boutique hotel in a characterful fort with amazing sea views and modern design to rival anything you'd get in Milan. The service and friendly staff are great.
Our Destination dinner: Noni a stylish boutique
Our Favourite Beach: Ghanj Tuffieha Bay
Our Best Bar: Café Society and Infinity by Hugo’s at the St Julian hotel (roof top bar)
Our Sundown sharpener: Enjoy a delicious Fleur de Paradis
You may bump into: Brad Pitt, Lady GaGa, Stephen Spielberg
Hero Dress: With Malta's high temperatures and humidity you'll be looking for something cool, stylish and comfortable. Silk is the perfect material and will keep you extra cool in the heat. Our gorgeous floral print silk Ridley London Meg midi dress will see you right through from a day on the beach to a sophisticated dinner and our separates are both practical and versatile
Our Top left: Annabel of @Belfashionedit wears Ridley London's Mandarin frieze Meg midi dress, Top Right: Deborah James @Bowelbabe wears our Talitha top and Samantha Skirt, both in Liberty print jungle trip silk satin. Below left: our Samantha skirt in jungle trip cotton and white cotton Meg blouse. Below right: Ridley's Serena maxi dress in navy minuet cotton.
Barbados, Land of the Flying Fish
Our model wears our Sadie Swing Dress in gold Soho metalic silk chiffon.
A coral island paradise on the doorstep of the Lesser Antilles, Barbados was firmly established as an exclusive playground for the rich and famous from the mid 1950’s. After a period of package holiday tourism and all that comes with it, Barbados is back on the map as a chic destination. With its white sandy beaches fringing crystalline water, Barbados is brilliant for diving, surfing and kite boarding whilst the west side of the island offers tranquil beaches for families and sun worshippers.
UNESCO world heritage site, Bridgetown and Garrison maintains the grand architecture in vibrant pigments of its colonial history with the pleasant sound of steel drums and the waft of sweet Bajan food on the boardwalk at the Careenage. Whilst there, discover the Barbados Museum and Historical society, once a military prison.
Pass the time at a tranquil west island beach Carlisle Bay, Browns or Pebble beach reading a book under a sabal palm. Swim amongst parrot fish, sea turtles and sea horses. You’ll likely see a flying fish, which the locals marinate in lime juice and herbs, then dip in eggs and breadcrumbs before frying. After lunch, absorb the colours of the clapboard houses of Speighstown and watch the sunset on the beach with a rum cocktail from Mount Gay Rum, the world’s oldest distillery.
Later, head to Tapas on the South coast or The Lone Star for dinner, where the chef will surpass your expectations with his creatively inspired menu featuring the catch of the day served with crab crushed potatoes, sweet corn, asparagus spears and crab tempura, white wine and soft herb veloute or opt for the grilled Jamaican jerk lobster. After a night cap you can relax in the knowledge that tomorrow, you will do it all again.
What you need to know:
For Barbados requires all arrivals to provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test. This must be a private test. See details here
Flight time from London is 8 hours and 50 minutes.
Average August Temperature: 25-30 degrees F
Our top picks:
Our favourite place to stay: For stunning rooms with names like Cadillac and Studebaker offering beach front views, we love The Lonestar If you're looking for an elegant hotel/spa, look no further than The Sandpiper Hotel
Our destination dinner: The Lonestar
Our favourite Beach: Payne's Bay
Our best bar: La Cabane or Sea Shed
Sundown sharpener: A Dark and Stormy, or the obligatory Painkiller what else?
You may bump into: Michael Caine, Simon Cowell
Hero dress: The glamorous Barbados set like to dress up, especially when visiting the island's most popular bars and restaurants, so a statement holiday dress is a must. Our chic floral printed silk Alicia dress and new Sadie swing dress would be a perfect fit.
Top left: Heidy @heidybrynjacobsenyoga in our Sadie Swing dress in pink jungle trip print, Becky @bricksandstitchrs wears our Meg Maxi in red carline rose. Below: The Alicia Midi dress in white floral symphony silk chiffon and right: the Willow shirt dress in green/orange Elysian cotton.
Ibiza, much more than just the party island
Our model is wearing Ridley's Talitha midi dress in tangerine d'anjo jazz/Mandarin frieze silk satin.
We absolutely love Ibiza and as a family have been holidaying regularly there for the last ten years. And once you move beyond the cliches, you’ll discover that the island has a lot more on offer than the packed bars, clubs and hoards of partying tourists, which are thankfully contained around Saint Antonio. For us Ibiza combines the very best of a laid back beach holiday with many of the benefits of a modern city break including great restaurants, shopping and a vibrant contemporary arts, design and music scene which the Island has become famous for. With over 100 amazing beaches within a 30 minute drive, stunning vistas, fantastic places to stay, and a big slice of spiritual undertone You certainly won’t feel crowded out or get board. And don't be surprised if you find yourself seduced by the islands mystical charms and your spiritual and creative self coming to the surface.
What you need to know:
For Barbados requires all arrivals to provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test. This must be a private test. See details here
Flight time from London is 2.5 hours
Average August Temperature: 25-30 degrees F
Our top picks:
Our favourite place to stay: For We love boutique Agritourismo Atzaro located towards the tranquil centre of the Island with the most amazing Pool and Spa and easy reach of all of the Islands best beaches
Our destination dinner: While Ibiza boasts an extraordinary number of new Michelin star Eateries and destination restaurants we absolutely love lively Can Terra for Tapas in Ibiza town
Our favourite Beach: Es cavallet, a long white sandy beach with the amazing El chiringuito beach club and restaurant and smaller secluded coves around the lighthouse point.
Our best bar: Experimental beach club, amazing vibe, fantastic sunsets
Sundown sharpener: The Island the Mojito was made for
You may bump into: Superstar DJ's including Fatboy Slim and David Guetta are Island regulars along with a spectrum of creatives, artists, actors and entertainers
Hero look: Embrace Ibiza's laid back youthful style with one of our Ridley London floral print maxi skirts and vest or T-shirt which looks great with trainers, flip-flops or wedges. The simple Kat T-shirt dress style is also bang on trend right now and perfect for both a beach club lunch or an evening out.
Top left: Sammy @theturquoiseflamingo nails the Ibiza look in our navy minuet floral cotton Samanth maxi skirt, Right: Kat @doesmybumlook40 sports Ridley's green crochet meadow Savanna sundress. Below left: Ridley's Kat t-shirt dress in mint geo jewel satin and right: our Martha midi skirt in a navy walter viscose and pink Wiltshire cotton mash-up.
Sifnos, an epicure's paradise
Our model is wearing the Savanna sundress in Liberty's buena vista print Tana lawn cotton.
Born of a formation of submerged mountain ranges circling the sacred island of Delos, Sifnos sits within the Cyclades between the islands of Paros and Milo on the Aegean Sea. Rich in ancient history, the natives secured their prosperity through the exploitation of natural resources, principally gold and silver from which offerings were obliged to the Oracle Delphi. According to local mythology, Siphnean greed leading to a lapsed year in favour of hoarding was duly punished by the god Apollo who flooded the mines. Today it is with tourism, in restricted numbers, the island is best known with some of the most beautiful golden beaches framing an azure sea and the best cuisine outside of the mainland.
Expect to traverse rugged terrain lined with dirt trails perfumed with wild sage, rosemary and oleander and you will be richly rewarded with access to golden sand beaches, blue domed and white washed churches. The Sifnos trails, frequented by French tourists for years, delineate 100 km of paths running through olive groves and rocky passes through fishing villages, churches, monasteries and beaches only accessible by foot.
In the south of the island, discover Fassolou beach, just outside of the village of Faros. The quiet beach, carved into sea cliffs and speckled with shady trees offers calm waters on the windiest of days. Snorkelers flock to the beach below Panagia Poulati monastery where sea life thrives amongst the shiny rocks and crags of the coastline.
For the best view on the island make your way to the Agios Symeon monastery for a spectacular sunset and panorama of the port Kamares. Alternatively, the Church of the Seven Martyrs is perched on top a stone breakwater with sinuous stone steps leading to its narthex. The alabaster façade catches the light in the early morning sun reflecting warm pigments bathing the stone structure, setting the seen for the perfect instagram photo.
Thanks to the written collection of Greek recipes by local chef, Nicholas Tselementes in 1910, Sifnos has become synonymous with gastronomy. You’ll want to try Ravithada, the two day cooked chickpea stew (made with rain water) that is a Sunday staple and sample crimson beetroot cream, slow roasted goat and homemade nougat not to mention the fresh fish grilled and served with fresh mitzithra goat’s cheese. Raising the standards, a new breed of chefs arrived a decade ago bringing with them a new level of culinary sophistication with inspiring menus of local ingredients. Billionaires moor their yachts in the port of Kamares to dine at Omega-3 to sample fresh seabream ceviche with coriander pesto or crayfish orzo with red saffron and ouzo and epicures rave of the seabass fillet with quinoa crust, kiwi salsa verde and Salicornia at Maiolica. Locally sourced ingredients and passion for traditional cooking techniques is the mainstay of Sifnos dining establishments making it impossible to leave any table - from beach front taverna to fine dining experience, dissatisfied.
It is the juxtaposition of the scarred and buffeted coastline to the hill top alabaster churches and the turquoise sea below melded with the refinement of home grown flavours awakening and delighting the palate that are the makings of an unforgettable holiday experience and in Sifnos you will savour every bit of it.
What you need to know: Flight time to Athens is 3 hours 40 minutes and from Athens there is a 5 hour ferry or 3 hour catamaran to arrive in Sifnos.
Average August temperature: 20 - 26 degrees F
Our favourite place to stay: Verina Hotels for sea views and chic accommodation.
Our Destination dinner: Omega 3 a local fish shack started by a molecular biologist with a Phd from Imperial college and no culinary training now the frequented by billionares Jeff Bezos All of the dishes are from locally sourced ingredients.
Our favourite beach: for alibaster sand and calm waters we love Vathi beach. Arrive before 10:30 for an umbrella.
Our best bar: Botzi is the place for charming character, atmospheric music and a comprehensive drinks menu.
Sundown sharpener: Ouzo or rakomelo shots
You may bump into: Kylie Minogue, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson
Sifanos style: Kylie Minogue, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson
Hero look: An unspoiled and idyllic terrain demands comfort. The Sifnos crowd tends toward natural fibres and easy silhouettes. Cotton dresses like our Savanna sundress with a pair of trainers or flip flops can transition for dinner with a pair of sling backs. Pack a couple of cotton blouses to pair with Ridley's Sammy maxi skirt for an appropriate capsule for poolside through to taverna. The key to dressing is relaxed fit in natural fibres with an ease of dressing that is effortlessly chic.
Top left: Heidy wears our Savanna sundress in pink multi print tana lawn cotton, top right: Becky from @BricksandStitches wears our Sammy maxi skirt in pale pink Michelle cotton. Bottom left: our Mara dress in mint danuna/persophone cotton, right: the Savanna sundress in buena vista print tana lawn cotton.
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