In true Jo style, I’ve never needed much convincing to book a flight. Last year I spontaneously booked a one way flight to Ibiza four days before leaving, and ended up with eight nights in Ibiza followed by five magical nights in Paris. 

A Euro trip isn’t on my bingo card this year. But if it was, these are the three hotels that would have me on the Qantas website before I finished my wine, and you never know Euro summer is going. 

Eréma, Milos – Greece

Milos has been quietly stealing people from Santorini for years. Less polished, more raw. Volcanic coastline, hidden coves, better beaches and none of the fuss. 

Eréma opened in June on the island’s southeastern coast. Forty-one suites each with a private pool and Aegean views. The design blends into the landscape rather than competing with it, think stone, marble, earth tones. 

But honestly? It’s the food that gets me. Chef Yiannis Kioroglou leads the culinary direction across two restaurants, his career has taken him from La Petite Maison in Cannes to La Guérite in Saint Barth, and now Eréma. He’s not reinventing Greek food, he’s just doing it really, really well. Halaka by day, seasonal Cycladic produce done simply and Akiton by night, 

I’d fly into Milos, check in, not leave for a week. 

Bookings at erema.gr

Venice Simplon – Orient-Express 

There are faster ways to get between Venice and Paris. None of them are this.

Belmond’s iconic train runs between the two cities, and honestly, the direction barely matters. Sixteen carriages built between 1926 and 1949, coal furnaces still hand-fed, attendants in gold-trimmed midnight blue. No televisions, no itinerary handed to you, just the Alps rolling past the window.

Three dining cars serving Petrossian caviar, lobster, four courses by chef Jean Imbert. Then Bar Car 3674 until well past midnight, fuelled by Veuve Clicquot. Cabins stay true to the 1930s.

Thirty hours between two of the world’s great cities, done properly. I can’t think of a better reason to book a flight.

Book at belmond.com

Chesa Marchetta – Sils Maria, Switzerland

Sils Maria sits about twenty from St Moritz, and gets a fraction of the attention. Chesa Marchetta is the reason to make the trip. A 16th century building, with 13 rooms and 46-cover restaurant, designed by Luis Laplace with traditional Engadin furniture and artwork by local artists.

But the restaurant is what gets me. A menu built on the marriage of Italian and Swiss cuisines with seasonal ingredients.

I’d fly into Zurich, drive three hours, check in and turn my phone off.

Book at chesamarchetta.com