chiaralakecomo - august 2024
Ultra custom travel + scaglie di bellezza + entrepreneurship
Dear friends, family, colleagues, and fellow travel enthusiasts,
I’m happy to be back with our August newsletter! I really hope your Summer is going on well and you’re all having the best time. We're starting off with one of chiaralakecomo’s signature images, shown below. If you haven’t seen it before, this is a lovely, secret spot on a secluded beach in Nesso.
First off, I'm really sorry I missed the May, June, and July newsletters. I’ve been procrastinating and pushing things off, so I didn’t manage to get them out by the end of each month. Besides working on chiaralakecomo, I've been juggling other entrepreneurial projects, and since posting on social media, writing blog articles, and sending newsletters are incredibly time-consuming, I tend to push them aside, telling myself I’ll get to them later after the "more important" stuff is done. But then I end up with a backlog of content that I really want to share but didn’t get out on time, which just makes the process even longer. So, I’m committing to staying on track with these newsletters from now on!
I'll now try to summarize and share some highlights from the past few months with you all!
ULTRA CUSTOM TRAVEL - CORPORATE & LEISURE
I recently planned a wonderful getaway at the end of August for a couple at Sikelia Pantelleria.
Sikelia Resort is located on Pantelleria, an island that belongs to Sicily and sits between Italy and Tunisia—much closer to Africa than to Italy. Pantelleria, once called “the navel of the Mediterranean” by Homer, is a place of contrasts, blending Arabic influences with the distinctive scents and flavors of Southern Italy.
The resort features 20 dammusi, ancient stone structures nestled among Zibibbo vineyards. Each one is unique in design but shares a cohesive, stylish aesthetic with meticulous attention to detail. The suites are adorned with exclusive artworks and custom-made pieces, using natural materials that reflect the island’s untamed beauty.
Pantelleria is known for its rugged coastline and lush countryside overlooking the sea. Instead of sandy beaches, you’ll find small coves with crystal-clear waters.
One of the highlights of Sikelia is that the property also owns Coste Ghirlanda’s Wines and L’Officina.
I won’t go on too long, so if you’re curious to learn more, I’ve included links to Sikelia and Coste Ghirlanda’s Instagram pages!
Greece and Sicily
I'm currently planning a week-long trip in October for two friends who want to enjoy the sea and relax at a SPA. One of them will be celebrating her 60th birthday, so it's going to be a special holiday. We're considering destinations like Siracusa, Noto, Mykonos, and Crete.
I’ll let you know what they decide and share more with you about the hotels I went through!
A Lake Como boat tour for a recently married couple and their friends
I recently planned and enjoyed a beautiful boat day with Andrea and Marianna, who just got married, along with their friends. We departed from Bellagio and explored the lake in a classic wooden Venetian taxi boat. We swam near Isola Comacina and even took a dive from Ponte della Civera in Nesso.
It was an amazing day, and everything turned out perfectly! We even had an aperitivo on the boat!
HOTEL VISITS
I feel incredibly fortunate to have visited some of the most beautiful hotels in Lake Como. All these hotels are Fora preferred partners, which means I can book them for you with many perks and VIP treatments. I’m including quick comments, you’ll find my full descriptions clicking on the links in the titles.
Formerly known as Casta Diva Resort and gracefully located along the quiet shores of Lake Como, the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como offers a tranquil retreat blending Italian elegance with subtle Oriental influences. This luxurious resort is set within a lush botanical park and provides an intimate escape with its refined hospitality and stunning vistas. Mandarin is my second fav hotel in lake Como, after Passalacqua!
Part of the Leading Hotels of the World collection, Villa d'Este is renowned for its impeccable service, exquisite surroundings and historic grandeur. This iconic hotel, set in a former 16th-century royal residence, provides an unparalleled experience of classic Italian luxury, surrounded by a 25-acre park of renaissance-inspired gardens and striking lake views.
Set against the backdrop of Lake Como and the Swiss Alps, the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni exudes a timeless aura of sophistication. This historic hotel, located in the heart of Bellagio and historically owned by the Bucher family, combines luxurious comfort with the opulent charm of its 19th-century heritage, making it a beacon of elegance and a symbol of Italian luxury.
COOL EVENTS
Although I haven’t participated in any events recently, I wanted to share this experience with you all.
I was invited to join a group of educators and kids in the mountains of Champoluc, Aosta Valley, where I was supposed to be their chef. It turned out to be an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience, with me cooking risotto for 40 people!
I would say it’s been a very valuable experience which left me with many life lessons!
I forgot to say, I actually participated at a Fora FAM event in Paris, where we site inspected 5 amazing hotels: Sinner, Hotel Le Grand Mazarine, Pavillon de la Reine, Coeur des Vosges and SO/Paris.
We had the best time speaking to GMs and marketing teams and being guided in these wonderful Parisian hotels. We also had a great lunch at Le Mazarine and the best aperitivo at SO!
FOOD
I’m just leaving you two places to try which have got my attention so far.
You will find the best milk, cheese, eggs and dairies here! Try to believe.
The best place to enjoy some fried fish during your Ligurian day at the beach. They fry in front of you and the fish quality is really good.
COOL FINDINGS
As I was saying in my Instagram stories the other day, I wanna share some news about next openings in lake Como.
Hotel Britannia in Cadenabbia will become Marriott Edition and will open to public in 2025. The full article I found in English is here.
The Grand Hotel in Bellagio becomes Ritz Carlton, another brand which belongs to Marriott International. Some more is here.
LVMH bought Castello di Urio in Carate Urio and Belmond is gonna open there soon. The full article in English is here.
Some group also bought the Grand Hotel Cadenabbia but no one seems to know which hotel brand is opening there. I’ll keep you posted!
CHIARALAKECOMO’S BLOG POSTS
I’m including here below a link to my blog, where you can read all my articles about what I do! I titled my blog ultra custom travel + scaglie di bellezza + entrepreneurship!
I’m done for this month, have a great day and enjoy the rest of your Summer!
See you next month.
Love you all,
Chiara V.