| Where did you go on holiday this summer? Which hotel did you stay in? Did you go to any great restaurants? Could you share the details of that place you posted on your feed? Ever since Baedeker started publishing his guidebooks in the 19th century, it has been custom to share our travel tips. But in a world in which overtourism is inarguably an issue, our natural inclination is tempered by increasing caution. Do I want everyone to know about the gorgeous beach bar that I love in Ithaca? Or that delightful Parisian café, or the one remaining place in Soho in which I can find a seat? 
© Hill & Aubrey Gatekeeping is the thread that links many of the stories in this week’s travel special, and a subject that our travel editor Maria Shollenbarger examines. As a professional traveller, she is constantly asked to share her wisdoms – and is extremely obliging with her contacts – but even she has been known to safeguard her favourite hotels. Some people, she says, are hoarders. Others overshare. When I went to Japan this summer, I was totally overwhelmed by people sending lists and itineraries. Their motives were wonderful, kind and open-hearted. But I found the anguish of knowing exactly where to go but failing just as searing as the fear of ignorantly missing out. 
© Sophie Knight/Kintzing The best advice came via a friend who told me to pick my own adventure. He also gave me a failsafe Tokyo bar guide – but his first advice was absolutely right. I think the whole point of travel is the discovery of the unknown and unexpected, not the endless retreading of someone else’s trip. Ultimately, I used the Japan lists as a rough guide and then drifted without intention. And while I may not have been to the “best udon restaurant in Tomigaya”, I did fashion myself a walking tour of Tokyo’s famous architect-designed public toilets, as featured in Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days. It took in around 10 of them, as well as a shrine and the odd vintage emporium. Naturally, I have it saved on Google Maps and will share it if you wish. We chose a Boomer holiday: three millennials opt for an OAP escape |
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One way of avoiding the holiday hordes is to do something unusual. And what better way to do so than by taking a holiday outside one’s generational range? Even It girls visit gardens when they go on vacation, or so argues Ellie Pithers: the HTSI assistant editor is a chic millennial who likes her holidays to feature a herbaceous border. Country singer Madison Hurtado has, meanwhile, taken up the very Boomer hobby of golfing, and creative director Laura Jackson has discovered the joy of a cruise while on a bonding family holiday around the British Isles. I vowed never to share this perfect ski hotel – until now |
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But I have to hand it to Josh Hickey, who this month joins us as a contributing editor and, inexplicably, has shared with us his favourite ski hotel. Josh has been travelling to Switzerland for more than 20 years, and describes the Hotel Bellevue des Alpes in Kleine Scheidegg as perfection. His decision to share it with HTSI’s readers is arguably an awful folly. Just, please, I beg you, don’t all go booking in at once. |
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