My Life In Travel: Claire Rose Cliteur

My favourite countries are France and Italy. Exploring those two places is amazing as there’s nothing quite European architecture and culture. I love learning about the history, and both cuisines are great, too.

I love staying at Belmond hotels. I’ve been to a few around the world and love that each property is so unique and historical – they give me a warm feeling and remind me of home. 

For a UK staycation Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire is one of my favourite spots. There are so many great hotels in the UK, and I’m excited to explore some of London’s hotspots – I only moved back to the city a couple of weeks ago, so you’ll have to ask for my recommendations in a couple of months!

The place I always go back to is my parents’ place in Llafranc, Spain. I grew up there so it’s very close to my heart. For me, it’s a place where I disconnect from the outside world and recharge. 

One of my favourite cities in the world is New York. I love to explore the neighbourhoods on bike – when my dog Billie was small enough, I’d strap her into my backpack and take her along with us. Public Hotel has great rooftop views of uptown and downtown, while Via Carota is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in the city – the menu changes seasonally so there’s always something fresh. When I lived in West Village, I’d buy coffee every day from Elk, then hit Bar Pisellino in the evening. Bandits and Apotheke are the places to go for live music and great cocktails, while Elizabeth Street Garden in Nolita is one hidden gem to know.

For a beach holiday I’d go to Puerto Viejo on the southwest coast of Costa Rica. That said, any beach that’s untouched and not touristy is great.

I’m a big fan of road trips. I have very adventurous parents, especially my dad, who always took my brother, sister and me to the most amazing places in Africa, Asia, and South and Central America. Now, my husband and I love to pack up the car and hit the road with the dog. 

The most magical place I’ve been is Amangiri in Arizona. I feel extremely fortunate to have stayed there twice and both times were equally special. The sunsets, the energy – everything is so calming. I would happily live there if I could!

The most romantic places I’ve been are Positano and Capri in Italy. During one holiday, my husband and I stayed up to party and dance until dawn. It was an unforgettable evening. 

If I had just two nights abroad I’d go to Paris. There’s no place in the world like it. Everything is near perfect, from the fashion and culture to the architecture and food.

My most memorable meal was at Nobu Malibu. I had the miso cod which was insane. When abroad, I always look for crispy tuna on every menu. 

Some of my best holiday memories are with my family. One year, my parents took us to a toy shop at Christmas and said we could choose anything we wanted – the only rule was that we had to unpack it during our road trip to South Africa the following week. What we didn’t know was that we had to share it with all the kids who lived in one of the small towns we visited – I was so confused at first, but didn’t realise my parents were teaching me a valuable lesson that sharing is so much more fulfilling then receiving.