My Life In Travel: Amanda Teale

Where are your favourite hotels in the UK?

Three Mile Beach in Cornwall will always be special for me – it’s located in Gwithian, which was voted the best beach in the UK by The Times in 2024.  My reasons for visits run much deeper though. My grandparents are Cornish, and my grandfather proposed to my grandmother overlooking Godrevy Lighthouse and my great grandfather built one of the first chalets on Gwithian Towans beach. My parents used to have a house there, too, so I grew up going regularly and still visit every year with the whole family. Honourable mentions to The Newt and Four Seasons Hampshire, both of which are stunning country hotels.

Where do you go for a city break?

New York is my ultimate city break – there’s nowhere like it and I don’t think anyone could argue with that. I also think Edinburgh in the winter is magical. That’s when the city comes into its own and it’s got such a special atmosphere about it with the festive lights, snow (if you’re lucky) and overtly dramatic architecture. I really enjoy the train journey from London, too.

Favourite place for a beach holiday?

Cornwall. I can’t speak highly enough about Gwithian, if you couldn’t tell, and it will always have my heart. Elsewhere, and in an attempt to protect the anonymity of Gwithian, the Maldives is an undeniable heaven for swimming, as are the beaches in Turks & Caicos and Florida. Anywhere I can swim in the Atlantic Ocean will top the list of best beaches in my opinion – come summer or winter, it’s just wonderful.

Have you ever been on a great road trip?

So many! I’ve done countless road trips in France, including the Alps for skiing and the south for summer. I’ve also lost count of the drives to Cornwall, but I’m sure that doesn’t come as a surprise by now! In the US, California road trips are unbeatable – from the Santa Monica Hills to the Pacific Coast Highway, Vegas, Death Valley and Monument Valley, long stretches of open road aren’t done better anywhere else. 

Where is the most romantic place you’ve ever been to?

Anywhere in the south of France has a natural romance to it, but Saint-Paul-de-Vence is particularly special. It’s a medieval hilltop village with cobbled streets, ivy-covered buildings and views that stretch all the way to the sea. You can spend hours wandering past little art galleries, stopping for a glass of chilled rosé in a tiny square, or having dinner on a terrace where the air is scented with jasmine. There’s an old-world glamour to it and it’s the kind of place where you half expect to see Picasso or Yves Montand stroll past. At sunset, when the golden light hits the stone walls, it’s pure perfection.

If you were getting married tomorrow, where would you go on your honeymoon?

Paris to start, The Penthouse at Four Seasons George V, then the Venice Simplon Orient Express to Cannes to stay at the Four Seasons Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat. From there, get me straight on a private jet to Naples and a heli to Capri to stay at La Scalinatella, where they infuse their white wine with peaches – I cannot express how incredible that tastes. The hotel only serves lunch but that’s fine because I could survive on that wine day and night. Pure magic, pure Italian hospitality and views to die for.