Traveling is one of my favorite things to do.
I love visiting different countries and experiencing as many cultures as possible, just like I used to. For now, with an 8-year-old son and a dog, we’ve decided to do things differently.
For the fifth consecutive year, we drove to Forte dei Marmi. I used to spend weekends and short vacations here when I stayed in Italy for work (1995-2000). I want to share those memories with my son, introducing him to this beautiful country and charming town, where the food is delicious, and the lemon ice cream is the best. One of my favorite things to do in life is to travel. As a young woman, I pursued a course in “travel” alongside my primary studies, which opened up opportunities for a career in the travel industry. I could never have dreamed of the journeys I would undertake. Shortly after graduating, at 18, I left for Paris with two suitcases to pursue modeling. Fast forward to when I was 25, I returned to the Netherlands (of course, I visited my mother regularly, and she visited me) to start a new study, this time in photography.
I remember standing at a phone booth with a prepaid card. I can still see myself there, the minutes ticking away, trying to say as much as possible to the person on the other end of the line.
As a model, I traveled extensively. From cities like Paris, Milan, New York, and London to sun-drenched destinations such as the Caribbean, Cape Town, and Miami to shoot summer collections during winter. Those were fantastic times, and sometimes I regret that we didn’t have mobile phones back then like we do today, with all the photos and videos. I remember standing at a phone booth with a prepaid card. I can still see myself there, the minutes ticking away, trying to say as much as possible to the person on the other end of the line. I occasionally took an analog camera with me or bought a disposable one. Those photos are now stored in the back of my mother’s basement. I will find that box one day, as I haven’t succeeded so far. I’m not exactly sure which box the memories are hidden in.
My wanderlust never faded after I moved back to the Netherlands. Except for the four years I passionately studied photography and successfully graduated at 29, I had less time to travel. After graduation, I resumed traveling extensively, this time as a photographer. Together with my team, we planned summer trips in the winter, and once again, I found myself on the beach during Dutch winters, capturing beautiful summer photos for magazines. I have lovely memories of this career, which lasted until the birth of my son Finn when I was 40.
I don’t think there was a single winter between 18 and 40 when I didn’t escape to the sun. Born on the 17th of July, in the middle of summer, I am genuinely a summer child. The sun is my charger; my battery drains during the winter. With the arrival of winter (not so much autumn, as I find it quite beautiful and often mild in the Netherlands), I feel my energy slowly depleting. Now that Finn is here and school-aged (very sensible of the government; otherwise, I would have flown off with him long ago), we must make do with school holidays. It’s super expensive because travel agencies significantly hike prices when parents can take their kids on vacation.
But it doesn’t dampen the fun because the sun calls every holiday, and I gladly answer. My favorite holiday is the summer vacation. In the Netherlands, it lasts six weeks for the kids, so we can be away for an excellent long time. Dog in tow, 20 dresses in the car, sunscreen, and flip-flops. You can often see a change in the climate right after passing Paris, with the predominantly gray skies turning mostly azure blue—weeks after the end of blue skies and sunshine. This year, however, and it was the same for many other countries, summer was disappointing.
I shudder at the thought of autumn; let summer last as long as possible. As I get older, recharging my battery takes longer, and it drains much faster. So, I wouldn’t mind if summer lasted extra long. This year, we drove to Italy for the fifth time via the South of France. It’s not really my thing to do the same thing every year, but with the decision to get a dog came the decision to take summer vacations by car so Socks could come along. Our first stop is just past Paris, a place with no charm and only meant for sleeping, before we quickly continue south. The next day, we arrived in St Tropez. The funny thing is that Martin and I both have childhood memories of St Tropez and its surroundings, so it always feels like coming home. We stayed in Grimaud because there was nothing available in St Tropez (or within our budget), but as long as there’s a pool, I have a happy son.
After four delightful days in Grimaud, St Tropez, and Ramatuelle, where I stylishly celebrate my 49th birthday at the legendary Club 55 (because life should be celebrated), and a quick visit to the charming Saturday morning market in the village square, we head to Forte dei Marmi. Officially, it’s a 5.5-hour drive, but with bad luck, it can take around 8 hours. We arrive at our destination in the evening, where the de-stressing can officially begin on the Italian beach.
And here I am now, day six on the beach, laptop on my lap, my husband and child in the sea, and Socks lying next to me in the sand. Life doesn’t get any better than this.
In my following travel report, I will tell you what makes Forte dei Marmi so unique and why we’ve returned five times.
Key attractions include the Old Port, Place des Lices Market, the Citadel of Saint-Tropez, and the Annonciade Museum. The town is also famous for its picturesque streets and luxury boutiques.
Visitors can enjoy yacht trips, shopping, exploring local art galleries, visiting wineries, and dining at gourmet restaurants. The town also offers vibrant nightlife and cultural festivals.
Forte dei Marmi is renowned for its exclusive beach clubs, upscale shopping, and fine dining, making it a top luxury vacation spot in Italy.
The town’s rich cultural scene includes art galleries, concerts, and fashion events, showcasing its blend of cultural refinement and contemporary style.
