Here’s Why You Should Be Headed to the Mediterranean This Offseason

Overcrowded and overheated: That’s how most would describe midsummer trips to the Mediterranean, with too many people crammed into too little space and temperatures so intense that even lying poolside doesn’t appeal. But the area is far easier to enjoy in the offseason, and more travelers are catching on. The demand for flights has grown so much that all-business airline La Compagnie recently began operating its New York–to-Nice route year-round. Monte-Carlo’s Amazónico serves delicious Latin American dishes. Rusine Draz Consider it a return to form. Before Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald transformed the Côte d’Azur into a summer hot spot, it was originally a winter retreat for European royalty. And across the region, previously warm weather–focused destinations are responding to the increase in requests—Lake Como’s Passalacqua just installed an indoor pool. If you fancy a trip to the Med without the heat, take these suggestions from four leading travel specialists on where—and when—to go. November Spend Thanksgiving in Monaco and attend the 12-day-long Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival (the Brand New Heavies headline on the holiday). Embark Beyond’s Jack Ezon recommends sending your bags by car from Nice and taking a 15-minute helicopter from the airport to bypass any traffic on the coastal roads. “The extra benefit is you can do security in Monaco with literally no lines,” he says. Stay at the Hôtel Hermitage—both more low-key and high-end than its headline-grabbing sibling, the Hôtel de Paris. It will likely be warm enough for drinks on the terrace at Amazónico on the Place du Casino—but come ready to dance. The space can morph into a club as the evening unfolds. December Inside Rocca delle Tre Contrade in Sicily. Francis Amiand Come to Sicily for the citrus harvest, when menus abound with an abundance of local varieties. You’ll also snag spectacular views of snow-capped Mount Etna, and the northern slopes offer easy, family-friendly pistes. Stay in one of the luxe estates offered by the Thinking Traveller: Rocca delle Tre Contrade, a 12-bedroom villa on a panoramic perch on the east coast, is our first choice. IC Bellagio’s Andrea Grisdale recommends the Michelin-starred I Pupi, where chef Tony Lo Coco riffs elegantly on Sicilian staples like arancini, or Kalos, a more contemporary spot in Agrigento with “sweeping views over the ancient landscape of the Valley of the Temples.” January Mallorca has quietly emerged as one of cycling’s secret attractions—its rolling countryside is an ideal off-season training ground. Late in the month, it plays host to the annual Challenge Ciclista, which comprises five one-day races, or trofeus. Follow some of the action or trace the same route on your own (and if you need an e-bike for the tougher climbs, no one will judge you). Made for Spain & Portugal’s Virginia Irurita recommends booking a room at Cap Rocat, which she calls “the top hotel on the island,” if not all of Spain—it sits right on the water, overlooking the Bay of Palma, in a converted fortress. Carbo-load at Andana, run by Mallorca-born Michelin favorite Maca de Castro. February and March Crete’s Chania Harbor at sunrise. Joe Daniel Price/Getty Images Mediterranean Mardi Gras, anyone? Ileana von Hirsch of Five Star Greece suggests a trip to Crete. “It has the best weather in late winter,” she says, and the dearth of visitors allows the island to reclaim what she calls “its charming and authentic self.” Reserve a villa in Chania, which is lively even out of season. If the weather turns, duck into Fagotto Jazz Bar in the chora, or old town, which von Hirsch describes as “dark, intimate, and atmospheric.” The climax of the weeks-long approach to Orthodox Lent begins with a counterpart to Fat Tuesday: Tsiknopempti, or Smoky Thursday, on March 4, 2027, which offers ample opportunities to feast on delicious barbecued meats. Authors Mark Ellwood British-born, NYC-based Mark Ellwood is Robb Report's editor-at-large. He has lived out of a suitcase for most of his life, covering luxury in all its forms across the world. Among his favorite… Read More