7 Designers on Their Favorite Travel Destinations

For designers, travel is practically a job requirement. When you’re coming up with the color palettes, architecture, and decor trends that provide the rest of us with constant inspiration, you need to seek out some inspiration of your own—and there’s no better way to do that than exploring a new destination. What with it being midsummer—aka peak vacation time—we were curious: Where do our favorite creatives dream of going during the warmer months? We tapped seven of them to find out.

If you just want to enjoy a moment of wanderlust, their recommendations have you covered—but there’s also still plenty of summer left for a semi-impromptu getaway. Consider this list all the reason you need to pack your bags and book that flight.

Sasha Bikoff: Mykonos, Greece

“When I travel, I like a balance between activities, a fun party scene, mystical beaches, and great food—Mykonos has it all. My favorite thing to do is to go to a late 4 p.m. lunch at Scorpios or Alemagou and stay for the sunset parties, which last all night. During the day, I like to sit on the beach at the Santa Marina Hotel or take a boat trip to the little surrounding islands. The town is filled with cute shops that stay open until 1 a.m.”

Amber Lewis: Rosewood Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

“The Rosewood Mayakoba in Mexico is one of my favorite destinations on earth. Everything about it is perfection: the stunning property, the service, the attention to detail. It’s the ideal place to travel with my family (totally tweenager friendly)—and they really know how to keep the margs flowing!”

Athena Calderone: Ischia, Italy

“I  recently returned from Ischia, where I stayed at the newly renovated Mezzetorre Hotel.  I absolutely fell in love with both the island and the property, whose every last detail was restored under the brilliant eye of Marie-Louise Sciò of the Pelicano Hotels. Ischia feels authentically Italian in a way that many islands along the Amalfi Coast do not. 

The town is preserved and untouched by mainstream commercial retail, and as the sun sets, twinkling over the medieval castle built on volcanic rock, you can find homeowners drying their laundry out their windows and organizing gargantuan lemons and fruits on rustic carts. Where nature and luxury meet, you can hike, swim, or relax and rejuvenate at the thermal spa. The food, design, and details were simply unparalleled.”

Elizabeth Roberts: Bellport, Long Island

“My family and I will be spending most of our time at our house in Bellport Village this summer. We enjoy days and nights at home or at friends’ homes and partake in the beach, biking, swimming, rowing, and paddleboarding in Bellport Bay. I especially love the tight community of creatives that the town attracts, and how quaint and unpretentious the village continues to feel.

This August, my office is participating in an ideas competition for a proposed structure to be located at our Bellport Village beach. Our design, along with others, will be on display at Auto Body‘s Station Road space, so we’re currently working hard doing ‘beach research.’”

Britt and Damian Zunino of Studio DB: Milan, Tuscany, and Venice, Italy

“Last summer, we had the most incredible two weeks traveling in Italy with our family. The extended time allowed us to truly immerse ourselves in the culture of the country and to slow down and appreciate the beauty surrounding us. 

We started our trip in Milan, spending a day soaking in the fashion and design capital’s energy, searching for vintage furniture, and visiting our friends at Apparatus and BDDW. Then we were off to visit Damian’s family near the Ligurian Sea. After a few days of traveling, we arrived at our home base for a week, a beautiful house outside of Lucca, in Tuscany. We spent our days by the pool and taking day trips around Tuscany. We ended our trip by visiting Venice. We found respite from the crowds on the island of Giudecca, where we stayed in the 16th-century Palladian church located just across the canal. And luckily for us, the Biennale Architettura was in full swing. Our kids had the best time exploring the pavilions, which had a very rare amenity—air-conditioning!

Damian and I felt inspired by the historic architecture and focus on craftsmanship and details, which is important to our work. The exquisitely colored marble we saw at every turn made a big impression on us. The key to success is taking gelato breaks every few hours!”

Jake Rodehuth-Harrison of ETC.etera: Provincetown, Massachusetts

“My absolute favorite summer destination is Provincetown. Once a former Portuguese fishing village, this small town at the edge of Massachusetts’s hook has long been a hideaway and inspiration for the queer community and continues to be so today. A typical day includes bike rides (cars are scarce), lobster everything, and hiking through a tide pool to get to a secluded yet lively beach. A total dream!”

See more travel inspiration: Who Knew JFK Is Actually a Design Destination? 7 Paint Color Ideas We Love From New Orleans’s Glamorous New Hotel This Free-Spirited Arizona City Is Where All the Cool Creatives Live