Words Vidula KotianDate 14 November 2023
Of the four seasons, autumn refuses to be put in a box. It envelops us in the palpable immediacy of its warm afternoon sun, its evening chill, and its fiery landscapes as the leaves signal nature’s slow descent to hibernation. But as we don our big cozy sweaters, eye baked treats, and give our evenings a soft candlelit glow, we wondered what fall is like elsewhere. So, we asked our colleagues where they head or are heading to enjoy the most tempestuous of seasons.
Kurt Slanaker, Director of Brand Portfolio & Partnerships, The Americas
This year has been full of warm weather destinations, and I don’t want the endless summer to end. For autumn I’m heading to Rincón on the western coast of Puerto Rico for sunshine, beautiful beaches, and down-time with friends. Growing up reading Surfer magazine and being glued to anything Surfline put out, I’ve long dreamt of Tres Palmas. As it is off-season I’ll be able to enjoy calm waves with my family and devour countless amounts of cuchifritos and shrimp empanadillas.
For me, autumn is the season to recharge and catch the last glimpse of warm weather before heading into the colder months. And there’s no better place than Rincón to truly disconnect from the hustle of city life and enjoy the solitude of nature.
Rincón is the surfing jewel of Puerto Rico
Consistent swells from December to April
Nina Zywietz, Creative Director
After the European summer ends, I love to visit New York City, particularly Brooklyn. I have a lot of friends who live there, so it’s great to catch up this time of year. I just love the vibe and biking around everywhere, and taking the train to the beach—or what New Yorkers think is the beach, at least. I also love visiting upstate New York, it’s super chill. Head north to the Catskill Mountains for some fresh air and stop at my favorite all-day diner for lunch: Phoenicia Diner. There are beautiful hikes and you get the last of the warm weather here.
New York City spreads an irresistible feast for all
Upstate New York has many road-trip worthy places
Steph Wade, Senior Managing Editor
I like to stay local during the autumn months, when most of the tourists have gone and the frantic pace of life slows down. I usually go away for a long weekend with friends to Brandenburg, where we go for walks and runs through the woods, with the bright yellow and orange maple leaves crunching under our feet. I’ll cook some long-winded dinners with fall produce and drink wine by the fireplace, if there is one! Next month I’m going to live my best cabin-core life with a stay in a Raus cabin for a few nights. Can’t wait.
Autumn is great for foraging mushrooms
Forest bathing this season is a different experience
Federico Minella, Sales and Travel Trade Coordinator
For our fall vacation, my boyfriend and I chose to go on a road trip in Andalusia to escape the cool weather and extend our summer. We started in Jerez de la Frontera experience and enjoyed sipping local Sherry wine. We then headed to Gibraltar to witness its famous Barbary macaques leisurely perched on the rocky summit, to Tarifa's lively beach teeming with surfers and windsurfers, and later to Vejer de la Frontera, a picturesque town of all white structures with a labyrinth of twisting old-town streets and a surprisingly elaborate culinary scene. Last on our itinerary was Seville, whose blend of rich culture and modernization is best explored on the newly built scooter lanes. Don’t miss going on a romantic stroll through the Maria Luisa Park.
Gibraltar has impressive silhouette that dominates the strait between Spain and Morocco
Vejer de la Frontera A picturesque town of all white structures
Centuries-old recipes served in Seville's restaurants
Elaine Luei, Director of Sales, Asia-Pacific
For our most recent Taiwan trip, we explored Taipei, Yi Lan, Hsin Chu, Miao Li, Tai Chung, and Chia Yi. This is half of Taiwan already. Everywhere you go, there are plenty of food options cooked in unique ways, from local street food to hotpot restaurants and many signature cafes. We loved the beef noodle soup, stewed pork belly rice, deep fried chicken cutlet, oyster rice vermicelli, black pepper buns, pineapple tarts, bittergourd juice, and smelly tofu. Also, try tropical fruits like Kaochie pears, Ponkan oranges, mango, guava, and custard apple.
One activity that I love is digging for clams. This is a great family activity, and you can cook them over a charcoal stove after. You can to try fresh oysters right from the seaside, too. Best months to visit are from February to April and October to December where temperatures are mild, ranging from 16 to 22 degrees Celsius.
Wax apples are just some of the delicious seasonal fruits available
A culinary adventure awaits all around the city
View from Jiufen, a small mountain village an hour from Taipei
Taipei World Trade Center located in Xinyi district
Wojciech Oglaza, Director of Business Development
Late autumn is a wonderful time to travel. While many choose cities that are buzzing with life after the summer break, I love the post-season melancholy of empty resorts. This year, I decided to explore the changing colors of autumn with wine in one hand in the small village of Toroja in Priorat region of Catalonia. From there, I will continue to Andorra to explore some hiking trails. The world is fast paced and I rest the best in nature, away from the crowds.
Andorra is a paradise for nature-lovers and hikers
Priorat is known for its full-bodied red wines
Sarah Doyle, Vice President Brand, Global Brand Leader
There is nothing like New England in the fall…leaves turning, pumpkin patches, and apple season with crisp cider to drink and apple pies to eat. I grew up in a small town in Connecticut known for apple orchards that bore a bountiful harvest each year. We even had an annual week-long “apple festival” that put our town on the map.
Lately, I like to go to Maine after the summer beach crowds have gone home. The weather is cool and the beach walks are long and adventurous with the occasional seal spotting. Cold sand and even colder ocean water makes for a good dip in the ocean if you are brave enough. If you do go in, consider yourself part of the “polar bear club,” a local phrase for ice bathers. Lobster is always in season and nothing beats a dinner with steamed lobster, drained butter, and potatoes. Every restaurant in Maine serves lobster roll their own way so it is fun to try different spots and get their take on lobster in a hot dog roll (the secret lies in hot buttered roll).
Cape Porpoise, Goose Rocks Beach, and Kennebunkport south of Portland are full of great little spots to dine and stroll. There is a local woman at Five Acre Farm who makes homemade pies and baked goods and sells them on an honor system that we always buy. If you are lucky, she has just put some pies out and they are still warm from the oven. Take it home, have with a scoop of vanilla icecream—now that is pure bliss!
Maine is a nationally noted culinary destination
Lobster is always in season
A close-knit community of small farms and fishermen
Profile
Bookings
Benefits
Bookmarks
Exclusive Community Deal