Ever wondered what people whose job is travel actually book for themselves? Condé Nast Traveller UK's editors have just published their November wish lists, and the mix is telling: far-flung Himalayan wellness trips, cosy British countryside rentals, festive train journeys and a serious run of new London restaurants.
The most exotic pick comes from the video team, who are off to Bhutan at the start of the month, staying at Pemako Hotels in Punakha and Thimphu — among the first luxury properties in the country owned and managed by Bhutanese themselves. The plan involves Himalayan hikes and traditional treatments, yak butter massage included. From there it's on to Mumbai for Diwali, family feasts and jewellery shopping.
Closer to home, the UK features heavily. New Forest hotel Lime Wood has opened Forest House, where one editor took three generations of family to watch wild ponies between walks. Others spent weekends at a 500-acre estate rental near London (just over an hour away), and a cabin at Liba Vineyard in Wiltshire, wine country on the doorstep. Festive plans include a Black Tie outing on the Belmond British Pullman — dressing up, apparently, is half the point — and a Twixmas road trip to Scotland taking in WildLand's Lundies House and Ferryman's Cottage.
The snow-chasers are heading north. One family trip is booked at Moar Gut in Austria, an all-inclusive Alpine resort with its own farm and a kids' club described as hard to leave. Lapland follows, with a three-day itinerary at new villa property Arcora: husky rides, reindeer and Northern Lights luck. Iceland's Eleven Deplar Farm — whale watching, horse riding and possible aurora — is another bucket-list tick, with a stop at Ballyfin, one of Ireland's grandest country-house hotels, in between.
For readers not leaving town, the London picks are worth stealing. New tables include Impala, chef Meedu Saad's North African-meets-Mediterranean spot on Dean Street in Soho; Café 22, a French restaurant inside Mayfair's The Twenty Two with a roaming martini trolley; Bubula in Covent Garden; and Dante, which comes strongly recommended for a special-occasion dinner. Culturally, Tate Britain's Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant exhibition is top of the list, alongside MUBI's first film festival at Hackney Picturehouse and jazz at the new Blue Note London — with saxophonist Courtney Pine playing 30 November and 1 December. One editor is also doing her Christmas shopping early at Cockpit Arts, a social enterprise housing over 175 independent makers, whose open studios run 4-6 December.
Why does any of this matter to you? Because editor wish lists are a shortcut to what's genuinely good right now — hotels that live up to the hype, restaurants locals actually book, and trip ideas you can copy almost directly. If you're planning a festive escape or a winter-sun alternative, the Bhutan, Lapland and Iceland picks are the standouts; if you're staying put, the London dining and culture round-up alone is a full month's itinerary.
