Behind the scenes at onefinestay - Destination Specialist edition

Avid travellers, culture connoisseurs and adventure enthusiasts, our Destination Specialist team never stop exploring. Each member of the team is a dedicated globetrotter with countless countries under their belt and a rich and nuanced knowledge of their specialist region.

Discovering is part of their DNA and they are passionate about sharing their discoveries with our guests. Whether it's a beachfront villa in St Barts or a suave townhouse right by the city's hottest foodie spots, our Destination Specialists always know the perfect spot for your trip.

Here we speak to Florrie, our Guest Sales Manager, about her favourite travel discoveries over the years, the dream trips she's designed for our guests and the destination she keeps returning to, time and time again.

Tell us a bit about your background, where did you grow up?

I was born in London but quickly moved to the Suffolk countryside where my family are still living. I then dotted around from Norfolk, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, and Northumberland for boarding school and university, so I feel like I've experienced my fair share of the UK!

After graduating, I moved to Rio de Janeiro for a couple of years where I started my career in luxury travel. I then moved back to London and started working for onefinestay. I have also lived in Lisbon, which I now call my second home.
 

What drew you to your role at onefinestay?

I love property and interiors and adore travel even more, so putting the two together was a complete no-brainer for me!

Tell us about a dream trip you’ve organised for a guest.

I recently tailored a dreamy Italian itinerary for a very VIP guest. First stop: a stunning cliff-top home on the Amalfi Coast. Then a private transfer to their second hideaway: a gorgeous palazzo in Tuscany. This was a celebrity guest, and they had such a wonderful time!

What’s your favourite onefinestay place you’ve visited over the years? Somewhere you’ve walked in and felt your jaw drop…
 

This has to be a villa called Bajacu in Turks and Caicos. The villa is totally secluded on top of a hill with its own private walkway to a magical beach, it's unreal and absolutely flawless!

Which destination do you keep returning to time and time again?

It has to be Italy - there is just so much to see and do! This is a destination where you can enjoy pretty much any type of holiday. Whether that's a blissful beach break in Sardinia or Sicily, a chic lakeside hideaway in Lake Como, a culture-filled trip to Rome or Florence or a relaxing sojourn amidst the rolling hills of Tuscany. No matter where you go, the food is always delicious, the locals are incredible, and the sun shines for most of the year - it really is the most fabulous country.
 

Give us one of your hottest local tips...

If you're visiting Barbados, make sure you eat at The Lobster Shack, La Cabane and The Fish Pot.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Portugal. It's still close to my family but stays sunny for over 300 days a year - the dream!
 

Three things you’d take to a desert island with you.

My dogs, a jar of Marmite and a guitar.

Finally, where next? What are your travel plans for this year?

The perfect holiday for me involves beautiful hikes, lots of sun, amazing food and being somewhere on the coast. This year, my wife and I are planning to spend some time in Lisbon in our new place and also have a couple of trips to France in the books.