This post-lockdown Grand Tour would have been incomplete without a stopover at the Splendido in Portofino, one of the best hotels in Europe and on the world luxury circuit. Many of the rich and famous who have been visiting Portofino on the Ligurian coast for decades would describe the idyllic village as paradise on earth. And still today, its magic and Mediterranean flair draw celebrities from the worlds of film, art, music and fashion. In Portofino, the Belmond Splendido is the place to be. Overlooking the delightful bay from its location high on a hillside, this former monastery offers not only magnificent views and a wonderful salt-water pool but also peace and serenity – with a dash of fun. So what could be more perfect than to book a stay in these weird times. I first visited the Splendido over fifteen years ago so it really has become a home from home for me and it is always a genuine pleasure to be welcomed upon arrival by Ermes de Megni, one of the world’s truly great hotel managers. When I asked Ermes how everything was in these abnormal times, he smiled and said, “I am used to making decisions at the last minute but now I have to make decisions at the last second”. Despite the unusual times, the service is still impeccable and rooted in a sincerity that you unfortunately do not always find in five-star hotels nowadays. I checked in to my spacious junior suite with my fourlegged accomplice, Lino, and unwound immediately by taking in the superb views from our balcony across the bay and the cypresses in the landscape. The next day, Lino and I took a footpath from the Splendido towards Santa Margherita, enjoying brilliant vistas of the Ligurian coast on the way and a fantastic ‘Lungomare’ seafood lunch and spectacular views at Ristorante Capo Nord. What a delight.