August Answers
August, the Sunday of summer.
Happy August.
August is the Sunday of summer, and just like the best Sundays, the trick is not to mourn it but to savor every last golden hour of it. We are deep into tomato season, long dinners outside, and the kind of evening light that makes everything look like a memory while it is still happening. This month’s issue is exactly what the name promises: answers to the questions we hear most, from where to actually stay in Paris (I toured more than eight hotels so you don’t have to), to when to travel with your kids and when to wait, to how to get your team or your girlfriends somewhere beautiful together. If a travel question has been sitting on your mind all summer, just hit reply, there is truly nothing we love more than answering them.
Zelena Travel Notes
We made a call this summer not to take the kids to Europe, and I stand by it. A full newsletter on traveling with kids by age is coming, but here is the short version: under 6 months, go, because they are wonderfully portable and will sleep anywhere. From 6 to 9 months, still go, just know that starting solids on the road gets a little messy. Ages 1 to 3, proceed with caution, and I say that as someone right in the thick of it, they don’t walk well yet, they can’t tell you what’s wrong, and you are on your feet the entire time no matter how beautiful the city is. So for now we are keeping it to local drivable trips with the kids and taking solo and couples trips where we can (see: Paris, below), and I’ll report back on ages 4 and up, though everyone tells me it gets so much better, thank god.
We have also been deep in company travel lately, and some of our favorite trips to plan are group trips. If you’d rather not coordinate your whole group’s vacation yourself, just say the word, and if you’ve been wanting to get your remote team together in person, it might be easier and less expensive than you think. We handle everything, you just show up.
Where We’ve Been
Paris. I spent the week after my birthday in Paris, and because I can never quite turn it off, I toured more than eight hotels while I was there. France is our most-booked international country year after year, so consider this your cheat sheet, with the full guide coming later this month.
Hôtel Balzac. The clear winner of the week, with views and design that are out of this world, a lobby and rooms that are simply perfect, and suites up top that look straight at the Eiffel Tower. It is so reasonably priced compared to the top hotels in Paris that it almost feels like a secret, and it will be the first name I give clients from now on.
Saint James Paris. Incredible from start to finish, and one of those stays I will be recommending for a very long time.
Relais Christine. An amazing Left Bank location with real old-Paris charm, on the smaller and more historic side, so know that going in, but the setting is hard to beat.
The Norman. Right next door to the Balzac, and a joy for fans of color, with a good price, a mid-century modern vibe, and lots of personality.
Hôtel de Crillon. A yes for a splash-out and for France at its most classic, and the same goes for the Ritz, which is simply another level. If it’s a milestone trip, this is where the milestone belongs.
Plaza Athénée. A no from us, and if you want the details, ask me directly.
JK Place Paris. Think of it as a fancier version of the Balzac with a better, more central location, no views, but everything else delivers.
Hotel Costes. For the partiers, and you know who you are.
Headed to Paris? Reply and we will match you to the right one, whether it’s a layover or the whole trip.
Upstate Lately
Sojourner Truth State Park. Breaking news: there is a swimming hole inside an old quarry less than 15 minutes from our house, I cannot believe we get to live this close to it, and we have been three times already.
Tennis at Inness, golf at Woodstock Golf Club. The summer rotation, and I am not complaining.
Tributary Farm. Our local CSA, with pick-your-own flowers and the freshest veggies around. Tomato season is here and we are eating accordingly.
A family photoshoot at Grieg Farm. With the amazing Juliet, and if you have been putting off family photos, consider this your sign.
Swim classes with the kids. In and out of the water all summer, and it shows.
My birthday. We celebrated with a bar crawl ending at Spiegeltent, an incredible DJ, and dancing the whole way through. The end of July gave us dream weather and we did not waste a minute of it.
Deer Mountain Inn. Explored with our favorite, JMAK, as the latest in his portfolio, and there will be more on this one soon.
Between it all: breakfast club, Junior League meetings, hikes, and BBQs at friends’ houses. A classic upstate summer, exactly as it should be.
In Other Zelena News
We launched Zelena Building Co with my dad and his partner. If you are moving upstate, live upstate and need a renovation, or simply want a brand new home, we have a lot of options in the works, so check us out and reach out.
And Zelena Marketing onboarded a jewelry brand we are so excited about, plus a hotel and a fragrance brand, so it has been a very good month over there too.
Looking Ahead
I plan retreats for all kinds of companies and offsites, but this one is close to my heart because I attend it myself, and this year’s details just dropped: four nights at Hôtel Les Roches Blanches in Cassis, May 19 to 23, 2027, with a small group of women who are building things.
You already know how I feel about France, and Cassis is the Provence of your daydreams, white cliffs, a glittering harbor, rosé at lunch. The week is built around four working sessions with Gretchen designed to move your business, or your next chapter, toward the version you haven’t given yourself permission to build yet. Two excursions take us deeper into Provence: Ménerbes, walking in the footsteps of the artist Dora Maar, and Sainte-Baume, the mountain grotto where legend says Mary Magdalene spent her final years. Afternoons are yours alone, the pool, the sea, the markets and ateliers of Cassis. Evenings alternate between group dinners where the week’s threads come together and solo nights to wander.
Every logistical detail is curated by us, the hotel, the excursions, the reservations, and I will personally help you build anything beyond the itinerary, from a trip extension to flights. It is capped at fourteen women on purpose, because we do not believe in group dinners that are too big, and half the spots are already gone. You can pay in full or split it 50/50 with the balance due in November.
If you are a female founder, or simply craving real time to think about where you’re headed next, this is time and money you will not regret spending. Read more and book here.
August Offers (Editor’s Picks)
A few stays and offers we are loving right now:
Hammock Cove Antigua. A $250 Resort Credit. A $250 resort credit per stay for travel through December 20, 2026. Book by July 31, 2026, so if Antigua is calling, reply today.
Royal Hotel Sanremo, Liguria, Italy. Folies Royal. A new signature summer program on the Italian Riviera: live music, elegant performances, and curated evenings, plus sunset swims in the heated seawater pool, aperitifs at Bar Corallina, and dining at Corallina and the Michelin-recommended Il Giardino. Families are spoiled too, with nightly Smile Club activities for the littles.
Southall Farm & Inn, Franklin, TN. Sounds of Summer. An intimate hilltop sunset performance of Lifehouse: Best of Acoustic with Jason Wade on Saturday, August 22, 2026, greatest hits, fan favorites, and solo selections in a setting unlike any other. Premium seating $175, standing room $125.
Atlantis The Royal, Dubai. Up to 20% Off. Up to 20% off stays of three or more nights in any room or suite, with free cancellation up to three days before arrival on stays through September 30, 2026. Book by August 31, 2026, travel through December 31, 2027.
Prince Waikiki, Honolulu, HI. Sizzling Summer. Save 25% on all guestrooms and suites. Book by August 31, 2026, travel through December 15, 2027.
Royal Mansour Casablanca, Morocco. Stay 3, Pay 2. Three nights for the price of two, valid through September 5, 2026, subject to availability.
Reschio, Perugia, Italy. Plan Ahead. Book at least 60 days in advance and pay in full for 15% off the room rate, valid on Grand Suites, Castello Suites, San Michele Suites, and the Tower Suite, breakfast included. Payment is non-refundable and dates cannot change, so commit with confidence. Book and travel through October 30, 2026.
Singer Palace Hotel Roma, Rome, Italy. Sparkling Celebration. On stays of two nights or more: personalized in-room check-in, daily à la carte breakfast, a welcome amenity of Prosecco and chocolate truffles, a three-course dinner for two at Le Terrazze with a glass of wine each, and a farewell gift. Book and travel through February 28, 2027 (blackout December 21, 2026 to January 7, 2027).
W Fort Lauderdale, Ft Lauderdale, FL. Stay Longer & Save. Stay three to five-plus nights and save up to 30% with LUMINOUS perks: daily breakfast, a $100 hotel credit, complimentary Wi-Fi, a welcome amenity, and space-available early check-in, late check-out, and room upgrades. Book and travel through April 30, 2027.
Reply to book. VIP perks, upgrades, and thoughtful planning are always included when you book through Zelena Travel.
Coming This Month
Where They Travel & Why ✦ Featuring Haley Seidel
Meet Haley Seidel, a product strategy and design consultant whose work centers on artisanal and handmade textiles, décor, and furniture. She partners with brands and retailers to develop thoughtful collections that blend timeless design with traditional craftsmanship, and her work has taken her around the globe, collaborating with artisans and discovering the people, places, and creative traditions that inspire both her work and her travels. You’ll want to see where she goes and why.
Monthly Guide ✦ Michelle’s Guide to Paris
My unlocks in Paris: what to skip, what’s a must, and the place we can come back to forever. France is our most-booked international country over the years, so whether it’s a layover or the whole trip, we have all the tips for you, and this is the guide you’ll want saved.
Recently Booked
A quick one this month, but too good not to share. Clients are headed to The Shelborne Miami, The Langham Chicago, Ocean House in Rhode Island, and Four Seasons Palm Beach, and we just built an in-depth ski trip to Switzerland, multiple properties, excursions, and ski rentals all handled. If a winter on the mountain is on your list, get ahead now. We have also been booking beautiful onefinestay apartments, a partner we especially love for families and longer stays. Need something different than a hotel? We do that too, just let us know.
Currently
Travel wishlist: Petunia Ibiza, thanks for the rec, Jessie
Currently reading: The Fountain, a debut novel from a local upstate author, definitely worth a read
Listening to: Satisfied
Recently purchased / using:
A new Apres shirt for my birthday
Tin cans for my niece and Mila to chit chat
TWG tea from the Ritz
Dresses and sandals from Sessùn
New butter-soft loafers from Bobbies
Caudalie sunscreen, because of course
A lot of amazing trinkets from Parisian markets and makers that I’ll share in this month’s guide
You can always shop my travel favorites here and here.
For more inspiration and updates, head to ZelenaTravel.com or find us on Instagram @zelenatravel.
If you love travel (or know someone who does), I’d be so grateful if you’d share this newsletter.
With love,
Michelle