Molly Schoneveld

Molly Schoneveld (@molly.schoneveld)

Founder & President of The Storied Group

Based in: LA

Last visited: Portugal

Design love and hotel obsessed

HIP: Tell us a bit about the last place you visited; what inspired you to go there?; what would you recommend?

Molly: The last major trip I took was to Portugal with my husband. We started in Lisbon, rented a car to the Douro Valley, and ended in Porto. Portugal has become quite the jetsetter’s hotspot, so I was likely “influenced” from seeing so many photos on Instagram. That and my friend Ana (@MrsOAroundtheWorld) is from there, which piqued my curiosity even more. I would absolutely recommend Six Senses in the Douro Valley. It was one of the most incredible hotels I’ve ever stayed in and one of those places that you really don't need to leave. My best tip is to book yourself more than 2 nights because you will want to stay forever! We also didn’t even feel like we needed to do more than one winery in the area because there are so many tastings at the hotel. As for Lisbon, there’s a little pop-up dining experience called ‘Local’ that only seats 10 people for a tasting menu. Highly recommend!

HIP: Which destination is next on your wishlist?

Molly: I tend to choose my locations a lot based on hotels, and I’ve been dying to visit an Aman in Asia. We’ve never been to that part of the world and I have to say…Amanpuri in Thailand is calling my name! Although my mom really wants to go on a trip with us to Greece. So we will see what wins out for 2020!

HIP: What is your best travel experience to date?

Molly: My best travel experience to date was spending a milestone birthday in the Cotswolds in England. I had wanted to go to the English Countryside since I first fell in love with The Secret Garden as a little girl. It lived up to my highest expectations. I have since been back a few times, and will likely go every year if I can. I highly recommend staying at The Pig Hotel near Bath—book a garden cottage room! It’s also a very short drive from Bath, which is one of the most charming places we’ve been. We stayed at the luxurious Gainsborough Bath Spa, which had the most comfortable bed of all time. It has been given the exclusive privilege of access to the natural thermal waters of the World Heritage Site, so the spa is not to be missed! If you are looking for a day trip near Bath, Castle Combe is a 45-minute drive from The Pig near Bath and is regularly used as a filming location because it is one of the most beautiful villages in England. Just make sure to stop by The Manor House, a 5-star country house hotel built in the fourteenth century, and have a drink in the Full Glass Bar, where Margaret Thatcher wrote her memoirs!

Find out more about Molly’s travel adventures here.