how good air conditioning can make or break a holiday this summer

2026 has been a hot summer across Europe. Temperatures in France and Spain have exceeded 40 degrees on multiple occassions, bringing infrastructure to a standstill.

I’ve been working with a repeat client during this period who was looking to play golf in Normandy. We’d found the perfect villa for them, with the right number of bedrooms, great access close to the golf courses, and a full troop of highly professional staff.

However, a key point that you might not expect when booking a holiday in Normandy was whether the property had air-conditioning - which, as it turns out - is not as common as you might expect.

With temperatures unexpectantly high, many properties aren’t used to having to deal with such heat. Their old frames, thick walls with pituresque small windows, and stone floors normally act as natural insulation, keeping the properties cool in summer and warm in winter. However, this summer it’s been imperative to find somewhere that can manage the rising temperatures. So, we pivoted and put air conditioning at the very top of the priority list.

And I’m delighted to say we delivered. Using my little black book of contacts, and after conversations with the owner, we were able to confirm exactly what our client needed - a place we could confidently say would be cool inside no matter how hot it got outside.

It’s these small details that can really make the difference. Adapting as the brief develops, listening to what truly matters, and above all else, talking openly and honestly to our wonderful network of suppliers across the globe who can make the impossible possible.

If you've got some very particular requests for your next trip, let us know. We love a challenge and will keep going until we find exactly what you want.