Tour de l’Amour, Josefine Vibe checks into Hotel The Monica
Welcome to the Tour de l’Amour travel diaries, a voyage series in collaboration with Love Stories. Embark on a journey far or near home with our guides: inspiring women that know about style, room service, and adventure.
A long-weekend trip discovering the best kept secret of Danish island Ærø, Hotel The Monica: a tranquil and peaceful refuge with only three rooms and groovy vibes. Josefine Vibe sneaks us into her baby moon trip in the most dreamy Danish island hideaway together with Love Stories Intimates.
HW – Please tell us about yourself. What is your background? How did your relationship with food start?
My name is Josefine Vibe and I live in Copenhagen with my husband Mikkel, daughter Rose and soon baby brother Villy. On the daily I work as a model and as head of section in the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. In my off-time we usually go to our summerhouse in Tisvildeleje, which is such a calm place to wind down. We use our summerhouse as an almost weekly getaway from the city life. We love to use the forest and the beach during the whole season. Both my husband and I love to cook and one of our favorite activities is to explore new dishes and involve Rose in the process.
HW - Now tell us a bit about your fantastic voyage, where did you go? Who did you go with?
My husband and I went on the most amazing baby moon to Hotel the Monica, which is a small boutique hotel with only three rooms placed at the danish island Ærø. Hotel the Monica is owned by Monica Conradsen, whose impeccable taste and sense of detail really shows in everything from the room interior, gardening, cooking and not the least her, out of this world, hospitality. Monica is a mother of 4 kids and she is a well-traveled woman who has lived most of her life in foreign countries. She has established one grand home after another, renovated and decorated and ensured well-kept homes. Through this she has developed a deeply genuine and very personal version of caring luxury which she has generously and discreetly embraces her guests with. I have never experienced such a high level of service in any hotel before.
HW - Where to wake up?
No other place than The Hotel Monica. We woke up every morning to the sound of the birds and enjoyed breakfast in the herb garden with the smell of the most exquisite rosemary bush. Every dish was the perfect size and the selection varied on the daily. I usely prefer to wake up in our own home but this was surely a home away from home experience.
HW- The thing you loved the most from the hotel?
That has to be the host Monica. Her warmth, her sense of good hospitality and her down to earth personality does that you want to spend most of your trip in her hands at the hotel.
HW- Something that surprised you?
Just how beautiful and peaceful the atmosphere as Ærø was. I have heard stories about the scenic landscapes of Ærø, but experiencing it with one’s own eyes is truly breathtaking. Also I must say, the friendliness of all the people you meet. Everybody met you with a smile, which made you feel welcomed and at home, especially arriving straight from a big city.
HW- What’s the best way to explore the area?
Normally my husband and I would take long hikes and bike around. I know there are great ways to do both at Ærø, however as I am in my third trimester we had to go mostly by car. We went around on the island and had walks in the beautiful nature of Ærø.
HW – You traveled with your daughter, any tips to share with traveling parents?
Our daughter is almost two and becoming a little independent lady. This is extremely funny and at times a bit challenging, however we both live by the philosophy that parenting is what happens in your daily life, thus when being on vacation it is okay to let go of some of your parenting principles. Furthermore, don’t plan too much in one day and lower your expectations, then you get surprised instead of disappointed.
HW – Where (and what) to eat? For a low key lunch? And for a romantic dinner?
For a low key lunch, you can get a very nice danish speciality, the open sandwich, at Den Gamle Købmandsgaard. They have locally sourced products, and a little shop in which you can buy both eatable specialities as well as salt from Ærø, local soap, chocolate and beer.
For a romantic dinner, there is no better place than Hotel the Monica. Monica cooks the most delicious home cooked dishes, with the highest quality products from both Ærø and around Denmark. She serves you a pre-course, dinner and then dessert, which varies by the day and season. Her wine list is also very well curated and you can find something for every taste and occasion.
HW – What’s in your suitcase?
My suitcase wardrobe consists mostly of flowy summer dresses, loungewear, bathing suits and of course slip-in shoes. My Mila Long Dress in Brown is a big favourite, as its breezy and can be worn both to the beach and a walk around town, also it can be dressed both up and down with a pair of Havaianas or Birkenstock Bostons. Being pregnant it is easier to slip into a bikini, than a bathing suit, thus the purple bikini from Love Stories was a sure winner going to the beach.
HW – What’s the dress code for a weekend at The Monica?
Hotel The Monica has a very down to earth and casual atmosphere, so the dresscode is whatever makes you feel at home. I personally love oversized dresses which I wore for dinner, and then I wore e.g. Loves Stories’ Mila shirt in purple with matching shorts together with a nice pair of sandals.
HW – You can’t travel without…
My purple swimsuit from Love Stories Intimates. I love both morning and evening dips, especially in the nice waters of the Danish coastal line, which can be a very refreshing experience this time of year. Luckily for me, Hotel the Monica is placed just a 1,5 minute walk from the sea, and Monica has of course thought about packing a basket full of beach necessities perfect for a quick swim in the ocean.
HW – What to bring home as a souvenir?
I am usually not very fond of licquorice allsorts, however I tried the one Hattesens Konfektfabrik and it was absolutely mouthwatering. The licquorice allsorts is developed from the philosophy “We all deserve something better” and so Hattesen developed his organic candy made from only the best ingredients. I bought several gift boxes, so that I won’t run out anytime soon.
HW – A place only locals know about?
Monica gave us some great tips for where to go and what to see. We went to the top of the Skjoldnæs lighthouse, which has the most amazing view. Just a little walk from Hotel the Monica, you find the iconic bathhouses in Ærøskøbing. These privately owned bathhouses were build in the beginning of 1920’s and all of them are unique.
Lastly there’s the evocative museum, Hammerichs Hus, which is one of Ærøskøbings best kept half-timbered house.
HW – Any shops we can’t miss?
Ærø has a lot of really cute speciality shops, where you can buy everything from arts and crafts, clothes, books and jewelry. A lot of them are located just around the corner from Hotel the Monica. However, the one shop no one can miss is the store called ‘blandede bolcher’, which is largely a little toy store, with the most amazing owner called Harriet. Besides that, Hotel the Monica has their own little shop next to the hotel, where all products are beautifully curated (like the rest of the hotel.
HW – A book to read while we’re there?
I read 'Memories of the Future' by Siri Hustved, who is one of my favourite authors. The novel is about a young woman from the midwest and her first years in New York in the late 1970’s.
