One summer, my mom and I spent ten days in Paris, unpacking and settling into the neighborhood around us. We wandered the Seine at sunset, watched couples learning to salsa in the street, hunted for treasures at the flea market, and lingered over long dinners.

One of my favorite memories was created in our Haussmann-style Airbnb. On a hot August afternoon, we returned from exploring and opened the French doors onto the balcony overlooking the street. I fell asleep on the living room couch in a pool of sunlight and woke to the breeze on my face, the sounds of life outside, and the warmth of the sun still glowing through the room. For a few quiet minutes, I felt completely content, more at ease than I ever had before.

That simple afternoon shaped the way I choose where to stay. It sparked my obsession with finding spaces that don’t just house a trip, but elevate it, places that let you open the windows wide and feel the rhythm of where you are.