A little black book listing chichi recommendations for shopping, hotels, dining, etc, that you otherwise might never know about can turn a trip into an unforgettable experience. Get started with these insider tips from the style experts

Jewellery designer Fiona Knapp specialises in precious metals and semi-precious stones at her Notting Hill atelier. Her trademark chunky, coloured stonework has made her a favourite with the Vogue set:

Do you have a ‘new find’ of the summer that you can reveal?
Sneaking over to Pimlico for an organic burger at Daylesford dairy. Once there I potter around at my favourite gem and rock shop called Ammonite 2000. Like Westbourne Grove [the location of Knapp’s shop], this little enclave has fantastic antiques and a cute market in the square on Saturday mornings.

And your favourite hotel of the moment?
The new rooms at the Connaught are my favourite in London. This hotel has always been superb yet it still manages to keep getting better.

Where do you go to find that perfect gift?
Sauter of Mayfair which is a wonderful cigar shop on Mount Street in London and a good place to buy gifts for men.

What’s your hand-luggage essential?
Neal’s Yard Rose-hip Lip Balm for keeping lips moist.

Can you recommend a stylish travel haunt?
In Venice I suggest a day trip to the Lido. As one of the oldest beach resorts in Europe, it is sublimely civilised to take a tent for the day, swim, relax over backgammon and have a good gossip over lunch.

What are your holiday essentials this season?
I am a huge fan of the ‘Indian set’ of writers including Rohinton Mistry and Arundhati Roy so I’m taking one of their books with me. And I like a local guide to show me the best places for restaurants, quiet destinations away from the madding crowds, and of course where to find the best gemstones.

Kate Reardon, former fashion editor of Tatler and contributing editor to The Times magazine on jewellery, is the author of Top Tips For Girls:

Do you have a new treat for this summer?
I love eating at the café in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington. The museum has just reopened its spectacular jewellery collection.

What’s your favourite hotel of the moment?
The Gritti Palace in Venice is one of the most glamorous places in the world. It overlooks the Grand Canal and has the most awesome view of the city. It doesn’t get better than this.

And your hot shopping destination?
The Italian scent boutiques of Farmacia Santa Maria Novella. The original in Florence is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. I’m obsessed with its pomegranate scent.

What stylish travel haunt would you recommend?
It’s pretty hard to beat tycoon-watching at the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados. It’s kind of like whale-watching – although they are usually (but not always) slimmer.

What are your holiday essentials this season?
The new Prada Butterfly sunglasses – no need for make-up as they cover half my face. And Sudocrem – yes, I know it’s a nappy rash cream, but it nukes sunburn overnight.

Kate Reardon is the founder of advice website www.toptipsforgirls.com and new travel website www.toptipsfortravel.com

Hairstylist Luke Hersheson, whose father, Daniel Hersheson, established the eponymous hair salons in Mayfair and Harvey Nichols, has worked on numerous fashion shows as well as with celebrities including Kylie Minogue:

What’s your ‘new find’ of the summer?
The Rose Bakery, which has a famous branch in Paris, at Dover Street Market in London.

And your favourite hotel of the moment?
The Gran Hotel Son Net in Palma. I go there because it’s super-tranquil.

Do you have a hot tip for extra-special shopping?
Alfies Antiques in London.

What are your hand-luggage essentials?
My BlackBerry, Apple laptop (I always have a good selection of DVDs to watch on it; I’m currently working my way through the West Wing) and I always pack a Ralph Lauren tracksuit in my Mulberry hold-all.

Daniel Hersheson, 45 Conduit Street, London, W1, +44 (0)20 7434 1747; www.danielhersheson.com
Alfies Antique Market, 13-25 Church Street, London, NW8, +44 (0)20 7723 6066; www.alfiesantiques.com	Rose Bakery, Dover Street Market, 17-18 Dover Street, London, W1, +44 (0)20 7518 0680
Gran Hotel Son Net, C/ Castillo de Sonnet s/n, Puigpunyent, Mallorca, +34 971 147 000; www.sonnet.es

What’s your favourite rendezvous this summer?
The Acorn House in Islington for great organic food.

And a hotel that you love?
The Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam. We always stay there when The Stones are on tour. The restaurant has delicious truffles!

Is there a shop you can’t resist visiting?
In London, it’s Summerill & Bishop, a kitchen shop in Holland Park.

What stylish travel haunt would you recommend?
The Guinness factory in Dublin.

And your holiday essentials this season are?
A camera and Jo Wood Organics Usiku Body Dew and Organic Sunblock.

Jo Wood Organics and
Everyday by Jo Wood
Organics are available from
www.jowoodorganics.com

Acorn House Restaurant,
69 Swinton Street,
London, WC1, +44(0)20 7812 1842;
www.acornhouserestaurant.com

Summerill & Bishop,
100 Portland Road,
London, W11, +44(0)20 7221 4566;
www.summerillandbishop.com

Guinness Storehouse,
St James’ Gate, Dublin 8,
Ireland, +353 (0)1 408 4800;
www.guinnessstorehouse.com

Geraldine Howard, who is the co-founder and president of Aromatherapy Associates, developed the high-end skincare line that is now used in luxury hotels and spas worldwide:

Do you have a haven that you especially like to visit this summer?
The Garden Room at The Athenaeum Hotel near London’s Hyde Park Corner is perfect to meet a friend for a morning coffee or afternoon tea in lovely surroundings.

What’s your current favourite hotel?
Hotel Valldemossa, just outside Palma. And your hot shopping tip? Charles Ede Antiquities, in Brook Street, London, for wonderful Egyptian antiques.

What’s your handluggage essential?
Aromatherapy Associates Renew Moisturising Lip Balm.

Can you recommend a stylish haunt?
In Palma walking along the Passeig de la Rambla, a lovely traditional street lined with flower sellers, and then having tapas at Bodega la Ramblas.

Aromatherapy Associates is stocked at Space NK or it can be ordered by calling +44 (0)20 8569 7030 or through the website www.aromatherapyassociates.com
The Athenaeum Hotel,
116 Piccadilly, London,
W1, +44 (0)20 7499 3464;
www.athenaeumhotel.com


Hotel Valldemossa,
Ctra. Vieja de Valldemossa
s/n , Valldemossa, Mallorca, +34 971 612 626;
www.valldemossahotel.com

Charles Ede Antiquities,
20 Brook Street, London,
W1, +44 (0)20 7493 4944

Lingerie and swimwear designer Damaris Evans has a luxury underwear label which has rapidly gained a starry following that includes Nicole Kidman. Her new diffusion line, created for the high street, is called Mimi Holliday:

Tell us your favourite hotel of the moment…
The Gritti Palace in Venice. I like drinking balsamic martinis there – as far as I know, the only place in the world that makes them. But the best time to go is in January when Venice is empty and it’s rather eerie; it always feels like I have rented the city for myself.

And your hot tip for travel shopping…
In Sudan in Khartoum is the Omdurman market – it’s on every day, though the main day is Friday. It sells everything from antique beads to swords; and has traditional shoe-makers and gold jewellers.

Can you recommend a stylish travel haunt?
Going to Naples which I love, then getting on a speed boat and heading to Panarea for the day – it’s one of the Aeolian islands. Besides my house in France, I would say it’s my favourite place on earth.

What don’t you fly without?
For sunny holidays, a giant hand-printed cotton scarf which I bought in Panarea. It has been thrown across and laid on many surfaces, from straw fields to boats and volcanic rock. And a beautiful 1920s’ mini-parasol, as I can’t bear the sun on my face when it’s too, too hot.

For stockist information for Damaris and Mimi Holliday, visit www.damaris.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 7524 7505

Celebrity hairstylist James Brown has been a close friend of supermodel Kate Moss since their schooldays in Croydon and he has been responsible for some of her iconic crops. Recently, he has created his own range of hair products available from leading Boots and department stores:

Where is your regular haunt this summer?
It’s my home from home in north London, The Clifton Pub – and it’s the best-kept secret in St John’s Wood.

Is there a hotel that you love?
The Shelbourne in Dublin.What’s your hot tip for special shopping? Grays Antique Market, London.

Have you an offbeat travel tip?
Go for an early morning horse-ride in Hyde Park.

What can’t you fly without?
A cashmere blanket, Smythson travel wallet and Nars Aqua Hydrating Gel.

The James Brown London collection is available in Boots stores nationwide.

The Clifton Pub,
96 Clifton Hill, London,
NW8, +44 (0)20 7372 3427;
www.capitalpubcompany2.com/clifton.htm

The Shelbourne Hotel,
27 St Stephen’s Green,
Dublin 2, Ireland,
+353 (0)1 663 4500;
www.marriott.com


Grays,
58 Davies Street and 1-7
Davies Mews, London, W1,
+44 (0)20 7629 7034;
www.graysantiques.com