The Ultimate Guide on How to Be an All-Year-Round Bon Vivant

By Catarina Varão, Unique Stays® — for those who never wait for summer to start living well

There’s a particular kind of traveller who doesn’t just take holidays.

They take their life on holiday.

They sip espresso like they invented it.They own three types of linen.They say “ciao” unironically — and somehow it works.

This is the Bon Vivant. Not just a guest. Not just a vibe. A lifestyle in motion.

And while most people press pause on pleasure the moment the boarding pass disappears, the Bon Vivant finds a way to stretch that glow all year long — from February fog to August aperitivos.

@ Herdade da Malhadinha Nova by Unique Stays

So how do they do it?

Here’s your step-by-step guide to becoming an all-year-round Bon Vivant (no passport stamps required):

1. Turn Tuesdays into Tuscany

The Bon Vivant doesn’t wait for a villa in Chianti to uncork something beautiful.

A drizzle of olive oil that cost a little more than it should?Fresh herbs in your morning eggs?A carafe of something citrusy with lunch?

These aren’t indulgences.They’re intentions.

It’s not about recreating the destination.It’s about borrowing its rhythm — even on a workday.

2. Pack like you’re always en route to charm

The Bon Vivant has an overnight bag that lives by the door.

They believe in permanent readiness.Not for emergencies, but for enchantment.

Because the secret isn’t having more.It’s having just enough — and making it all feel like you.

Think: your go-to linen shirt that works in Lisbon and London.

A scent that whispers “I’m interesting.” Swimwear that’s optimistic year-round.

(After all, you never know when a boutique guesthouse with a heated plunge pool will call your name.)

3. Book like you mean it

Spontaneity is chic. But so is commitment.

A true Bon Vivant doesn’t wait for “maybe.”

They pencil in joy like it’s non-negotiable.

A long weekend in Alentejo?The same corner suite in Porto every October?That off-season stay when the hotel dog remembers your name?

This isn’t travel.It’s ritual.

And ritual is what turns a guest into a legend.

4. Eat with no regrets. Order with mild flair.

The Bon Vivant doesn’t “grab a bite.”They dine — even if it’s just a tartine.

Menus are read like poetry.And dessert is not optional.

More importantly:They know that asking for “the dish the locals order” always unlocks something better.

Even if it’s off-menu.

Especially if it’s off-menu :)

5. Don’t chase status. Embody soul.

The Bon Vivant isn’t seduced by flashy lobbies or gold-plated doorknobs.

They want storytelling in their sheets.Local wine on their nightstand.A handwritten note that says, “Welcome back.”

Because true luxury isn’t loud.It’s intimate.

That’s why they return to places like Unique Stays® — where charm isn’t manufactured, it’s cultivated.

6. Leave every place a little warmer than you found it

The Bon Vivant isn’t just there to enjoy.They engage.

They learn the name of the barista.They ask about the antiques.They tip like someone who’s been tipped well in life.

Because real joy isn’t consumed — it’s shared.

Final Thought:

Being a Bon Vivant isn’t about living expensively.It’s about living expressively.

It’s about saying yes to beauty,often,without apology.

You don’t need much — just a few good things, well chosen.A sun-warmed linen shirt.A bottle opened slowly. A morning that begins without rush.

Because there’s wisdom in minimalism, when it’s intentional.A quiet kind of luxury.The kind that doesn’t shout, but lingers.

And the real magic? Bon Vivants always seem to recognise each other. Not by logos, nor location.But by the glimmer of someone who’s made an art of living well. Graciously.Romantically.With culture — and without needing to prove a thing.

In the meantime don't forget to share and gift this unique life style with a voucher