Bold takeaway: Holidays can be exactly the kind of challenge that reveals not just our limits, but our resilience—and Pearl Lowe’s stories illustrate how personal traits shape every trip, for better and for worse. If you think travel should be seamless, this piece might change your mind.
Pearl Lowe, 55, is a London-born fashion and interiors designer who also pursued a career as a singer-songwriter. She’s married to musician Danny Goffey and has a blended family of five children: Alfie, 29, Frankie, 26, Betty, 20, and Daisy Lowe, 36, from a prior relationship with Gavin Rossdale. The Lowes now call Frome, Somerset home.
For Lowe, holidays aren’t simple. She manages strong OCD, which means her surroundings must meet numerous conditions, and she also lives with ADHD, which can complicate travel. She recalls missteps like arriving at airports on the wrong day, checking into the wrong hotel, or even returning home with an empty suitcase because packing simply didn’t register properly in her mind. Overpacking is common, yet she often ends up wearing the same outfit repeatedly. Fortunately, she can borrow clothes from her daughters since they share the same size, though Betty’s wardrobes are off-limits due to their drastically different measurements.
Long flights aren’t her favorite, as she tends to feel restless. Still, some destinations justify the journey. Sri Lanka stands out as the most underrated place she’s visited. A family trip taken just before the pandemic revealed a country of remarkable beauty, welcoming people, and superb hotels. The family toured widely—from Colombo to Tangalle, where they stayed at Amanwella and enjoyed a crocodile safari on the river.
Lowe also has a soft spot for Mexico. A recent trip to Tulum yielded stylish stays at La Valise and Our Habitas, both praised for their interiors. She hasn’t visited Mexico City yet but is eager to go, partly because she adores Frida Kahlo and would love to see her home there.
She notes that the family has just downsized from their 11-bedroom Somerset residence and splits time between a Notting Hill flat and plans to settle more permanently in Frome. For dining, she ranks High Pavement in Frome’s St Catherine’s Quarter as her top restaurant; it’s a tiny front-room venue that serves exceptional tapas, but reservations are essential since it’s only open on Thursdays through Saturdays. Frome’s monthly market (first Sunday from March to December) also earns high marks for its eclectic mix of food, antiques, and other finds. Nearby hotels like Number One Bruton and the Babington House property regularly feature in her travel conversations, and she fondly recalls their gothic-styled winter wedding in 2008.
Moving forward, Lowe is eager to travel again once her relocation is complete. She considered a home-swap holiday but found the exchange offers lacking in value compared to her own home, so the plan didn’t move ahead.
Morocco calls to her as well; she recently stayed at El Fenn in Marrakesh, a vibrant boutique hotel renowned for its colors, cuisine, and welcoming staff. The nearby Atlas Mountains hosted a friend’s 50th birthday at a venue at the base of the range, which left a lasting impression.
Greece remains a favorite, with Paxos earning particular affection. The family often rents a villa there, but one year they chartered a 109-year-old boat, Circe, through Scott Williams Villas. The voyage was magical despite the logistically intimate cabins. A skipper named Adonis added to the enchantment by playing guitar at sunset each night.
A less cheerful travel memory sits with a Goa holiday about six years ago. The family hoped for relaxation, but an illness spread through the resort, turning the trip into a difficult ordeal. The experience made her grateful for the prospect of returning to India, specifically Jaipur, under better circumstances.
As a child, August holidays meant Mallorca, where the family stayed at a familiar Meliá hotel. She remembers being the youngest among friends and relatives who joined the trips, often left inside while others socialized. As she grew older, family dynamics shifted, and trips with her parents became more intimate, including visits to Barbados and stays at the Sandy Lane hotel.
Her memories extend to Miami, where her father bought a small house when she was nine. Summers, Christmases, and spring breaks were spent there, and the city’s distinctive architecture, pastel tones, and Wynwood art scenes left a lasting imprint, especially after her father’s death in 2016.
Lowe’s first solo holiday without her parents was a Pro vence escape to Club Med in the late 1980s with friends. The all-inclusive drinks, buoyant social scene, and abundance of activities made it a carefree—and somewhat chaotic—intro to independent travel.
Her latest book, Faded Glamour in the City, is published by Cico Books. Those interested can order through Times Book Shop, with free UK standard shipping on orders over £25 and exclusive Times+ discounts available.
For ongoing travel chronicles, Lowe participates in weekly My Hols interviews, where notable figures from film, sports, politics, and beyond share their journeys from childhood to present day. If you’d like to explore more, you can read additional My Hols features via The Times.
Think you know how to plan better trips around ADHD and OCD? What strategies work for you when travel stress spikes, and would you be willing to share those tips in the comments? Do you believe travel can be more enjoyable with meticulous planning, or does spontaneity still hold appeal for you, even with sensory or organizational challenges? Let us know your take.
