The Dreamers #109 - With Natalia Swarz

10 days ago

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Written by

10 days ago

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Written by

Welcome back to the Dreamers as we journey to Madrid in Spain and chat with Natalia Swarz - founder of Hôtel Weekend. A lifestyle destination for those exploring the world at a slower and more sustainable place.

WELCOME TO THE DREAMERS.

COME INSIDE THE HOMES OF EVERYDAY FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS DOING LIFE THEIR WAY.

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Hey Natalia, tell us about your family.

There is me, Natalia. I’m 31 and a designer. Armando is 38 and an artist. Cecilia (almost 3) is so unique, a little star! She loves music and dancing, and she’s a social butterfly. Florencia, 6 months, is the sweetest soul and always so smiley!

Where do you call home? Are there any hidden gems in your area you’d love to share? What makes it special for you?

We live in Madrid! We’ve been here for the past five years, and we love it. The city is growing a lot, and it’s becoming more international. There are lots of cool new openings and fun things going on all the time. My favourite restaurant, where you will always find me, is Hermanas Arce.

We are OBSESSED with the travel guides in your online publication, Hotel Weekend. Can you share the journey behind how it started?

I started Hôtel Weekend in 2015 to share my travel findings with friends and friends of friends. I had this vision of travelling in a slower way, where you could get immersed in a new culture while enjoying the barefoot luxury lifestyle I liked. It was also a way for me to go back to my original plan of being involved in hospitality and interior design. It slowly became a platform and a community of slow travellers who are design-oriented and love discovering special stays. Later on, we launched the Souvenir Shop and City Guides, and last year, we launched our first book, Barefoot Living. My goal is to turn Hôtel Weekend into a hospitality venture, and I’m hoping to open our first small hotel in the coming years.

What does slow-paced travel mean to you, and how do you embrace it while exploring the world?

I moved to Europe from Colombia when I was 20. Here, I discovered how everyone was so into fast travel; it was so easy. We didn’t have that in Colombia as it’s more expensive to travel both inland and to other countries, so people usually plan their vacations more thoughtfully. But in Spain, you could easily go to Italy, Greece, France, and anywhere for a weekend for less than 100€ (the airfare). I did this several times with friends before realising I wasn’t really enjoying each destination. Everything felt rushed, impersonal, and unfulfilling – let alone not sustainable. I started travelling more consciously, taking more time to really discover the heart of the destination. Quality over quantity. There are less places, but more in-depth.

What’s it like juggling business with being a mama?

It’s a balancing act, but the truth is I don’t think a perfect balance exists. It’s non-stop. I wasn’t sure what to expect when Ceci was just born, and I was very lucky to have taken maternity leave with her. This time, when Flore was born, I jumped back to work almost immediately. I love my job, but time is a tricky thing to manage with a young baby. We do our best; Armando and I take turns working. Schedules are always evolving.

We’ve noticed you enjoy Park Hangs! How important is it for you to get outside with your family?

It is so important! We just moved to a new neighbourhood, so we would have a park nearby. I dream of a countryside house that we can visit on the weekends and spend more time in nature, have a little orchard - the dream! For now, we are very lucky to have one of the most beautiful parks in the city, a stone’s throw away from home. We also love the city life, so this location offers us a great balance.

If you had to pick one luxury weekend stay anywhere in the world right now - where would it be?

It would definitely be Sussurro in Mozambique, but for longer than just a weekend!

Any exciting plans for this year?

We are hoping to go back to Japan in 2025 and hopefully spend the summer again in Denmark. Also, we will be visiting family in Colombia. We’ll see what the future holds, but for now, everything is exciting as we think of Flore growing and starting to walk and Ceci developing and growing into a little girl with her own personality!