Skip the coasts this season and perch your clients on the most beautiful lakes in the world, where the whole stay comes down to proximity. On the water, above it, or inland with a swimming hole worth the drive. These J.MAKers cover the range, and every one of them proves life really is better by the lake.
ORTA THIS WORLD at LAQUA BY THE LAKE
LAKE ORTA . ITALY .
Lake Orta is the one the crowds still haven't found. Imagine a sanctuary where the morning mist rises off the quietest waters in Italy, offering a stillness that the more famous shores have long since traded for glamour. Villa Crespi's Moorish elegance and the contemporary serenity of Laqua by the Lake deliver an intimate retreat you'll have largely to yourself.
Orta is also the ultimate gateway to Northern Italy. Clients who base here spend their days out exploring and their evenings back in near silence. Laqua's curated transfers carry guests from the hidden gems of San Giulio to the botanical wonders of Lake Maggiore and the magic of Lake Como.
Lake Como's most glamorous address just got even better. Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como has reopened following a stylish refresh, with Herzog & de Meuron redesigning its signature L'Aria restaurant alongside restoration of the iconic floating pool, the Spa, and NAMI Café. The new L'Aria is all warmth and texture, flowing from veranda to panoramic terrace to lakeside greenhouse, where Executive Chef Massimiliano Blasone weaves local Italian flavors together with subtle Eastern influences.
Looking to get out on the water? Our luxury yacht partner Capasecca Yacht has officially arrived on Lake Como. Picture a private day on the lake gliding past historic villas and lakeside villages, with a guide who knows every stop worth making. La dolce vita, now docked at Como.
FINGER ON THE PULSE at THE LAKE HOUSE ON CANANDAIGUA
CANANDAIGUA . NEW YORK .
Most lakes give you the water and leave it at that. Canandaigua hands your clients a whole wine region with it. The Lake House on Canandaigua sits directly on the lake with the Finger Lakes vineyards fanning out behind it, built by the Sands family, who made their name in wine and beer long before they made a hotel.
The property occupies the site of a roadside motor lodge locals summered at for decades, torn down and rebuilt into 124 rooms and suites with balconies over the water. They kept the one thing nobody would have forgiven them for losing: the Sand Bar, slinging lakeside food since 1994. Days go from the boat to the vineyards to dinner at Rose Tavern, and downtown Canandaigua is walkable when clients want the town instead.
ENHANCED COMMISSION
15% commission on bookings made directly through J.MAK
Perched in the lush hills above Italy's largest lake, Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda is Northern calm at altitude, where every window frames sweeping views of the water below.
The best part? Your clients don't have to pick lake or mountains. Lefay's Lake and Mountains Package pairs its two iconic resorts into one seamless trip, with three nights on the sparkling shores of Lake Garda and three in the dramatic heights of the Dolomites. Each stay includes breakfast, a signature energy massage, and dinner at the hotels' restaurants.
Prospect Berkshires is your adult summer camp with a Scandinavian twist. Set on the shores of its own namesake lake where Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut converge, this nature-first retreat trades traditional hotel rooms for 49 modern cabins tucked into the pines.
Guests can paddleboard, kayak, or cast a line across the calm, before following the Finnish tradition to its logical conclusion: bake in a lakefront sauna, plunge straight into the cool water, repeat. The property also features tennis courts, crackling fire pits, and local dining at The Cliff House, hanging right over the water.
When summer comes to France, everyone stampedes to the coast. Your clients, meanwhile, will be slipping into the turquoise lakes and hidden swimming holes of deepest rural Provence.
Top of the list is Lac de Sainte-Croix, the crown jewel of the Verdon. Think turquoise water and wide beaches lined with oaks and pines, framed by rolling hills and cliff-perched villages, all opening onto the majestic Verdon gorges. The terrain shifts from sandy beaches to rocky coves to quiet marinas where you can rent pedal boats, paddleboards, and electric boats.
