For Evan, her husband Scott, and their eight-year-old son, travel has always been more than just holidays, it’s the way they connect and build lasting memories together. When they discovered August, it felt like unlocking a dream they’d been chasing for years: the freedom to live across Europe in beautifully designed homes, without the burden of managing them. From barefoot afternoons in the French Alps to family dinners under the Tuscan sun, August has turned their vision of a lifestyle rich in adventure, culture, and connection into a reality.

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Please can you introduce yourself and share how you first found out about August?

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I’m Evan, and I’m married to Scott, and we have an eight-year-old son. Travel is a huge part of our lifestyle; it’s something all three of us genuinely love. Our son enjoys it just as much as we do, which has been such a blessing. Since we had him a little later in life, we always knew he would need to fit right into the way we already lived, and he’s embraced it beautifully.

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For a while, we were part of a membership-based travel company. It served us well in the immediate post-COVID period when we just needed to get out, but over time, it changed and stopped meeting our needs. Around the same time, we started seriously thinking about buying a home in Italy, something we’d dreamed about for over a decade. But we kept running into the same challenges: navigating the process of buying overseas, dealing with renovations, and managing everything from permits to maintenance, all in a language we only speak a little of.

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Additionally, we struggled with the idea of choosing just one location. We love so many different places, but a few weeks at a time in one city or another never felt enough to confidently decide, “This is where we want to put down roots.”

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While researching cities in Italy, whether that’s Lucca, with its expat community and small-town feel, or perhaps something bigger, I stumbled across August. It was an immediate lightbulb moment. Here was a way to experience having homes across Europe without the burdens we’d been worried about. Instead of being tied down to one place, we could explore multiple destinations with ease.

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For us, August feels like the perfect first step. Maybe these five homes will be something we keep forever and eventually pass on to our son, or maybe it will lead us down a different path with August down the line. Either way, it’s given us the opportunity to live the lifestyle we dreamed about, but without the stress of managing it all on our own.

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As an American family, why did you choose to join August and invest in holiday homes in Europe rather than in the US?

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We do have another home here in the US, a beach house about five and a half hours away from our primary residence. But honestly, we’ve spent far more time in our August homes than we ever have at the beach house. This past year, especially, we’ve had what I’d call an incredible “August year.” I wish every year could be like this one, with as much time in Europe as we’ve been able to enjoy.

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Before August, we had done a fair amount of travel within the US. We were part of a travel membership club for a while, and both of us also travel a lot for work here. And of course, there are certain places in the US we love, like skiing out West, which we still plan to do once a year. But beyond that, nothing here draws us year-round in the same way Europe does.

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Europe has truly become our second home. We’ve gone in December, in March for spring break, throughout the summer, and we’re even heading back for the Olympics in February, which we’re so excited about. For us, Europe just offers everything. Our son loves history, and as a family, we all love reading, learning, hiking, and exploring. No matter where we go, there’s always an incredible hike, a fascinating archaeological site, a museum, or a restaurant to discover. It almost doesn’t matter the destination. Europe gives us endless opportunities to connect with the things we value most as a family.

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Did you have any reservations about joining a co-ownership model, and how did you overcome them?

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I’m a lawyer here in the States, so naturally, I did a lot of due diligence before joining. At one point, I even found myself researching the barrister program in London just to confirm everything was legitimate, which in hindsight makes me laugh, but at the time it felt necessary. We got to the point where we had checked everything we could, and we were 99% sure it was real before sending the money. Of course, there’s always that tiny moment of doubt, but overall, we felt confident moving forward.

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When we first spoke with Rory from August’s Advisory Team, what really reassured us was the structure of the model. It wasn’t just a random group of people; there were clear criteria. For example, only a limited number of families would have children, so we wouldn’t all be competing for the same school holidays. There was also a thoughtful mix of members from different regions, the US, Europe, South America, and even Asia—which really spreads out availability. That immediately felt preferable to the American travel club we’d been part of before, where everyone was fighting for the same homes and dates.

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And honestly, the experience has been even better than we expected. We have a WhatsApp group with our co-owners; it’s not overly active, but it’s genuinely helpful. People share tips like great local restaurants, amazing tour guides, or even practical advice like where to park in a certain town. It’s collegial, respectful, and really adds to the sense of community.

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As for the homes themselves, every property we’ve stayed in has been beautifully maintained and cared for. Availability hasn’t been an issue either. We’ve just gone through our first full round of point allocations, and everyone in our group was able to get what they wanted. It’s been smooth, transparent, and works exactly the way it’s supposed to. We couldn’t be happier.

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Why did you choose the Premium Collection over the other August Collections?

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We really looked at all the Collections, though Prime wasn’t fully launched at the time, so our options were mainly Premium, Signature, and Pied À Terre. At first, we were completely taken with the Pied À Terre concept: Paris, Cannes, Barcelona, London, Rome (my favourite city in the world). Honestly, at that price point, the idea of having a home in those cities felt almost too good to be true. That was our first reaction: “Wow, this is unbelievable.”

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But then, the reality set in. There are three of us, and we almost always travel with friends or family. We’re constantly bringing people along, whether it’s my son’s school friends and their families (two families flew over from Atlanta recently, and we all spent the week together at the house while the boys climbed Mont Blanc!) or grandparents, cousins, or close friends. We’ve sort of become the glue, always inviting others to join us. And we’ve found that if you can provide something amazing, like a beautiful house, people are more than happy to buy a plane ticket and meet us there. That’s been such a blessing, and it’s allowed us to share these homes not just with our family, but with a much wider circle. In fact, my best friend from Atlanta and some friends from Milan and Rome are about to spend two weeks at one of the houses, so it’s extended even further than just us.

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That’s what ultimately led us to realise the Pied À Terre Collection wasn’t the right fit. We’re not typically in cities like Paris or Rome for a full week, and when we do go, we have the flexibility to book great places on our own. What we really wanted from August was the countryside experience, the pools, the space, the slower pace, something we couldn’t as easily replicate ourselves.

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From there, we narrowed down to Signature or Premium. And for us, Premium was the clear choice. I felt strongly that having larger houses gave us the flexibility to bring more people, and it’s something we could grow into over time. I picture us in the future, our son older, married, maybe with kids of his own, and Premium gives us the kind of homes that will still feel comfortable for the whole extended family. Bigger just felt better for how we live and travel.

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And honestly, the Premium homes have exceeded every expectation. The quality is incredible, and the attention to detail is unmatched. I always laugh because I’ll go looking for something small, say, a lemon juicer, and it’s always there, in exactly the logical drawer you’d expect. And it’s the same across all the homes, which makes life so easy. Everything we’ve needed has been thought of.

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So for us, Premium really checked all the boxes: space for friends and family, the countryside lifestyle we wanted, and a level of quality and ease that makes traveling stress-free. It’s been perfect.

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Can you walk us through the first time you set foot in your August home? How did you feel about the property’s character and design?

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The first house we visited was the French Alps home, and honestly, it’s still my favourite in the Collection, even though it’s not the biggest and doesn’t have a pool. There’s just something about it: unbelievably beautiful, calming, and so thoughtfully designed to blend indoor and outdoor living. We went during my son’s spring break, the last week of February into the first week of March, and the weather was incredible. I remember sitting out on the porch barefoot in the afternoons, reading in the sunshine; it felt magical.

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This year, we brought friends along, and they were just blown away. Everyone kept commenting on how perfectly finished every detail was, and how every space was so well thought out. It’s actually one of the smaller homes in our Collection; our Tuscany house is probably twice the size, but it never feels small. The way August’s Design Team has maximised the space is just incredible. For example, in the bedrooms, they created these beautifully built-in cabinet systems that flow seamlessly from room to room. Those rooms ended up getting more compliments from guests than anything else, which really speaks to the design.

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We hosted 10 people there for a week, including four kids under the age of eight, and it worked beautifully. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous beforehand, wondering if it would feel tight, but it never did. We had big family dinners out on the patio, used every chair, and it just felt effortless. That’s the brilliance of the design, it’s not about the size, it’s about how well every nook and corner has been utilised. The Alps house is proof of that, and it’s why it remains such a special favourite of ours.

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How do you feel about the neighbourhoods the homes are located in, and which is your favourite August home so far?

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Megève is obviously super luxurious, beautiful, and high-end, just gorgeous. When you drive in, you’re immediately greeted by one of the biggest mountains you’ve ever seen at the end of the road through town; it’s picture-perfect.

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From there, we’ve already done Geneva, and we’re planning to visit Annecy next. We’ve also explored Chamonix and Courmayeur. Last time we were there, we even skied with the family since it’s such a quick drive from Megève. During our first visit in the summer, we spent a couple of nights in Chamonix at the Hotel Mont Blanc, just packed up for a short trip with friends, which was amazing.

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The location is fantastic for exploring the region in general. On top of that, the Geneva Airport is nearby, and the train station makes travel really convenient. We even took a few days to go to Zermatt from there, so you can easily explore a lot of the Alps from Megève.

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The Tuscany house is a bit more remote, perched on top of a hill with absolutely stunning views; you can’t imagine anything more beautiful. I love Lucca, and it’s conveniently close, about a 45-minute drive. There are several small towns and villages nearby, which is really important because of practical things like big, well-stocked grocery stores. The kitchen in the house is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, and I definitely plan to cook while we’re there, so being able to get what we need easily is key.

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We spent some time exploring the surrounding towns, checking out different restaurants and grocery stores just to get a feel for what’s nearby. Another fun perk is that the house is only 10 minutes from a ropes course and adventure park, which is every kid’s dream.

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It’s a fantastic location overall, not just for scenery, but also climate. It’s closer to the sea than many other parts of Tuscany, and the train station is just 15 minutes away, making it easy to take a quick 40-minute ride to Florence for dinner, a concert, or a day trip.

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The Pollença house is on the northeastern side of Mallorca. That was our first trip to the island, and we actually stayed for a couple of weeks so we could explore both the Palma side and the Pollença side. I absolutely loved Pollença—it’s phenomenal. 

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It’s an outdoor lover’s dream. We hiked, kayaked, cave-dived, swam, and even did the Escape Mallorca challenge. We spent time discovering hidden coves with stunning views and trying out lesser-known restaurants. The house itself is right in the town, just six doors down from the town square, so the location couldn’t be better. It’s very authentic. There’s a little old lady next door who greets us every morning, and we’d chat with her in our broken Spanish. It really made us feel like locals rather than tourists.

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At the same time, the house has all the amenities you could want. The bathrooms and showers are top-notch, which being American is something we particularly appreciate. Everything works perfectly, hot water, spacious showers, which can be hard to find even in high-end European rentals.

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Another highlight is that the port of Pollença is just a five-minute drive from the town. We went down twice while we were there, and it’s beautiful restaurants right on the water, sailboats everywhere, and it feels like Hawaii or the Caribbean. Our son Banks swam while a man built a sandcastle the size of a house, and we just loved the atmosphere, friendly people, gorgeous scenery, and plenty to do.

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And then lastly, the Cotswolds. Our house is in the village of Blockley, and it’s incredible, an old, charming “Little Manor” full of character. Funny enough, the “Big Manor” nearby is actually for sale right now, but honestly, it’s not nearly as special as our home. We got so much joy out of that house, it’s just full of personality.

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With an eight year old, there wasn’t a ton to do directly in the village, but we had a great time visiting the falconry centre, which is just five minutes away. We also took several day trips around the area. Moreton-in-Marsh is nearby and has everything you need, including a train station, so you’re very well connected.

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Blockley itself is tiny but gorgeous. The village café gave us one of the best meals we’ve ever had, truly five-star quality. When choosing a small town in the Cotswolds, we wanted to make sure there were nearby amenities, a great restaurant, walkability, and easy access to some of the beautiful walking trails the region is known for. This house really delivered on all of that.

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Can you share a favourite memory from your August holidays?

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One of my favourite memories from our trips is having my parents with us. I have this great picture of my dad in an apron, cooking in the Cotswolds house. Like I said, August really thinks of everything, so there he was, figuring out how to work the AGA, which was such a fun challenge and made for the best moment. Then I have photos of my mom in the Tuscany house, cooking in that incredible kitchen, apron on, totally in her element. Those little moments just made it so special.

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We’ve created such wonderful memories with family and friends, and each house has been unique in its own way. We’ve loved all the homes so far and are looking forward to the French Riviera house, which looks incredible. I’m curious to see if it ends up being our favourite once we experience it. The new direct flight to Nice from Atlanta makes it even easier, so we’re in really good shape there.

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Honestly, we’ve loved every place so far, and now the challenge is just figuring out how to carve out more time so we can keep going back as often as possible.

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How have you found Valeria, the booking system?

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I’m a really analytical person by nature, so before our very first points drop, when we were in group three, right in the middle, I must have asked a million questions. How does this work? What happens if I choose this option? What if someone else does that? By the time the points drop came around, we were ready, and we ended up getting exactly what we wanted.

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Now, fast forward, this most recent one was our fourth points drop and the first time where every single member in our group was active. Afterwards, I went in and looked closely at what people had picked on their very first go. As expected, there was heavy demand around ski season in Megève. That house is incredible, and skiing there is such a special experience, which makes sense given the European school holidays. 

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But what’s been fascinating, and a huge benefit for us as Americans, is that the European calendar actually gives us a lot more flexibility. Most American schools get out in May, which means we can travel earlier in the summer before Europe gets too hot or crowded. This year, for example, my son and I spent eight weeks in Europe while Scott went back and forth. We did it all: a week in Mallorca, a week in the Cotswolds, a trip to Paris with my parents (their first time), then down into Italy, where we stayed at the Tuscany house for a week and the Megeve house for two weeks. Essentially, we managed to stay in every single house available this summer, back-to-back, something I honestly didn’t think would be possible. And in the cases where we wanted two weeks, we got two weeks. It was the exact trip we had planned, without needing to compromise.

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What I’ve realised is that having European members in our group is actually a huge advantage for us. I can anticipate when families in London or elsewhere in Europe will want certain houses like the Cotswolds during bank holidays or Tuscany in late August. That allows us to be a bit strategic, planning trips earlier in the season when availability is wide open. Personally, I think May and June are some of the very best months in Europe, so it works out perfectly for us.

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Do you have any tips or advice for someone wanting to join August, and in particular, the Premium Collection?

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The August website was an awesome starting point for me. I went through it over and over, reading all the Q&A articles with homeowners, joining the online Webinars, and really studying the different Collections and locations. I even compared the details, like which Collections included four homes versus five, because that makes a difference.

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That research gave me a strong foundation, but what really made me feel comfortable was doing one-on-one calls with the August Advisory team. Those conversations helped me understand the process in detail and gave me the confidence to move forward. For us, it was definitely a leap of faith, especially since, at the time we joined, the homes in our Collection hadn’t been purchased yet. As a bit of a control freak, handing over that decision-making to someone else felt daunting. But the August team did such a great job keeping us in the loop, sharing prospective homes, updating us throughout the process, and being completely transparent. That made a huge difference.

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We were also coached through Valeria, the booking system, so we understood exactly how it would work before we even started using it. That practical knowledge was really reassuring.

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Looking back now, I can honestly say everything has exceeded my expectations. Everything that was initially presented to me has proven to be completely true, and the whole journey of joining August has been easy, seamless, and incredibly rewarding.

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