‍Could you start by introducing yourself and sharing how your journey with August began?

Jeff: We’re Suzanne and Jeff. I’ve always had an interest in property, so I spent quite a bit of time researching the best shared-ownership companies. There are a number of companies out there offering something similar, but with very different business structures from August. Without naming names, some are equity-based but take a much higher portion of the proceeds, and they tend to churn and liquidate their portfolios quite frequently.

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There’s also a lot of confusion, especially in the US between this type of ownership and traditional timeshares, which in my view are a poor product for many reasons. So when I tell people about August, they often assume it's a timeshare model, and I have to explain that it’s something entirely different: true equity ownership.

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We’ve been with August for over four years now, almost from the very beginning and were among the earliest Members to join.

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Suzanne: Just to add to that, Jeff is a real researcher, so he’d been looking at different options for four or five years, and nothing ever quite fit what we were looking for. When August came up in his research, it was the first time something really aligned. That’s why, as soon as we came across it, we said, “Let’s make sure this is all legitimate, and if it is, let’s give it a try.” It definitely wasn’t a whimsical decision, it came after years of exploring different models and not finding the right match until August.

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You own multiple collections, what inspired you to add a Signature Collection to your portfolio of August homes?

Suzanne: Yes, we first bought into one collection, then later added a second, and now we’re part of a third which is the Signature Collection. We’re planning to sell our first one, so we’ve gradually upgraded over time. And this allows us to have more space as we now have a grandchild. 

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This has worked perfectly for us. We really trust the model. We started by buying into the entry level collection at first, partly to test it out, and also because we love city living - so the Pied À Terre Collection immediately appealed to us. 

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Jeff: We do also have a flat in London that we own outright, so it makes it very easy to move around from there. It really does give us the best of both worlds, the convenience of city stays and the escape of the more spacious villa homes.

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You also have a second home in St. Bart’s, how does that compare to owning homes through August?

Jeff: We bought our home in St. Barth’s over 25 years ago, when we were in our thirties, and it’s been a wonderful investment. We have great memories there and we still love it but it’s also incredibly complex to manage. We need a property manager, a pool technician, a gardener, housekeepers… plus handling insurance, rentals, all of it. So Suzanne and I manage everything together with a whole team of people. In many ways, it feels like running a small hotel.

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Suzanne: And when you're here, you notice things. We just arrived, for example, and immediately spotted a number of small things that needed attention, things you only catch when you’re actually staying in the home. We have a fantastic property manager, truly the best, but if you’re not on-site regularly, certain details just slip through.

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That’s one of the key differences with August. Every Homeowner uses the property throughout the year, so if someone notices something, they let the August team know and it gets taken care of. By the time you arrive, everything is ready and you can just relax and enjoy. We absolutely love our home in St. Bart’s, but it is work.

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Jeff: I also think it’s really important for a property to be occupied regularly. Here in St. Bart’s, our home is used probably around 50% of the time between rentals and our own visits. And with August, the homes are typically occupied around 70–80%, which is ideal, properties need that level of use so things continue working properly and issues don’t build up.

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Our flat in London is different. We don’t rent it out, but it’s a simple lock-up-and-go place, and we have a doorman, so the maintenance is minimal.

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But with the August concept, especially at this stage in our lives, we wouldn’t want to take on fully owning properties in all the locations where we like to spend time.

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Suzanne: Every time we arrive at one of the August properties, I find myself saying, “Oh, this one is my favourite.” Each home truly feels like our own little home away from home. There’s a real consistency across the collections too, I know we’ll have the essentials, like a proper coffee machine and a washer–dryer, which is especially important for us because we’re very active.

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You’ve spent Thanksgiving at your August home in Paris, what drew you to spending the holiday there?

Jeff: We actually ended up spending Thanksgiving in Paris because we were displaced by a hurricane in Florida. Our condominium there was undergoing extensive repairs but is finally back to normal, although this year, we’ll be away again for Thanksgiving.

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Even though Thanksgiving is a very American tradition, we’ve found ways to celebrate it abroad. For example, last year in Paris, we discovered a restaurant called Fouquet's offering a traditional Thanksgiving menu. While we didn’t have family with us that trip, it was nice to be among other Americans also celebrating the holiday. We’ve even spent Christmas abroad with my parents. It was really nice to have them overseas and be able to stay at our August property in Barcelona since it had two bedrooms. Because we're familiar with Barcelona, we were also able to show them around a bit, which made the experience even more special. So we’re comfortable making these holidays special wherever we are.

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Suzanne: We don’t follow the typical Thanksgiving tradition because our kids have started their own unique celebrations. Our older son, for example, has a tradition of gathering with friends on Thanksgiving, which has become special for him. Meanwhile, our younger son spends the holiday in a much colder place, celebrating with his wife’s family. So for us, the focus is the Christmas holidays. That said, when we do manage to have a Thanksgiving together, it feels special. We know many Americans see Thanksgiving as the big family gathering, so our approach is a bit different, but we just enjoy spending quality time together.

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For me, if you have cherished traditions at home, you don’t want to disrupt them. But when life changes and you want to create new traditions, it’s wonderful to be able to do that in different places with these properties. Many countries have their own take on Thanksgiving because they’re familiar with American customs, so you often get to experience unique twists on the holiday. When we were in Paris last year, we enjoyed a fantastic French-style Thanksgiving meal. It was truly memorable and a fun experience! 

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Did you try any local twists on traditional Thanksgiving dishes, any surprises or new favorites?

Jeff: The restaurant we visited in Paris created a special Thanksgiving menu that, of course, featured turkey but with a fancy Parisian twist. It was their unique take on Thanksgiving, and it was absolutely brilliant.

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Did you come across any unique Thanksgiving traditions or experiences while in Paris?

Jeff: Well, another big Thanksgiving tradition for Americans is watching football, American football, that is. We found a sports bar in Paris where we could watch the Steelers game, which was super fun. There were a few other Steelers fans there as well, so it created a really fun atmosphere!

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How did you find this particular restaurant in Paris for Thanksgiving? 

Jeff: We found it just by doing some research online and the sports bar was called The Moose located in the Latin Quarter. We also had friends on work assignments in Paris, so I told them about the bar. It’s been great becoming so familiar with the city that we can offer helpful guidance, whether we’re showing friends around together or giving tips to those visiting independently. We’ve been able to share some really good recommendations!

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Is there another August destination where you’d love to spend a future Thanksgiving or another festive holiday?

Jeff: We have a busy schedule coming up. First, we’re heading to Cannes for a week with a friend visiting from the States. After that, we’ll spend a week in London, where I need to check on the property and take care of some routine tasks. Then it’s off to Rome for a week, followed by another week back in London. After that, we’ll head to Barcelona before finally returning to the States. This year, we’ll be in London for Thanksgiving, and we’re still figuring out our plans for the day!

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From your travels to August homes, have you found any unique finds that you don’t typically get in the US? 

Suzanne: This might sound a bit silly, but I used to sew back in high school because I had expensive taste but not the budget to match! I really miss sewing, but it’s hard to find good fabric in the States. When I was in Rome, I did some research and discovered an incredible store with the most beautiful silks and fabrics, truly amazing. So, I bought some fabric and decided to give sewing another try. Now I’m making my own patterns and pieces. It’s a small thing, but having access to fabrics I can’t get at home makes it a really fun and rewarding hobby for me.

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Some of the older traditions that you don’t have in the States are still alive and well in places like Rome and Barcelona, where you can find truly amazing artisans!

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Jeff: We also discovered an area called Biot, which is in the French Riviera, known for its glassblowing. We found an artist there whose work we really admire. We have a couple pieces from his collection. 

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Suzanne: Between fashion, artwork, interior design, and handmade crafts, it’s becoming increasingly rare to experience true craftsmanship. Sure, there’s Etsy and similar platforms where you can order things, but actually visiting places and seeing artisans at work is much harder to find in the US. Here in Europe, though, boutiques and skilled artisans are still thriving, which makes it special.

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That’s the real difference with August, you gain a true home base where you can experience life like a local. When friends come to stay with us, their biggest comment is always how much it feels like they’re part of the community, not just tourists staying in a hotel being directed to the usual spots. It’s a completely different experience, you’re genuinely immersed in the neighborhood. And that feeling of coming back to a place that feels like home is probably the best part.

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What tips would you share with other US homeowners for making Thanksgiving memorable, even when celebrating away from home? 

Suzanne: I would say, embrace being somewhere new and different and to stay open-minded. If there is an important tradition to you, like watching a football game, you can find a way to make it work and just go with the flow. It leads to a wonderful experience. Plus, with today’s technology, staying connected with family and friends is easy. For example, on Thanksgiving, despite the time difference, we had calls throughout the day to share love and celebrate, so we never felt disconnected.

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Jeff: I also believe it’s important to fully immerse yourself wherever you are. Paris, for example, is a fantastic place to spend Thanksgiving. And I think wherever you stay at an August property, you can find a similarly memorable experience.