Some journeys begin with the desire to get away, while others are simply part of everyday life. For those who compete at the highest level, travelling means constantly moving between different cities and regions, spending time away from home and learning to find new balances.
This is something Jennifer Boldini, an Italian Serie A1 setter, who grew up playing for Italy’s youth national teams and some of the leading clubs in Italian volleyball, knows very well. Throughout her career, travel has become much more than simply moving from one match to another: it is an opportunity to meet people, discover new places and be surprised by different realities.
It is a perspective that also speaks to those who travel for pleasure. Whether it is a seaside holiday, a mountain getaway or a city break, it is often the encounters and unexpected sensations that turn a destination into a lasting memory.
Travelling means allowing places to change you
“One of the best things about our sport is that it takes you to very different places, and each one leaves you with something,” Jennifer says.
Her memories include places that could hardly be more different from one another. Mexico, discovered during the Under-20 World Championship, stayed with her for its mix of culture, colour and energy. Then there is Soverato, one of her first experiences away from home, remembered above all for the warm welcome she received. And Busto Arsizio, the city where she lived the longest and which, over the years, became personally important to her.
Perhaps this is one of the most fascinating aspects of travel: we can set off with a precise destination in mind, but we never know exactly what we will bring home with us.
Sondrio and Valtellina: when a place begins to feel familiar
Among the destinations Jennifer remembers are Sondrio and Valtellina, which she first discovered through summer camps.
She describes the area as “authentic, peaceful, with a quality of life” that she continues to appreciate.
And this is precisely what makes many mountain holidays so special. It is not necessarily about filling every day with activities, but about having the opportunity to change pace, spend time in nature and rediscover a different way of experiencing everyday life.
The Saint Jane mountain destinations offer the perfect starting point: the local area itself and the pleasure of discovering it without rushing.
Sport and travel: constantly learning to change pace
An athlete’s life is made up of training sessions, matches, retreats and constant travel. But travelling so often also means learning how to adapt.
In the interview, Jennifer talks about listening and the ability to understand the people around her as essential elements in creating harmony within a team. Every teammate has a different personality and a different way of approaching training and matches, so finding the right way to communicate becomes part of her role as a setter.
Something similar happens when we travel. Every place has its own rhythm and invites us to experience it differently.
A seaside holiday encourages us to slow down. The mountains can inspire movement and a closer connection with nature. A city break, on the other hand, invites us to immerse ourselves in streets, culture and new ways of life.
There is no single way to travel well: part of the experience lies precisely in knowing how to adapt.
Slowing down can be part of the journey
Jennifer’s career has also included an unexpected moment: a cruciate ligament injury. An event that could have been seen simply as a setback, but which she describes instead as an opportunity to slow down, focus on aspects of herself that had previously taken a back seat and discover new inner resources.
It is a reflection that goes beyond sport.
Even on holiday, we are often tempted to fill our days: see everything, do everything, miss nothing. Yet some of the best moments of a journey come precisely when we stop chasing the schedule.
A walk without a specific destination, a few extra hours by the sea, a break after a hike or simply the pleasure of stopping for a while can become just as much a part of the journey as the experiences we planned in advance.
The importance of finding a place where you feel good
When you travel often, the place where you stay takes on a different meaning. It is not simply somewhere to sleep, but a space where you can recharge and rediscover your own rhythm.
Jennifer describes this when talking about her stays at the Grand Hotel della Posta and Cristallo Wellness. What she remembers most is an “immediate sense of wellbeing”: carefully designed surroundings, calm, kindness and that almost instinctive feeling of “I feel good here”.
It is a simple feeling, but probably one of the things we look for most when choosing where to spend our holidays.
The different experiences offered by Saint Jane Hotels & Resorts allow travellers to choose between different destinations and different ways of travelling, while keeping the pleasure of hospitality and time for oneself at the heart of the experience.
Travel and holidays: what stays with us after we return
Of the many destinations she has visited through volleyball, Jennifer does not talk only about matches or results. She remembers colours, atmospheres, hospitality, people and quality of life.
And perhaps this is where travelling for sport meets travelling for pleasure.
We might choose a destination for the sea, plan a mountain holiday or set off to discover a new city. But what makes a stay memorable often has little to do with what we had planned.
A place becomes special when it manages to leave us with something. And, as Jennifer says, even when there is little time available, travelling allows you to “discover different realities and be inspired by what you encounter”.
Perhaps that is one of the best reasons to keep travelling.
