Advice

Summer holidays require choices: lazy or active; seaside or city; chic or wholesome; cultural or camp. And if you’re just having the one trip after quite a spell of delayed gratification, it’s desirable to tick more than one box for the summer splurge.  But where to go? Italian charm is legendary. Moules frites by the

The sound of lapping waves on the shoreline, huddles of children giggling as they hunt for sea life in the harbour and the smell of fresh seafood in the air – Great Britain is blessed with a vast and beautiful coastline, along which are dotted an abundance of quintessential seaside villages. With summer 2021 set to be

“Pomskizillious and gromphiberous,” was how Edward Lear described the little Maltese island of Gozo, “because no other words can describe its magnificence”. Malta’s little sister, just a few kilometres away across glittering blue waters, Gozo is 14x7km, dotted with flat topped hills and surrounded by impressive cliffs and pretty bays. It packs a lot into

When a spot of lovely, warm, sunny weather hits England, you know you need to make the most of every sun-drenched moment. Beaches always make for a fabulously British day out, but when you desire a sparkling pool, spotless loo (sans queues) and somewhere to quickly hop over to for a cup of tea, glass of wine or spot of lunch

Let’s face it: hiring a car adds a serious complication to your holiday. Firstly there’s the stress of hurtling along motorways and creeping up perilous hills on the “wrong” side of the road, in an unfamiliar vehicle. Then that second glass of a zingy albariño is suddenly out of the question. Finally there’s that nagging

Britain is home to some exemplary beaches. And with the sun finally shining, it’s time to start planning a day at the beach.  To help you pick the best stretch of sand to visit this summer, we asked our experts to recommend their favourite beaches around the country. Some of the nominations are deservedly popular

The very idea of Tokyo – one of most densely packed cities on the planet – can be intimidating even before getting off the plane. In reality, however, it is a refreshingly easy city to visit. Despite its salaryman crowds, flashing neon and sprawling train networks, it is a place that thrives on running smoothly

Scholars have flocked to Oxford since the 13th century when the first of its 39 university colleges were established. As you wander down its cobbled backstreets lined with medieval halls and ornate chapels, the weight of academic achievement seems to seep from the walls. History has a very conspicuous presence here, whether you walk in

Why would anybody go on a cruise, especially with Covid to contend with? At the start of the pandemic I wrote a detailed account of how one luxury vessel, the Diamond Princess, cruising Asia, became known as “the Corona plague ship” after there were nearly 700 cases on-board, leaving passengers then staff quarantined on-board for

In 1966 the Cotswolds was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the 16th such district in England and Wales (there are now 46 AONBs). And it’s with good reason that the region remains hugely acclaimed for its natural splendour. Many of the top hotels of the Cotswolds combine this utopian setting with first-class

The Lake District isn’t all about energetic outdoorsy activities on the fells or water. It can also be a place to just kick back and let yourself be pampered in a spa. Even better, some of the area’s spa hotels combine treatments and relaxation areas with stunning views, whether of lakes and hilltops or peaceful

The British country house hotel was born in 1949, brought to us in the pink and frilly shape of Sharrow Bay, overlooking Ullswater in the Lake District. Presided over by a splendid couple, Francis Coulson and his partner Brian Sack, it came complete with a gargantuan afternoon tea, and Sack’s famous Icky Sticky Toffee Pudding

We aren’t out of the woods yet. Flights are still being cancelled and the problem looks set to continue through the summer. If it happens to you, the quicker you act, the better the chance of mitigating the consequences.  Here is what to do to get ahead of the pack and minimise the pain. Full

It has been a hectic fortnight at the UK’s international airports, with flight cancellations and delays affecting thousands of British holidaymakers over the half-term break. And even now, after the children have returned to school, the chaos continues. Understandably, the public has been browsing the internet to find the answers to their most pressing holiday

I should be arriving in an Aston Martin DB5. The journey from Preveza, twisting through the oak-draped mountains and deep gorges of Epirus, has me humming one of 007’s portentous theme tunes. Thick forests offer occasional glimpses of secret bays and mysterious villages, until a lone eucalyptus at a nondescript junction provides the signal for

While the west coast of Mallorca gets the most attention, and you certainly have to dive off the rocks of Deià after a seafood lunch at least once in your life, the southeast of the island is arguably more beautiful. Avoid the resorts of Cala d’Or and stay inland at Santanyí, a golden stone town

So here it is – the big “off”. I’ve assembled my supplies and the forest stands waiting. It’s seven in the morning in Macapá, a small Brazilian city in the heavily forested state of Amapá, which lies on the north bank of the Amazon. Already here on the equator the dank smell of vegetation rises

First there was the travel ban. Then there was the stop-go brinkmanship of the traffic-light system. That was followed by the stress and confusion of the ever-changing testing and vaccination rules. And now… now we are finally free of virtually all restrictions, what do we get? Chaos.  The last week has seen the greatest shambles

From honey-stone villages with creaky old pubs and historic churches to gloriously handsome market towns, the Cotswolds is, of course, heart-tuggingly pretty – and it has classic, year-round appeal. There’s plenty of hotels in the Cotswolds to choose from, but for charm and character there’s nothing like a stay at one of the region’s bed

Picture yourself on the quays at Bordeaux: before, the Garonne idles powerfully past. Behind, there’s the 18th-century magnificence of France’s noblest riverfront. And, beyond, in the city’s heart, monumental buildings and open space. The grandiose Palais de la Bourse has long suggested that Bordeaux was a capital city in search of a country to rule.