Advice

From the medieval tenements, vennels and wynds of the Old Town to the elegance and grace of the Georgian New Town, Edinburgh thoroughly deserves its reputation as one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in the world. Built on a human scale and easily navigated, Edinburgh readily gives up its secrets but has more

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

I’ll never forget the moment I arrived in Canggu, on Bali’s south coast. The air was different: clearer and cleaner. The buildings were ornate; there were bright greens and deep blues and nature was everywhere. Driving around every day felt like an offering from the gods – beautiful flowers on the streets; the gentle call

Dishes may be a mere moment on the lips, but the tastes, smells, flavour combinations and textures – like those of Proust’s madeleines – are stored in our memories for years to come. One mouthful of pesto takes me straight back to the Piazzetta in Portofino, watching the chic set moor their yachts in the harbour.

Just an hour from Edinburgh, ­Berwickshire is a naturally beautiful region in Scotland’s southeast, imbued with maritime heritage, and yet shamefully under-visited. Its coastline runs south from Cove Harbour, just a few miles south of “Sunny Dunny” Dunbar, all the way to the English border, where Berwick- upon-Tweed topples just over onto the English side

London is so much more than the obvious tourist attractions, which is why it’s good advice to consider which area(s) you’d like to explore before booking your hotel. Take the neighbourhood approach and that’s where you’ll generally find cheaper rates on your hotel. So perhaps you’ll want to tap into the creative hipster vibes of

As someone who travels frequently, I’ve got into the routine of doing my research about a destination well in advance. But, before my most recent trip, I got caught out, not by the widely reported delays, cancellations or strikes, but by something completely off-my-radar: an NHS admin error. Remote working during the pandemic allowed me,

The recent chaotic scenes at Dover and Folkestone were the latest setbacks to hit travellers this summer. They follow hard on the heels of a litany of other issues, from cancelled and delayed flights to airports overwhelmed by queues to strikes, baggage mountains and runways grinding to a halt because the tarmac is melting in

It’s the conundrum that faces every cruiser. You’ve selected your sailing and chosen your ship, so the next question is, which cabin will bring you the sweetest dreams? For the uninitiated, picking your perfect spot can be something of a minefield with the risk of ending up in the bowels of the ship close to

When most of us think of Cumbria we think of the Lake District – mountains, water and Kendal Mint Cake. But there is another Cumbria, where there are no hills and no crowds, just sand dunes and solitude, birds and flowers of every hue, nature reserves, coastal walks, quiet villages, rugged churches and memorials to

Exactly one year ago, all Britons arriving home from EU nations faced 10 days in isolation – even if fully vaccinated. It was the law: if you broke quarantine, you risked a £10,000 fine. We spent hundreds of pounds proving our health, swabbing our noses before, during and after summer breaks – and faced reams

We were wet, we were cold and my friend, Jane, and I had made the cardinal sin of arriving early at our Lake District youth hostel. We were not allowed in and had to huddle, with our soggy backpacks, under nearby trees until the permitted “admission time” and the bolt on the door was drawn

Last weekend the Department for Transport published an “Aviation Passenger Charter” which sets out “what you, as a passenger, need to know about your rights and responsibilities when flying.” It comes at what is surely the lowest point in history for the aviation industry, as tens and  thousands of flights have been cancelled and, for

Qatar Airways has just won the prestigious AirlineRatings.com Airline of the Year award for 2022. British Airways, once lauded as “the world’s favourite airline” because it carried more international passengers more miles than any other, was ranked 20th. Why does Qatar Airways soar above the flag carrier? Having flown with both on numerous occasions, here’s

Fitness is booming – and not just the physical kind. While more and more of us are returning to gyms, society’s pandemic experience has propelled mental health into the mainstream. Working out is no longer just about losing weight and getting a six-pack, it is also about nourishing both our mental and physical fitness. While an

To travel abroad, or to stay close to home? That is the holiday dilemma the nation is currently grappling with – and in my household, it’s a very hot topic. Having been high with giddy excitement to be heading off on a post-Covid break recently, three pyjamaed, sleepy-eyed kids packed and passported, online check-in complete and

My first encounters with Norfolk’s Deep History Coast – as nobody was calling it back then – weren’t the most sophisticated. It was the early 1980s and I recall family outings of sandy sandwiches and buttoned-up cardigans, and my uncle stripping to his trunks, dashing into a chilly, churny sea and pulling a moony as

Ibiza has exerted a potent pull on the world’s wandering spirits for centuries. The Carthaginians were the first settlers to be drawn to its shores, and in the ensuing years the Moors, the Romans and even pilfering pirates all took turns to stake their claim on this magnificent island in the Med. Such checkered heritage

It took a lot to get me to leave Laugharne, even for a day, though I lived there for three years. The strange, special township felt like a hideaway, or a hermitage. It lies at the bottom of a steep hill on a road that doesn’t really go anywhere else, beside a flood-prone branch of

The joy of Majorca is that there is a huge selection of welcoming properties island-wide catering for family needs. A warm ambience with engaged staff can be expected and on-site child-friendly activities, sports and entertainment. All these hotels will offer kids’ clubs, safe play areas and supervised pools as well as cultural and adventure-led outings