Advice

Davos is a small Swiss town with an international appeal that has always extended beyond the slopes. In Victorian times its worldwide reputation sprang from the tuberculosis sanatoriums that were built here in the belief that the crisp, clean mountain air could provide a cure or, at least, respite from the ravages of the disease.

Expert guide to Flaine Overview Hotels Restaurants Apres ski Snow reports Convenient fuss-free French thrills The largest of five French resorts in the Grand Massif ski area, Flaine offers family-friendly convenience, with pretty tree-lined runs and traditional villages just a few minutes away. The 265km ski area suits all abilities from beginner to expert and

The small Swiss town of Davos is in two parts, Platz and Dorf. Davos Platz has the majority of the restaurants (while Davos Dorf is more convenient for the slopes). An urban settlement first, ski resort second, there is a buzz about the place and plenty of choice of hotels and places to eat.  Overall,

Davos is a town of two parts; the majority of accommodation is in Davos Platz, while the slopes are more conveniently accessed from Davos Dorf. However, there’s an efficient ski bus between the two.  Most of the accommodation in Davos is four- and five-star hotels, which are typically solid and largely uninspiring. In autumn 2022,

La Rosière’s accommodation is much more upmarket than it once was, and includes two four-star hotels as well as a good range of smart apartments and catered chalets. The village is in two parts, Centre and Les Eucherts, and much of the more modern accommodation is in the Les Eucherts area. All the recommendations below

Of all the tropical island destinations in the world, there are few places like the Maldives, its string of picture-perfect islands ringed by pristine palm-fringed beaches and beyond that, crystal-clear turquoise lagoons teeming with an abundance of colourful marine life. Throw in an array of some of the world’s most beautiful hotels and life doesn’t

Christmas travellers could face chaos at Britain’s airports after Border Force officials announced plans to stage an eight-day strike over the busy festive period.  The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union announced that its Border Force members will walk out for four days over Christmas – from December 23 to 26 – and four further

Serre Chevalier is unlike any other French ski resort. It is based on a string of old villages strung out along a valley floor, with a sizeable ski area of mainly wooded and north-facing slopes rising above the southern side of the road. The rustic old villages have narrow cobbled streets and the main ones are

Serre Chevalier has lots of affordable accommodation, mainly in apartments or small hotels, and some UK tour operators run catered chalets here. But compared with most French resorts, there is little in the way of luxury accommodation. A new four-star hotel, as well as a budget youth hostel, is scheduled to open in Briançon’s disused19th-century barracks

Who hasn’t wanted, at least once, to stay in a castle? Particularly a Scottish Baronial castle bristling with turrets and towers, castellations and crenelations, with the promise of fragrant peat fires and sweeping staircases designed for grand entrances. Castles also tend to come with pleasing views and extensive gardens (and in Scotland often some craggy

In terms of drinking and dancing, Jasná is pretty quiet. However, there are some good value options – and Tatraline is a newly-opened, top-end addition. Low prices are a major attraction here, but visitors also appreciate the variety on offer, with everything from laid back places serving beers, to traditional folk places with a modern twist

Eating out in Jasná is great value compared to mainstream Alpine resorts – expect to pay €8 to €10 for a main course and €3 or less for a pint of beer. There’s a great variety on offer. Alongside all the usual international dishes, there are local specialities to check out too, such as pancakes,

Crans Montana is not a budget destination – top hotels with designer rooms, luxurious spas and fine cuisine come with eye-popping prices that are out of bounds to all but the deepest pockets. However, there are some cheaper alternatives to be found. Of the two villages of Crans and Montana, Crans has the lion’s share

While eating out can be expensive in Crans-Montana, it’s no pricier here than in other upmarket resorts in Switzerland, and the quality is reliably high. There are also options beyond the usual Swiss specialities, with restaurants specialising in food from Japan, Lebanon, Argentina and Portugal.  For a real splurge, there’s the one-starred Michelin restaurant, Le

Les Gets is at one end of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area with its 600km of pistes. Its local area of slopes, shared with Morzine, is big and varied enough to keep many people happy for a week – though most will want to explore further afield for a day or two. The main

For a small resort, Les Gets has good selection of comfortable hotels, from two- to four-star. There’s also a fair choice of apartment accommodation. The resort’s largest chalet operation, Chalets1066, is British-owned with over 45 chalets in the resort. However there are surprisingly few catered chalets run by UK tour operators. For further Les Gets inspiration,

Most of Sölden’s accommodation is in comfortable hotels, which are predominantly four-star. At the less expensive end of the scale there are also traditional Austrian pensions and some apartments to rent. The two access gondolas, Giggijoch and Gaislachkogl, are at opposite ends of the village, leading to opposite sides of the ski area, but there

Planning a visit to the London Eye on your next visit to the capital? The wheel has been turning now since the millennium and shows no sign of losing its tourist sheen. It’s the thrill of the ride, sure, but also the riverside location on the South Bank with its world-class culture (Southbank Cente, National

Vail is unashamedly upmarket and expensive with a huge number of luxury hotels and a vast array of restaurants serving virtually every type of cuisine. So be aware, prices for lift passes, equipment rental and lessons are all sky high. Lift passes cost substantially less than the in-resort price if bought in advance online or

Vail has lots of upmarket and expensive hotels and condos and very few budget options. The resort has grown over the years and now stretches out for nearly four miles along the I-70 highway.  While there is a good shuttle bus service, it’s most convenient to stay close to the main mountain-access lifts in either