Advice

You’ll have heard of the traditional gap year, the much-mocked “gap yah”, and all the associated talk of “finding yourself” in the countries you visit along the way. Perhaps you even took a gap year yourself, back in the day, intent on exploring the world before heading off to university, or diving into the workplace.

Granted, Guéthary – on the Basque Atlantic coast – is not a secret for everyone, not for French people, anyway. The brighter among them have been going there for ages. Just this year, the place was named by a perfectly reputable body as the finest of all villages to live in in France. It apparently

A helicopter thunders overhead as we wait for our lattes, and I find myself wondering which A-lister is about to be deposited nearby to join us. We’re in a secret sort of place you see: a privately owned island, just for those in the know. There tends to be a bit of a buzz about

Boutique hotels in London are the opposite of just ‘somewhere to get your head down’. They offer an added layer of charm many of the larger chain properties miss out on. Often independent or part of a smaller hotel group, they have intimate spaces with masses of attention to detail. Or at least the best

The UK is one of the easiest places to explore when money is a little tight. We’ve got glorious free-for-all galleries in the likes of London and Edinburgh, while cities such as York and Bath are like living museums of the past, with cobbled streets and historic buildings free to see on a stroll around

Moderation doesn’t suit Dubai, where supersized hotels in record-breaking towers, luxury yachts in glittering marinas, huge malls stuffed with designer shops, and mega parks with grand-scale attractions and amusements, are commonplace. New, superlative experiences are popping up all the time, from Ain Dubai, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, to butler-guided tours around “seven-star”

Sunshine and sea air are undoubtedly two of the best things about Cornwall, and visitors flock to this corner of England to indulge in slice of coastal wellness. The cascading seaside towns and villages, though pretty to look at, also make themselves felt in the leg muscles of those strolling their steeply sloping streets. Perhaps

Concluding our series on how other nationalities conduct their holidays, our expat expert assesses the Germans. Previous articles have looked at French, American, Japanese and Italian travellers.  Where they go Everywhere. According to a pre-Covid report by the country’s largest travel association, the Deutscher ReiseVerband, Germans are the “world’s travel champions” – they spend more

Travel for solo travellers is on the rise, especially among those in their 50s and 60s, say tour operators that focus on guided and specialist tours. Cox & Kings, which runs small group tours worldwide, says 40 per cent of its sales this year have been to older people travelling on their own. This shouldn’t

Quite when Tuscany was “discovered” is hard to say – perhaps during the Grand Tours of the 18th century, perhaps by British buyers in Chianti in the Sixties – but ever since people have been looking for a region to take it place – the “next Tuscany”. Neighbouring Umbria came first, the Abruzzo, east of Rome, will probably be next, but for

Britain is a nation of spectacular cities. Whether it’s the theatre and shopping districts of London or the historic streets of Edinburgh, our capitals are enthralling destinations in their own right. And beyond those big urban sprawls are a number of unique and exciting smaller cities that certainly don’t skimp on equally great food or

With spring in the air and restrictions on après ski eased in Europe’s top ski resorts, there’s never been a better time to let your hair down after a day on the slopes and celebrate the long-awaited return of ski holidays. Across the Alps the music is pumping, Schnapps is flowing and tables are once

For all that Cornish tourism has evolved in recent years, be it in terms of design, gastronomy or whatever else, it is still at heart a bucket-and-spade kind of place, with the sort of wholesome seaside appeal that used to lure Victorian holidaymakers in their droves. Today it remains one of the most perennially popular

Britain is home to some exemplary beaches. And with spring in full swing and 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 spring and summer, we asked our experts to recommend their favourite beaches around the country.

A spa break is the ultimate feel-good holiday, and whether you are looking for five-star indulgence, a mood-boosting break with your partner or a healing solo retreat, the trick is finding the right fit for you.  In the past couple of years, a slew of new wellness retreats, spas and resorts opened as hoteliers rightly anticipated

As of March 18, nobody needs to take a Covid test when they return to the UK from a foreign holiday. The rule change will be welcomed by millions of Britons – and, indeed, millions more travellers from around the world – who have chosen not to get vaccinated. Under previous rules, unjabbed travellers needed

This time last year, I was enjoying a fresh start. I believed that 2021 would be the year that we would finally say goodbye to a period of time that totally floored the country. I was wrong – in more ways than one – and by the end of June, the bottom had fallen out of my world.  

London is definitely up there as a contender for most romantic city thanks to the strength and variety of its amorous abodes. In fact it’s often possible to get everything you need all under the one roof – ideal for a romantic weekend getaway. You want a room with wow factor, a dimly lit bar to

As you walk through the red velvet curtains at the door of Hotel Motto, you are greeted by a large mural. It depicts, in swishing reds and purples, an unusual scene: bellboys in various states of repose. There are bellboys smoking, bellboys posing, a bellboy with a cheetah, wearing a fez, on a lead. Hotel

News that properties in the lovely Cornish seaside village St Agnes have been graffitied – ‘Second homeowners give something back: rent or sell your empty houses to local people at a fair price’ and ‘No more investment properties’ – will come as no surprise to Cornish holiday homeowners; the local residents have long had a