Advice

Like moths to a flame, Britons tend to head south in summer, rather than north. The reasons are obvious. If a suntan is your priority, why would you choose a holiday destination even further from the Equator than Britain? Alternatives to the Med also tend to be costlier, while their cuisine can lack the same

Norfolk’s vast sandy beaches are its chief draw for visitors: even on the busiest summer day there is always space for games, kite-flying or a family picnic in the dunes. Boating, crabbing, digging for cockles and wading in creeks provides hours of entertainment for all. But there’s much more to Norfolk’s coast than its beaches.

They can be oily skinned, sulky, intermittently selfish. But the way some countries are treating our teenagers feels rather unfair. With the UK dropping testing requirements from February 11, now is the moment to start looking at our holiday options for the year ahead. But while combing the rules, families with young teenagers will notice

February half term is fast approaching and Britain is bursting with brilliant ideas for family days out. From stately homes with sprawling grounds to immersive museums and nature reserves, and even a couple of theme parks, there’s no shortage of options to fill your calendar with, wherever you are located. Opt for adventure with zip

Ski holidays in France are back. From the luxurious corners of Courchevel to the family-friendly slopes of Morzine and the adrenaline of Chamonix, here’s where to go and the best packages to book if you’re joining the race to return to the French mountains this winter. Fun for all the family La Rosière Set on

Australia is a land full of quirks, idiosyncrasies and contradictions. Vast but sparsely populated; searingly hot, but sees more snow than Switzerland; full of sharks, snakes and spiders, but nevertheless an inviting place for a holiday. It’s also home to the only mammals that can lay eggs, a flightless bird that can’t walk backwards and a

Fully vaccinated holidaymakers will no longer have to take any Covid-19 tests for return to the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed.  The Day 2 lateral flow test for immunised arrivals will be dropped, Mr Johnson told reporters on Monday. The changes are expected to come into effect at 4am on February 11. This

Expert guide to Val d’Isère Overview Hotels Restaurants Après ski Snow reports In autumn 2017, Val d’Isère embarked on an ambitious, £170 million building project to redevelop the centre of the resort. It included two hotels which opened in 2019/20, Refuge de Solaise (at altitude) and Airelles (in resort). This winter there are two new

Expert guide to Val d’Isère Overview Hotels Restaurants Après ski Snow reports Crowd-pleasing French favourite More Britons get their winter sports fix in Val d’Isère every year than anywhere else in the world – and with good reason. Linked to neighbouring Tignes to form a ski area of 300km of pistes and 78 lifts, Val offers high

In normal times January is the busiest month for travel bookings. People are desperate to beat the winter blues and cheer themselves up by booking their summer holiday and tour operators try to tempt them with discounts and special offers. This year, with the relaxation in the testing rules, operators and airlines are reporting a bigger

There is reason to celebrate in Ischgl in the heart of the Tyrolean Alps: the snow is crisp and the Flügels and Jägerbombs are selling well again – and all within a new “covid-safe” environment. Ischgl, you may remember, made global headlines in March 2020 when it was blamed, unfairly as it turns out, for

The UK’s snow centres and dry ski slopes are here to provide relief for the thousands of British skiers and snowboarders who are are still yet to return to the mountains.  Aside from being a fun day activity for the entire family, the UK’s vast array of dry ski slopes and indoor snow centres provide the perfect

Ski holidays in France are back and here in Tignes we have been deliciously spoiled with bluebird skies and near-perfect snow conditions all week. Uncrowded slopes assure that luxuriant serenity that comes with less-frenzied January skiing; and skiers, snow groomers, lift operators – everyone – seems to have a cock-a-hoop spring in their step. Even

British families hoping to take their teenagers skiing this winter are being urged to ensure they are fully vaccinated in order to hit the slopes, following the tightening of Covid restrictions across Europe.  The situation is fast-moving – as with all travel restrictions over the past two years – and as we write, although the

January has always received bad press. The month was named after the two-headed Roman god, Janus, and those backward-looking eyes always had the unfair advantage of seeing all that fun and laughter disappearing over a lost horizon. But looking forward is far more constructive than looking wistfully back. Instead, black out your rear-view mirror and

The new year is upon us and things are already looking brighter for holidays. If you’re worried you’ve missed out on the buzz already, fear not. We have the low down on every kind of trip you might be thinking of booking.  From world-class skiing in chalets that make the A-list swoon, and luxurious adventures

Nothing can match the feeling of unalloyed joy at being at sea, or the excitement as your cruise ship slowly eases away from the dock. Even after more than a decade of writing about cruises, I still get that same thrill and sense of anticipation as I linger on deck to relish the romance of

Expert guide to Lech Overview Hotels Restaurants Apres ski Snow reports Austria’s most exclusive resort Few resorts have a more exclusive image than Lech. Princess Diana was its most famous patron and other past visitors include the Jordanian royal family, the Dutch royal family and Monaco’s Princess Caroline. With a blue-blooded guest list like this,

Expert guide to Lech Overview Hotels Restaurants Apres ski Snow reports The village of Lech is based around a central church and on either side fast flowing river. Originally the domain of farmers, it has expanded over the years, and those with deep pockets are well-catered for with three five-star superior hotels, as well as

How to get a Government-approved day two test The 20 most beautiful corners of France France lifts UK travel ban from Friday Full details to be published in a decree on Friday France will lift its ban on UK holidaymakers, tourism minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne has announced, giving the green light to thousands ski holidays.  From Friday