When it comes to island holiday destinations, the Maldives is one of the most sought after – and for good reason. The blue waters and skies seem endless, making you feel as if you have been transported to a different world. If you’re looking to switch off from your regular life, it is the place to be.

Last year, Centara opened two new resorts in the North Male Atoll, a chain of over 50 islands and islets that’s home to mesmerising corals and marine life. The Centara Grand Lagoon Resort and Centara Mirage Lagoon Resort make up The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts. The multi-island destination is located 40 minutes away from the airport via speedboat and is connected by a walkable bridge for easy movement between the properties. While both are operated under the same brand, each provide a unique atmosphere suited for different types of holidaymakers.

Why stay here?

Winner of the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Award 2025, the Centara Grand Lagoon Resort is nothing short of a tropical utopia. The buildings are inspired by the ocean, with soaring high ceilings, curved walls and pared-back décor in earthy tones.

If you choose the overwater villa, you can opt for one with a private pool and an outdoor deck that blurs the line separating you and the ocean. My husband and I are usually early risers and the view of the sunrise on the horizon was a major highlight of the trip. If you are lucky, which we were, you may spot dolphins swimming close to the deck in search of food in the mornings.

The Centara Mirage Lagoon Resort is a little more playful with its architecture and the overall aesthetic is eye-catching and modern. This is a family-centric accommodation with many facilities catered to children, including an expansive water park. Both resorts also offer two- and three-bedroom villas, which come with either a pool or Jacuzzi. If staying overwater is not your style, there are beachfront room options available too.

The spa

The island offers state-of-the-art luxury spa facilities that are operated under the SPA Cenvaree brand. Centara prides itself on its embedded philosophy of Thai hospitality and this is evident in the services on offer. There is an exhaustive list of traditional Asian therapies available as well as some modern salon offerings. The expert therapists are immensely knowledgeable and friendly. They help set the tone of the experience by making you feel comfortable and relaxed as soon as you step foot inside.

What sets the spa at the Lagoon apart is the design; it is located away from the rest of the resort area and feels like a sanctuary. Past the reception, you enter a minimalist white courtyard complete with water basins holding rustic centrepieces. The treatment rooms are spacious and filled with natural light. We were lucky to experience a couple’s massage and left feeling completely rejuvenated.

The facilities also include a Candy Spa that offers kid-friendly treatments like manicures and pedicures so the little ones can keep themselves engaged while parents indulge themselves.

Eating and drinking

When it comes to food, the Centara brand aims to provide guests with a taste of Thai culture while honouring Maldivian traditions. There are six distinct dining locations spread over both the properties offering various cuisines. The resorts are separately operated but all the restaurants are quite easy to get to regardless of where you choose to stay. A buggy is a quick call away but you can certainly walk too – that is, if you are willing to withstand the scorching sun you will face en route.

The best dining spot was Centara’s signature restaurant Suan Bua, serving authentic Thai food at the Mirage. I especially enjoyed the larb gai and massaman curry. The ingredients were fresh and the balance of tangy citrus notes and fiery spices made for an unforgettable meal. Every restaurant is included in the all-inclusive rates but the ones serving only a la carte menus require reservations so letting the concierge know where you want to dine early on is highly recommended.

Another memorable meal was at the Blue Fin, a Mediterranean-style beachfront restaurant specialising in seafood. We splurged on the lobster as it wasn’t included in the package but it was definitely worth it. I would be remiss not to mention the remarkable steak tartare on fried brioche, which played with a mix of textures.

Right next to Blue Fin, is the Sunset Social. As the name suggests, it is the perfect place to catch some magnificent views. The big draw is the catamaran seating and the specialised cocktails but traditional Atollian food is also served here. My favourite cocktail was Spirit of the Sun, which is made with elderflower-infused gin and lavender essence.

The Lagoon resort is also home to The Gallery, which is where guests come for their buffet breakfast and lunch. For dinner, they serve Indian tandoor dishes and also have a very small teppanyaki grill. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to try the Japanese food due to capacity issues and we felt like the Indian food was a bit bland, which we relayed to the staff. They made us a special breakfast the next day to make up for the disappointment and were very open to feedback.

The other spots on the island are Mirage’s Acqua, a traditional Italian spot serving all the cuisine’s classics, and The Sailhouse, where guests have their breakfast. The Lagoon also has The Club, which is a special access all-day lounge serving everything from breakfast to afternoon tea. Both resorts have swim-up bars in their main pool so you can cool down while enjoying your time in the water.

Things to do

The North Atoll is a prime hotspot for divers and surfers. Being a city person, the fear of not having enough to do held me back from going on island holidays for a long time. My stay at Centara changed my perspective because of the endless opportunities to be adventurous.

We started off kayaking in see-through boats, which allow you to look underwater as you paddle along enjoying the sea breeze. Seabob riding was also a surprising favourite for me. The seabob is an underwater scooter that operates like a mini roofless submarine. I was a bit afraid of how fast it would be but the staff were very encouraging and there were varying speed functions, which allowed me to choose a level I was comfortable with. We also went snorkelling and enjoyed seeing the fascinating coral and marine life from up close.

The resort had several other activities we didn’t get a chance to do including jet skiing, deep sea diving and sunset cruises. An especially lovely moment during the holiday was when we were surprised with a private beachfront dining tent for my husband and I to enjoy our dinner by the water. It was certainly a night I will cherish for the rest of my life.

The verdict

With so many resorts in the Maldives to choose from, any new ones need to overachieve in order to compete with long-time favourites. Centara more than lives up to its great reputation with The Atollia.

The resorts are significantly different but guests can effortlessly move between them. Despite Mirage being the more family-focused property, Lagoon has kid-friendly offerings as well and families can enjoy both resorts. For couples or groups of friends, the Lagoon is perfect for an unforgettable relaxation retreat. The Atollia allows you to choose what kind of energy you want for your holiday and gives you the best of both worlds.

Deeya was a guest of Centara Grand Lagoon Resort and Centara Mirage Lagoon Resort; centarahotelsandresorts.com

Really savvy travellers know that second cities are the ones we should all be flocking to: the overlooked ones, the quieter ones, the underestimated ones that have so much to offer.

Brno must be the epitome of this. Bursting with character, beauty and culture, it may be the Czech Republic’s second city, but it’s by no means second rate. In fact, having spent a considerable amount of time here, I would argue that it’s the perfect place to explore Czech culture away from the crowds.

Things to do

I’m always an advocate of just walking around to get to know a place, and here is no exception. Take in the varied architecture, as well as the Vegetable Market, Brno Dragon, Capuchin Monastery, Freedom Square, and bizarre Astronomical Clock as you explore.

The Brno Pass is a convenient way to see as much as you can in the city, and great value too. Use it to visit some of the city’s biggest sights, such as the imposing Cathedral of St Peter and Paul and the Old Town Hall, which dates from 1240.

The pass also gives you entry to Špilberk Castle, probably the most identifiable sight in all of Brno. This 750-year-old castle tops a hill of the same name, and can be seen from most of the city. The complex houses several museums, with art and artefacts explaining the region’s history. The park and walls have wonderful views, so take a seat and relax.

From here you will see just how many spires Brno has; there are dozens of churches. The Church of St James, however, should be on your list. Founded in the 13th century, its angelically white interior feels peaceful and serene but climb up into the roof space and you will find a fascinating light show.

Architecture buffs may also be surprised to learn that Brno is home to one of modernist designer Mies van der Rohe’s masterpieces, the Unesco-listed Villa Tugendhat. Built in 1930 for textile company owners Greta and Fritz Tugendhat, it was a sensation when finished, and still impresses today.

One of the newest attractions are the Water Tanks under Žluty Kopec, a complex of three cisterns built between 1874 and 1917. They are vast, cathedral-like, and truly astonishing examples of industrial engineering. Enjoy the art show and peculiar acoustics.

Subterranean tourism seems to be a big thing here. Head underground to the Labyrinth under the Vegetable Market to learn more about how the city grew. There’s also the Second World War air-raid shelter, 10-Z bunker, and the Ossuary at the church of St James, which is the second largest in Europe after Paris’ Catacombs and houses the remains of 50,000 people.

Get out of the city and head to the Brno Reservoir, a 259-hectare man-made lake that’s just a short hop on the tram away. It’s probably best enjoyed in the summer, when you can swim and take boat trips across to Veveří Castle. Also, check out the nearby Brno Zoo and the Brno Dam, built in the 1930s. On its shore is the Infinit Maximus Resort Spa, home to heated outdoor pools, hot tubs and a sauna complex.

Eating and drinking

At the elegant Pavillon Steak House, in Park Koliště near the National Theatre, service is smooth, and the food is hearty and delicious, yet still refined. The steak selection is a fantastic treat for two.

The Czech Republic has a large Vietnamese population, and the food is some of the best this far west of Hanoi. Try Bonjour Vietnam for a big bowl of aromatic pho, or refreshing summer rolls.

Castellana Trattoria is one of those family Italians that’s become a local favourite. We couldn’t spot another tourist, which has to be a good sign. Expect steaming mounds of pasta, as well as charcuterie boards of hand-sliced prosciutto.

For casual eats go to Bistro Bastardo, a Mexican burrito spot that always had a queue outside, as well as Úvozna, a burger joint near the Water Tanks, or Zaza for puffy sourdough pizzas.

You’ll find a daily menu, a lunch deal that’s usually great value, almost everywhere. At Nepalese restaurant Pokhara we got soup plus a thali of three curries, rice and naan for around £7.

Lokál u Caipla is the place for traditional food and unmissable Czech pilsners, or you can try U Třech Čertů in the city centre. If you’re looking for a drink, head to t’PUUB for craft beers, Café Trojka for student vibes, Super Panda Circus for cocktails, Výčep na Stojáka for its suntrap, Monogram for coffee, and Klára Bára Wine Cafe for wine. The cosy Pivnice U Poutníka and Poslední leč both feel like real locals’ places.

Where to stay

The Grandhotel Brno is a great spot to rest your head. Situated across from both the railway and bus stations, it’s not far to take your bags, and almost everything on this list is walkable. The beds are large and comfy, and the rooms have plenty of space for chilling out after a long day. The breakfast features local delicacies such as poppyseed cake, as well as meats, hot bites and even sparkling wine for those special occasions.

Jaymi McCann was a guest of Go To Brno

There’s a “surging interest” in apes, said Euronews. Nature documentaries like David Attenborough’s “A Gorilla Story”, which revisits the gorilla family he first filmed in 1978, are inspiring tourists to book gorilla-trekking holidays in Rwanda, Uganda and the Republic of Congo.

But tracking these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat isn’t easy: it’s physically strenuous, and permits are strictly limited, to protect the endangered animals.

Rwanda has 14 mountain gorilla families that have been carefully habituated to human observers and “can be visited by up to eight tourists for one hour daily”, said Lizzie Frainier in The Times. I travelled to the foothills of Mount Karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park to meet a family group of 14. Watching a baby gorilla running around in a “ferny glen” and frolicking into the “dense brush” was “magical”. I’ve had my fair share of wildlife experiences as a travel editor but none has compared to this.

This kind of “low-volume, high-value tourism” is pricey: a day’s trek costs over £1,000, with proceeds going towards anti-poaching initiatives and community development. Accommodation ranges from basic guesthouses to “ultra-luxe boutique hotels”. If you really want to push the boat out, check in at Wilderness Bisate Reserve, which has “epic misty 360-degree views and four palatial suites”.

On my trek through Uganda’s Bwindi National Park, the forest suddenly becomes “alive” with mountain gorillas, said Olivia Singer in Vogue. On my five-day trip with Abercrombie & Kent, I spot “two gargantuan silverbacks and a baby”; they “meander around us” for an hour “as they go about their business”. It is, I decide at once, “the best day of my life”.

Each night, we rested our heads in Gorilla Forest Lodge’s “remarkably lovely cabin suites”. Gorgeously decorated with “locally crafted furnishings”, each room features a “bathtub so vast, it could easily accommodate a silverback”.

There are luxury resorts that strive to feel like homes, and then there are homes that accidentally become luxury resorts. The Seed Bali sits firmly in the latter category.

Set on Bali’s less frenetic east coast in Candidasa, The Seed began life not as a commercial hotel but as a private sanctuary: an extravagant, deeply considered coastal estate built as somewhere to retreat with friends and family. Only later was it opened up as an exclusive-use resort. That origin story matters because it explains almost everything about the place. The Seed does not offer luxury in the polished, corporate sense. Instead, it feels like borrowing the sprawling tropical compound of your wealthiest, most tasteful friend – the sort of person who casually happens to own a treehouse, an underground karaoke bar and a five-metre diving platform.

Arriving here, you immediately notice how personal it all feels. The villas are filled with books, instruments, games, curios and thoughtful details that suggest actual living rather than generic hospitality design. You are not simply assigned a room, you are temporarily entrusted with the care of an extraordinary beachfront home.

Why stay here?

Most luxury resorts in Bali divide guests into different areas: your villa, your pool, the restaurant, the bar. The Seed does the opposite. The entire estate is yours alone. This means there are never any strangers drifting past your breakfast table or competing for loungers. And it means no awkward encounters with someone else’s screaming children while you are attempting serenity beside the pool (just your own screaming children if, like us, you brought them along for the high-end ride of their little lives).

Instead, what you get is 6,400 square metres of private beachfront escapism spread across multiple villas and communal spaces, all stitched together by jungle paths, koi ponds, cascading pools and hidden corners.

What is perhaps most impressive is how relaxed it all feels despite the obvious expense involved. There is no trace of stiffness or pretension and even though the staff hugely outnumber the guests, somehow they manage to remain almost invisible unless summoned. At one point our children collectively decided, in the way children do, that they desperately needed pancakes in the middle of the afternoon. Minutes later the pancakes appeared without fuss and doused in sugar syrup (which made them an instant hit). Perhaps some people might prefer the alternative: perpetually attentive service, but for those looking for genuine privacy, a largely invisible staff is a real pleasure.

The accommodation itself borders on absurdly indulgent. Choosing where to sleep becomes almost a competitive sport among your group. The Treehouse is exactly as magical as it sounds: a two-storey treetop hideaway with open-air decks, elevated reading nooks in the high branches and an outdoor rain shower beneath the sky. The Rabbit Hole is more playful, with its games room, pool table, ping pong and private bar, seemingly designed for long nights and bad decisions. Villa Eywa may be the architectural showstopper though: split accommodation connected by an elegant deck suspended above water so that you can literally swim beneath your own living room. It even has its own private waterfall which, delightfully, you can switch off if the sound becomes too much at night.

Several villas also include fully equipped kitchens and bars, meaning you can easily entertain yourselves if desired. If part of your group wants to keep drinking and talking into the early hours while others retreat to bed, there are enough private spaces to allow both.

And then there are the outdoor bathrooms. Many spots in Bali do these well, but The Seed fully embraces the pleasure of showering beneath open skies while warm evening air drifts through tropical greenery.

Eating and drinking

The Seed’s dining impressively manages a difficult balancing act: variety and tastiness without too much fussiness. Meals are served either communally around big tables or more casually wherever you happen to be lounging at the time.

The menu moves between Indonesian and Western influences. Particularly memorable were the chicken satay skewers, which were adapted for us to avoid peanuts due to an allergy. Ironically this made them arguably more historically authentic than the peanut-heavy versions now associated with satay after Portuguese and Spanish traders introduced peanuts from South America into Southeast Asia several centuries after their invention. Regardless of historical accuracy, they were excellent: smoky, light and savoury.

Equally strong were delicate fish dumplings resembling oversized tortellini, served beneath a bright curry sauce. Desserts leaned tropical. The pandan cakes were feather-light yet buttery, balanced neatly by sharp passionfruit sorbet. Of course, some travellers might want more undilutedly local cuisine, while others may prefer to have steaks and burgers all the way. For us it felt like the mix was pitched well – and in any case the kitchen will adapt to your preferences.

There is also a very well-stocked bar featuring genuinely top-shelf spirits rather than the usual resort approximations. Cocktails are excellent and dangerously drinkable. Our favourite was the coco margarita, best consumed while sitting outdoors beneath stars and watching the flickering lights of nearby Nusa Penida and Lombok on the horizon.

Things to do

The danger at The Seed is that you never actually leave it. Much of the pleasure comes simply from exploring the estate itself. There are hidden pathways, jungle gyms, koi ponds and lounging spaces that reveal themselves gradually over the course of your stay.

The pool alone could occupy several days, and did so in our case. Beautifully landscaped, it shifts from shallow lounging areas suitable for children into deeper sections for proper swimming. Then, in the middle, comes the genuinely unexpected feature: a deep plunge pool beneath a five-metre diving platform.

There is also an outdoor cinema positioned beside the ocean. One evening we watched the Richard Curtis animated Christmas film “That Christmas”, which felt wonderfully surreal in 25-degree Balinese heat. Still, sprawled outdoors with popcorn arriving for both children and adults, it became one of those oddly perfect holiday memories.

Should your group be more nocturnal, The Seed has perhaps the most elaborate after-hours set-up imaginable. Beneath one of the villas lies a soundproof underground entertainment space containing a bar, cinema, karaoke kit and fully equipped music room complete with guitars, piano, drums, microphones, amplifiers and an excellent sound system. It is the sort of room that begins innocently with “just one drink” before someone ends up attempting Led Zeppelin covers at 2am.

For those seeking virtue before inevitable vice, there is also a deck that is perfect for yoga, as well as a sauna and cold plunge, dug next to the pool with a little viewing window for friends to wave to you as they swim past. The gym is a spectacle in its own right: a seemingly Fred Flintstone-inspired jungle hideaway with barbells made of tree trunks and resistance baskets that you fill with heavy rocks.

The verdict

The Seed feels less like a hotel and more like gaining temporary access to a private world that could, by rights, have remained private. Children are well catered for, adults can oscillate between wellness and mild debauchery, and the sheer variety of spaces means groups can coexist without being on top of one another.

It is no great surprise that The Seed has been nominated in this year's Condé Nast Traveller Awards in the Readers’ Choice category. On Bali’s increasingly crowded luxury landscape, it offers something entirely distinctive: privacy, personality and the rare feeling that you are not staying in a resort at all, but in someone’s really rather wonderful home.

Arion was a guest of The Seed, Bali; the eight-bedroom estate sleeps up to 21 guests

A “sprawling” estuarine reserve in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, the Bhitarkanika National Park is home to the country’s second-largest mangrove forest and no fewer than 1,825 saltwater crocodiles (the world’s largest reptile).

I explored it on one of the four luxury catamarans – each with just two “teak-floored” guest suites – that were introduced here last year by Delhi-based Antara Cruises, said Sneha Thomas in DestinAsian. The meals served on board were good (including some terrific local dishes).

We went on guided walks and motorboat trips deep into the “dense” forest, and also visited a village on the park’s fringes. Conservation efforts have brought the park’s crocodiles back from the brink of extinction, but there is much other wildlife to see, including spotted deer, fishing cats, cobras and more than 200 bird species.

A three-day cruise costs from £790 per person (antaracruises.com).

The Blytonesque charm of St Martin’s

Of the five inhabited Scilly Isles, none is more enchanting than St Martin’s, said Paul Miles in The Telegraph. Situated in the north of the archipelago, it is a “Famous Five” sort of place that has barely changed since the 1950s. Home to just 140 people, it lacks the “upmarket” shops and holiday lets of Tresco (more popular with “well-heeled” tourists). But it has seductive beaches of “almost-white” sand, lovely walking paths, and with the island’s mild climate, it “feels like a garden”, peppered with exotic species such as “tall” echiums and blue-and-white agapanthus. It’s worth hiring a kayak to visit the uninhabited islands nearby, and dropping in at the community observatory, with its two telescopes: on clear nights, the skies here are “tar-black” and full of stars.

A wild mountain railway in France

Climbing from Nice into the Alpes-Azur mountains, the aptly named Train des Merveilles (Train of Wonders) plies one of Europe’s most “spectacular” railways, said Annabelle Thorpe in The Guardian. Built between 1883 and 1929, it reopened in December following a year-long, €73 million (£63 million) renovation. The line crosses more than 100 bridges and viaducts, climbing 1,000 metres in 100km on its way to Tende, a town set amid the “jagged” peaks of the Mercantour National Park. The landscape is so wild and the little medieval towns along the way so unspoiled that the two-hour journey seems to take you back in time. Make a day of it if you can, and stop at Sospel, with its 13th-century bridge and “crumbling” baroque churches, and La Brigue, to see the huge and “vivid” 15th-century frescoes by Giovanni Canavesio in the Chapel of our Lady of Fountains, two miles outside town.

Just south of Alice Springs, in the dead centre of Australia, the MacDonnell Ranges rise from the desert plains like creases on a tablecloth. With peaks up to 1,531 metres and cut through by deep gorges, these mountains are wild and spectacular, said Oliver Smith in the Financial Times.

For the region’s Aboriginal inhabitants – the Arrernte people – the place “brims with stories, sanctity and secrets”. Winding through their western half for 220km is one of the greatest hiking paths in the outback, the Larapinta Trail. Even a single day’s walking on it is a “serious undertaking”, with water available only at 13 trailheads along the way (each accessible by 4WD), and food at three (through-hikers must arrange additional drops). But for lovers of remote places and untamed nature, the effort is well worth it.

I walked sections of the trail early in the season (which runs from April to October), when the landscape was at its greenest after the summer rains. Waterholes “sparkled” and “desert oaks cast shade over wildflowers”.

My guide was Anna Dakin, a British artist who has been leading hikes here since 2018 through Art Tours of Australia. She admires the work of the celebrated watercolourist Albert Namatjira (1902-1959), a local Arrernte man whose old house (now in a “sorry state”) we visited. Anna and I set up base camp by the Finke (believed to be the world’s oldest river), where we slept in swags (canvas bivvy bags) beside a campfire, and made day trips by 4WD to different trailheads, walking about 15km a day.

We were roused each morning by a “dawn chorus of butcherbirds and willie wagtails”. In the early light, the “terracotta” landscape was “flecked with subtle colours”, from the “silver-green spinifex” to the “red-and-blue mallee trees”. It was yet lovelier at sunset, and our walks took us to wondrous places, including the Standley Chasm – a “pocket paradise” like a cathedral nave, where cycads and lemongrass grow between towering sandstone walls.

Another element of aviation is causing trouble for the air travel industry, and this time it’s the airplanes themselves. The companies that manufacture aircraft engines are increasingly coming under fire for alleged price gouging, which airlines say is making it harder to afford new planes. Combined with increased demand from travelers, airlines have found themselves between a rock and a hard place.

Why are aircraft engines becoming more expensive?

Aircraft engines have “emerged as an acute flashpoint for the industry, both in terms of their performance and lack of availability,” said Bloomberg. Many airplane manufacturers also increasingly rely on “less than a handful of manufacturers, creating quasi-monopolies and dependencies.” These companies are then able to drive up the price of building the engines.

Manufacturers are also turning toward a trend in energy-efficient engines, but this comes with its own problems. Continuing shortages of the “industry’s most fuel-efficient aircraft engines have sent their market values soaring,” said the Financial Times. The constraints of building these types of engines have “become one of the biggest concerns for the industry as manufacturers have struggled to keep up with booming demand for Airbus and Boeing planes.”

These factors mean that engines have become one of the most expensive elements of building new airplanes. A pair of jet engines now represents up to 80% of the total market value of a new plane, according to aviation finance company Avolon. It represents a marked change from two decades ago, when the engines would have only “accounted for 20% to 30% of an aircraft’s value,” said the Financial Times.

The continuing spike in value means the price to lease new engines has increased significantly over the past few years. In January 2025, it cost $400,000 to lease two engines from manufacturer Pratt & Whitney; in comparison, leasing an A320neo plane itself cost just $306,000, according to data from aviation consultancy Cirium cited by the Financial Times. The supply chain failures “across the industry from manufacturers cost airlines at least $11 billion in 2025,” said Bloomberg, a trend that could continue through the remainder of 2026.

How are airlines reacting?

Many airline executives are angry at the inflated cost of plane engines. Most say they are “being forced to remove engines and take them for maintenance into crowded shops earlier than expected, which is driving up costs and sucking up the fuel savings they were supposed to get from the engines,” said CNBC. The increased costs represent a “paradox: Engine makers dazzled carriers with more fuel-efficient options for new planes from Boeing and Airbus,” but now “production shortfalls and disappointing reliability with those engines are becoming costly problems.”

So far, most engines “have not reached the reliability that airlines need, though there have been improvements,” said CNBC. As airplanes “push the limits, it sometimes comes at the cost of reliability, and what we all are seeing is that those engines have to go into unscheduled maintenance far more frequently than prior engine generations,” Alexis von Hoensbroech, the CEO of Canadian carrier WestJet, told CNBC. A “lot of the fuel savings are in fact eaten up by unplanned maintenance costs.”

I remember southern Africa’s old-fashioned sleeper trains, with their wooden carriages and “grand” dining cars, from my childhood in what was then Rhodesia in the 1950s and 1960s, said Matthew Parris in The Times.

They fell out of use long ago, and few of the region’s railways now carry passengers at all. You can, however, relive their glory days – with added luxury – thanks to Rovos Rail.

This tour operator was founded in 1989 by Rohan Vos, a South African businessman with a “passion” for restoring old railway carriages. The company’s trains now ply routes across the region, from Cape Town to as far afield as Dar es Salaam, going at a slow pace for comfort (the tracks are narrow gauge and sometimes poorly maintained) and making many stops for excursions to nearby “wonders” and occasional nights in “lovely” lodges.

I took an 11-night trip from Pretoria to the “massive sand dunes and mysterious desert coast” of Namibia – an expedition that combined “adventure” with “amenity and elegance of a high order”. Our train had 19 carriages from the old Rhodesia Railways, but carried just 60 passengers: my compartment occupied a third of a carriage and had mahogany panelling, brass fittings and an en suite shower.

The meals served in the two “magnificent” dining cars were “splendid” and varied. The staff were charming. A South African historian gave “sparkling” lectures. And I never tired of the observation car, where I spent chilly mornings and warm evenings sipping coffee or post-prandial negronis and watching the “ever-changing” landscape slip by.

In South Africa, we went for a cruise on the Orange River and took a trip to the Augrabies Falls, where the river plunges into an “immense” granite gorge. In Namibia, we gazed over the vast Fish River Canyon and saw lions and elephants in the Etosha Pan game reserve. The most fun I had, though, was sliding down a huge sand dune at Sossusvlei. “I felt like a boy again.”

Distant Journeys (distantjourneys.co.uk) has a 16-night trip from £9,696pp, including flights.

Listening lounges, recording studios, secret venues and vinyl lending libraries are a few of the perks guests can tap into at these seven hotels made for music lovers. You may not run into your favorite artist, but you sure might discover a new one.

Aria Hotel Budapest, Hungary

Music inspired every design element at Aria Hotel Budapest, starting with the piano-keyboard marble inlay that stretches across the indoor courtyard. Rooms come in four styles — Classical, Opera, Contemporary and Jazz — and feature elegant touches like Murano glass chandeliers, coffered ceilings and custom area rugs.

In the afternoon, guests are invited to a wine and cheese reception with live music, and they can end the night on the rooftop High Note SkyBar. Aria even has a musical director, who arranges performances and special events and compiles soundtracks for individual stays.

D Maris Bay, Marmaris, Turkey

Once the sun goes down, the energy level at D Maris Bay goes way up, as guests prepare to spend the night dancing to DJ sets and live musical performances. Situated in a “stunning bay” on the Turquoise Coast, the resort’s “fabulous setting” and “extensive facilities” make it “one of the best” luxury beach properties in Turkey, said The Telegraph.

The property’s nightlife is second to none, with DJs coming from around the globe to play. The resort also hosts a summer gala series that blends gourmet dining with musical performances; previous artists included Seal and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Hotel El Ganzo, San José del Cabo, Mexico

The soundtrack of Hotel El Ganzo includes musicians jamming in the Underground Studio and bands performing on the private marina. Creatives love staying at this boutique property, where murals cover the walls, the rooms feature one-of-a-kind paintings and the Musicians in Residence program brings artists like Thievery Corporation, Rufus du Sol and Khruangbin to the hotel. When you’re ready to chill, head to the beach and swim club Playa El Ganzo, the rooftop pool, or the spa and wellness center.

Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, Texas

Named in honor of the patron saint of music, Hotel Saint Cecilia is an “ultraprivate” spot where “record label execs, artists, musicians and writers” go for a getaway, said Condé Nast Traveler. The rooms and suites inside this Victorian-era mansion have their own “distinct decor and personality” and come with Rega turntables and Geneva sound systems. When you feel like listening to tunes, head to the hotel’s lending library and borrow a vintage vinyl; while you are there, check out one of the many rock biographies available to borrow.

Okupa Athens, Greece

The centerpiece of Okupa is the Kitchen & Listening Bar, an “all-day space that combines brunch, dinner and a listening bar moment,” said Vogue Adria. Okupa is a place where “food, music and atmosphere” all “function as one and the same mood.” Here, you can enjoy an on-property jazz session, DJ set and concert in one day. The 32 modern, comfortable rooms come with portable speakers and, in some cases, record players. The music never need stop.

The Verb Hotel, Boston

The Verb Hotel “proudly” celebrates its hometown musical heroes, with local artists “commemorated through posters and pictures” across the hotel, said Rolling Stone. Other big acts who visited the city are “immortalized with autographs and coffee table books,” and this memorabilia makes the property feel like a “retro-chic museum” that “happens to offer plush beds.” For an over-the-top experience, stay in one of the Backstage trailers complete with Bose sound systems, custom art and “unique pieces of tour life.”

W Nashville, Tennessee

Music surrounds you at W Nashville. Both established and up-and-coming artists perform inside the intimate Living Room Bar & Lounge, and guests have a chance to attend listening sessions and songwriting collaborations in the Sound Room, a small venue hidden behind a wall of speakers.

The party continues poolside, where local DJs keep the tunes going at the Wet Deck. It’s a “stylish” property with excellent service — head to the friendly concierge with requests for “tickets to the Grand Ole Opry or whoever is playing at the Ryman,” said Condé Nast Traveler.

Most people don’t leave Ibiza feeling healthier. Sun, sea, sand and sangria have reigned supreme here for decades, from the hedonistic super clubs that provide its late-night soundtrack, to the beach bars overlooking its famous Balearic sunset.

Now, however, one of the White Isle’s most established hotels is hoping to turn that on its head, with a programme intended not only to make you feel better, but actually make you live longer. The Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel has long been known for the quality of its spa, but the team has pivoted to a novel approach, creating personalised longevity pathways using new technologies alongside long-standing organic and nature-focused treatments. And after a tough winter I arrive feeling like this is exactly what I need.

Personalised programme

The experience begins with a session on the 3D body scanner, which analyses your body’s composition, takes 14 measurements, assesses your flexibility and calculates your metabolic age. It’s slightly daunting, and my readings aren’t exactly ideal, but nonetheless the information is not only useful to have, it informs your personalised programme and is used to track your progress as well.

An individual programme is developed for each person based on this data, their health history and personal goals, using traditional treatments, nutrient IV therapies, and innovative technology-led sessions.

My own pathway uses several of these, and I begin with the hypoxia oxygen therapy, a guided breath and conditioning session using controlled low-oxygen intervals to boost efficiency, stamina and recovery. As I lie back with a mask strapped to my face, I settle in, uncertain what the treatment will feel like. But as the oxygen flows at different rates and I am treated to a reflexology session, I feel myself drift off into a dozy state. It’s designed to enhance cellular function, and while I can’t speak for this, I come back into the world feeling fresh and de-stressed

Next, I spend 20 minutes in the high-frequency infrared bed. Infrared is a trend that has swept social media, but it has strong evidence behind it, and this version is much stronger than the average mask you can use at home. The frequency can hit 900-plus, which, the team explains, can penetrate to the cellular level to energise and activate the mitochondria. It reduces inflammation and supports tissue recovery, and the warm bed immediately relaxes. It feels like a cocoon and my muscles feel supple afterwards.

This is followed quickly by a four-minute session in the cryotherapy chamber. I’m in my swimming costume but am given mittens and booties to keep the extremities warm. Overall, it’s cold but not cold like wild swimming in a British lake, so I am revitalised but not in pain. My programme ends with a massage by experienced technician Marina, who works the remaining knots out of my back and shoulders, and I leave the spa feeling like a different woman.

Nutrient-rich dining and a stand-out spa

Wellness is a recurring theme across the property, and during the rest of my stay I explore the estate. Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel opened in 2004, and is spread across 14 hectares of orange groves surrounded by lush hills. Life is slower here. It was originally a working farm and has been in the same family for more than 300 years. This heritage can be felt everywhere, from the original kitchen (now reception) where the current owners’ grandmother used to sit, to the enormous vegetable garden that supplies the kitchen each day.

When I take an early morning stroll one day I stumble across the staff selecting the veg for that night’s menu, as food plays a vital role in longevity too. To reinforce the spa’s work, the kitchen has designed a selection of nutrient-dense options, including anti-inflammatory salads and juices rich in polyphenols and amino acids. Of course, there is also a menu of indulgent treats like irresistible Iberico ham croquetas, and fresh locally caught corvina cooked on a Josper grill.

I spend the rest of my time doing lengths in the stunning 43-metre spa pool, relaxing in giant day beds among the herb gardens, and reading books in the outdoor hot tub. My room overlooks one of the nine pools, and I can watch the sunset from a cute Juliet balcony. The entire complex smells of lavender and orange blossom, creating a sensory experience that transports you to another world, and it feels like the whole place is designed with recovery in mind. The décor is local and rustic, with bathroom products made on site from the aforementioned herbs. Even the toothpaste is organic and sourced from the island.

The hotel is part of the Atzaró Collection, which includes Aubergine by Atzaró, a popular destination restaurant, and Atzaró Beach, an informal bar and restaurant in Cala Nova where you can swim in crystal water and enjoy views over Ibiza’s leafy cliffs. The family encourages visitors to get out and explore the island’s beauty. Soaking in its energy is all part of the package.

I end my stay feeling calm, refreshed and ready to go back to my ordinary life with a new vitality, a far cry from previous visits to the island. It’s important to remember that longevity isn’t just about living for ever, but living well, and if life feels this good then why wouldn’t you want more of it?

Jaymi McCann was a guest of Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel

Forget “bleak dormitories with creaking iron beds and draughty communal spaces”, said Georgie Duckworth in The Guardian. A new generation of UK hostels offer a comfortable place to stay – without the hefty price tag that often comes with cabins, cottages and lodges.

As staycations boom in the face of uncertainty over the war in the Middle East and soaring airfares, holidaymakers are looking for affordable places to stay closer to home. But in prizing “seclusion” so highly, “have we lost the very essence of travel: the pleasure of meeting new people; sharing stories; hearing word-of-mouth tips; and stepping outside our familiar routines?”

That’s where hostels come in. These reasonably priced accommodations encourage “outdoor pursuits and socialising”, with a range of private rooms for families and communal rooms with bunk beds. One of the best is The Rocks in Pembrokeshire: a “bright and stylish” hostel with a cosy shared lounge, and firepits for “stargazing and marshmallow toasting” in the evenings. Rooms are “snug but smart” with “soft sheets and Welsh woollen blankets”.

The Youth Hostel Association offers rooms in a “beautiful building in a luxury location” for a fraction of the price of other staycations, said Catherine Lofthouse in The Sun. My “favourite” is Chester Trafford Hall: an “old Georgian mansion set in lovely grounds”. In a great “blend of city and countryside”, visitors can enjoy walks from the doorstep or “hop on the bus” to the city centre to “wander through the historic streets”.

There are plenty of completely “off-grid” escapes, too, for “wild adventurers” and “digital detoxers”, said Freya Parr on BBC Countryfile. Consider travelling off the beaten track to Ulva – a small Scottish island off the west coast of Mull. Here you’ll find the community-owned Ulva Hostel which sleeps just 14 people. Home to a comfy living area, shared kitchen, and sauna, with additional camping pitches available outside, it’s the “perfect spot” to explore the remote, car-free island.

At the end of a winding tree-lined driveway, this grand country house appears suddenly, like a dame at a ball. The late Victorian-era mansion, set in 66 acres of prime Hampshire parkland and gardens, certainly makes a statement.

When you step through the entrance archway onto the marble floor, you’re greeted with floor-to-ceiling walnut panelling that sweeps up the staircase, overlooked by gilt-framed portraits of past residents. This Grade II-listed hotel might boast a spa and award-winning restaurant, but it still feels like a grand country house (I imagine).

Why stay here?

Have you ever wanted to step into the pages of a Regency novel and be transported to a world of balls, halls and primogeniture? This is the place to do it. In fact, Tylney Hall is near many important Jane Austen sites. Her cottage, where she wrote “Pride and Prejudice”, is about a half-hour drive away, as is her grave, in the north nave aisle of Winchester Cathedral. The hotel itself feels familiar to fans of her work; you can imagine Mr Darcy brooding in a corner of the Library Room, or Elizabeth Bennet roaming the grounds.

Tylney Hall is the first of three Elite Hotels, an independent group that has carefully taken on some of the UK’s foremost historic homes. Tylney Hall has a fascinating provenance dating back hundreds of years, first as a home, then a First World War hospital, a school and the HQ of a shipping line. It’s worth reading the various information plaques dotted around the mansion and sprawling grounds. The Italian Lounge, for example, has a magnificent blue-and-gold ceiling imported from the Grimation Palace in Florence in the late 19th century.

Some of the 113 rooms are as you’d hope: fit for minor aristocracy. Think massive suites inside the mansion with four-poster beds, marbled bathrooms, and sitting rooms with views across the lawn. All that’s missing is a butler.

But some are located in the courtyard or gardens, and inexplicably furnished like student halls. To get to the spa, you have to walk back via gravelled pathways through the trees in your robe and slippers, braving inclement weather and darkness (there is zero lighting). Sneaking around like a scullery maid feels like a big ask on a spenny weekend break. Perhaps you’d do better to stay in the bathroom with the gorgeous Molton Brown toiletries.

Eating and drinking

The continental breakfast buffet is so comprehensive that I discovered a new type of jam. Dietary requirements are well catered for; every possible intolerance from celery to sesame is marked on the menu, and every milk substitute is available, which surprised me in an English country hotel. But the best items are à la carte – if you haven’t the space for the full English, with hand-linked, butcher-fresh pork sausages, go for the smoked salmon with perfectly poached eggs, or the filled pancakes with banana and crème fraîche.

The afternoon tea in the Grey Lounge is popular: a theatrical affair, with homemade pastries and silver teapots. Dinner is served in the opulent Oak Room Restaurant, and like the curtains, the menu skews towards rich, heavy and conventionally British. Mains like baked pork belly with rose harissa and coriander couscous, salmon poached in browned butter with mussel and cockle risotto, and a sharing Chateaubriand with chips are all presented with a flourish on white tablecloths, accompanied by the tinkling of a grand piano.

The beef fillet with wild mushroom gratin and autumn black truffle is the stand-out – but take care. The prices aren’t on the menu for a reason; lay off the starters and sides unless you want a hefty bill at check-out. I ended my evening with a stiff drink in the Library Bar, curled up in front of the fire like a Bridgerton earl.

Things to do

The outdoor pool, in pride of place within a walled Dutch garden, is a focal point in summer – weather permitting. The high trees shade half the sunbeds, so you’ll need to get up early to grab a good spot.

The indoor swimming pool area is beautiful; light floods in from the arched glass roof and through floor-to-ceiling windows. The problem is the acoustics. If you’re in there alone, the silence is funereal, but as soon as anyone opens their mouth for a chat, the noise is deafening. One hen party group nearly brought the roof down. Some low-fi chill, or generic spa music, would help the ambience. But otherwise, it’s a breathtaking bit of architecture.

You can fill your boots with genteel country pursuits: a game of golf or tennis, croquet, clay pigeon shooting and walking trails. Don’t miss the water gardens, designed by renowned horticulturalist Gertrude Jekyll, as well as lakes of Monet-style water lilies and a pond of fancy koi carp.

The verdict

Tylney Hall is conveniently located near Junction 5 of the M3, and a short taxi hop from the village station of Hook if you’re coming by train. But it feels like a world away from modern life.

It would be a shame to treat it as a spa-break destination, however – treatments are extortionately priced, and the facilities are limited. Consider it instead as a luxurious visit to a bygone era.

The jewel in its crown is the grounds: ancient trees, rolling hills, manicured formal lawns, rose and azalea flowerbeds, and an Italian garden complete with statues and a fountain. Follow the trails that wind through the gardens and orchard, then sit by the Boathouse Lake, taking in views of the house, and imagining the lives of those who once called it home.

Harriet Marsden was a guest of Tylney Hall Hotel and Gardens, part of the Elite Hotels Group

When Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin first suggested blocking some international flights from cities that didn’t cooperate with federal immigration enforcement during an April Fox News appearance, it “seemed more like a wild swing than a real plan,” said The Atlantic. Now, Mullin’s seemingly far-fetched pitch to remove immigration agents from certain airports and reroute flights to Republican-led cities feels increasingly plausible. If the plan is enacted, airline experts and officials warn the impact could be catastrophic across multiple vectors.

‘Devastating effect’

Removing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from international airports “would cause immediate and lasting harm,” said the U.S. Travel Association in a press release. A CBP drawdown may have a “devastating effect on the airline and tourism industries,” said trade association Airlines for America in a statement to CNN, causing “significant operational disruption to carriers, travelers and the flow of international cargo.”

The travel industry is “on edge” with worries that Mullin’s comments could “jeopardize international flights,” said The Associated Press. Major airlines “quickly condemned the idea,” and “even Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said it doesn’t make sense to him.” The government “shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics,” said Duffy at a congressional hearing last month. Duffy also said he would “like to learn more about the context” of the proposal and “maybe ask Mullin a question about what he meant,” the AP said.

The Justice Department last month published a list of states and cities it claimed were “impeding U.S. immigration policies,” said CNBC. Among the locales listed were “major international air hubs” including Boston, Newark, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

‘Thin grasp of global-travel logistics’

Mullin is “pushing forward” with his plan despite concerns, said The Atlantic. Last month he convened a “small group of airline and travel-industry executives at DHS headquarters in Washington” and reportedly discussed reductions in CBP staffing at “major airports that serve sanctuary jurisdictions,” such as JFK in New York and Dulles in Washington, D.C. The secretary’s plans seemed to “reflect a thin grasp of global-travel logistics” and displayed an “inflated sense of the government’s ability to impose economic pain on specific cities.”

It’s “not clear” how Mullin’s goal to block international travel to certain cities would “work in practice,” said Time. The proposal is “actively insane,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, on X. Airlines would be forced to “cancel flights en masse,” which would cause “enormous economic damage” that extends “waaaaay beyond a few big cities that were the target.” It is also unlikely, said MS NOW, that officials in Democrat-run communities will be willing to “overhaul their approach to immigration policy” simply to “prevent Mullin from sabotaging many of the busiest airports in the Western Hemisphere.”

The benefits of bird-watching are plenty — it’s relaxing, can offer a mental-health boost, gets you outside in the fresh air, teaches you about new types of species and helps you focus. Start in your backyard or local park, then consider these eight global hot spots, where opportunities to zero in on avian splendor are plentiful.

Cape Town, South Africa

The Cape sugarbird, Cape rockjumper, orange-breasted sunbird and bank cormorant are some of the endemic birds that draw nature lovers to Cape Town. The best place to do serious birding is Strandfontein Sewage Works, where visitors “may count more than 50 species on any given morning,” said Afar. Flamingos, African marsh harriers and Cape longclaws all gather in and around the ponds, and in the summer grey and purple herons arrive in droves.

Colombia

Nearly 2,000 avian species call Colombia’s mountains, forests and beaches home, making the country a “veritable paradise” for birders, said Forbes. Don’t overlook the cities, either; Cartagena is an “underrated gem for avitourism” and a great “jumping-off point” for birding adventures.

Ekoparque Luna Forest is “prime territory” for the chestnut-winged chachalaca, a species endemic to the Colombian Caribbean, and the tropical dry forest at Santuario de Flora y Fauna Los Colorados is home base for the scarlet macaw, Amazon kingfisher and rose-breasted grosbeak.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s rainforests offer varied bird-watching experiences. Quetzals dwell in the “ethereal cloud forests,” said Travel and Leisure, while red-capped manakins live in the lowland tropical rainforest.

A “great” destination for bird-watching is Carara National Park on the central Pacific coast, where tropical dry forests and humid rainforests meet. Birds from both environments, like scarlet macaws, toucans and herons, live here. On the Caribbean coast, discover “abundant wildlife” in Cahuita National Park. Visitors can walk a five-mile forest hiking trail and experience the chance to see kingfishers, hawks and green ibis.

Daintree Rainforest, Australia

More than half of Australia’s bird species live in Daintree Rainforest, and bird-watchers from “all over the world” come here for a “day, or even a week, of bird-spotting,” said Time Out. This is the oldest continually surviving rainforest on Earth — it’s estimated to be more than 180 million years old — and “wing-watchers” flock here to search for the “elusive” flightless Southern cassowary. There are more than a dozen endemics to keep an eye out for, including the pied monarch, Macleay’s honeyeater and Victoria’s riflebird.

Everglades National Park, Florida

Wading birds are “essential” residents of the Everglades, playing a vital role in Florida’s wetlands ecosystem, said Lonely Planet. Birders glide down the coastline in kayaks and canoes to watch “egrets, ibis and roseate spoonbills pick through the shallows for food,” and there are trails throughout the park offering views of birds like cormorants, warblers and nesting anhingas. One of the best times to visit is in mid-February, when swallow-tiled kites return from their winters in Central and South America.

Hokkaido, Japan

During winter, the bird-watching in Hokkaido is “spectacular,” said National Geographic Traveler. The “remarkable” red-crowned cranes can be found performing “elaborate mating dances against snowy landscapes,” while the Steller’s sea eagles dive into the chilly water for fish. The Blakiston’s fish owl is the rarest owl in Japan but often visits the Yoroushi onsen in the evening.

Manu National Park, Peru

What birds you see at Manu National Park depends on your elevation. When in the cloud forest, be on the lookout for the vibrant Andean cock-of-the-rock, quetzals, tanagers, horneros and parakeets.

Down in the lower parts of the park, you might spy the Amazon umbrellabird, or nesting nightjars and yellow-billed terns on the beaches along the Manu River. Go off the beaten path to “remote areas like the Huacarpay wetlands, home to nearly 60 resident species” like yellow-winged blackbirds and violetear hummingbirds, said Condé Nast Traveler.

Scottish Highlands

The “majestic” golden eagle, “elusive” capercaillie and “tiny” crested tit are some of the reasons why bird-watchers love the Scottish Highlands, said National Geographic Traveler. Spot ptarmigan, dotterel and snow bunting, “three high mountain specialists,” in Cairngorms National Park and Spey Valley, but prepare to put in some work — you will have to “trudge up mountains” and “search through pine forests to find them.” It’s worth it to spend time in the “spectacular” landscape, amid the “dense foliage,” and listen to the birdsong.

Nobody knows how the phrase “Vedi Napoli e mori” (See Naples and die) came into being. The sentiment that once you have seen the beauties of Naples there is no need to go on is most commonly ascribed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on his grand tour of Italy in the 1780s. Goethe and I have little in common – just ask my GCSE German teacher – but it is a feeling that is easy to share. Indeed my first time in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius was much like the volcano itself: beguiling and beautiful but filled with noise, theatre and barely contained energy.

It is all the more surprising, then, that the most impressive hotel on the Naples waterfront achieves its effect not through a crescendo of Neapolitan drama and excess but through piano, or restraint. ROMEO Napoli is a hotel that exudes class, almost effortlessly, and in a city that is so turned up to 11, that quality alone is something of a luxury.

Why stay here?

The building has a history worthy of its surroundings. Once the headquarters of Achille Lauro’s legendary shipping fleet, the palazzo was entrusted to the late Pritzker prize-winning Japanese architect Kenzō Tange for a transformation that is stark and yet incorporates so much of what has gone before.

The result is a double skin of glass and steel rendered in an aquamarine shimmer, its gently undulating curves calling to mind the prow of a great vessel preparing to cast off. It is striking in the way that all great Italian suits are striking, in that you can’t quite take your eyes off it, but you’d struggle to explain why. Against the backdrop of Naples’ Unesco-listed historic centre, it somehow manages to stand entirely apart while remaining very much of its place.

Inside, the philosophy is one of “essentiality”, something I took to mean that while some of the art and decor could feel over the top, it instead feels perfectly appointed. Black marble floors and Macassar ebony flow through communal spaces and into the 77 rooms and suites, each a tightly composed study in materiality. All the mod-cons of the highest end hotels are here, while the bed has a comfort level that is usually reserved only for your own one at home.

The mostly monochromatic palette, punctuated with flashes of blood red and cobalt, lends the whole place a cinematic quality, like something from a Paolo Sorrentino film, rather than your standard five-star interior. The Gulf of Naples, visible from most rooms, remains the star attraction and the “essentiality” of the interior decor means that there is nothing too in-your-face to compete for your attention.

The art collection deserves a mention, too, as it is not art for the sake of art. The founder, Alfredo Romeo, is himself a serious collector, and the works here – ranging from 17th-century paintings to Samurai armour, from Mario Schifano’s pop-inflected take on Vesuvius to Andy Warhol’s typically flat, iconic treatment of the same volcano – feel genuinely chosen rather than acquired.

Mark Kostabi, the American artist whose stylised, mannequin-like figures explore themes of isolation and alienation in the age of technology, is another recurring presence. His pieces appearing in the rooms as well as the public spaces give an unsettling elegance. Marc Chagall’s dreamlike figurative work brings a note of European modernism to the mix, while a lenticular piece by Neapolitan artist Francesco Clemente shifts and transforms as you move past it. Lemons, sheep, Vesuvius – the iconography of the area flickers in and out of focus like a half-remembered memory. It is a fitting tribute to a city that always shows you something different.

Eating and drinking

That Alain Ducasse chose Naples for his first Italian restaurant is testament to the history, quality and excitement that eating in the city can bring. The food offering at the ROMEO is the perfect example of all three. Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Napoli, on the ninth floor with panoramic views across the Gulf, has already been awarded its first Michelin star. It would be no surprise if more were on the way.

On Sundays and Mondays, when the main restaurant rests, the kitchen migrates up to La Terrazza, where lunch and dinner are served against a view that, well, it is a cliché, but it took my breath away. As we were there on a Monday we were treated to a smorgasbord of delights from the menu, once we’d caught our breath of course. It’s rare that a salad steals the show, but the caprese was quite simply perfect – the tomatoes in this part of the world are worth travelling for.

While the two pastas were divine, a pomodoro sauce and a white wine and clam number, it was in fact the ceviche and octopus courses that have lived long in the memory.

Despite to this day being a thriving port city and with so many people so close to the sea, Naples has plenty of substandard fish restaurants. But at ROMEO the simplicity of cooking is a key reason behind its excellence. Executive chef Alessandro Lucassino’s kitchen operates on the principle of letting the exceptional Mediterranean produce speak for itself. This is shown in the delectable nature of their fish and seafood dishes.

Lemons are the other food staple that are just better in Naples than pretty much anywhere else on the planet and we ended our meal with a lemon tart that was truly out of this world. There’s an ease and warmth in which the food is served that also speaks to the quality of the dining experience. Too often high-end places with this sort of menu can feel stuffy, but the ROMEO has a quality offering that comes with an air of relaxed confidence, with is both instantly appealing and relaxing in equal measure.

Breakfast, served in the same space, is another Ducasse production and considerably above what most hotels consider sufficient. For something more casual, Il Bar, a sleek all-day space with an interesting past life as Naples’ first fusion restaurant, offers seasonal plates at any hour.

Things to do

Few hotel spas manage to be impressive in scale and genuinely immersive in atmosphere at the same time. LA SPA by Sisley Paris, occupying more than 1,000 square metres within what was historically the city’s salt customs office, manages both with considerable style.

Descending into it feels like entering an entirely different world. In fact, if you’ve ever wondered what it might feel like to be a very well-pampered astronaut, the spa has the answer. There is a salt cave, an infrared sauna and a snow room that delivers exactly the kind of bracing shock to the system that you didn’t know you needed. Three plunge pools are backed by futuristic projections of water scenes, while most remarkable of all are the circular “phyto-aromatic” cabins. They are neon-lit pods in which you lie back, breathe in essential oils and watch scenes from the natural world play out above you.

The treatments themselves are everything you would expect from a brand such as Sisley. I felt rejuvenated, revitalised and really could have spent my whole week down there. But there were more delights above ground with the two pools, and the Krug Champagne terrace on the rooftop, offering a different but no less necessary kind of therapy. On a clear day, the 120-square-metre infinity pool appears to dissolve into the Gulf itself, with the islands of Ischia and Capri floating on the horizon.

The verdict

Naples, as Goethe well knew, is one of those cities that stays with you long after you leave. ROMEO Napoli, rather than fighting that feeling, channels it into something altogether more considered.

A special mention too must go to the staff who all went above and beyond to ensure our stay was such a delight. It’s rare to see staff members engaged in such convivial conversations with so many of the guests but that seems to be the ROMEO way.

From the architecture and the art to the dining and the view, no trip to the ROMEO is wasted, while the spa, the pools and that terrace ensure that “see Naples and die” feels, for the duration of your stay at least, like a very long way off indeed.

Rooms from approximately €700 per night. Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Napoli is open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner; reservations are essential. Daily spa access is included for hotel guests. theromeocollection.com

If you are living on a tight budget, going on vacation may seem totally out of reach. But you may just need to adjust your sense of scale. Rather than taking a week or more off work and trying to cover lodging, food and everything else for that entire time, consider stepping away for just a few days instead.

Known as a microvacation, such smaller-scale trips can be easier both logistically and financially — and they can still be plenty of fun. “One in five Gen Zers (21%) plan to take shorter trips in 2026 than in past years,” with one of the top reasons — cited by 37% of survey respondents — being the “spontaneity,” said Bank of America’s 2026 Summer Travel Outlook, per Investopedia.

What is a microvacation (or microcation)?

The defining feature of a microvacation, also referred to as a microcation, is its length. A microvacation “usually lasts one to four days,” said Kiplinger, and it “doesn’t require long flights, complicated itineraries or a big chunk of time off work.”

Often, a microvacation does not entail traveling to a far-flung location but rather sticking closer to home, with many opting for somewhere just a short drive away, given the condensed timeframe. But some travelers view the expedited timeline as a way to tick off places on their bucket list that much faster — in essence, they are “questioning the idea of saving all pleasure for one annual holiday, instead using shorter breaks to see more of the world in manageable, repeatable doses,” said the BBC.

Why are people opting for shorter trips instead?

For starters, “compared with weeklong vacations, microvacations can be cheaper, fit into a work schedule more easily and are simpler to plan,” said Investopedia. Beyond that, “some are inspired by the idea of stretching limited paid time off; others look to game loyalty points for quick trips to, say, Barcelona and London; and some are simply drawn to the challenge,” said The New York Times, noting the trend of “microvacationers posting about their itineraries on social media.”

While you may wonder how effectively you can really experience a place in just a handful of days, some microcation proponents argue the opposite. With fewer days, “each day is more impactful — you’re really in the moment, and you have more [money] to spend on what matters,” said microvacationer Sarah Pardi to the BBC.

How can you start planning a microcation?

When planning a microvacation, one of the best places to start is by determining why you want to take one. Consider “what you actually need right now: rest, connection, fun or simply a change of scenery,” said Kiplinger.

With that in mind, you can start preparing — but make sure not to get carried away. Microvacationers should “aim to anchor their trips to a single experience,” ensuring you aren’t trying to “cover too much ground in the limited time you have” and that you “don’t overplan,” said Laurel Greatrix, the chief communications officer for Tripadvisor Group, to the Times. After all, you do not want to spend a large chunk of your short time away in transit from one place to the next.

Mother Nature shines at these seven protected areas, thanks to communities and coalitions that monitor and govern each spot so they remain pristine for generations. Travelers are asked to visit with this intent in mind and explore using official guides, treading lightly and leaving not a trace behind.

Banff National Park, Canada

Canada’s first national park is “brimming with natural beauty,” and its Rocky Mountain peaks and glacial lakes are only some of the “treasures” found in this “alpine wonderland,” said Condé Nast Traveler. The varied landscapes offer “geological drama,” filled with “spectacular” wildlife like moose, black bears and elk. There’s “no bad season to visit,” with canoeing popular in the summer, hiking and biking perfect for spring and fall, and skiing and snowshoeing made for winter.

Fiordland, New Zealand

Stretching across 5,000 square miles of southwestern New Zealand is Fiordland, the country’s largest national park. In a “land renowned for rugged beauty and heavenly wilderness,” Fiordland stands out with its “almost otherworldly splendor,” said Thrillist.

There is a lot to take in. The landscape includes forests, lakes, fjords, massive peaks and “craggy” coastlines, all home to “endangered wildlife found nowhere else on Earth,” said Thrillist. There are a few activities that every visitor should try to do, like take a cruise around Milford Sound. The sound is the park’s “most famous” fjord, and getting there involves a four-hour journey one of the “most scenic routes on the planet.”

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The Andes’ Salar de Uyuni, at 4,000 square miles, is the world’s largest salt flat, formed by dried prehistoric lakes. Your experience depends on the time of year you visit.

It’s dry from May to November, and the flats are hard and can handle the weight of 4x4 vehicles. But when it rains December through March, the flats “transform into a gargantuan reflective mirror,” said Vogue. Stargazers should head to Salar de Uyuni between June and August, when the skies are at their clearest.

Tainui Atea, French Polynesia

On arrival, visitors to the Tahitian islands immediately notice the clear, clean waters of Tainui Atea. It’s the world’s largest marine protected area, spanning nearly 2 million square miles.

Seabed exploitation and fish-aggregating devices are prohibited, and as a result, the area has healthier reefs and lagoons, and stronger marine ecosystems. Travelers are encouraged to respectfully dive right in and go swimming, or hire local guides for outrigger canoeing and surfing lessons, kayaking trips, and diving and snorkeling excursions.

Trang An Landscape Complex, Vietnam

This “sublime” area is dominated by “hulking” limestone karst peaks and sweeping valleys dotted with pagodas and temples, said Afar. It is situated on the Red River Delta, and no visit is complete without climbing into a boat or kayak and meandering past the steep cliffs.

There are also dozens of ancient caves to explore, with many accessible only from the water. Trang An was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 as a mixed cultural and natural property.

Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland

The “stunning” Vatnajokull ice cap may be the main draw of Vatnajokull National Park, but there’s “plenty else for visitors to see and delight in,” said Travel and Leisure. Jokulsarlon, a lagoon with “very photogenic” blue waters, is a popular spot, as is Diamond Beach, where “chunks of ice wash up on its black sand shores.”

Visit during the winter to see the Skaftafellsjokull glacier when it “extends to lower elevations,” said Travel and Leisure. Iceland is known for its dramatic landscapes, and Vatnajokull National Park offers the finest examples of “millennia of interplay between fire and ice.”

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is on countless bucket lists — for solid reason. The park is “one of the best places” to spot mountain gorillas, with expert rangers leading groups into the forests, said Travel and Leisure.

Once the animals are found, you can watch at “close range” as they “feed, interact with each other and appraise their human visitors,” said Travel and Leisure. There are “luxurious” accommodations inside the park, where you can unwind after the high of seeing gorillas in the wild.

Food markets are a gift for travelers. Many of the tastes and flavors of a region are conveniently in one spot, the produce is often as fresh as it gets and you can meet the farmers, butchers, cheesemakers, fishmongers and chefs. These 10 markets offer visitors a crash course in their region’s local cuisine, one delicious stall at a time.

Borough Market, London

The “sprawling” Borough Market was established in 1756, making it the “mother of all artisan foodie markets in London,” said Time Out. Slowly stroll by the stalls — there are more than 100, and you won’t want to miss bites of soft cheese, flaky pastries and fresh fruit. After perusing the goods, pick up more grab-and-go items, like a “hulking” sandwich from The Black Pig or crème brûlée donut from Bread Ahead, or “knock back freshly shucked oysters” and an “impromptu glass of wine.”

Chatuchak Market, Bangkok

Adventure awaits at the gigantic Chatuchak Market. There’s no way to see it all — there are a “whopping” 15,000 stalls across 35 acres — but what you do experience will be memorable, said Food & Wine. The weekend market sells just about everything, and is split into 26 sections.

In the food area, visitors can try well-known local delicacies, like mango sticky rice, boat noodles, fried crickets and bamboo worms. The best way to “wash it all down” is with a big glass of fresh watermelon juice or Thai iced tea. If you go with a group, try to stay together — the market is so big that “even locals get lost.”

Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco

Come to the Ferry Building Marketplace hungry. You can pull together an “amazing meal” by “grazing” through the dozens of gourmet restaurants and vendors, said National Geographic. Notable names include The Acme Bread Company, which uses organic flour for its artisan loaves; Gott’s Roadside, a local favorite for cheeseburgers and onion rings; and Hog Island Oyster Co., where fresh oysters are served with a side of water views. Three days a week, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market takes place outside the building.

Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver

Once an industrial area, Granville Island has transformed over the years into a “paradise” of “incredible” food with the Public Market the “star of the show,” said Vancouver Magazine. Its display cases are “bursting” with cheeses, pasta, pastries and “beautifully briny” olives, and you’ll find yourself reaching for the “crunchy, tangy-sweet” honey mustard pickles from Hobbs Pickles and “infinitely snackable” elk juniper salami at Oyama Sausage Co. For a more substantial meal, sit down at Sen Pad Thai, where chef Angus An takes Thailand’s most famous dishes and “absolutely knocks each familiar favorite out of the park.”

La Boqueria, Barcelona

This is the spot for traditional Catalan and Spanish cuisine, where visitors line up for samples of “hand-cut jamón Ibérico” and watch “fishmongers gut a sea bream,” said Food & Wine. Stock up on souvenirs to bring home, like tinned fish and bottles of extra-virgin olive oil, and carve out enough time to “brave the lines” at El Quim de la Boqueria for tapas. For a taste of fresh seafood “plucked from the Mediterranean,” swing by Ramblero and try the grilled prawns, calamari and clams.

Mercado Medellin, Mexico City

This market is small but mighty. It covers one square block in Colonia Roma but is known throughout Mexico City for its “quality” fruits, vegetables, spices and seeds, said Condé Nast Traveler. Vendors also offer “rare” veggies from other Latin American countries — just look for the “Colombian and Honduran flags flying from various stalls.”

Every visit to the market should include stopping at the Cuban heladería for its “incredible” ice cream. You can’t go wrong with cinnamon, chocolate or nata, “made from the cream that rises to the top of clabbered milk.”

Nishiki Market, Kyoto

Nishiki Market started in the early 1300s as a fish market and over time grew into Kyoto’s “best spot for seafood, produce and local street food,” said Atlas Obscura. More than 150 stalls offer “traditional delicacies” like “freshly pounded” mochi and Kyoto’s “famous” tofu, alongside more “adventurous” dishes like tako tamago, a candied baby octopus stuffed with a boiled quail egg. One of Japan’s “finest” knife-makers, Aritsugu, is here and has had a presence in the market since 1510.

Queens Night Market, New York City

You can get your fill at Queens Night Market without breaking the bank. No item costs more than $6, an affordable spot to try foods that “highlight the diverse cultures found around Queens,” said Mashed.

There are about 100 vendors and walking among them feels like taking a global journey, with “Pakistani paratha rolls, Taiwanese popcorn chicken, banh mis, pierogis and Peruvian ceviche” all found along the route. The outdoor market is open on Saturdays in Flushing Meadow Corona Park, from April through the end of October.

Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s “butchers, bakers and local makers” have been showcasing their goods at Reading Terminal Market since 1893, said USA Today. It’s a given that cheesesteaks are available, but you’ll want to branch out and enjoy the “sushi, crepes and Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels.”

Bassetts Ice Cream, established in 1861, is the oldest ice cream company in the United States, and was the first tenant to sign a lease with the market. They are still “going strong,” with visitors lining up for scoops of peanut butter swirl, matcha green tea and good old-fashioned vanilla.

Viktualienmarkt, Munich

Viktualienmarkt is one of Europe’s “best outdoor food markets,” its stalls and shops a great mix of fresh and prepared foods, said The New York Times. For a “heavenly” sandwich, head to Luiginos Bio Feinkost and order a pastrami and cheddar melt (or eggplant, chevre and spinach for vegetarians).

If you’re in the mood for comfort food, Caspar Plautz is known for its creative take on potato dishes, and the stuffed spuds are a favorite. Every visit should include stopping by Lea Zapf for a “decadent” cake and Kaffeerosterei Viktualienmarkt for a cup of house-roasted coffee, which “might be the best in town.”

Marrakech is “warm and golden” in early October, its medina fragrant with cumin and charcoal even before the day has “properly begun”. It’s lovely to wander here, said Finn Beales in the Financial Times, letting the sights and sounds of the city “wash over” you – the souks, the hammams, the “rooftop mint teas”.

But it’s also very touristy these days, and anyone looking for a “less-rehearsed” version of Morocco will want to get out into the mountains nearby. That’s what I did last autumn with five friends and the help of Unicorn Trails, a British operator that offers some of the world’s finest riding holidays. We spent six days in the saddle, heading into the High Atlas from Terres D’Amanar, and crossing passes above 3,000 metres to discover the valleys on the other side.

Some of my friends had “minimal” riding experience – just four lessons before we arrived. But with riders carefully matched to horses to suit their skill level, everyone was fine. My own Arab-Berber stallion was “sure-footed” and “unhurried”, allowing me to take photographs from the saddle, and our two guides were superb local horsemen, always “watchful, measured” and“unfazed” by unexpected events.

We stayed in lodges on some nights, and camped (roll mats, sleeping bags) on others. Sometimes we carried picnic lunches in our saddlebags, but when the road allowed, our support vehicle was waiting for us at midday with hot tagines and “generous” salads laid out in the shade of thuya trees.

There were moments of sadness, such as when we passed through villages destroyed by the earthquake of September 2023. But there was a great deal that was heart-lifting too, such as the view across the High Atlas from the Tizi n’Addi pass, “ridge after ridge dissolving into haze”; and moments of deep peace, such as during our long lunches, and after setting up camp at dusk, when herds of goats spilled through the foothills below us, and the stars above burned brighter and brighter, until they made the surrounding peaks “glow”.

The trip costs from £1,025pp, excluding flights.

Avoiding crowds while still experiencing the best of a culturally dynamic city is a win-win. At these seven spots, you will have more elbow room to see the sights and more chances to connect with locals and dive into their way of life.

Bisbee, Arizona

This former mining town changed its fortune, reinventing itself to become an artists’ haven. During the early 1900s, when copper, gold, zinc and silver production was booming, Bisbee prospered. By the 1970s, the mines dried up and shuttered.

Artists soon started to arrive and turned Bisbee into a creative community. Its downtown looks “straight out of a storybook,” and is a “wonderfully walkable” area, said Travel and Leisure. There are “alfresco art galleries” throughout Bisbee, and the sounds of “near-constant live music” fill the air.

Chachapoyas, Peru

In the mountains of northern Peru sits Chachapoyas, a city named in honor of the civilization that lived here from 800 to 1470. The Chachapoyas, or “Warriors of the Clouds,” built several important sites in the area, including Kuélap.

This ancient fortress, built around 500 AD, comprises “towering defensive walls, over 420 circular dwellings and panoramic views,” said Time Out. A cable car sweeps visitors to Kuélap in about 20 minutes. After exploring the ruins, head back to Chachapoyas for a relaxing stroll through the historic city center, dating back to the 1500s.

Hue, Vietnam

Ornate palaces, pavilions, statues and royal tombs are waiting to be explored in Hue. This is where Vietnam’s last imperial dynasty lived in “extravagant regal splendor” and built a “citadel, gilded in bronze, enamel and lacquer,” said The Times of London.

Visitors can also receive the royal treatment once it’s dinner time. Restaurants in Hue serve the “1,000-plus dishes of the imperial household,” like banh beo (steamed rice cakes), com hen (clam rice), bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and nem lui (lemongrass pork skewers).

Matera, Italy

Known as the City of Stone, Matera offers visitors a glimpse of what life was like in this region 10,000 years ago. Sassi di Matera, a network of cave dwellings carved into limestone, is its centerpiece.

The extraordinary settlement is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features more than 100 rupestrian churches. The Crypt of Original Sin underwent “painstaking” restoration work and is “sure to take your breath away,” said National Geographic Traveler. Considered the “Sistine Chapel of cave art,” its frescoes are the “best in the region.” Artifacts dating to the Paleolithic era fill the Domenico Ridola Archeological Museum, while the Museum-Workshop of the Peasant Culture reconstructs a cave house, public wine cellar, and blacksmith, cobbler and cabinetmaker studios.

Meknes, Morocco

For a “relaxed slice of authentic Moroccan life,” head to Meknes, said Lonely Planet. It may be calmer here, but there’s plenty to do, starting with a trek to the “buzzy” Place El Hedim to see the Bab Mansour gate and wander the Dar Jamai Museum housed in a 19th century palace.

The Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, Morocco’s longest-ruling sultan, is a “dazzling” display of mosaic tiles and “ornate” cedarwood, and though non-Muslims can’t enter the tomb, they can “peer through the doorway” and observe two clocks given to the sultan by King Louis XIV. Inside the medina are several souks dedicated to specific wares, like leather goods, carpets and spices.

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

More than 800 years ago, when Polonnaruwa was Sri Lanka’s capital, it was a “thriving” religious and commercial center, said Lonely Planet. After a series of invasions and natural disasters, the capital was abandoned, but the “glories of that age” remain.

Polonnaruwa’s archeological “treasures” include hundreds of temples, statues, tombs and stupas in a “compact core.” The sacred Quadrangle, home to many important Buddhist structures, is alone “worth the trip” to Polonnaruwa.

Wroclaw, Poland

The historic city of Wroclaw, spread across 12 islands connected by over 100 bridges, shows off its “cultural credentials” through beautiful design and ample opportunities to attend live performances, said The Times of London. “Gorgeous” Market Square offers examples of colorful gothic, baroque, art nouveau and contemporary architecture, and sharp-eyed visitors will have fun spotting hundreds of small bronze gnomes scattered around the city. Music lovers will appreciate spending an evening at the National Forum of Music, with its renowned acoustics, or attending free, open-air JazzOVO concerts in the courtyard of OVO Wroclaw during summer Fridays.

Brazil is our “destination of the year”, said Jacqui Gifford in Travel + Leisure. With a restaurant scene that’s “on fire”, beautiful “untamed” landscapes, “spectacular” beaches and, of course, unbeatable carnivals, this is the hottest place to visit in 2026.

Brazil has seen a 37% year-on-year rise in visitors, thanks in part to the launch of its International Tourism Acceleration Program, said The Telegraph. The “goal was simple: to improve the country’s international air connectivity”. It’s now easier to reach Brazil than ever, with new flights from Europe to cities such as Manaus and Recife. And, this year, flights are due to begin between Lisbon and São Luís – “the gateway to the swirling dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park”.

December to March is “peak season” in Brazil, bringing the “heat, summer rains and parties to the streets of Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval” in February or early March, said National Geographic.

If you decide to visit during the southern hemisphere’s spring (September to December), consider a wildlife-focused trip with a visit to the Pantanal – the world’s biggest tropical wetland that’s home to an array of creatures including capybaras, giant river otters and hyacinth macaws. August and September is “peak wild jaguar sighting season” when the big cats gather along the river banks to hunt for caimans.

And if you plan your trip for June (winter in Brazil), the seasonal rainwater lagoons at Lençóis Maranhenses reach their highest levels, ideal for swimming, and the weather is dry and sunny. This is also when humpback whales begin migrating from icy Antarctica to breed in the warmer waters off the coast of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. It’s well worth booking a tour with Projeto Baleia Jubarte.

June to November (dry season) is also the best time of year to visit the Amazon. Consider exploring the dense, tropical rainforest on a river cruise, said Chris Moss in The Telegraph. “As a nature-lover and twitcher, I have marvelled at macaws, kingfishers, hummingbirds and giant otters.” Starting from Belém at the mouth of the Amazon, you can sail as far as Iquitos in Peru.

And if a city break is more your thing, spend a few days in São Paulo visiting the bustling city’s stand-out restaurants, bars and galleries. A trip to the “huge indoor market”, Mercado Municipal, is a “must”, said Time Out. The multi-storey “food heaven” is packed with “colourful and lively” stalls selling everything from delicious baked goods to exotic fruits and vegetables. “Be prepared to loosen your belt by a few notches to eat the market’s most famous sandwich: a small baguette packed with a brick-size wedge of mortadella.” Night owls can stay up late at Fabriketa – an “all-night electronic music party in an abandoned factory”.

Fresh off an early morning Eurostar service from London’s St Pancras, I feel excited when my taxi pulls up outside Maison Proust, and I discover its serene location on a tree-lined Parisian backstreet. Getting out of the car I wonder for a moment if I’m at the right place; I can’t see an obvious sign and its plain grey façade looks more like a private mansion than a hotel. As I contemplate getting back in the cab, a young man in an elegant navy suit appears from behind a grand door and welcomes me with a smile.

Inside, it’s a fun surprise to discover the decadent Belle Époque décor that evokes the style of the salons Marcel Proust would once have frequented. Standing in a darkened wood-panelled entry way lined with glass cabinets filled with curiosities, I am instantly transported back in time – and inspired to read some Proust, a great French author I am loath to admit I know very little about.

Sipping a welcome glass of chilled black tea infused with hibiscus and pepper in the cosy guest lounge and bar, I take in my new surroundings. It’s a theatrical mix of dusky blue velvet, distressed mirrors, wood panelling and tasselled lampshades that sets the tone for the rest of the hotel.

Waiting for my keys, I explore the thickly carpeted space and find a circular library, with a celestial ceiling inspired by “The Rotonde du Soleil” at Opéra Garnier, and a secret alcove. It’s the perfect spot for delving into Proust’s epic seven-volume novel, “In Search of Lost Time” (“À la Recherche du Temps Perdu”, I later learn he’s best known for.

Why stay here?

Set on a quiet street in heart of the Marais with its lively village atmosphere, luxurious Maison Proust is the ideal refuge for those who appreciate hotels with character, art, literature and history, and who seek a tranquil weekend escape in the heart of Paris. With its small, cosy spaces, it appeals to couples and solo travellers looking for a discreet base.

The hotel’s 23 compact, individually designed, street-facing rooms are split across six floors, set off curved darkened corridors. Ranging in size from doubles to junior suites, they’re named after Proust’s friends, including writers such as Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette and Emile Zola and painters such as Edouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

A peaceful night is guaranteed at Maison Proust, thanks to a combination of triple-glazed windows, blackout curtains, luxurious beds and high-quality linens. Rich colour palettes, sumptuous carpets and opulent fabrics like silk drapes and velvet sofas are décor hallmarks. Lampshades are decorated with pages from Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time”, while bathrooms clad in marble have deep tubs, showers – or both – and luxurious Italian body products made with almond milk and orange blossom.

Before you arrive, it’s worth reserving an hour-long session at the Salon d’Eau, an exclusive Moorish-style relaxation space, with a steam room and a warm 33ft lap pool. Book into Spa La Mer, which offers indulgent treatments like lifting facials and revitalising massages, by appointment only.

Eating and drinking

Although there’s no restaurant at the hotel, breakfast – continental, American or à la carte – is served in the light-flooded glassed-in winter garden decorated with huge portraits of women in Proust’s life.

Come early evening, snacks like truffle tarama, burrata with olives, artichoke hearts, smoked salmon, and French cheeses, to name a few, are served when the bar opens. Drinks-wise, a comprehensive menu features several absinthes, 16 gins and 40 whiskys. Cocktails are as rich as the surroundings, like the Albertine, a sweet and punchy concoction laced with cognac and apricot syrup and topped with champagne.

Things to do

If you can drag yourself out of your artfully decorated salon-style room, the excitement of the Marais awaits. Start with a browse around the cluster of upscale boutiques along the Rue Vieille du Temple, before exploring the dizzying choice of restaurants and bars on surrounding streets. Great options include Candelaria, Mesures, and the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the city’s oldest food market.

And it’s a 15-minute stroll to the Musée Carnavalet, whose temporary collection includes the reconstituted bedroom of Marcel Proust, featuring his polished-wood bed draped with a deep blue coverlet, his cane and coat, and the writer’s precious pen.

The verdict

The quiet yet central location in the Marais is a unique combination that promises a fun-filled but relaxing trip to Paris. With its darkened corridors and small decadent spaces, it’s the perfect romantic refuge from the nearby hustle and bustle, that inspires you to want to be creative, and to read more.

Ellie was a guest of Eurostar and Maison Proust.

When it comes to hotel room views, it doesn’t get much better than having your own private wildlife show. That’s exactly what you get at Chester Zoo, where the new safari-style Giraffe View lodges let you stay overnight overlooking the sandy enclosure where the male giraffes live.

“That’s Meru,” our friendly concierge tells us as we drop off our bags in our room. Beyond the glass, across a small rocky strip of water, the zoo’s eldest giraffe is craning his impossibly long, elegant neck up to a hanging basket of foliage and methodically stripping the branches of their bark. Below him, a smaller, paler giraffe – (Stanley, we soon find out) – prods his shoulder, demanding attention. It’s a mesmerising sight.

Cosy lodges with stellar views

The Reserve only opened last year, but the entire experience already feels like a well-oiled machine. We didn’t arrive until check-in, but wished we had got there earlier when we realised just how much there was to see. As well as an overnight stay in a luxury lodge, the After Hours package includes a two-day zoo pass. Guests get early access on both days from 9am (an hour earlier than the general public) to the Heart of Africa zone – a sprawling 22-acre habitat designed to mimic African grasslands. It’s home to more than 50 animal species, including zebras, rhinos, vultures, antelopes, and, of course, giraffes.

On arrival, we were given wristbands giving us exclusive access to The Reserve, and were whisked straight out on to the terrace overlooking the lakeside lodges for our welcome drinks. We opted for the Kenyan-inspired dawa cocktail: a refreshing – and surprisingly strong! – blend of vodka, lime, honey and sugar syrup. Despite being April in Cheshire, sitting out on the bright, sunny terrace, it really did feel like we were on safari (or what I would imagine it’s like, as a safari novice).

The lodges themselves are comfortable and modern, decorated in calming shades of oatmeal with plenty of natural wood and pretty rattan wall hangings. But the real draw is the views: floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors open out on to your own private balcony where you can watch the giraffes amble around the paddock. Perfect for families, a cute stuffed toy giraffe is also waiting on the bed.

An after-hours tour to remember

It’s easy for hours to slip by while you sit and watch the giraffes but we managed to tear ourselves away from our lodge for the after-hours tour. Every member of staff we met at Chester Zoo was warm, friendly and, above all, passionate about what they do. Ranger Ben was no exception. Together with another couple staying at The Reserve, we set off to explore the Heart of Africa zone – stopping off at the various enclosures to learn about the animals and their quirks.

We pass the female giraffes (Tula, we learn, is a “diva”, while Kanzee is the “adventurous” one), and stop to look at the inquisitive yellow mongooses, Cinnamon and Saffron. Perhaps most memorable of all are the aardvarks; they’re nocturnal so they’re still sleeping when we visit at dusk but peering into their cave we manage to catch a glimpse of their strange pink feet with shovel-like claws dangling in the air.

Next, we head into the Hidden Savannah – an indoor space where a colony of naked mole-rats are huddled together sleeping. We can’t spot the African bullfrog at first but soon find he’s blending in beneath a log, staying completely still as he lays in wait for his prey. There’s just time to stop off for a talk with another ranger, Ewan, who shows us the “enrichment” puzzles and feeders used to engage the lions and monkeys, and tells us about Chester Zoo’s biggest conservation projects, including work supporting the monitoring of giant anteaters in Brazil.

Back at The Reserve that evening, there’s a range of activities for guests. We opted for the Pangolin Talk, where Ben told us about the zoo’s research tracking critically endangered giant pangolins in southwest Uganda. (Ewan reappeared too, with a slightly unnerving giant pangolin puppet.) The only snag was our evening meal, which, after the incredible day we’d had, was disappointing and didn’t live up to the quality of the rest of our stay.

Skipping the crowds with early access

Thankfully, breakfast was much better, with a selection of pastries, fresh fruit and cooked traditional classics. Determined to make the most of the early access this time, we set out at 9am to explore the rest of the zoo. This felt really special: many of the animals we hadn’t been able to see the night before were just waking up and we could get to the best viewing spots before the crowds arrived.

Chester Zoo was recently voted the best zoo in the UK and it’s easy to see why. Spanning 130 acres, the sprawling site is home to some of the biggest habitats in Europe and with so much more space the animals looked happier and more relaxed than those in the old Victorian cages in London. It’s also a non-profit carrying out some incredible conservation work around the world, teaming up with local partners to support crucial research projects everywhere from Mexico to Madagascar.

There is so much to see and you really will need to get there early to have any hope of getting around the entire zoo. But the memory that will stay with me the longest is waking up, drawing back the curtains, and seeing two majestic giraffes amble right past the window. It’s an experience that will be difficult to top without getting on a plane to explore the countries and wildlife in Africa.

Irenie was a guest at The Reserve at Chester Zoo, chesterzoo.org

Framed by fjords and mountains on Norway’s southwest coast, Bergen is a beautiful city with a lively cultural scene, including some excellent New Nordic (“Neo-Fjordic”) restaurants. And the islands around it also offer a “very Scandinavian interplay of big, contemplative nature and fresh thinking”, says Toby Skinner in Condé Nast Traveller.

Compared with, say, the Lofoten or Stockholm islands, this archipelago remains “relatively under the radar”, but it is magical even so, and a delight to explore by road and on “peaceful” ferries. It’s a world of rocks and forests, “picture-postcard” seascapes, and villages of white weatherboard houses. Here and there, “immaculate” red boathouses sit by the shore, and there are some great bakeries and artisanal distilleries, as well as stylish boutique hotels.

Among the more recent openings is Lilløy Lindenberg, a private island retreat that sleeps 12 people in a “traditional” house and a “whimsically converted” boathouse. Both have “coolly Scandinavian” yet “playful” interiors featuring locally made objects such as “wobbly, organic-seeming” lamps by the glass-blower Sigrid Rostad. Summer days here are “slow, soft-lit reveries of saunas, boat trips and vegan feasts”, but it’s also worth visiting other islands. On “rocky, windswept” Fedje, you can taste “subtly complex” organic whiskies and spirits at the Feddie Ocean Distillery, and stay at Fab 8 (“crisply designed” apartments in a former sardine factory).

And there are two good hotels in the little fishing community of Bekkjarvik, on Selbjørn – the “traditional” Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri and the “angular” Beckerwyc House, where the Bocuse d’Or winner Ørjan Johannessen serves “sublime” 16-course dinners made at the restaurant, Mirabelle. Before heading back to Bergen, Bekkjarvik Experience offers kayaking trips, fishing expeditions and more. I loved its sleek, black “Bond-worthy RIB”, which reached speeds of 70mph on a “roller-coaster-like tour of tiny islands”.

When it comes to grand European cities, you would be hard pushed to find one more majestic than Vienna.

As the centre of the Austrian and Austro-Hungarian empires centuries ago, it was a hub of culture, art and, above all, architectural beauty – a legacy that endures today.

Modern Vienna is a thriving metropolis with a stylish centre. Locals and guests can indulge in treats from world-class art to Michelin-standard gastronomy, plus this year it is home to the festival of fun that is the Eurovision Song Contest. There are few more satisfying destinations in which to lose yourself for a weekend.

Things to do

First things first, if you plan to see a lot of sights (and you should!) grab a Vienna City Card and load it onto the ivie digital city guide app. It acts as a public transport ticket and offers discounts on major sights, while the app has suggested routes for self-guided walking tours.

For the best introduction to the city, get wandering! Check out the famous Ringstrasse, a 3.3-mile boulevard that circles the city centre, before heading inside the loop towards St Stephen’s Cathedral. This is the epicentre for high-end shopping, literally or window, among some of the most exclusive postcodes in the world.

You can’t miss the glorious Imperial Palace, seat of the Hofburg Dynasty, and one of the largest palace complexes in the world. It houses the Sisi Museum, which celebrates one of their most famous monarchs Empress Elisabeth, and the National Library, which gives the one in “Beauty and the Beast” a run for its money. You'll find the crown jewels on show at the Imperial Treasury.

You could spend a day at the stunning Schloss Schöenbrunn and gardens that celebrate 30 years as a Unesco World Heritage Site this year, and if you’re a war buff, make your way to the Museum of Military History, home to the car in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot, sparking the outbreak of the First World War.

Music fans really should try to pre-book for a show at the State Opera House, but if you don't have the time, then a behind-the-scenes tour is a great way to get a feel for the world-famous venue. Art lovers can’t go wrong with an afternoon at the Belvedere Palace, where Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” hangs, but don’t miss out on the gallery’s huge collection of modernist, Renaissance and Medieval art too.

To delve deeper into Vienna’s cultural heritage, seek out the Museum of Applied Arts, the Foto Arsenal Wien photography museum, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and, my personal favourite, the Leopold Museum, which boasts an astonishing collection of Austrian art. In fact, the entire museum quarter has 61 cultural institutions, alongside bars, restaurants and outside spaces.

To experience what it might be like to live in Vienna, get out of the centre, too, and discover the city’s Grätzels (neighbourhoods). Each has its own unique vibe, from trendy Karmeliterviertel to the cobblestones of Neubau and Spittelberg.

Eating and drinking

Vienna is the only city in the world with a type of cuisine named after it, and its most iconic dish is the Wiener schnitzel (breaded, pan-fried veal cutlet). Try one at Salonplafond, where modern interpretations of Austrian classics are served in a grand dining room.

Michelin-starred Z’SOM takes its name from the Tyrolean dialect word for “together”, but its food is rooted in Latin America and is both exciting and unpretentious. Head chef and owner Diego Briones has created an accomplished, light-hearted menu with hero European ingredients such as white asparagus, accompanied by more unusual combinations like coconut and green papaya. Try it out for a night to remember.

Butcher and restaurant Praterwirt is a locals’ favourite, serving high-quality meats alongside authentic Budweiser lager straight from their own tanks. Perfect for a hearty plate on a cold night. If you’re looking to try an Austrian hot dog, then head to Alles Wurst, where they serve classic sausages alongside steak tartare. Expect to queue as this one’s popular.

Stepping away from the meat counter, Tian Bistro, under the guidance of Michelin-starred chef Paul Ivić, serves a five-star vegetarian menu with combinations such as lion’s mane mushrooms and chimichurri to satisfy the taste buds.

Grabbing a seat at one of Vienna’s coffee houses is a must. Take in the late 19th-century interiors at Café Sperl, or try a kaiserschmarrn, a sort of deconstructed pancake, at Cafe Landtmann, which also has a great outside space to enjoy the sun.

Where to stay

The plant-covered facade of Hotel Gilbert has made it one of the most identifiable and forward-thinking boutique hotels in the city. It has been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel for high sustainability standards, with bathroom products from organic local company Lederhaas and innovative heating solutions. There are 57 rooms, each decorated in a contemporary palette of blues and yellows, with even the smallest rooms well presented with modern bathrooms and plenty of space. A generous buffet breakfast is served in &Flora, the vegetable-focussed restaurant that is also popular in the evenings.

Jaymi McCann was a guest of Wien.info

The deadly outbreak of the rare hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has highlighted the growing trend of tourism in Antarctica.

No tourists visited the icy southern continent until the 1960s and only 8,000 a year set foot there three decades ago. By last year, this had risen to 80,000, with a further 36,000 seeing it for themselves from ships docked in Antarctica’s spectacular bays.

This “unchecked tourism growth” risks “undermining the very environment that draws visitors”, said two academics from the University of Tasmania on The Conversation.

Irreversible melting

Those first tourists set foot on Antarctica on 23 January 1966. The mission, with 57 guests, was intended to “inspire people to become stewards for the planet, by exposing them to one of its most awe-inspiring places”, said The Independent. But some now think the trip was a “mistake” because it began a process that is endangering the “fragile” environment.

Sixty years on, “tourism to the bottom of the world is soaring”, said The Associated Press. This is “driven in part by fears that the frozen landscapes of Antarctica may be irreversibly melting away because of climate change”.

“High costs” and the “time it can take” to travel there mean visitor numbers are “still small”, but they’re “growing so fast that scientists and environmentalists are sounding alarms”. The University of Tasmania academics estimated that the number of tourists could triple or quadruple to more than 400,000 a year by 2033-34.

The draw is clear: the experience of visiting Antarctica, with its whales, seals, penguins and icebergs, is “unique and not replicable anywhere else on the planet”, Claire Christian, from the environmental group Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, told AP. “It’s all really stunning and it makes a huge impression on people.”

‘Loved to death’

Between 2002 and 2020, nearly 150 billion tonnes of Antarctic ice melted each year, according to Nasa. Experts warn that more visitors will bring an increased risk of contamination, illness and other damage to the continent.

Tourists can threaten ecosystems by compacting soils, squashing fragile vegetation and bringing in non-native microbes and plant species. They can also disturb breeding colonies of birds and seals.

Each cruise ship visitor to Antarctica produces between 3.2 and 4.1 tonnes of carbon, and that doesn’t include their travel to the port of departure. This is comparable to the carbon emissions an average person produces in a year.

So the answer to Antarctica avoiding being “loved to death” may “lie in economics”. Some suggest a rule requiring visitors to pay a tourism tax, or a “cap-and-trade system” to limit the number of visitor permits for a fixed period.

The guidelines of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators stipulate that only 100 people can set foot on the ice at any given time, and ships carrying more than 500 passengers are not allowed to dock.

Visitors are told to avoid touching the ground with anything but their feet. Some crews and passengers use vacuums, disinfectants and brushes to keep shoes and equipment free of bugs, feathers, seeds and microbe-carrying dirt, said AP.

Airlines cut 13,000 flights globally in May as jet fuel prices soared due to the conflict in the Middle East.

In the future, these “spiralling” fuel costs could “spell the end of budget flights”, wrote Cathy Adams, news features editor, travel, in The Times.

Why are prices up?

Airfares have risen 24% year on year, according to the consultancy group Teneo. The price of jet fuel, usually the second-largest element of airlines’ costs after crew, is rising. In the week ending 1 May, the price of a barrel of jet fuel had risen 101% year on year to $181 (£133), according to the International Air Transport Association’s Jet Fuel Monitor.

These hikes are then passed on to travellers. Prices on some routes, such as London to Hong Kong and Singapore, have tripled since the start of 2026. Carriers including Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates are adding fuel surcharges.

Other airlines are warning of price rises once their current hedge arrangement – which allows them to buy fuel at a fixed price – expires.

Are higher prices here to stay?

For the time being, yes. Even once the Strait of Hormuz is reopened to allow the free flow of crude oil and refined jet fuel, it will take a “minimum of three months for lower fuel costs to work their way through the supply chain”, Bryan Terry, the managing director at Alton Aviation Consultancy and former director of industry fuel services at the IATA, told Adams.

“Even then, airlines will try to hold higher fares in place as long as they can to recoup the costs and losses they’ve absorbed since the conflict began”, so passengers should “start thinking of elevated airfares as the new normal for the foreseeable future”.

There are other factors expected to push prices up in the longer term. Aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus are struggling with production delays and engine shortages, which means fewer available seats overall.

Major carriers have signed “historic contracts” with pilot unions and ground crews over the past two years, and some of the cost of the wage increases is passed on to passengers, said Fly Fairly.

Finally, EU climate laws mean prices will be 13 to 14 times higher in 2030 than in 2019, claimed Airlines for Europe.

How can I find cheaper flights?

In the “near term” there are “bargains to be had” as airlines “battle to fill their planes” for a summer season during which travellers are “nervous to commit to overseas holidays”, said Adams.

The “very thin silver lining” is that as airfares go up, the cost of extras such as baggage and seat selection “typically goes down”.

As usual, airlines and agents continue to advise passengers to “book sooner rather than later” to “lock in a good deal”. Meanwhile, “whether we’ve seen the last of the £9.99 flight to Spain remains to be seen”.

Packing for a trip is stressful enough without the added worry of how much it will cost you to bring your suitcase on the plane. But with many airlines raising checked baggage fees amid the ongoing war with Iran, it is becoming a cost that is worth taking into account in your travel budget.

In recent months, “most major airlines have hiked the price to check a bag by about $10” in an effort to “address the added costs” of operation and of jet fuel, both of which have increased since the start of the war, said The New York Times, citing airline executives. That means for most airlines, “you’ll pay at least $90 to check a bag on your next round-trip domestic flight,” said CNBC Select. And if you are traveling with your full family or with more than one suitcase, that bill can quickly increase.

Here are some smart ways to scale back (and not necessarily on what you pack) so you can save your funds for the actual fun of vacation.

1. Understand each airline’s policies

The specifics of baggage fees — when they apply, how much they run and what you can do to waive them — may vary a lot from airline to airline. If you know you will be checking bags, take a look at those fees when you are booking, rather than just considering the cost of the flight itself.

With United, for instance, you will pay $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second, said the Times. Meanwhile, for Jet Blue, the cost will vary depending on whether or not you are flying during peak travel times: The first checked bag is “$39 off-peak, $49 peak,” while the second checked bag is “$59 off-peak, $69 peak.”

2. Check your credit card’s perks

If you carry an airline credit card, “chances are you don’t have to worry about baggage fees,” given that “several top airline credit cards offer a free first checked bag for the cardholder — and sometimes for companions traveling on the same itinerary as well,” said NerdWallet.

For example, the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard “grants cardholders and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation a first checked bag for free on American Airlines flights,” said CNBC Select. Another option, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, allows “you and up to eight people traveling on the same reservation to get your first checked bag free.” Just note that you may have to make your reservation using the card to get this perk.

3. Take advantage of frequent flyer status

If you are in the air often, it can make sense to take advantage of airlines’ frequent flyer programs. Many of these “allow members with elite status to fly with checked bags for free,” and sometimes even multiple bags at no cost, said NerdWallet.

Flying frequently is not the only way to get this status, either. For instance, “if you have elite status with a hotel chain, you might be able to get elite benefits on a partner airline,” plus some credit cards offer automatic status as well, said NerdWallet.

Few things are as thrilling as an equestrian adventure. From multi-day desert treks to gentle countryside hacks, a horse riding holiday is a great way to explore your surroundings and reconnect with nature. Here are some of the best places to saddle up.

Le Barn, France

This former equestrian farm just an hour from Paris is now a “stylish and welcoming retreat where every room looks out on to meadows”, said Kate Johnson in The Guardian. Located in the Rambouillet forest, the sprawling property shares 500 acres with a “world-famous” horse-riding training centre with “plenty of riding on offer” for all abilities. But the real draw is the magical weekly Whisperer’s Experience which teaches you how to “forge a connection by working on foot with a free horse and using your body language and exercises” to “build trust” and communicate with one of the elegant animals. “Be warned, it’s emotional.”

Reschio Hotel, Italy

Set amid the “quite outrageously beautiful” rolling hills and olive groves on the Tuscany-Umbria border, this 11th-century castle is home to a 36-room hotel and collection of farm buildings, said Steve King in Condé Nast Traveller. As well as offering an array of activities from wild swimming to truffle hunting, the estate is a “noted breeding and training ground for Andalusian horses”. Even if you don’t fancy taking a lesson, “you’d be mad not to go and pay a visit to the stables and see with your own eyes these extraordinary, otherworldly creatures”.

São Lourenço do Barrocal, Portugal

Vineyards and meadows “stretch out as far as the eye can see” at this 200-year-old estate in Portugal’s Alentejo region, said Chloe Frost-Smith in The Times. Riders can hack through “old cork forests and archaeological trails scattered with neolithic stone circles”, and end the day with a “canter towards the hilltop village of Monsaraz to catch the sunset”. There are plenty of other activities, too, from olive-wood carving to wine tasting at the surrounding vineyards.

Gleneagles, Scotland

This iconic Scottish hotel in the heart of Perthshire is one of the world’s “loveliest” spots for “golfing, relaxing and exploring the bonny lands beyond”, said Lydia Bell in Condé Nast Traveller. It’s also home to an excellent equestrian centre offering a jam-packed schedule of horse-riding lessons and walking tours. Facilities include two covered, heated show-jumping arenas, a large livery and woodland cross-country hacking.

Hollacombe Farm, Exmoor

And if you want to “take your horse on holiday”, consider checking into this self-catering property on the edge of Exmoor National Park, said Johnson in The Guardian. Set on “private rolling farmland”, the self-catering converted stone barn features “stabling and grazing for three horses”, and host Louise is “on hand as a guide”. Days are easy to fill riding through the “heather- and gorse-covered moorland” or galloping the length of Salcombe Sands beach. Bliss.

If the walls of these hotels could talk, they would regale guests with tales of lavish parties, milestone celebrations, newsworthy occasions and fascinating visitors. It would take quite some time to hear the stories too: These properties are all more than 100 years old, with one opening before the Revolutionary War.

Beekman Arms, Rhinebeck, New York

A who’s who of influential — and infamous — Americans have spent the night at the Beekman Arms, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Benedict Arnold. The inn opened in 1766 and is believed to be the oldest continuously running hotel in the United States.

During the Revolutionary War, “militia drilled on its lawn,” and “townspeople took refuge within its walls during the fighting,” said The Independent. Life here is much calmer today, with guests appreciating the inn’s “charmingly creaky floors, fireplaces and quaint bedrooms.”

Claremont Resort & Club, Berkeley, California

This Bay Area retreat has been a beloved spot for rest and relaxation since it opened in 1915. Guests can lounge by one of three pools, enjoy a treatment in the spa or unwind in their room, soaking up views of the San Francisco skyline.

Those who prefer a more active stay are in luck. At The Club, they can play a few sets on the lighted tennis and pickleball courts, take a fitness class and cycle through the dry saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools. The guest rooms were recently renovated in calming shades of soft blue and gray, and the “plush bedding and fluffy down comforters make the beds feel like clouds,” said Condé Nast Traveler.

Congress Hall, Cape May, New Jersey

Congress Hall bills itself as the country’s first waterfront resort, which has proudly survived “fires, hurricanes and war.” It started as a boarding house for summer visitors and during the Benjamin Harrison presidency was considered the Summer White House.

The rooms are “comfortable” and have an “air of seaside whimsy,” and the hotel offers plenty to do year-round, said Travel and Leisure. During warmer months, guests can “dine alfresco and swim in the seaside pool,” and come December, the grounds turn into a “festive Winter Wonderland” with holiday vendors and a train for kids.

Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, California

The glamorous Fairmont Breakers Long Beach is ready for its close-up. The hotel is fresh off a renovation and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with special culinary events and activations, themed suite experiences and tours.

Original details remain, like plaster molding and “ornate” exterior motifs, and are combined with modern furnishings for a “compelling blend of old and new,” said Afar. Rooms are decorated in “whites and soothing blues,” with bathrooms “clad in marble,” and the “polished design” extends to the hotel’s restaurants and venues like Halo, the rooftop bar.

The Inn at Hancock, Hancock, New Hampshire

When The Inn at Hancock first opened its doors in 1789, it was a stop along a busy trade route, with lodgers arriving by stagecoach. Today, guests arrive via much faster transportation — but the property’s welcoming atmosphere remains.

The Inn at Hancock recently reopened after a three-year renovation, and the 15 suites are distinct, each one having its own decor, bespoke furnishings and period antiques. All of the dining options have unique characteristics as well, with the Restaurant spread out across three spaces: the Georgian-paneled Formal Room, bright and airy Garden Room and book-filled Reading Room.

The Inn at Stonecliffe, Mackinac Island, Michigan

The Inn at Stonecliffe, once a private summer estate, is now a “quaint” resort that feels like a “nearly perfectly preserved time capsule,” said Travel and Leisure. The Edwardian-style Tudor mansion dates back to 1904, and a renovation added modern updates like air conditioning but kept in place original details that “give the property its charm,” including hardwood floors, fireplaces and “beautiful” stained glass windows. Outside, guests have 15 acres to explore and can fill their day by playing games on the massive lawns, lounging in the Adirondack chairs facing the Straits of Mackinac and enjoying s’mores by the fire pits.

The NuWray Hotel, Burnsville, North Carolina

What’s old is new again at The NuWray, North Carolina’s oldest continuously operating hotel. The 1833 property recently reopened after a renovation, and during that process the owners repurposed old materials, converting wood from the ceiling into a bar top and original laundry sinks into ice holders. Guests appreciate how “intentional” the owners have been about “preserving much of the history of the building,” said the Asheville Citizen Times. They also love the speakeasy-style Washroom Bar in the basement and Southern food served at the Old Ray Restaurant.

Omni Parker House, Boston

Open since 1855, Omni Parker House is “as much a part of Boston’s history as the Freedom Trail itself,” said Condé Nast Traveler. It’s the birthplace of Boston Cream Pie and Parker House Rolls, with both still on the menu at Parker’s Restaurant.

The hotel’s downtown location puts the property in the “center of the action,” and its “sweeping marble lobby” makes a great first impression. Guests can learn more about Parker House history in the basement, where an “extensive” memorabilia display showcases some of the property’s “most memorable moments.”

The Wigwam, Litchfield Park, Arizona

The Wigwam has always been a gathering place. It opened in 1918 as a retreat for Goodyear Tire & Rubber employees and not long after became a guest ranch.

Spread across 440 acres, the resort combines “historic charm with modern comfort,” and its “spacious” casitas are “ideal for families,” said Arizona Foothills Magazine. Over the last century, The Wigwam has expanded to include nine tennis courts, three swimming pools, a spa and 54 holes of golf across three courses.

Most people likely only think of Uber for ordering rides and food, but the company wants to change this perception by expanding into a full-service travel app. The brand has announced it is partnering with Expedia for a wide variety of vacation-related services, including hotel reservations and general concierge services. The expansion is part of Uber’s effort to become an “everything app.”

‘Become the one app for everything’

The biggest change is that users can now book hotels directly on the Uber app without having to go through a third-party reservation site. By connecting with Expedia’s hotel database, Uber will offer “access to a wide selection of hotels, which will ultimately grow to more than 700,000 properties in destinations around the globe,” the company said in a press release. There is also cross-pollination with Expedia, as Uber rides “will be integrated directly in the Expedia app” starting in June 2026.

Notably, the partnership will allow Uber to offer hotel bookings “for properties in countries where it doesn’t currently offer rideshare services, if the properties are listed through Expedia,” said The Wall Street Journal. Plans to add rental property bookings through the Expedia-owned Vrbo are also in the works. Beyond hotels themselves, the company will provide specified Uber Eats “room services” that can “deliver food and any forgotten items, such as a toothbrush or phone charger, directly to the hotel,” said NBC News. There is also voice-enabled booking powered by AI.

The goal is for Uber to “become the one app for everything,” Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of Uber, said to The New York Times. The “more convenience we can bring to our consumer on a global basis, the better.” The partnership is also helping “hotels get access to travelers, get more demand, get more exposure,” which “strengthens the value proposition we bring to our hotels,” Ariane Gorin, the CEO of Expedia, told the Times.

‘There’s a catch’

Many are wondering if Uber’s new venture will make hotel rooms cheaper than competitors’ booking sites, which does indeed seem to be the case. At a Hilton hotel near Tampa International Airport, a booking through Uber with an added refund window cost $140.19, while the “same room would have cost $144” through Hilton’s website, said The Washington Post. A “reservation with a comparable refund window would have cost $165” on booking.com and $159 on hotels.com. So “Uber was the cheapest.”

But “there’s a catch” for people looking to stock up on hotel rewards points. When people “book with a third-party online travel agency” like Uber, they are “likely forgoing the brand-specific points,” said the Post. Despite this, Uber is hoping the benefits outweigh the negatives. Adding hotels could prove to be an important experiment for the business model, as the partnership “pushes Uber into a higher-value category” and “tests whether the ‘super app’ model — which has taken off in parts of Asia — can take hold in the U.S.,” said Axios.

Making the “everything app” plunge by starting with hotels does seem to be natural, as “more than 1.5 billion Uber trips took place globally outside a rider’s home city last year,” said Axios, and 100 million users ordered rides from airports. The company is “betting it can deepen its role in travel by building on behavior that already exists.”

What happened

Pioneering no-frills budget carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday, citing sharply higher fuel prices and the collapse of a $500 million Trump administration bailout. “This is tremendously disappointing and not the outcome any of us wanted.” Spirit CEO Dave Davis said in a statement.

Who said what

The “proudly penny-pinching” airline had capped its “final, mad-dash scramble to save money” with tentative deals to emerge from bankruptcy, unveiled four days before the Iran war started, The Associated Press said. In the end, the “spike in jet fuel prices from the war was the last straw,” said Axios.

Spirit was “often skewered for its bare-bones service,” but its “corresponding dirt-cheap fares opened up air travel” to thousands and “helped shape how other airlines competed,” The Washington Post said. Even if “you never flew Spirit, you benefited” from its low prices, said The Wall Street Journal. “Competing airlines vigorously matched its fares,” and “one big reason major airlines” were “rooting against a government bailout” is that “one less pesky discounter gives them more pricing power.”

What next?

Spirit said customers who booked flights with credit or debit cards would automatically get refunded. Most other U.S. airlines offered discounted or “rescue fares” to Spirit passengers facing canceled flights.

Wending its way around some of the highest peaks in the Pennines, the Settle-Carlisle Railway is among the greatest engineering feats of the Victorian age, and arguably England’s most scenic line. This year, it is celebrating its 150th anniversary, said Duncan Craig in the Financial Times – a good moment, I felt, for a week-long break travelling up and down it to explore some of the “extraordinary” hiking country it opens up, much of it in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Some of the buildings at its stations have recently been converted into holiday lets, and we stayed in one – the booking office at Kirkby Stephen. Painted in the “crimson-and-cream” livery of the old Midland Railway company, it is charming, cosy, and, of course, perfectly located for hopping on and off the trains. This is “the railway line that shouldn’t have been made”, so “fiercely undulating” is the terrain it traverses for much of its 73-mile length.

The Midland Railway company wanted a share of the “fast-expanding” London to Scotland rail market, and won Parliament’s approval for the line in 1866, as its rival, the London and North Western Railway, refused to share its tracks (now the West Coast Mainline). Built of local stone, the railway’s great viaducts are as grand as cathedrals, and seem to rise naturally from their landscape.

But, in fact, they came at great cost. Several thousand navvies worked on the railway, living in makeshift camps, and many died in accidents, or from exposure and disease in the bitterly cold winters. The journey south from Kirkby Stephen takes you past three majestic hills – Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside – to the “engineering crux and spiritual core” of the railway, the Ribblehead Viaduct, with its 24 soaring arches.

There’s also particularly good hiking around Dent, the highest station in England at 350 metres. A holiday cottage today, the lone building there has a picture window overlooking Dentdale – one of the country’s finest views.

Malta’s 300 days of sunshine a year draw visitors, but there is much more to this island between Sicily and North Africa than optimal weather. Its history isn’t tucked away in corners, but on full display in the cities of Valletta and Mdina, and landmarks like St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Megalithic Temples of Malta. Natural beauty also shines along the rugged coastline and in the sparkling turquoise waters.

History comes alive

Valletta is a small city, but it “packs a historical punch,” said The Independent. The Knights of St. John built Valletta during the 16th century, and the city remains “laced” with townhouses from that era that now “house atmospheric restaurants and bars.” Another early landmark is St. John’s Co-Cathedral, which dates back to the 1570s. From the outside, it looks “unprepossessing,” but inside you’ll find a “riot” of “lavish” details, including marble floors, a gilded vaulted ceiling and Caravaggio’s masterpiece “The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.”

The ancient walled city of Mdina is “hardly touched by modernity,” said National Geographic Traveler. It’s been called the Silent City since the mid-1500s, when political power moved to Valletta, and is filled with “narrow alleys full of mystery” and “winding lanes with whispers of a bygone era.” The baroque Mdina Gate makes a grand statement, and visitors don’t have to be religious to find a “sense of spirituality” in the “gilded altars” and “detailed frescoes” of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Though a bit “gruesome,” the Mdina Dungeons are worth a descent and feature “macabre” dioramas showing how Malta’s former rulers once doled out “punishments and tortures.”

Snorkel, dive and swim in turquoise waters

Divers and snorkelers love Malta for its coves, accessible wrecks and clear water with high visibility. A top spot to visit is the “picturesque” Ghar Lapsi, a bay known to have “some of the best reef life on the island,” said Lonely Planet. Boat and shore dives can be arranged for all skill levels.

For unmatched views, head to the Blue Lagoon on the small island of Comino. This protected area boasts “luminous” blue water “flanked by caves” and is “unmissable,” said the Times of London. It gets crowded, and to curb the number of sightseers and make the experience more enjoyable for everyone, you must now book a slot to visit the lagoon.

A signature Malta experience

For a laidback experience, head to the sea and explore one of Malta’s traditional fishing villages. Marsaxlokk’s harbor is filled with colorful wooden boats, called luzzus, and it’s entertaining to watch the fisherpeople “studiously touch up” their “prized” vessels, said the Times of London. The action picks up on Sundays, when the town hosts a fish market where hawkers “loudly declare their wares.” During the week, artisans set up shop and sell their own handmade art, crafts and jewelry.

Ancient stone wonders

Some of the world’s oldest free-standing stone buildings can be found in Malta, and experts believe many of the structures were built before the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge. Among the most notable are the Megalithic Temples of Malta, constructed more than 5,000 years ago. They are “remarkable for their diversity of form and decoration,” and the Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien temples are “unique architectural masterpieces” due to the “limited resources available to their builders,” said UNESCO.

Eating the Maltese way

Malta’s location between North Africa and Italy plays a major role in its cuisine. Dishes feature Arabic spice blends, touches of “Sicilian comfort” and a bit of “French flair,” all made with ingredients and seafood straight from the Mediterranean, said Broadsheet.

One Maltese staple is the pastizzi, a golden flaky pastry often filled with ricotta or peas that’s best served “straight from the oven” and “eaten with your hands,” said Broadsheet. The country’s national dish is fenek moqli, or slow-cooked rabbit stew, a “rustic, hearty” meal, and its “answer to lasagna” is timpana, a baked meat pasta “encased in buttery pastry.” On a simpler note, the seafood in Malta is “second to none,” and diners can’t go wrong choosing fresh grilled swordfish, lampuki (dolphinfish) or octopus stew.

Visiting the Maldives is all about relaxation; finding the perfect spot under a swaying palm tree so you can while away the hours gazing out at the ocean with a fresh coconut by your side to sip on. Joali Being takes this one step further. The whole island is dedicated to wellness, with a cutting-edge spa and a sound healing centre all designed to have you floating back home on a dopamine high.

Why stay here?

Joali Being is a beautiful island in Raa Atoll with talcum-powder-soft sand, an aquamarine lagoon and lush greenery everywhere.

The resort revolves around the concept of four pillars when it comes to wellness – mind, skin, microbiome and energy. When you arrive, guests have a wellness consultation with a doctor. In mine, I share how I’ve been struggling with frequent migraines and insomnia. If your body is a temple, mine is on shaky foundations and threatening to collapse. She assigns me the mind pillar category, and later on sends me diet and supplement recommendations.

The beach and overwater villas are a strikingly modern take on a thatched Maldivian cottage with artfully curved roofs and extremely high ceilings. The resort was created by Turkish entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat, who believes in biophilic design – using nature in the decor to enhance a sense of wellbeing – which means lots of pleasingly curved edges and playful nods to the ocean.

Inside my overwater villa is a delightful pastel-hued confection in blush pink, creams and greys. The living room is decorated with a manta ray sculpture on the wall. The sliding doors into the bedroom have a cream-grey coloured shell pattern and there’s a desk with the quirkiest chair I’ve ever encountered – it looks like a Lego block with square prongs sticking out that retract as you sit on them. It’s surprisingly comfortable and a sign of how fun the resort’s style can be.

Before you arrive you’re given a pillow menu to fill out; I choose an anti-stress one with carbon fibres that are supposed to remove all the static electricity accumulated in your body throughout the day. The bed is huge, with romantic netting draped by its sides. There are no plug sockets near the bed to encourage guests to scroll less while they’re there but an extension lead is available if you want it.

It’s also one of the few villas in the Maldives where you’ll find a musical instrument instead of a TV (which, again, is also available on request). A glockenspiel sits on a shelf in the living room so I can indulge any musical whims. The bathroom is beautifully designed in sage green and white, with open shelving for your wardrobe and there are three different kinds of salts next to the bathtub. Outside there’s a large terrace with a sofa swing, which looks out on a stylish pool and a pair of sunbeds with steps that take you down into the ocean.

Eating and drinking

Flow, overlooking the beach, is where guests start their day with a bountiful breakfast buffet stuffed with healthy options, including gluten-free bread, vegan cake and delicious home-made granola. There’s freshly cut fruit, a salad bar and a crepe making station. There is also an impressive à la carte menu – my favourite dishes were the custard-like French toast and tasty crab congee that came piled high with fresh shiitake mushrooms, crunchy fried onions and chilli oil.

Mojo is the resort’s beach-side restaurant, which is the place to head to for lunch. I tried juicy tiger prawns with Vietnamese vermicelli salad in a sweet chilli dressing. I also had a perfectly chargrilled lobster with a light herb and leaf salad. Desserts on offer include mango with creamy sticky rice and a heavenly coconut sorbet served with fresh fruit.

There are several options for dinner. Mojo has a different menu for the evening and it’s beautifully lit up with fairy lights. I had a flavourful seafood paella loaded with mussels, clams and reef fish, along with a delicious octopus salad. Flow is also worth visiting at night; I ate succulent seared scallops and the most tender wagyu steak followed by a decadent chocolate mousse.

The Japanese eatery, Yutori, is an open-air circular restaurant overlooking the sea. I feasted on a prawn popcorn salad, which comes with a punchy spicy sauce, and delectable black miso cod, one of the signature dishes, which is marinated for 24 hours. For dessert, I had the wonderful matcha tiramisu, which layered earthy matcha with sweet mascarpone cream and a red bean compote. It was an incredible way to end a spectacular meal by the sea.

What else is there to do?

During my stay, I tried several massages at the beautifully designed Areka spa – the relaxing signature four pillars massage, reflexology and the mind therapy massage, which involves singing bowls being played before my treatment. The resort offers a watsu treatment in the Kaashi hydrotherapy hall, where guests float in the water with a therapist to support them, tapping into primitive feelings of being back in the womb. There’s also a cryotherapy chamber in the gym, Core, where you can enjoy a short sharp shock of cold Arctic air, known to reduce inflammation and help muscle recovery. Joali Being is dedicated to giving you the best wellness journey possible but don’t worry, it’s not a boot camp – you can be as strict or indulgent as you like when it comes to food and exercise.

Joali Being has a sound therapy centre, Seda, which offers sessions where you can lie on a bed with guitar strings underneath, surrounded by oversized instruments that are played by a therapist. Taking a stroll along the Discovery Sound Path is a fun way to pass some time. It’s a squiggle of a walk in a shaded garden that leads to several instruments, including a giant glockenspiel and sheets of metal that can be bashed like a gong.

B'Kidult, the children’s club, is a great space to leave the little ones for a few hours. It features a shallow pool for toddlers to splash about with their parents, an outdoor art pavilion for crafts, a yoga space for the whole family to perfect their downward dog and cute mini sunbeds.

The verdict

As if its beautiful beaches and stunning lagoon aren’t enough to lull you into a sense of deep relaxation, Joali Being will stop at nothing to enhance your sense of wellbeing. If your ideal holiday involves being pampered at a spa in between bouts of sun-tanning on the beach then this resort should be your holy grail. The staff make a Herculean effort to ensure you return home refreshed. It’s the ultimate wellness destination in the Maldives if you want to unplug and unwind.

Ann was a guest of Joali Being; joali.com/joali-being; begin your Maldivian journey with the experts at Angelfish Travel, angelfish.travel

This is where Paris stole Helen and triggered the Trojan War; that’s where Heracles fought the lion; here are the Arcadian mountains that goat-footed Pan called home, and over there are the gates to Hades.

The Peloponnese peninsula of Greece is a land packed with myths and legend. Hanging down from Corinth like a four-pointed leaf (it used to be called Morea or mulberry), it’s at its prettiest in flower-strewn April to June. As well as a wealth of ancient Greek sites to soak up, there’s also stacks of drama from more recent times. Set off on an old-style road trip and, in just a couple of days, you can journey from Homeric palaces and 2,000-year-old amphitheatres to Venetian fortresses, clifftop monasteries, dramatic gorges, and the strange battle towers of feuding medieval clans.

Nafplio to Epidaurus and Mycenae

The pretty harbour town of Nafplio, a couple of hours south of Athens, makes an ideal first base. The fledgling capital of modern Greece, it has a lovely faded elegance, with narrow streets, flower-draped balconies and a photogenic Venetian fort on an island in the bay. We stayed at the quirky Ilion Hotel, all sloping floors, antique finds and walls hand-painted with idiosyncratic copies of famous portraits. Towering over the town is another, much bigger, Venetian fort, the Palamidhi (named after Palamedes, Nafplio’s legendarily clever local hero, who outwitted Odysseus and, well, didn’t live long enough to regret it). Climb the 900-odd steps (or cop out in a car) for a walk through its eight baroque bastions and some breathtaking views.

Just half an hour west of Nafplio is Epidaurus, the ancient site of the cult of Asclepius, the healer god who had a bit of a thing for snake cures. Star of the archaeology show here is the beautifully preserved 14,000-seat amphitheatre. Built with limestone slabs in the fourth century BC, it has near-perfect natural acoustics, as the tour guides enthusiastically demonstrate.

North of Nafplio is the Bronze Age citadel of Tiryns, where you can walk round the “mighty walls” Homer described in “The Iliad”. It’s well off the tourist trail, so you can stand pretty much alone on the hilltop ruins of the palace and look over the Argos plains to the sea. Twenty minutes further north is Mycenae, home of the spectacularly ill-fated Atreus family, who had a gory habit of killing each other. Walking through the colossal stone posts of the Lion Gate into the walled citadel, you can feel the confidence of a town that dominated the region and from where Agamemnon took command of the Greek forces that set out for Troy. A few metres down the hill, tourists flock to the Treasury of Atreus, a massive, conical tholos (“beehive”) burial vault, but few visit the slightly smaller but no less impressive tholos tombs just outside the entrance. Head there for a quieter gape at the astonishing mortar-free construction.

Dimitsana and Arcadian mountain trails

The heartland of the Peloponnese is Arcadia, a mountainous province of gorges and hills, many precariously topped by medieval towns. In the spring, all is awash with green and swooped by swallows, and the many roads and hiking trails are beautifully edged with flowers.

As we headed for the hills, we stopped at Nemea, renowned for its wine, the lion labouring Hercules was first tasked to kill, and its ancient stadium, where enthusiasts still re-enact its famous Games every four years, running onto the track through the lovingly restored “players’ tunnel”.

We stopped in Dimitsana, a picture-postcard, cobble-streeted town straddling a twin hillside overlooking the Lousios gorge. The stone and wood En Dimitsani hotel has great views and a cabin-style cosiness (there’s a working fireplace in every room for chillier months). It also serves a serious dinner – try the goat spaghetti or beef kontosouvli with a juicy, deep-pink local rosé – and gargantuan breakfasts: we’d fill our boots, snaffle boreks and pastries for lunch and still not make a dent in the spread before us.

From Dimitsana, you can pick up the Menalon Trail, a well-marked, moderately challenging 75km hiking route that unfurls through the gorge. A landslide had blocked the hike we’d planned past the cliff-hanging Prodhromou monastery. So we walked among blossom and bees along the side of the gorge to Zygovisti instead, where the very friendly owner of the trail-side taverna plied us with mountain tea before the trek back – and the world‘s twistiest, turniest drive (and final walk) to the monastery, which is even more astonishing than it sounds.

Ancient Messene, Kardamyli and the Mani

From Arcadia, we drove south, heading towards Kalamata, and its famous olives, and the southern tip of the peninsula. Ninety minutes outside Kalamata are the gobsmacking remains of Ancient Messene, founded in 369BC after the final defeat of Sparta. You can roam over the huge, poppy-dappled 400-acre site, untroubled by tourist coach parties. There’s a vast agora, a theatre, an amphitheatre, several temples and then, through an olive grove, the colonnaded entrance to a vast stadium and gymnasium (pictured above). You’ll need to bring a hat (no shade) and plenty of water (no services) but you’ll leave with your flabber well and truly gasted.

Beyond Kalamata, we stayed just outside the beautiful, pebble-beached village of Kardamyli at the charming Kalamitsi Hotel, right next door to the house of British writer and WWII hero of the Greek resistance, Patrick Leigh Fermor. Simple rooms and studios look over an orchard of orange, lemon and olive trees that leads, down a stone staircase, to a small private beach. From Kardamyli itself, you can hike up to the hamlet of Exohori along paths dotted with wildflowers (we spotted orchids) and then scramble down the white rocks of the dry Vyros gorge. Then, as the sun goes down, feast on tomato fritters, roast aubergine, and hard cheese and honey in the open courtyard of the restaurant in the ruins of the old part of town.

From there to the gates of hell – and the literal end of the road. The onward drive south takes you deep into Mani country, where (strictly male-only) blood feuds were fought with elaborate tradition from specially built towers – many of which still dot the hills. You could stop to drift in a gondola through the stalactites and stalagmites of the Diros caves; you definitely should stop to admire the clutch of Maniot towers in the (almost) abandoned village of Vathia. And, when the beautiful coastal road comes to an end at a temple to Poseidon, you can walk over the hills (and the mosaic floor of a Roman villa) to the cave portal to Hades (mercifully closed) and, with the sea on both sides, stand at the lighthouse on the southernmost point of mainland Europe.

Helen travelled to the Peloponnese with Sunvil/GIC The Villa Collection

Thrill seekers, consider China for your next adventure. There are lots of spots around the country where you can get your adrenaline pumping, whether that involves taking a hair-raising plank walk along a sheer cliff or bungee jumping from the top of Macau Tower. These six experiences are not for the faint of heart, but they will surely give you stories to share.

Pass through the Guoliang Tunnel, Henan province

The Guoliang Tunnel in the Taihang Mountains may seem like an ancient wonder, but it was constructed in the 1970s by villagers who carved it into the side of a cliff. This .75-mile-long tunnel is 16 feet tall and 13 feet wide, and allowed cars to enter and exit the isolated village.

The construction is an “amazing feat” but has never been a “pillar of safety.” Visitors who brave the road will find that “in many spots, roughly carved pillars are the only thing keeping you from plunging to your death,” said Atlas Obscura. There are “twists, turns and dips” in the most “unpredictable places,” and it’s a trip whether you’re walking through or driving “white-knuckled in terror.”

Take the Mount Huashan Plank Walk, Shaanxi province

Whatever you do, don’t unhook your harness and rope. Those tools are what keep you upright on the Mount Huashan Plank Walk — and prevent you from plunging 1,000 feet to the bottom of the cliff. The 328-foot-long path is described as the World’s Most Dangerous Hiking Trail and consists of wooden boards nailed together and affixed to the side of the mountain. It’s safer now to visit than it once was: It used to be a free climb.

Travel along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway

It’s understandable if you want to keep your eyes closed when traveling on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, but don’t — you’ll miss the breathtaking scenery. This highway is one of the world’s most dangerous roads, with hairpin turns, narrow and steep descents and high risk for mudslides and rockslides.

The curvy 1,500-mile route links Chengdu in Sichuan province with Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and passes through rugged mountains and valleys and by glaciers, rivers and permafrost. The highest point is the Mount Zheduoshan Pass at 14,075 feet, offering panoramic views, plus, of course, the potential for altitude sickness. Driving this route is challenging, and you should plan on trips taking longer than expected because of how slow cars, buses and trucks have to drive through certain areas.

Go bungee jumping at Skypark Macau

Macau is considered the “Vegas of China,” an “epicenter of gambling and glitz," said Lonely Planet. And just like in Vegas, there are lots of over-the-top ways to spend your time — like by leaping from the top of the 1,109-foot-tall Macau Tower at Skypark Macau.

Skypark is the highest commercial bungee jumping facility in the world, and the attraction says more than 5 million people have safely bungeed with the company. Visitors also have the option to take it a bit slower and instead glide down the tower while attached to a wire cable.

Power paraglide in Yangshuo, Guangxi region

Soaring above picturesque Yangshuo and its tall karsts and verdant valleys is an electrifying way to sightsee. Powered paragliding is gaining popularity in Yangshuo, with pilots taking tourists on guided tours through the sky. When back on solid ground, rent a bike to ride through the countryside, then climb aboard a bamboo raft for a journey down the Yulong River.

Walk across the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, Hunan province

Take a walk on the wild side. The 1,410-foot-long Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is suspended 980 feet above the ground, and its transparent glass bottom allows visitors to look at the “dizzying abyss below,” said Escape. The span connects two cliffs at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and offers an exhilarating way to enjoy the “panoramic” views. It’s not the park’s only thrill: You can also shoot up the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor elevator, built into a cliff. There’s a glass window, so you can look around you as the elevator climbs 1,000 feet in two minutes.

“Britons are rushing to book holidays in the UK”, said the Financial Times. Fears over soaring airfares and travel delays triggered by the Iran war have “put people off long-haul trips”. Holidaymakers choosing to stay closer to home are booking trips everywhere from postcard-worthy Cotswold villages to the rolling valleys of the Yorkshire Dales. Here are some of our favourite spots.

The Fish, Cotswolds

With its “cheerful smattering of honey-hued villages” and “endless rolling green expanses”, the Cotswolds is “one of the loveliest” spots in the UK, said Charley Ward in Condé Nast Traveller. “So where could be better to head for some R&R on a long weekend?” This beautiful part of the country offers plenty of chances for “long walks to cosy pubs along cobbled ancient streets” – the kinds of activities that “you just don’t need to step on a plane for”. Consider checking in at The Fish where you can opt to stay either in a treehouse, cabin or woodland hut. Its “unique village-style layout” promises “extra peace and quiet” and gives you “more precious opportunity to soak up some of the scenery while you amble leisurely over to supper”.

Blakeney Hotel, Norfolk

The pretty coastal village of Blakeney is “secluded up in the most northern part of Norfolk where it’s a positive rather than a hassle that the phone reception is a bit scatty”, said Lela London in GQ. “Not a huge amount happens” here – but that’s sort of the point. If you’re looking for somewhere to completely relax and unwind, try Blakeney Hotel on the seafront. Its “Edwardian handsomeness” feels “reassuringly traditional”, and there are plenty of walks right from the doorstep through the “wildlife-rich marshes” or you can drive along the coast for a visit to the grand stately home of Holkham Hall and wonderful sandy beaches.

Looking Glass Lodge, East Sussex

Nestled among the trees in an ancient woodland just an hour from London, the glass-fronted, eco-friendly Looking Glass Lodge is the “ideal escape for those looking to reconnect with nature”, said Elle. The self-catering retreat is rendered extra-special by thoughtful touches from “luxury deli hampers packed with local cheese and wines” to a “floating log burner for chilly nights and a vinyl collection that fits perfectly with the mood, and in case the owls get too loud”. If you really want to push the boat out you can also book a bespoke treatment with a masseuse, or try a forest bathing session with a local psychotherapist.

Middleton Lodge, North Yorkshire

“When it comes to rural retreats, Middleton Lodge might just have it all,” said Sarah Allard in Condé Nast Traveller. Set within 200 acres of parkland and woods on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the Georgian mansion is home to a collection of “light and airy” rooms, with “cloud-like beds with deep, squashy sofas”. But what really “sets this place apart” is the hotel’s “eco-forward ethos”; head chef Jake Jones crafts his menus using ingredients from the “impressive walled garden”. And the idyllic spa includes a heated outdoor pool that’s “so striking, you’ll want to pull your phone out of your robe pocket for a snap”. It’s a must-visit.

Arizona’s three national parks show off the state’s beauty in different ways. Grand Canyon National Park offers jaw-dropping views of the massive geological wonder, while Saguaro National Park celebrates the iconic native cactus and Petrified Forest National Park showcases ancient fossils and vibrant badlands. Each one has its own story, millions of years in the making.

Grand Canyon National Park

Until you see the Grand Canyon in person, it can be difficult to comprehend just how immense it is. The mile-deep canyon is 278 river miles long, and 18 miles across at its widest point. Visitors can explore the park across different avenues, with the South Rim the most popular.

The South Rim is open year-round and has the “greatest number of viewpoints, visitor services and hotels,” said Afar. Mather Point, extremely well-liked at sunrise and sunset, has a stunning perspective of the canyon, and on clear days you can see at least 30 miles to the east and 60 miles to the west. Hundreds of bird, mammal, fish and amphibian species live at the park, and visitors might see mule deer, elk, javelina and squirrels.

Day hikers can also set out on several journeys from the South Rim, with top picks including the scenic South Kaibab Trail, Rim Trail and interpretive Trail of Time, which provides “detailed explanations” on the “colorful layers that give the canyon walls their candy-stripe appearance.” Those who prefer to learn about the canyon indoors can watch two 24-minute films inside the South Rim Visitor Center: “We Are Grand Canyon” and “Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder.” Before leaving, visit Hopi House to purchase Indigenous arts and crafts.

The less developed and “more rugged” North Rim is much quieter than the South Rim, and due to its remoteness only sees about 10% of the total annual visitors to the park. It’s also 1,000 feet higher, and because of heavier snow in the winter, is only open from mid-May to mid-October. The North Rim is “covered in forests of aspen, fir and spruce trees,” and “memorable views” can be found on the North Kaibab Trail, which “descends 14 miles to the Colorado River.” A devastating fire ripped through the North Rim in July 2025, which destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge and more than 100 other structures and burned countless trees and shrubs.

The West Rim, or Grand Canyon West, is on Hualapai land and is known for the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass-bottomed bridge. The East Rim is part of the Navajo Nation and includes “numerous smaller canyons carved by the Little Colorado River.”

Where to stay: The historic El Tovar has been welcoming guests since 1905, providing a comfortable place to stay right on the South Rim. This is one of the “grandest” National Park lodges, and guests enjoy the rustic charm of the lobby and dining room filled with Hopi, Apache, Mojave and Navajo murals.

Best time to visit: The Grand Canyon is busiest during the summer months, when the weather is also hottest. If possible, plan a trip during the late spring, when it’s still warming up, or September through November to enjoy cooler temperatures and beautiful fall colors. Rangers recommend that hikers bring plenty of water and sun protection year-round, and pack at least four liters of water during the hottest months.

Petrified Forest National Park

The 200,000-acre Petrified Forest, part of the greater Painted Desert, provides a “remarkable example” of how this region, a primeval tropical forest, has “radically evolved through the ages,” said National Geographic. Badlands, grasslands, ancestral Pueblo sites and petrified logs — tons and tons of them — make up the park, along with an “amazing array” of wildlife like bobcats, pronghorn antelope, rattlesnakes, coyotes, migratory birds and salamanders.

The short Giant Logs Trail gives hikers the chance to see petrified wood up close, and the beautiful Blue Mesa Trail showcases the Painted Desert’s colorful cones. Another way to see the park is by car. There are two audio tours that go into great detail about dozens of stops along the Petrified Forest Scenic Drive (one tour is for drivers entering from the north, the other is for those entering from the south). Highlights include Puerco Pueblo, dating back to 1100, and the Newspaper Rock site. Ancestral Puebloans etched more than 650 petroglyphs onto rocks in this area, and the “high concentration” of markings likely mean this was a “hugely significant” place, said the National Parks Service.

Where to stay: There are no accommodations inside the park, and only backcountry camping is allowed with a permit. It’s worth driving 60 miles from the park’s main entrance to the city of Winslow to stay at the nearly 100-year-old La Posada Hotel. Designed by architect Mary Jane Colter, this estancia has been revitalized, with a substantial art gallery and rooms featuring Southwestern decor.

Best time to visit: The park is open year-round, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s most crowded during the summer, when temperatures can soar to triple digits. The coldest time to visit is during the winter, and visitors should plan for it to drop down to below 0 Fahrenheit at night. Milder temperatures — and clearer skies — prevail during late spring, October and November.

Saguaro National Park

The saguaro cactus is native to the Sonoran Desert, and more than 2 million can be found spread across Saguaro National Park West, in the Tucson Mountains, and Saguaro National Park East, in the Rincon Mountains. The two districts are “nearly an hour’s drive apart,” but both have “towering cacti, captivating desert scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities,” said Travel and Leisure. The saguaro forest is “denser” in the west, and the east provides access to a “plethora of mountainous backcountry trails.”

Saguaros might reign supreme in the park, but cholla, prickly pear and barrel cactus also have a presence. See them while on a ranger-led tour or while gliding by on a bike. The most accessible trail in the west park is Signal Hill, which passes boulders covered in Hohokam petroglyphs. In the east park, the Freeman Homestead Nature Trail passes through a saguaro grove and doubles as an educational experience, with signs “informing visitors about the area’s history and flora.” Desert sunsets are spectacularly colorful affairs and are best viewed from Tanque Verde Ridge Trail and Javelina Rocks. Plan on staying once the sun goes down for “incredible” stargazing.

Where to stay: There are no hotels within either district, but there are six wilderness campgrounds in Saguaro National Park East. For a more luxurious experience, go glamping at Solana Guest Ranch and Spanish Villas. The property, near Saguaro National Park East, offers villas that are perfect for bigger groups, as well as four Conestoga wagons with pillow-top beds, air conditioning and access to the ranch’s amenities.

Best time to visit: The park is open year-round, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The busiest time of year is from November to March, when temperatures are typically in the high 50s to mid 70s. To see cactus and wildflower blooms, visit between late February and late April.

“Everyone knows everyone in St Lucia,” said our driver as he took us through the palm-fringed roads of the eastern Caribbean island. “When we toot our horns, it’s because we’re saying hello.” And toot they did, always with a smile and a wave.

This warmth is part of the draw for the million or so tourists who visit St Lucia each year. That and the exceptional beaches, views and experiences. If you want to throw in some romance and adventure, Serenity at Coconut Bay has you covered.

Why stay here?

Serenity is an adults-only resort within the larger family-friendly Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa. Popular with honeymooners and couples celebrating anniversaries and birthdays, it has 36 suites, each with its own plunge pool, indoor soaking tub and 24-hour personal butler service. Guests are greeted by their butler with a drink on arrival (there’s nothing like rum served in a fresh coconut to welcome you to the Caribbean) and shown around their suite.

Every villa feels tucked away from the rest, giving couples a quiet space to themselves. There’s even a service hatch by the outside door so messages and room service can be delivered discreetly. As well as the private pool, the large deck includes an outdoor kitchen area, shower and hammock built for two, the perfect place to watch the stars with just the sound of the birds and crickets. Inside, there is a four-poster bed, rain shower and tub, which was filled up for me with bubbles and fresh bougainvillea petals more than once during my stay. His and hers wardrobes and sinks mean you won’t be fighting over space.

Butlers can help with anything from arranging meals and excursions to creating once-in-a-lifetime moments like proposals or a birthday surprise. They can be reached on a special mobile phone, dubbed the “batphone” by my butler, which can be taken around the resort. Serenity has its own pool area, or guests can head over to the larger Coconut Bay before returning to their exclusive hideaway.

Eating and drinking

St Lucia is a rum lover’s dream. It’s a primary ingredient for many of the cocktails on Serenity’s extensive drinks list (if you have a sweet tooth, don’t leave without trying Jonathan’s Special or the Dirty Banana) and guests can take part in rum-tasting nights, where locally produced blends like Chairman’s Reserve are paired with different foods.

Serenity has its own restaurant, The Greathouse, which serves up an extensive range of options, from chargrilled octopus to filet mignon and pistachio-crusted lamb rack. It caters well for different dietary needs and offers service with a whole lot of smiles. Guests also have the choice of Coconut Bay’s eight restaurants and seven bars, which include contemporary Caribbean fine-dining at Calabash, the Asian-inspired Silk and the outdoor Jerk Treehouse. Couples can hire beach cabanas for the day, with food and drinks brought to them, or celebrate a special occasion in the private oceanside dining spaces of La Luna.

Be sure to try the island’s national dish, green fig (actually a green banana) and saltfish, as well as the fried plantain and freshly grown fruit. Bananas are the island’s biggest export and it has dozens of varieties of mangoes. And did I mention the rum?

Things to do

You could easily while away a week at the resort, enjoying the pools, spa and entertainment. The mile-long beach suffers from sargassum (floating algae) at certain times of the year, but the hotel is efficient at clearing it each day and it is home to water sports, like kayaking and paddleboarding, as well as a turtle conservation programme. There are plenty of night activities, too, including creole classes, sushi-making and “Paint and Punch”.

Those who choose to venture beyond the hotel will be rewarded with jaw-dropping views of the volcanic island, with its famous twin peaks and lush rainforests. You will get a snapshot of island life just driving past the brightly coloured houses, churches, schools and fishing villages. Serenity can organise a huge range of trips, from boats and dune buggies to zip-lines and ATV tours. One unforgettable way to explore the island is by horse. Atlantic Shores Riding Stables can take you on a ride over hills above the Atlantic Ocean and down to the beach for an hour – or more, if your glutes can handle it.

We took a catamaran from Port Vieux up the southwest coast of the island, past the iconic Pitons, stopping to snorkel in the turquoise Caribbean Sea. After lunch at a local restaurant, we drove to the mud baths at Sulphur Springs in Soufriere to douse ourselves in mineral-rich mud. You’ll have to practise mouth breathing to avoid the sulphur smell but your soft skin will thank you for it.

The verdict

Just a few minutes’ drive from Hewanorra International Airport and about 45 minutes from the Pitons, Serenity is conveniently located for a trip to the south of St Lucia. As the name suggests, it is a peaceful sanctuary offering a truly special grown-up break on the friendliest of islands.

Hollie was a guest of Serenity at Coconut Bay

Tucked down a winding road in Buckinghamshire, Burnham Beeches Hotel does not so much receive you as lower your pulse. This large mansion was once a Georgian home but now it’s a four-star hotel and spa that serves as a soothing cocoon for the soul.

Built in 1727, the grand old building has attracted many eminent visitors, including the English poet, Thomas Gray, and, less lyrically, it was the base of the England football team during the Euro 96 tournament.

The atmosphere is regal and luxurious, yet settling and unpretentious. If its character seems a little undefined then perhaps that’s the point – it’s one of those hotels where you can characterise it for yourself. You make it what you want it to be.

Why stay here?

Peace is a clear draw: every inch of the hotel and its grounds is calm. Located less than an hour from London, and a short drive from Windsor, it’s the perfect base for short day trips. The rooms are gorgeous, with options ranging from modern, elegant Nest rooms to fabulous Canopy suites with charismatic décor.

The staff are generally friendly, welcoming and helpful. Their approach is on the unobtrusive side, which adds to the peaceful vibe. If you need a lot of attention and fuss, you might feel a little ignored but the atmosphere will work well for those who prefer autonomy to validation.

The layout of the hotel is a little confusing because of a lack of signposts and labels. But any initial dazzle is a worthwhile price to pay for the homely feel that the lack of signs brings. As you prance around its beautiful floors for your next meal or spa treatment, it’s easy to pretend you own the place.

Eating and drinking

The afternoon teas, which are served in the Evergreen Tea Room, are popular and I was very keen to try one. The traditional line-up includes coronation chicken sandwiches, plain and raisin scones and an assortment of tantalising afternoon tea pastries. You can add a glass of prosecco or champagne. But I went for the vegan afternoon tea, which included sandwiches of hummus, vegan gouda cheese and chutney and beetroot. The vegan scones and cream were gorgeous. So were the plant-based pastries and the Birchall Virunga Chai I washed it all down with.

Later, I had dinner in the Arden room, which overlooks the hotel’s gorgeous lawns. I tucked into a refreshing baked celeriac, with coconut milk and chutney for starters, followed by a wholesome vegan burger, complete with gorgeous brioche bun. For dessert I practically absorbed the refreshing coconut and kefir lime panna cotta. Mocktails arrived in steady procession, each one carefully assembled, none superfluous.

The breakfast room is simple and I was thrilled with my vegan English breakfast, including scrambled tofu, mushrooms, avocado, baked beans and a hash brown. I helped myself to the standard fare of sliced fruits.

Wherever I ate or drank during my stay, I overheard the quiet choruses of my fellow guests, who were delighting in their meatier and boozier selections.

Things to do

Windsor is a 15-minute drive away, so it’s easy to head over to the royal town where you can visit the famous castle and take a relaxing post-lunch stroll down The Long Walk or visit the charming high streets of neighbouring Eton and Datchet. Other nearby attractions include Legoland, historic Runnymede, the Ascot racecourse and the town of Burnham itself. You can also borrow a bike to explore the grounds or the nearby greenery.

But I was mostly happy to stay within the hotel’s warm embrace. The spa has a gym, pool, steam room, sauna and hot tub. Treatments include unwinding massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.

I unwound with the aptly-titled “Aaahhh!” massage. It was 30 minutes of relaxation and revival for my legs and feet. I took some happy strolls around the tranquil woodland that circles the hotel and then sat looking out of the window in my room, basking in the shoulder-soothing splendour of the surroundings.

The verdict

This is a hotel of gentle calibrations and its blend of inherited grandeur and contemporary adjustment works less by declaration, more by accumulation. Which is to say, every minute I spent there was more pleasurable than the previous one. I left blissed out, feeling soothed and relaxed. This is less a hotel, more like a long exhale given architectural form.

Chas was a guest at Burnham Beeches hotel, burnhambeecheshotel.com

Those who live in climates with cold and rainy winters know that being stuck indoors can have a negative effect on moods. Journalist Richard Louv coined the nonmedical term “nature-deficit disorder” to describe the “human costs of alienation from nature.” With spring now in full swing, it’s time to get back outside in the warming sun and touch grass.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

As the weather warms, it’s not only wildlife like herons, beavers and bald eagles that return to Cuyahoga Valley National Park — humans flock here too. The park’s “patchwork of plunging waterfalls, weather-pocked gorges and forested trails” draw visitors, as does the “scenic” Ledges Trail that passes through “some of the region’s most dramatic scenery,” said Travel and Leisure. Admission to Cuyahoga Valley, the only national park in Ohio, is free.

Forest Bathing Trail at Silverwood Park, St. Anthony, Minnesota

Forest bathing has nothing to do with hygiene. Rather, it’s the meditative act of immersing oneself in a forest’s atmosphere, which leads to relaxation. The Forest Bathing Trail at Silverwood Park near Minneapolis is certified by the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy, and guideposts along the .25-mile path encourage walkers to take their time and experience sensations like feeling the sun on their skin. All of the senses will awaken as they “engage with nature” in ways that boost health and “foster deeper exploration,” said National Geographic.

New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York

The “lush” 250-acre New York Botanical Garden welcomes visitors who want an outdoor escape without leaving the city, said Time Out New York. Areas to explore include the old-growth Thain Family Forest, Maureen K. Chilton Azalea Garden, Daffodil Hill and the Native Plant Garden filled with close to 100,000 trees, shrubs, grasses, ferns and wildflowers. A highlight each spring is the Orchid Show, which has a new theme every year.

Ricketts Glen State Park, Benton, Pennsylvania

All of scenic Ricketts Glen State Park is worth exploring, but the seven-mile Falls Trail is a “cascade carnival” that reveals “something new” around every corner, said Outside. Falls Trail passes 21 named waterfalls, including the 94-foot-tall Ganoga Falls. The trail is beautiful year-round, but visitors who come in spring see the “most gushers,” thanks to snowmelt and frequent rainstorms.

Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri

The Saint Louis Zoo is home to a “stunning diversity” of animals, with more than 12,500 mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and invertebrates living inside the park, said USA Today. They are spread out across six zones, including Red Rocks (tigers, zebra and giraffes), Lakeside Crossing (sea lions, seals and stingrays) and the immersive River’s Edge (elephants, cheetahs and hippos).

Admission to the zoo is free, but some attractions, like the Sea Lion Show ($2) and Conservation Carousel ($3), are ticketed. Plan on spending the entire day here, or make it part of a bigger adventure: The Saint Louis Zoo is inside Forest Park, alongside the Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum and The Muny.

Storm King Art Center, New Windsor, New York

This outdoor museum sits on 500 acres in the Hudson Valley, with more than 100 large-scale sculptures scattered across the property. Kids (and adults!) will enjoy frolicking in the wide open spaces and taking in works of art like Mark di Suvero’s “Figolu,” a bold open-steel sculpture, and Zhang Huan’s massive copper-and-steel piece “Three Legged Buddha.”

Watch Hill, Rhode Island

You can find “truly excellent” beach towns along Rhode Island’s 400 miles of coastline, and one of the “quietest” and “most idyllic” is Watch Hill, said Forbes. This tiny village is less than one square mile, so it’s “easy to explore” and hit all the highlights, like the Watch Hill Lighthouse Museum and Watch Hill Carousel. The water is frigid during the spring, but visitors can still relax on the shoreline and play in the sand at Napatree Point, Watch Hill Beach and East Beach, which boasts views of the easternmost end of New York’s Long Island.

Roadtripping offers a unique blend of spontaneity and flexibility that many other forms of travel simply do not have. But when it comes to cost, this kind of expense can be a little less clear-cut than, say, simply purchasing an airline ticket, where you know exactly what you are paying upfront.

That variability also means that there is more room to find ways to save. And especially given the sky-high cost of gas lately — not to mention inflation — saving is more important than ever. Here are four ways to spare your wallet on an upcoming road trip.

1. Plan ahead as much as possible

Nailing down all the angles of your trip ahead of time can save you both a lot of headaches and a significant amount of money. Before you set out, decide how much you can comfortably budget for your trip. Then, plan the route you will take and where you will stop along the way, including for sightseeing, lodging and food.

Advanced planning can also allow you to cut down on certain costs, which can leave more wiggle room for other fun add-ins. For example, “you can often secure a better rate by booking in advance (and online), than by showing up without a reservation or booking last minute,” said SoFi.

2. Make the most of rewards

It is hard to think of a road trip these days without considering the cost of gas. While fuel is an unavoidable expense (unless you drive an EV), there are ways you can portion less of your total road trip budget toward it. Consider gas-saving hacks, such as paying in cash, joining gas station fuel rewards programs or using a gas rewards credit card. There are also apps you can use to find the cheapest spots to fill up nearby.

Rewards do not have to be reserved for just gas, either. Booking with the “same hotel chain as often as possible and signing up for their member loyalty (or ‘points’) program may net you a free night after a few stays,” said SoFi.

3. Get a tune-up before you go

Your vehicle itself is another major determinant of fuel efficiency. Simple tasks like aligning and filling your tires, as well as changing your oil, can help you use a little less fuel and put less wear and tear on your vehicle, which can add up when you are racking up the miles on a long road trip.

Taking your car in for review can also help avoid issues down, or rather on, the road, which can be costly — and cause you to lose out on valuable vacation time. The good news is, “if you happen to need a standard oil change before your trip, many service centers will offer a free multi-point checkup of your vehicle and examine fluid levels, the battery, tire pressure, brakes and more,” said Discover.

4. Pack smart

How you pack your car can also have a major impact on overall costs. Put simply, the “heavier your vehicle, the worse its fuel efficiency,” which means that the “more luggage and gear you carry, the more fuel your vehicle will use,” said Kiplinger.

Also, think carefully about what you decide to dedicate your precious trunk space to. By “packing a cooler with water bottles, drinks, hand-held snacks and sandwiches,” for instance, “you can end up saving a sizable chunk of cash by not having to buy drinks and snacks at rest stops, vending machines and drive-throughs,” said SoFi.

Safaris often come with an “eye-rolling price tag”, but if you know where to look there are “bargains” to be had, said The Times.

One way to save money is to “rent a car and drive yourself”, avoiding the hefty cost of a fully guided package. It’s also worth choosing a “locally run park outside of the national park” in one of the “gateway towns”, rather than opting for a luxury lodge within one.

Everyone is keen to see the annual wildebeest migration, “but most people don’t realise that the migrating herds can be found year-round at various places in Africa, so you don’t necessarily have to be in the Masai Mara during July and August”, said Condé Nast Traveller.

Consider travelling during shoulder season in the spring or autumn and “staying longer” in one safari destination instead of moving between lodges every few days, to cut down on travel costs and increase your chances of “finding a good deal”.

“Africa has become synonymous with safaris”, said The Independent. However, if you’re willing to expand your search, “more affordable Brazil has flown under the radar”. Home to the “highest concentration of wildlife in South America”, the Pantanal region is “sometimes dubbed the Brazilian Serengeti”. It even has its “own Big Five: the capybara, giant river otter, maned wolf, jaguar, and – tick – the giant anteater”.

And with all-inclusive lodges costing a fraction of the price of a luxury resort, the country “promises an affordable alternative to a traditional safari”. Around three-and-a-half hours from Campo Grande airport in southwest Brazil you’ll find the family-run ranch, Pousada Pequi, which offers authentic safari experiences. “Giant anteaters are the lodge’s main draw” but look out for the region’s “legendary” birdlife, including the giant “inky blue” hyacinth macaws.

If you do have your heart set on an African safari, steer clear of the luxury offerings in Tanzania, Botswana and Zimbabwe, said The Times. “The likes of Namibia, Malawi and Zambia offer the same balmy settings, bush camps and big five thrills for less.”

With the United States celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Americans are reflecting on how historical highs and lows shaped the country into the nation it is today. The occasion comes at a time when national parks and historic sites are “at risk” and “government officials are removing, often without explanation, exhibits that enable us to see through the eyes of people who lived in a world different from our own,” said Carol Quillen at Time.

Instead of shying from uncomfortable parts of the country’s past, you can better understand American history by visiting places connected to movements and events like the abolition of slavery, the fights for civil and women’s rights, and the forced displacement of Indigenous tribes and Japanese Americans.

Manzanar National Historic Site, Inyo County, California

Two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forced removal from the West Coast of those deemed a threat to national security. This resulted in the U.S. government incarcerating more than 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants in 10 camps, which operated until the end of World War II. The most well-known camp, California’s Manzanar War Relocation Center, held more than 10,000 people, all of them “crowded into barracks, surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers with searchlights and patrolled by military police,” said The Guardian.

Manzanar is now a national historic site, where visitors can watch the short film “Remembering Manzanar,” explore a museum filled with historic images and artifacts and step inside Block 14. There are two barracks buildings, a mess hall and a women’s latrine, providing insight into what it was like to live here during incarceration. Further out, a cemetery monument stands in honor of the 150 people who died at the camp during their imprisonment.

Where to learn more: Manzanar isn’t the only War Relocation Center open to the public. You can also visit Tule Lake in California and Minidoka in Idaho, with plans underway to turn Amache in Colorado into a national historic site. Objects donated by people incarcerated at Amache are on display at the Amache Museum in Granada, including suitcases, tea crates and clothing.

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis

In their quest for equal rights for Black Americans and an end to racial segregation, civil rights leaders and members of the movement tried many different tactics: protests, sit-ins, boycotts, marches and freedom rides. At the National Civil Rights Museum, all these efforts are given the attention and respect they deserve, with visitors able to learn more about “some of the most important wins for freedom and equality in the U.S.” while “connecting them to current happenings,” said Time Out. Exhibitions guide visitors through “enslaved peoples’ fight for freedom, the Civil War and Reconstruction, Jim Crow and resistance efforts in the 1960s,” with visitors able to listen to interact with media, listen to oral histories and watch films.

The museum is at the site of the former Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. During segregation, this was one of the properties where Black travelers could spend the night, and King often stayed at the motel when in Memphis.

Where to learn more: The U.S. Civil Rights Trail connects important landmarks in 15 states, including Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, integrated by the Little Rock Nine in 1957; the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where four Black girls were killed in a 1963 bombing; and the Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center in Glendora, Mississippi, a museum with exhibitions on the young Black teenager’s life and his lynching by a white mob.

Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, various states

Between 1830 and 1850, the U.S. government forcibly removed members of the Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw and Choctaw nations from their land in the southeast to a new Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. The removal came after the Indian Removal Act was passed and signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, as gold was discovered on Cherokee land and white settlers jockeyed for more acreage. About 100,000 women, men, children and enslaved people made the brutal trek, with an estimated 15,000 dying of disease and starvation along the way or shortly after resettlement.

The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail passes through Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee, covering 2,200 miles of land and water. All five of the displaced tribes walked through the trail’s segment near Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and visitors who go there today can “feel the weight” of its past, said Atlas Obscura. The endpoint of the trail is Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capital of the Cherokee Nation, and the nearby Cherokee Heritage Center “holds archives, oral histories and a reconstructed 17th-century village,” putting the “removal into the longer sweep of Cherokee civilization.”

Where to learn more: An outstanding example of ancient Indigenous life can be found at the Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado. Thousands of years ago, the Ancestral Pueblo lived in tight-knit communities built into the mesas and cliffs of this region, and the dwellings, made of sandstone, mortar and wooden beams, remain in good condition. Ranger-led tours of these cliff dwellings are available May through October.

Stonewall Inn, New York City

The June 28, 1969, police raid on the Stonewall Inn gay club was a turning point. At the time, it was illegal for someone to be spotted “holding hands, kissing or dancing with someone of the same sex” in public, and police harassment of gay bars was frequent, said History.com. The Stonewall Inn was a refuge for its clientele, and one of the few establishments that welcomed drag queens. Usually the bar would receive a tip that a raid was coming, but no such call arrived on June 28, and after officers came in, “roughed up patrons” and arrested 13 people, the fed-up community fought back.

Hundreds of angry customers and locals started throwing objects at the police and tried to set the bar on fire. The crowd finally dispersed, but protests continued for five more days. The riot was a galvanizing event and led to the creation of LGBTQ advocacy organizations like Gay Liberation Front and GLAAD. The Stonewall Inn still operates as a bar, and in 2024, a center opened next door to “educate visitors on the history of the Stonewall Uprising and the ongoing fight for equality,” said USA Today.

Where to learn more: San Francisco’s Castro District was one of the earliest gay neighborhoods in the United States, and is home to the GLBT Historical Society Museum, the country’s first museum dedicated solely to LGBTQ history and culture. A highlight of the museum is a segment of the original 1978 eight-color rainbow flag designed for San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day.

Whitney Plantation, Wallace, Louisiana

The reality of slavery hits visitors at the Whitney Plantation Museum as soon as they arrive. There is no whitewashing here. The former plantation rejects the rosy antebellum view, focusing instead on slavery’s horrors.

The audio tour goes into great detail about the lives of those once forced to work here, harvesting sugar and indigo. There are visual reminders of what they went through as well, like the two slave cabins, “ceramic sculptures of hollow-eyed slave children” and a “jarring” monument to a failed revolt featuring “multiple rows of spikes topped with what look like the decapitated heads of African American men,” said The Associated Press in 2017.

Sixteen original structures are on the property, along with two permanent exhibitions about the history of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery in Louisiana. Guided tours are available, and the museum describes its docents as “historical interpreters who share the full, unvarnished truth of the site’s history.” These excursions also offer access to the upstairs of the Big House, where the former plantation’s owners once lived — after entering through the building’s rear, as an enslaved person would.

Where to learn more: The Old Slave Mart Museum in Charleston is the “oldest Black museum of slave artifacts in America,” almost entirely staffed by people “whose lineage can be traced to enslaved people in Charleston,” said The Post and Courier. Officials believe this may be the only former slave auction site still in existence in South Carolina.

Women’s Rights National Historical Park, Seneca Falls, New York

The women’s rights movement picked up steam in the 1830s, as women in the abolitionist space “gained experience as leaders, organizers, writers and lecturers” and used their new skills to fight for equality, said the National Women’s History Museum. After being denied full access to the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, abolitionists and women’s rights activists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott decided in 1848 to hold the Seneca Falls Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. There, they presented a Declaration of Sentiments, which was written using the language of the Declaration of Independence as a guide. It called for legal, political and economic equality for women and cultural reform.

Change didn’t happen overnight — the 19th Amendment, prohibiting the federal government from denying citizens the right to vote based on sex, wasn’t ratified until 1920. But more people joined the fight. Their hard work is recognized at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls. Visitors can learn about the “struggles and triumphs” of the Seneca Falls Convention and “explore the grounds where it all happened,” said Lonely Planet. There’s also an impressive bronze statue representing the “first wave” of women’s rights activists, including Stanton, Mott and Frederick Douglass.

Where to learn more: New York was home base for many remarkable 19th century women, including Harriet Tubman. After the Civil War, she spent five decades living in Auburn, in the Finger Lakes region. Visitors can still go to the “homes, church and landmarks” that shaped her life “after liberation,” said Afar. Plan on seeing her brick home at the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park; her house of worship, Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church; and the Seward House Museum, a stop on the Underground Railroad.

“Who knows what the Big Five are?” my guide Kets asks as we bounce over sand dunes in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi National Park. “What about the Ugly Five?” he laughs. “And the Tiny Five?” The humour of the safari stereotypes, and the questionable ethics behind them (“The Big Five” aren’t the rarest, but the hardest for hunters to kill) aren’t lost on us. We’ve come to the Makgadikgadi and the Okavango Delta, two less visited regions of Botswana that swiftly reveal there’s much more to this vibrant country than a safari checklist.

Not to say I don’t have a checklist. I’m as enthralled as the next city slicker to see my first tower of giraffes in the wild. The privilege of seeing these graceful giants without another vehicle in sight was worth the extra flight on Safari Air. The journey is part of the adventure. Our hosts, Desert & Delta – a locally owned and run organisation for over 40 years – run nine lodges in lesser trodden corners of the country.

Migrating zebras and noisy elephants

Arriving at Leroo La Tau Lodge, perched on the western flank of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, brought a cluster of surprises. The bungalows’ protruding balconies give views of thousands of migrating zebras, sauntering around the watering holes in the dried-up river below. The erstwhile Boteti River is now a ravine, as the water flowing through the delta changed direction following a shift in the tectonic plates. It’s the only inland delta in the world and doesn’t lead out to sea, just one fact that makes this lodge feel almost ethereal. The stretch is so laden with animals, herds of noisy elephants, wildebeest and zebra, all passing my bedroom, that we almost don’t need to go on safari but of course we do, bright and early.

Bumping around in our comfortable 4x4 I marvel at Kets’ eyesight. It’s as if he has a sixth sense, pointing out the tiniest of birds and shy steenbok (a small antelope), while the rest of us bop up and down with excitement every time we see an elephant. They may be easy to spot but are never not thrilling. Kets is one of the expert team, led by veteran ranger Metal Matmos, who has worked for Desert & Delta for 17 years. Metal has the answer to everything – whether its the details of our itinerary or what to do when a local leopard makes a late-night appearance. The answer, delivered with signature laugh, was “stay inside” – advice we gladly adhere to while the big cat roars in search of its mate.

Starlit sleepovers and birds of the delta

Leroo La Tau also takes groups out on overnight trips to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Sleeping under the stars on the flats is humbling, no matter how many times you do it. Metal’s been visiting the park for almost two decades and is still enthralled. “I think about theories on the evolution of humankind between enjoying the scenery” he muses.

Heading northwest to the verdant Okavango Delta, we disembark from our tiny plane at Shakawe’s landing strip after flying over veins of water running through vast greenery as far as the horizon. The hour-long flight was followed by a lengthy drive in a 4x4 before arriving at our smaller, remote boutique resort, Nxamaseri Island Lodge, built on the banks of the water.

Here the lodge’s rangers transport us on boats, searching for hippos who give themselves away by clusters of bubbles rising to the surface of the bayou. Hippopotamuses, I learn, can stay submerged for five minutes and, despite being herbivores, are responsible for the most human fatalities on safari. I’m slightly unnerved as we float around, engine quietened, looking for a lonely male who we saw in the distance. The hippo finally emerges, parallel to the reeds that cushion the waterways, but he glides away, not keen to socialise, thankfully. I’m glad to get back to my exquisite tent of a room and kick back on my veranda to watch for eagles.

The birds of the delta are a revelation. We spy egret, heron, purple heron, kite, black geese, hamerkop, a kaleidoscope of bee-eaters, malachite kingfishers, white-backed night heron, fish-eating eagles and one Pel’s fishing owl back at the lodge. Fishing trips are also on offer and one of our gang goes out to catch dinner, which is made into delicious fish cakes by the lodge’s excellent chef. This stop at Nxamaseri Island Lodge really cements the rumour I’d heard pre-trip; there’s much more to Botswana than its wildlife.

Magical hiking in the Tsodilo Hills

I didn’t think my jaw could drop more but as a former art historian my highlight comes at the Unesco-listed Tsodilo Hills; four terracotta and copper coloured mountains jutting out of the Kalahari Desert like islands. These hills are the sacred home of a trove of 4,500 ancient cave paintings made by the San people up to 20,000 years ago.

We arrive in the foothills by sunset on the night of a full moon and the San staff and villagers tell us their legends. Descendants of the great cave painters, they perform their folk tales through dance and song; 19 villagers harmonising, clapping and stamping their ancient stories. Shamans in this group believe spirits of ancestors speak to them through the fire, telling them where to go hunting. After an impressive dinner we sleep in small pods, cleverly constructed by Desert & Delta, who are the only company with accommodation here by Tsodilo, meaning we can rise at the same time as the sun to head off for our hike.

The San believe their ancestors’ spirits rest in the hills and as we ascend the paths that loop Tsodilo there’s a palpable atmosphere of reverence. “This is Tsodilo that you’ve been looking for,” whispers Gabo, our guide who has worked on this site every day for more than 20 years. He leads us to a handful of the 420 sites of finger and hand painted forms, which are mostly human and animal figures, depicted in hematite and ostrich egg yolk, which served to make it so mind-bogglingly durable.

Beating the heat is the name of the game here, and on seeing a coach trip arrive at midday, we were glad we got up early. While they climbed the hills, we enjoy a hearty post-hike brunch. As captivating as the safari runs were, it’s the cultures of the 13 different communities of Botswanans we encountered that made this trip. I’ve been on safari before but nothing beats this, I decide, as we board the plane home.

Lucie was a guest of Desert & Delta Safaris; desertdelta.com

The South’s gorgeous — and diverse — beaches offer nearly every type of seaside experience. You can feel the white sand between your toes in Florida, kayak in Alabama’s turquoise waters, watch turtles nest in Texas and ride the waves in South Carolina. Whatever you’re seeking, you’ll find it at one of these eight wash-your-cares-away beaches.

Destin, Florida

Destin is one of the gems of Florida’s Emerald Coast. The soft, white sand beaches are perfect for lounging on, and the water is a “slightly different shade of gorgeous” than any other spot along the Florida Panhandle, said Southern Living. Destin is also known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” due to the wide variety of fish species swimming in its waters. Visitors can fish year-round, including from the shore, or learn more about angling at the Destin History & Fishing Museum.

Folly Beach, South Carolina

At Folly Beach, you’ll find an “eclectic mix of Southern charm and seaside cool” that sets it apart from other coastal destinations, said Outside. It’s only 12 miles from downtown Charleston, with warm water “ideal for sunbathing, swimming and, of course, surfing.” The best time to hang 10 is during the winter. But visiting in the summer, when Folly Beach buzzes at “full intensity,” is the “prime time for live music, festivals, outdoor movies and crowds.”

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Have a surf and turf experience at Gulf Shores. Spend part of your day in the sea, fishing, snorkeling and kayaking through the blue-green water. Then enjoy the rest of it on land, learning about native plants and animals at the Gulf State Park Nature Center and building towering sand castles with private lessons through Sand Castle University.

Once the sun sets, make your way to DeSoto’s Seafood Kitchen for dinner. The fish is fresh, sides are made from scratch and the royal red shrimp, which taste like tender lobster, are a must-order.

Jekyll Island, Georgia

This barrier island boasts 10 miles of unspoiled shoreline, with each beach different from the next. Oceanview Beach Park offers unparalleled views of the Atlantic Ocean, Glory Beach has sand dunes and wide open spaces and Driftwood Beach is “scattered with huge, twisted, sea-weathered branches and tree trunks” ideal for “fun scampering and a dramatic photo op,” said Atlanta Magazine. The island is “relatively flat,” and walking and biking trails “meander” through salt marshes and live oaks.

Orange Beach, Alabama

Its “long strip of white quartz sand” and “aquamarine waters” give laidback Orange Beach “that quintessential Gulf Coast look,” said Travel and Leisure. Aquatic sports enthusiasts flock here for “jet skiing, kayaking and sailing” and swim and dive under its “glassy waters.” At night, head to The Wharf, a pet-friendly entertainment district where you can catch a movie, grab dinner and end the night with a Ferris wheel ride.

South Padre Island, Texas

This is party central for college students on spring break, but during the rest of the year, a “more mellow vibe prevails,” said Condé Nast Traveler. Surfing, parasailing and horseback riding on the beach are some of the more active ways to spend a day, while a visit to the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, home to “stilt-legged birds, colorful butterflies and about 50 rescued ’gators” is more relaxing, said Condé Nast Traveler. It’s not only beachgoers who flock here — South Padre Island is popular with nesting turtles, who come between April and August.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

A highlight of Virginia Beach is its “classic” boardwalk, stretching three miles and all but guaranteeing a “lovely sunrise or evening stroll,” said Southern Living. Oceanfront Beach, with its massive King Neptune statue, is on one side, and stores, restaurants and hotels are on the other. Seasoned surfers enjoy catching waves here, but Virginia Beach is an “ideal” place for newbies too. The waves are a lot “calmer and a bit gentler than the barrels found out west,” making them easier to ride, and there are multiple surf schools offering private and group lessons.

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

When in Wrightsville Beach, pack a book in your bag, but don’t be surprised if you never crack it open. That’s because the “wide, clean sands and sparkling waters” beckon visitors, who jump in to go kayaking, paddleboarding and surfing, said AAA Trip Canvas. The atmosphere is “active and energetic” and inclusive for all: There is a wheelchair-accessible beach so everyone can relish the sun, sand and surf.

Toronto may not be top of your travel list, but there are so many reasons it should be. This vibrant city is a foodie’s sanctuary, a shopper’s delight, and a cultural hub bursting with museums, galleries and cafes.

Located downtown on University Avenue, the beautiful and luxurious hotel Shangri-La Toronto makes the perfect base to explore everything the city has to offer.

Why stay here?

Shangri-La’s central location means you can explore this multicultural metropolis, while enjoying a five-star stay with world-class comfort and service. But you may have to drag yourself outside; the spacious rooms and suites are bright and comfortable with floor-to-ceiling windows, hi-tech controls and marble furnishings.

My suite was an impressive 820 sq ft and featured a walk-in wardrobe, separate living room and stunning marble bathroom with a walk-in shower and a deep-soaking bath, where you can relax and take in the spectacular views – over iconic landmarks like the 1,1815ft CN Tower – day and night. The bathrooms are kitted out with divine John Masters Organic toiletries.

Toronto is easy to reach with direct Air Canada flights from Heathrow, and use of its Maple Leaf lounges when you fly business class. The hotel is a half-hour taxi ride from the airport and has an impeccable concierge service; the staff are happy to offer advice on what to see and how to get there.

Eating and drinking

Breakfast at Shangri-La Toronto is worth waking up for. It’s not your typical buffet, but an experience in itself with dishes that include a wellness frittata, duck congee, and homemade granola. It’s served at the hotel’s signature Bosk Restaurant, where dinner is just as delicious. The evening menu celebrates northern Italian flavours, sourcing produce from Canadian farmers and businesses.

One of the places the hotel sources its ingredients is St Lawrence Market, a short walk away. I took a tour with Bosk Restaurant’s chef de cuisine, Troy Cabarios. The market sells foods from around the world, reflecting Canada’s diverse population, and some of the stalls have been there for generations.

With your appetite woken, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to try outside the hotel. I visited Takja BBQ House, a Korean restaurant where meat and seafood is grilled in the middle of your table. Lunch at the Peller Estates winery, producer of the best wine in Canada, is a must. It is close to Niagara Falls, so you can combine the two on a day trip. The winery runs a lunch and wine-tasting package, plus a tour of the winery. A five-course tasting menu starts from $200 (£107), and a tour alone costs from $45 (£24).

Don’t miss the 10below Icewine Lounge, made completely of ice, including the furniture. Its temperature remains at -10C all year round, which is the temperature Peller sets for harvesting its ice wine grapes. In the chilled atmosphere, enjoy a glass of the well-known Canadian ice-wine – liquid gold!

Things to do

As you may expect, the hotel’s Miraj Hammam Spa offers the perfect way to unwind and relax after a busy day of shopping and sightseeing. Middle Eastern wellness rituals blend with modern needs – you’ll want to try more than one treatment. I opted for a deep tissue massage, one of the best I have had, but you may be tempted by the Turkish bath or a Sodashi plant-based facial. You can also sample some in-room spa time: book the ‘bath butler experience’ in advance and your bath will be set up with petals, a candle and a bath bomb, alongside optional room service.

No visit to Toronto is complete without a tour of Niagara Falls, 80 miles away on the other side of Lake Ontario. But for something really special, book a trip with Niagara Helicopters, where you’ll have the opportunity to capture the most amazing views of the Falls. It doesn’t come cheap: a 12-minute flight costs $200 (£107) but you’ll leave with some incredible memories. I also tried out the recently opened virtual experience at Niagara Parks, where the immersive ride ($33 [£17] for adults) lets you soar above Lake Ontario and the thundering falls without boarding a helicopter.

While the falls is an unmissable side trip, there is plenty more to see. Don’t miss the CN Tower for amazing views of the city, Little Canada, the Aquarium – and the historic Distillery District is a must-see. See what’s on during your visit at Visit Toronto.

The verdict

Just as you would expect from any Shangri-La hotel, the Toronto outpost made my visit to the city truly enjoyable. It’s a seriously classy hotel and I found it the perfect place to come back to after exploring everything the busy city has to offer. If you want to combine adventure, luxury and relaxation, the Shangri-La is the place to stay.

Kalpana was a guest of the Shangri-La Toronto; shangri-la.com

The UK is home to some incredible birdwatching spots, but Europe’s scale and variety of wildlife is just as tantalising for twitchers. As migration season begins, get ready for an influx of species, from flamingos to forest woodpeckers. Here are some of the best destinations in Europe to try this spring.

The Camargue, France

“Few who slurp fizz on the French Riviera realise that one of Europe’s most rewarding birding destinations lies nearby,” said James Stewart in The Times. Situated on the south coast of France between Montpellier and Marseille, the Camargue is home to “abundant birdlife”. From autumn until spring, “thousands of flamingos” descend on the marshland, and touring around the Pont de Gau Ornithological Park is “photo magic”. For keen bird-lovers, consider driving half an hour inland for a chance to spot rare Bonelli’s eagles in the Alpilles mountains.

Andalusia, Spain

One of Andalusia’s biggest perks as the southernmost point of Europe is that it sits on “important migratory routes” between the continent and Africa, said David Escribano in Condé Nast Traveller. Each year, “millions of birds” make the nine-mile flight over the Strait of Gibraltar. The region is home to some of Spain’s “most elusive” birds, such as the “endangered Spanish imperial eagle, crested coot and red-necked nightjar”. Further north, the region is filled with the “colourful” oriole, hoopoe and the “beautiful” European bee-eater.

Bonus tip: head to the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, famous for its colony of greater flamingos and the birds’ only breeding ground in Europe not located in a coastal area.

Folegandros, Greece

This “lesser-known” Cycladic island lies between Paros and Santorini, and is home to a reserve protecting the rare Eleonora’s falcon, which has a global population of under 20,000, said Freya Bromley in National Geographic. You can take part in seasonal bird monitoring programmes and volunteer surveillance expeditions to nearby inlets. For dedicated birdwatchers, you can even participate in measuring nestling growth, or for newcomers, depart on educational hikes with conservation experts.

Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania is one of Europe’s “last great unspoilt wildernesses”, said Stephen Moss in The Telegraph. You can see majestic Ural and eagle owls hunting at dusk, and the forests are home to “several species of woodpecker, including the largest member of the family in Europe, the crow-sized black woodpecker”. Be sure to travel into the mountains where you might spot “golden eagles soaring above, and also one of the most striking and beautiful birds in the world, the wallcreeper”.

You may be focused on what’s happening overhead, but don’t forget to keep an eye out for Romania’s other headline attraction: “Europe’s largest predator, the brown bear”.

Airlines are feeling the strain of swelling oil prices resulting from the Iran war and closure of the Strait of Hormuz. To deal with higher operating costs, many companies are making changes that shift the burden to consumers, including higher baggage fees, more fuel surcharges and canceled routes.

How are higher gas costs affecting airlines?

Airlines and their customers across the U.S. are being impacted but especially those based in four major hubs: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City. In these locations, the average price for a gallon of jet fuel is currently $4.25, according to the aviation trade association Airlines for America. On Feb. 27, the day before the war in Iran started, the average price was only $2.50. Airlines are also “facing an increase in the amount of fuel their aircraft use because of extra miles required to avoid flying over the conflict zone,” said The Guardian.

Fuel is already an expensive cost for aviators and is “generally airlines’ largest expense after labor,” said Quartz. Airlines are feeling the pressure as a result. If prices were to stay at their current level, it would mean an “extra $11 billion in annual expense just for jet fuel,” said United CEO Scott Kirby in a memo to employees. For “perspective, in United’s best year ever, we made less than $5 billion.”

How are airlines adapting?

Many are adding “extra fees and surcharges onto already rising ticket prices” to “recoup costs as the war in Iran causes fuel costs to surge,” said The New York Times. Luggage is one common area where airlines are bumping up the price. Delta and Southwest announced they would “start charging $10 more to check a bag on U.S. domestic flights,” days after United and JetBlue said the same.

The company with the most notable baggage changes may be American. The airline said it would “raise the fee by $10 each for the first and the second checked bag for travelers booking domestic and short-haul international flights,” said The Detroit News. The company also “increased the cost of a third checked bag by $50 to $200” for fliers and additionally announced an upcoming $5 increase on checked bags for passengers flying economy.

Some airlines are also including pricing for the fuel itself. Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet, announced it would “add fuel surcharges of up to 60 Canadian dollars, or about $43, to some flights,” said the Times. Air Canada unveiled surcharges of 50 Canadian dollars to certain warm-weather destinations. For passengers, the decisions from airlines resulted in “rising fares and fees, fewer flight options and difficult decisions about whether a trip is worth the cost,” said The Associated Press.

Airlines are also cutting the number of places they go. Several Asian airlines have stated they would “cut flights to mitigate fuel shortages and mounting costs,” said Business Insider. Ryanair, Europe’s largest carrier, is also “considering reducing routes,” while Lufthansa could ground up to 40 planes. Air New Zealand will “cut about 5% of its flights, or about 1,100, at the start of May,” and in the U.S., United and Delta are both cutting routes.

As the world creeps toward peak travel season, industry leaders are taking notice of the fuel shortages. ACI Europe, an association representing airports in the European Union, notes these shortages could “hit within three weeks, disrupting summer travel and ‘significantly’ harming the European economy,” said CNBC. For people who still want to fly, experts say “flexibility and careful planning can help offset these costs,” said the AP, and “fare-tracking sites can alert travelers to price changes.”