Whether you’re exploring the city’s historic streets, tasting local treats, or hunting for holiday treasures at the markets, Vilnius manages to feel both lively and intimate. It’s compact, charming, and effortlessly magical, a winter break that leaves you wishing you could stay a little longer.
Art Museums – Gems of Lisbon
An art lover’s view of the city museums For a medium-sized capital city, Lisbon has a proliferation of public art collections. The art museums in Lisbon should be better known. One of the most significant private collections in the world is housed in central Lisbon’s Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, which has graced the city since 1969. […]
Durham City Lumiere
Lumiere – Shining a light on Durham The historic city of Durham in north-east England deserves a place on any shortlist of UK destinations for a weekend break or for an extended holiday. Set in County Durham and a short distance from Newcastle, the city is easily reached by train from King’s Cross in a […]
Hotel Belvedere, A Family Legacy in the Larch Forests of San Genesio
Quietly tucked away in the hillside, just 30 minutes from Bolzano Airport, sits the serene Hotel Belvedere. Tranquillity greets you on arrival with views that open wide across the valley and beyond to the high peaks of the Dolomites.
Hotel Hubertus: A Blissful Wellness Escape in the Dolomites
Escape to the Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus in South Tyrol. Perched 1,350m above the Dolomites, this family-run hotel offers luxury wellness, a gravity-defying SkyPool, an innovative ‘Heaven and Hell Spa’, daily guided hikes, yoga and fine dining with local sourced ingredients and wines. Featured on BBC’s Amazing Hotels.
Sicily’s Beating Heart, Palermo.
Few travel moments rival that first encounter with a new city — the instant when its sounds, scents and pulse begin to unfold. Palermo, I soon discovered, makes that moment unforgettable. A short flight from London brings you to Falcone-Borsellino Airport, from where the drive into the city takes about 20 minutes. Palermo is a lively, historic and unapologetically gritty metropolis that seems to be in constant motion.
Swiss Mountains and Lakes
For a week in August, with a Swiss Travel Pass downloaded on my mobile phone, I set off from Geneva for an eco-friendly train trip to explore some of Switzerland’s magnificent mountains and lakes.
Sofitel Gatwick North Terminal
At London Gatwick Airport, a short tunnel connects Sofitel Gatwick directly to the terminal, making it less than a five-minute walk from check-in. Even with luggage, the journey is straightforward. Once inside, guests step into an airy central atrium framed by the hotel’s towers, creating a sense of calm before the bustle of travel. Helpful staff are on hand to check you in and to take your luggage to your room if necessary, though I found the hotel well equipped with lifts.
Hotel Dame des Arts, Paris
n the heart of the Latin Quarter in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, Hôtel Dame des Arts is a chic, centrally located hotel, à deux pas from public transport, and within walking distance of almost every major sight and museum you may wish to visit. Its position on the Left Bank, in a triangle formed by the intersection of Boulevards Saint-Michel and Saint-Germain, makes it a short stroll to the Seine for walks along the Quais and also gives easy access to Notre-Dame Cathedral, which still draws crowds since its reopening in December 2024.
Margaux, Paris – A Classic Brasserie
I am often asked by friends where to eat in Paris, and it is a question I find difficult to answer – ҫa dépend. It depends not only on your budget, but on where you are staying, what your mood is, and whether you prefer small, trendy eateries in the 11th or the big hitters that have been around for decades. My preference is for some of the terrific ethnic restaurants and the generation of young chefs who are doing exciting things in less touristy parts of the city. However, there are times when I crave a good brasserie like Margaux, serving traditional French dishes, where you know your favourites will be on the menu, where the welcome is warm, the atmosphere convivial, and the food reliable.