Travel
The world’s GREATEST WILDLIFE holidays
Whether your dream wildlife holiday involves tracking big cats, watching elephant families at play, cetaceans breach, or Arctic predators on the prowl, this is the year to make it happen. The wildlife experiences described here span all of the planet’s...
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The 50 best family holidays for 2026
There’s a special alchemy when it comes to the perfect holiday with kids in tow. On our summer trip to Monte Argentario in Italy, it seemed as though the sun-warmed alleys, backstreet gelaterias and shoals of neon-accented fish had conspired to create...
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Set off on Colorado’s ultimate ski adventure
For skiers and snowboarders the world over, there is always a yearning to have an adventure, to see the wonders that the mountains hold, to immerse yourself in untamed wilderness. It’s why Colorado is so necessary. For a start, it’s North America’s...
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The 20 best places to visit in 2026
We all have our reasons to travel. To escape. To relax. To find a place where we can hole up for a few days with a book and read it all the way to the end. To snooze on a sun lounger within strolling distance of a palm-fringed beach and an azure...
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Chart a course to the quiet corners of the Caribbean
Yes, the weather outside is frightful – but at least, for another few days, the chill and gloom will be outshone by the warm glimmer of Christmas lights and then the fizzy cheer and fireworks of New Year’s Eve. It’s the next part that’s less...
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Plan your Peruvian adventure
Machu Picchu has long been the symbol of Peru, but this South American nation is far more than its most famous Inca landmark. As one of the cradles of civilisation, Peru is packed with the vestiges of the societies that pre-dated the Spanish Conquest....
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Find festive magic at our fifinest hotels
The festive season is in full swing – paper hats and cracker jokes at the ready, please – and those who like their merriment turned up to 11 know that hotels are where the most fantastical of Christmas wishes come true. In the first days of December,...
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Ride the rails for a sublime city break
If there’s one thing guaranteed to spoil the magic of a European city break, it’s all the stress and hassle of getting there and back by plane. It starts with the pre-dawn trek out to the airport; queueing for ages at security, and then again at the...
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CITY BREAKS to SNOWY ESCAPES Book your last-minute Christmas holiday before it’s too late
Christmas. Here it comes again. Time to dust off the decorations and check out the tree lights. The to-do lists are getting longer and the festive furore is escalating. Feeling the pressure? Well, it’s not too late to jump ship and think about doing it...
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Surprise yourself in Singapore
Singapore is the ultimate hybrid – a colonial trading post turned futuristic city state, known for its patchwork of cultures and heritage neighbourhoods as much as for its financial clout and superlative modern architecture. As a destination, it is...
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Now’s the time for a sensational short break
It’s nearly the end of the year, when thoughts turn to present-buying, office parties and school holidays. Perhaps lower down the list is our annual leave allocation. This shouldn’t be the case: many of us find that even after factoring in the...
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The world’s greatest ski resorts
No two skiers will ever relish in the exact same equation of slope, snow and scenery. What constitutes your favourite place to ski is purely subjective: whether you favour the knee-deep fresh stuff over groomed corduroy; a charming town through which...
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Soak up some November sun
If ever a democratic vote were held to rank the 12 months of the year according to their general popularity, poor November would finish somewhere near the bottom of the table. True, it is not quite February in its wintry gloom and greyness, but it...
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Wonderful walks on London’s doorstep
Walking is one of the finest ways to experience the UK, offering a slower, immersive way to connect with the country’s landscape, history and culture. And while you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d need to spend several days in the likes of the Lake...
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It’s not too late to plan your half-term adventure
It is the red-letter week embraced with relief by children who have only just submitted themselves to the routines and demands of a new academic year. And with a mix of confusion and trepidation by parents who could have sworn that their offspring went...
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Get set for your best ski season yet
Ski season is just around the corner, so now is the time to start planning your time on the slopes. This winter, there’s plenty to be excited about, and it’s not just the promise of fresh powder days and making priceless memories with friends and...
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See New England in living colour
Every autumn, locals and tourists hit the road in New England to cruise between historic cities and quaint towns as leaves turn red, orange, yellow – and even deep purple. The seasonal patchwork of colour, strung along coastlines and draping hills like...
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Adventurous takes on the winter break
We’ve come a long way since package holidays first took off in the Sixties. While sun, sea and sangria were once enough, the tastes of holidaymakers have evolved so much over the years that simply sitting on a beach won’t quite cut it these days....
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Fabulous family holidays to book now
With the children safely deposited at the school gates and work back in full swing, that fleeting summer holiday may feel like a distant dream. Thoughts of the long winter ahead are hard to avoid. The savviest holidaymakers may have already planned...
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Why Zanzibar is the ultimate Indian Ocean escape
Separated from mainland Tanzania by a narrow channel, Zanzibar is not, in fact, a single piece of land, but an archipelago, comprising two large islands – Unguja (often colloquially known as Zanzibar) and Pemba – and countless smaller ones. It stands...
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The 10 best places for September sun
Your opinion of September probably depends on the delicate question of whether you are under or over the age of 18. If you are still in the former, the ninth month of the year almost certainly comes with heavy connotations of the reluctant trudge back...
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Get into the Goa state of mind
Think of India and the first image will likely be that of the Taj Mahal or one of Jaipur’s grand, pink palaces. But further south, consider Goa – a state that’s unlike the rest of India thanks to its sparkling, 100-mile coastline, laid-back lifestyle,...
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Dive in to the marvels of Malaysia
Find a map of south-east Asia and spot Malaysia in the heart of it, with lush rainforest, glittering cityscapes and pristine seaside. But despite being in the centre of the region, Malaysia is often reduced to a quick stopover in Kuala Lumpur,...
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My favourite French islands
If you count every single one, there are some 1,300 islands off the coast of metropolitan France. Around 30 are inhabited. All 30 are, to some degree, seductive: little bits of the best of France, apparently hacked off and hurled out to sea. In...
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Britain’s brilliant long-weekend breaks
There’s nothing like a holiday for releasing energy, filling your creative well or getting some muchneeded R&R. But most of us can’t be flitting off on two-week jollies to the Med every time we feel a bit stressed. Work, cash and the demands of real...
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Discover the wonders of breathtaking Bulgaria
Bulgaria boasts vast areas of unspoilt mountain scenery, fabulous cultural sites, vibrant cities, plus a huge stretch of breathtakingly beautiful Black Sea coastline. It has delicious food, which reflects its position on the crossroads between east and...
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And the winners are…
We’re an opinionated lot, here at Over the past year we have published authoritative lists on the world’s 50 best hotels and England’s 500 best pubs. Our writers have travelled to every corner of the world, scribbling notes along the way. But we know...
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Go wild in the world’s greatest national parks
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and...
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Hit the holiday heights in the Dolomites
Are summers in the Mediterranean now too hot to handle? That’s the verdict of many, as evidenced by one of the newest travel trends, the “coolcation”. A recent report from the European Travel Commission found that 28 per cent of travellers are now...
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Make tracks for Iceland’s midnight sun
Famed for its breathtakingly unique landscapes – geysers and glaciers galore, plus winding fjords, lunar lava fields and fiery volcanoes – as well as a burgeoning foodie scene and rich cultural heritage, Iceland is a perpetually attractive...
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Discover the greatest British islands
As anyone who lives in this country will surely attest, islands can be very different creatures indeed. Britain is home to an astonishing range of outcrops and islets, from the (sometimes) sunkissed slivers that fringe the southern English shoreline to...
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Better late than never: summer holidays to book now
From well-worn flfly-and-flflops to far-flflung adventures, there’s still time to plan a last-minute break, says Amanda Hyde
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SPAIN
Bolonia, Andalusia Marked by a vast sand dune at one end, gentle, windswept Bolonia is popular with nature lovers, surfers and anyone interested in Roman remains, thanks to the fascinating archaeological complex of Baelo Claudia. Insider tip Walk up...
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Should you visit Como or Garda this year, or swerve the big names entirely? Tim Jepson gives his verdict First things first: the Italian Lakes are beautiful. Balmy weather in what should be a region of Alpine chill nurtures palms, olives, lemons and a...
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Imagine your perfect holiday house. Perhaps it’s a tiny hideaway with a thatched roof and roses around the door. Or maybe a sprawling farmhouse with a well-equipped kitchen and acres of garden. It could be a cosy fisherman’s cottage above a sandy beach...
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WEIRD & WONDERFUL AUSSIE ANIMAL FACTS
Thirsty work Permanently hydrated, the thorny devil lizard can absorb water simply by standing in a puddle. Microscopic channels between its scales allow water absorption through any part of the body. Furry forensics Even though our last common...
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Discover the best National Trust property in every English county
For most people, however, it’s part of – or a focal point for – any good holiday in the British Isles, as are the sites managed by Historic Scotland and CADW in Wales. It’s incredibly hard to compile a list like this because of all the things that have...
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The scenic route through Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is one of the world’s most mesmerising destinations. Similar in land area to Ireland and rich in theatrical Technicolor, the people are warm, helpful and welcoming, there’s a huge diversity of things to see and do,+ and the food – think...
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Find your perfect European holiday park
With the price of flights and hotels – even all-inclusives – now sky-high, the humble family holiday is more often than not an eye-wateringly expensive affair. But there are still myriad clever ways to ensure you get maximum value without compromising...
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The transformation of Croatia since the turn of the millennium – from a relatively unknown Balkan backwater into sun-kissed staple of the European holiday scene – has been a case-study in how a country can swing away from a difficult past into a...
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A WEEKEND
7 Rejoice in Jane in Bath Jane Austen wasn’t fond of Bath. But the stately Georgian city adores her, especially in 2025, the 250th anniversary of the author’s birth. The main celebration will be the Jane Austen Festival (Sept 12-21; janeausten.co.uk),...
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1 Contemporary villa in Kalkan Good value doesn’t have to mean fusty or poorly located – especially in Turkey, where a holiday budget really goes the extra mile. Villa Resital is a modern villa with floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows overlooking...
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Plan your adventure in laid-back Bali
A volcanic island boasting silvery beaches, bath-warm waters and emerald rainforests, Bali’s unique landscape, deep spiritual roots and ethereal energy has long attracted international travellers, with visitor numbers surging to more than five million...
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THE PRIZES
1 An extraordinary nine-night trip for two to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands with Rainbow and Metropolitan Touring Worth £25,000 This spectacular adventure for two people includes a three-night stay in Ecuador’s capital at Casa Gangotena, with the...
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Hit the road through the wilds of Ecuador
From the Andes to the Amazon, inspiration awaits on a 10-day journey around this compact country, says Mike Unwin DESPACIO. OSOS CRUZANDO. My Spanish isn’t great, but the image on the road sign – an Andean bear with two cubs in train – leaves no doubt...
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Blaze a trail in the amazing Azores
Swap the busy Canary Islands for this remote Portuguese archipelago and lose yourself amid its lush, rugged landscapes, says Chris Leadbeater
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Discover Thailand’s finest islands
Thailand is expected to welcome a recordbreaking 40 million visitors in 2025, many of whom will be drawn to the country’s dreamy beaches and islands, the jewels in Thailand’s tourism crown. And with the Thai-set third series of The White Lotus released...
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The 30 greatest ways to explore Greece
you are planning a Greek odyssey this year, you are not alone. With its pristine seas, family-friendly golden-sand beaches, world-class archaeological sites and myriad culinary delights, it is no surprise that the birthplace of democracy – and its more...
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Are Spanish flight prices about to go sky high?
Low-cost flights to and from Spanish airports could be few and far between this summer. As part of an ongoing battle with the country’s aviation officials, Ryanair has pulled thousands of seats from its 2025 schedule. It means that travellers looking...
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ITALY
by Tim Jepson Even a country as glorious as Italy has overlooked corners – not undiscovered corners, those are few and far between – but towns, cities and landscapes that are wonderfully compelling but for whatever reason lie outside the sightseeing...
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SPAIN
A certified crowd-pleaser Spain has the most Blue Flag beaches in the world (639), while a Mediterranean coastline running from the French border to Gibraltar provides everything from craggy, pine-backed coves in the north to extended, dunetrimmed...
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The extraordinary new hotels worth travelling for this year
In January, minds quickly turn from New Year’s resolutions (already broken) to travel plans (much more fun to keep). This is, of course, one of the busiest months for holiday bookings and whether you are seeking a slick city break, far-out beach escape...
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50 fabulous family holidays for 2025
There is a lot more to a family holiday these days than the traditional week-long fly-and-flop somewhere sunny and warm. The annual beach trip now faces stiff competition from activity breaks and one-off experiences. Practically, this means that...
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The perfect holidays for every month of the year
It’s the key to successful travel. With the whole of 2025 stretching ahead, now is the perfect moment to think about what’s on your holiday wish list and precisely which month – or months – to pack your suitcase. Weather is important, of course, but...
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How can I get the most days from my annual leave next year, and where to go?
It’s a familiar complaint. You have grand travel plans for the year, but don’t have the annual leave to make them a reality. Or rather, you do have the holiday, technically, but what with that summer wedding and the Christmas trip to the in-laws, it...
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Set out on a year of rail adventure
high end, ultra-luxe services continue to roll out through 2025. Perhaps most notable is the original luxury train, the Orient Express, which – though it has existed in several versions since 1883 – is today most familiar as the Venice...
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Expert tips
you’re travelling from Europe, you’re likely to be feeling upside down with jetlag for several days after arriving, so factor in time to recover, particularly if you’re planning to drive is not expected except in fancier restaurants Māori language is...
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It’s often claimed that Italy has the longest pisted run in the world. Known as “La Ventina,” it’s a 22km red in Cervinia, which connects the Klein Matterhorn at 3,883m to Valtournenche at 1,524m. Technically, however, the run starts in Switzerland,...
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Create your dream European rail holiday
Since the 1980s, rail has been experiencing an extraordinary renaissance, as travellers eschew the stresses and tedium of flying and driving, and embrace the many pleasures of journeying by train. It is an altogether unique method of transporting...
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Plan your perfect Costa Rican adventure
Green, serene and blessed with year-round sunshine, Costa Rica is many people’s first choice for a holiday in Central America. The environmentally conscious nation won Prince William’s first-ever Earthshot Prize in 2021 and has been at the forefront of...
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Choose your own rail-and-sail adventure
or “tidbit”, and is essentially a flatbread doused in cheese and bacon bits. It’s an indulgent, tasty lunch, ideal as protection against the cold. With all the activities to get to (like carol singing and Christmas-card making), you’re going to need...
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Ryanair rescheduled my flight by eight hours – but won’t give me a refund
QOn Sept 11, I booked flights with Ryanair – from Manchester to Faro, in Portugal – for a holiday next May. We booked early because we have to go over half term and the timings were good: departing Manchester at 10.05am and returning from Faro at...
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Heart-stopping hotels at the edge of the world
Manshausen Steigen, Norway landscapes: from May to August, the sun never sets and visitors can hike across the tundra or take boat trips around fjords spotting whales, walruses, seals and puffins. In winter, when the light returns in March, whizz on...
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Find your ideal Indian Ocean island
Scattered like jewels from Sri Lanka in the northeast down to Mauritius, more than 1,000 miles off the coast of Africa in the south, it can be hard to know which tropical, sun-kissed Indian Ocean island to opt for over another. They’re a wellknown hot...
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Make tracks for value on the slopes
There’s plenty for British skiers to be excited about as winter approaches – the promise of powder days with friends, the unwrapping of new gear, the opportunity to take your children to the slopes for the first time. With snow on the highest Alpine...
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Europe’s best hotels for an autumn escape
For some, this is a tricky time of year. Any Indian summer days (not that we had many) are a distant memory and winter looms on the horizon like a malevolent spirit. For others, the reverse is true. The French call this period “la rentrée”: all ages...
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