As the weather becomes warmer, outdoor fun becomes more appealing, the hedonist’s island of Ibiza is open again for business. While it’s globally adored for its trance and dance, that’s not the only party vibe on offer. Last weekend was the official opening night of Children of the 80s, the...

The aroma hits before you see it: at first it’s a generic cooking scent in the air, then it turns acrid, and by the time I’m fully enveloped, its putridity is positively unwelcome. No wonder they call it stinky tofu. In the Ningxia Night Market in the capital of Taipei,...

Eighteen years since Fatboy Slim’s first Big Beach Boutique heralded Brighton as party central, its reputation as a creative powerhouse continues. Inspired by the fresh sea air, the glorious South Downs just behind it, and the delightfully different outlook of its outgoing residents, it’s still one of the most vibrant...

Closer to Dubai Airport than the famous tourist strip of Jumeriah Beach, Sharjah is the UAE’s third largest emirate. It might not be as well-known just yet, but here, the glitz and excesses of its neighbour are resisted in favour of Islamic heritage and tradition. As we found out on...

Hello, start of January. This first day back to work is a guaranteed drag after two weeks of full-throttle decadence, and a month of parties leading up to it. You know what makes that better? Thinking about all the dreamy possibilities of travel in 2019. Right about now, some sun,...

It’s no secret that Spanish cuisine is a key reason it’s the UK’s number one destination. Yes, there’s the beaches and weather too, but the tradition of nibbling on a tableful of tapas washed down with a glass (or two) of sangria is a big part of the lovely, lasting...

If there’s only one thing more exciting than jetting off to the paradise Caribbean island of St Lucia, it’s heading there during Jazz Festival week in May. As visitors go through immigration at the airport, they’re invited to get a festival stamp, such is its level of prominence on the...

Just 30 miles wide, Menorca might be Mallorca’s little brother, but it shouldn’t be ignored until there’s no one else to play Xbox with. It’s a small island of concentrated fun, with a wealth of beaches, so much nature that Unesco got involved, and oodles of rustic charm. Most locals...

On a busy coach hurtling eastwards, the urban landscape of Havana fades into the background, replaced by green expanses and farmland dotted with bison, wild horses and goats. Most visitors to Cuba do this journey too, when they travel between the capital and the ever-popular resort of Varadero. But those...

A quick train ride away from Lisbon, the resort town of Cascais is the retreat of the affluent classes of Portugal, though it’s firmly on the international map now too. Cornering the Atlantic and making the most of its unbroken ocean views with a long promenade and seafront villas, you’d...

In a dusty seaside town on an island off the coast of Senegal, Picasso 2 (it’s written on his hat and that’s what he says he’s called) is urging me to buy some of his artwork. “Today, it’s cheaper than Matalan!” he says out of the blue. A hit with...

Tell an Italian you’re going to Genoa, otherwise known as Genova, and the response ranges from surprise to unrestrained shock. Compared to Italian delights nearby – the still beauty of Lake Como, the buzzing life in Bologna, the culinary delights in Modena – Genoa is seen to fall short in...

Germany’s certainly not short of cute towns oozing culture, history and charm. Small cities like Munich and Cologne are straight from a fairytale book, with incredible gothic architecture mixed with well-kept town squares and gingerbread houses on the outskirts. Factoring in the fascinating differences between the former east and west...

The delights of Spain don’t end at sun, sea and sand. Reflecting the country’s love of the good things in life, the Catalan coast of Costa Daurada plays host to a feast of food festivals throughout the year. It’s all the excuse needed to indulge in locally-produced wines, fresh tapas...

We take a girlie break at the DoubleTree by Hilton London – Tower of London. With Christmas in the air and a family feeling dominating, I decided it would be apt to whisk my older and lovelier sis away for a night for some quality girlie time. Our destination was...

Perhaps even more than the big day itself, the lead up to Christmas provides us with enough excitement to last us the year. That's certainly true with a visit to a Christmas market or two, which is why we took a trip to mainland Europe, the spiritual home of Christmas...