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...
Like a moth to a flame, it’s too easy to land in Cancun and head straight to the Hotel Zone: the island-strip of man-made beach for identikit all-inclusive hotels that promise beach, sun and booze. It is, literally, where the party’s at. But that’s a disservice to everything else along...
If Mauritius conjures up images of bathwater blue seas, clear skies and balmy, palm tree-filled days…well, you’d be right. The better news is that it’s no longer viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon destination. Early on in my visit, not realising this, I made the mistake of asking a chatty couple...
Francophiles behold: the annual London event for all things French is nearly upon us – and you can head there in fine style for a weekend of talks, cuisine and champers on January 25 to 27 2019. Now in its twelfth year, The France Show at the Olympia showcases the...
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,...
In 2018, Georgia and Sri Lanka were the buzzworthy places to be, and my, weren’t hotels clamouring to upgrade their restaurant experiences. In London, we also noticed a weakening of the ‘Trump slump’ – meaning we began to creep back to the States again – and activity holidays were more...
What timing, that as Dublin’s accommodation shortage rolls on and keeps hotel prices in the city centre high, the leafy neighbourhood of Ranelagh has found its own centre of gravity. It has a vibe similar to Notting Hill, with some of Dublin’s better restaurants and bars and a young, slightly-posh...
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...
Bath is an always-popular spot for a weekend break or an extended staycation, but we’ve just experienced another reason to visit the spa town: the Gainsborough. It’s the only hotel in the UK to use local mineral waters in its hotel spa, its five-star service is up there with the...