Destinations

Thanks to its towering, khaki cliffs, cinematic volcanoes and long, golden beaches, Hawaii is a filmmakers metropolis. And for that exact reason, this isolated group of 137 islands has been used as a captivating, tropical set in movies for decades - from Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean to 50 First Dates and Aloha. To celebrate 25 years since the creation of Steven Spielberg's original Jurassic Park, we picked out five of the most famous movie locations in Hawaii. ...

Caroline Howley takes in the sights, sounds and scents of the historical city of Porto. “Love: that deep feeling. It will bring you happiness or disgrace.”  After a night drinking altogether too much Vinho Verde, we’d stopped by Porto’s São Bento Railway Station to see, admittedly through blurry eyes, its famed azulejo tile frieze. Before long, my Portuguese guide Carolina had inexplicably dragged me towards a weighing scale on one of the platforms. But instead of telling me how many pounds...

Alex Wright takes an adventure around the Estonian island of Vaike-Pakri, discovering failed dams, sunken ships and sauna tents along the way. “We train NATO soldiers during the week,” remarked by guide Rene. “They are not as good as you would think though. They’re always capsizing or complaining they’re tired.” Welcome to kayaking on the Baltic, Estonian style where the waves are big and the laughs even bigger. I’m on a two-day paddle around Vaike-Pakri, the smaller of a set...

‘From its sugary, baked treats, to its sprawling lakes, here are five reasons why Ontario is the ultimate, year-round family holiday destination’ Over 13.6 million Canadians, around 40% of the country’s population, live in Ontario. And there's plenty of reasons why. The province is a mixture of vast, green countryside and cool, cosmpolitans cities, making it the ideal holiday destination for all types of families - from fitness fanatics to foodies. The name Ontario is thought to derive from an...

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 island. Now in its 27th year, it’s become one of the biggest events on its calendar, and earned a global reputation. Among musicians, it’s the one they aim for, not...

by Pat Levy Aeroplane food, cramped feet, bad movies, wandering the sterile walkways of Johannesburg Airport while waiting for a connecting flight…why put up with all this?  Answer: the hauntingly beautiful and supremely unspoiled Okavango delta in Botswana. Arriving at the country’s Maun airport, ferrying point for adventurers heading deep into the delta, you are greeted by smiling (yes, smiling) immigration officials whose questions seem more motivated by friendly interest than interrogative inquiry. A small herd of light aircraft waits...

There was something about the strapline “luxury that Leeds deserves” that struck a note with me as I rattled along the east-coast main line towards the metropolis named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 European cities to see last year. Despite boasting a stunning heritage, thriving cultural scene and booming leisure industry Leeds has been somewhat lacking on the hospitality front, but that could all be about to change. Located at the heart of the trendy Greek...

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 don’t speak English. It’s fantastic. Climb up one of its many peaks for a soul-nourishing vista of mottled greens and browns of fields, farms and fincas. Or, make a beeline...

Read about Jay Williams's first week in northern Corsica here  We begin our second week on Corsica with a trip to St Florent, a cosmopolitan marina town known as the ‘St Tropez of Corsica’, armed with a picnic lunch. Although it’s always nice to shop local, I have to admit that the Spar stores here are amazing, with endless charcuterie choices. I found the general rule to be that the gnarlier looking the salami, the tastier, if that helps. Some...