If you were planning a relaxing gondola ride around the canals of Venice or a luxury cruise in the next few months, it is safe to say that your dream holiday is looking a lot less idylic now. With the coronavirus on the brink of escalating into a full-blown pandemic, many people are probably anxious … Read more
What is current Foreign Office advice regarding travel and coronavirus? The Foreign Office now advises against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto in Italy, which have been isolated by the Italian authorities. These towns are Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo … Read more
Monthly head shaves and daily two-hour chants: Meet the monk living at a monastery in Mongolia that survived Stalinist repression to become one of the country’s oldest The Shankh Monastery, founded in 1647, is located 224 miles from Ulaanbaatar It closed in 1937 during Stalinist repression – many of the monks were executed After the revolution in … Read more
A reflective glory: It’s 400 years since the Mayflower Pilgrims set off for America from the charming Dutch city of Leiden – and it’s never looked better (think Amsterdam without the queues) A Dutch group set off from Leiden in north-west Holland for America in 1620 To absorb their world, follow a trail that takes … Read more
The Maldives are the dream destination for sun-lovers, honeymooners and anyone who fancies a holiday on a classic treasure island. But which of the many islands should you choose? At last count there were more than 100 resorts on almost as many different islands, most of which have completely different styles and facilities. Having visited … Read more
Bearded, earnest, erudite, Theo the naturalist was surely the most charming character in The Durrells, the recent ITV drama inspired by Gerald Durrell’s memoir My Family And Other Animals. It was Theo who opened a young Gerald’s eyes to the marvels of Greek wildlife. And now here we are being guided through a pine forest … Read more
Multi-coloured beams of light pulsate to the pounding beat as a mob of dancers pump and twist to whoops from the watching crowd. The high-octane vibe has all the heat of a throbbing Ibiza nightspot — and then a giant dancing swan flutters on to the stage to prance with an oversized plastic egg. It’s … Read more
Arizona made the cowboy famous. The term had been rousting around the Wild West since 1870-ish, mostly synonymous with the more pejorative ‘rustler’ tag. But a decade or so later the Copper State took accidental ownership of brand cowboy when it became the hideout of the notorious Cochise County Cowboys. A loose association of hoodlums, … Read more
The late snow show: Family skiing in April? It’s a doddle at this super-high resort Topping out at 3,600 metres, Les Deux Alpes is the highest ski resort in France In April, the snow underfoot is as crisp as you’d find during February half-term Village Club du Soleil hotel provides no-frills, all-inclusive packages for families … Read more
Ah . . . Bordeaux! We’re getting hints of perfect weekend getaway with a splash of historic sites and a generous dollop of gourmet food. France’s sixth-largest city, on the banks of the Garonne, is more than just a gateway to the vineyards and beaches of the south-west, it’s a fascinating destination in its own right. … Read more