Western Europe Archives - A Luxury Travel Blog : A Luxury Travel Blog

Where to ski in Switzerland this season

By Craig Burton on Aug 15, 2018 in Europe, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Switzerland, Western Europe

With its chocolate-box villages and captivating Alpine scenery, Switzerland is undoubtedly one of the best destinations in Europe for a luxury skiing holiday. There’s no shortage of resorts scattered throughout the valleys of the Swiss Alps, but in our opinion these five are the best place to start. Gstaad Despite having enough designer boutiques and […]

5 unexpected reasons to visit Gran Canaria

By Amanda O'Brien on Aug 15, 2018 in Attractions, Europe, Food and Drink, Going Out, Regions, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

Gran Canaria was the most delightful surprise! This lovely island has Spring temperatures all year round and is full of colour and vibrancy. The fantastic quality of the food and wine was perhaps the biggest surprise for me – locally grown ingredients, unbelievably fresh fish and far too drinkable wines that are only available on […]

Short stay: Stoke Park Country Club, Spa and Hotel, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, UK

By Paul Johnson on Aug 15, 2018 in Accommodation, Europe, Featured, Going Out, Hotels, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Famed for its appearances in numerous films – Bridget Jones’s Diary, Goldfinger, Tomorrow Never Dies, Layer Cake and more – Stoke Park is clearly a firm favourite with Pinewood Studios (just 5 miles away) and the British film industry. But if appearances in major movies wasn’t enough to convince you, Britain’s first country club’s many […]

The World Ski Awards Best Ski Chalets

By Dan Frith on Aug 13, 2018 in Accommodation, Austria, Europe, Events, France, Hotels, Regions, Switzerland, Travel Miscellany, Vacation Rentals, Western Europe

The World Ski Awards were launched in 2013, with the aim to reward the best in each category as voted for by travel professionals and skiers across the globe. They vote for their favourite ski tourism products and brands or chalets and hotels, whilst the audience who gather for the unveiling of the winners serve […]

Barcelona’s 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

By Sandra Roig on Aug 13, 2018 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Regions, Spain, Western Europe

Barcelona is one of the most unique and beautiful cities in Spain, and being part of Catalonia, it has a distinctive language, cultural background, cuisine and a large handful of wonderful landmarks, nine of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. UNESCO stands for ‘United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’ and each year, this organisation […]

The world’s most luxurious bars

By Andrew Bezhenar on Aug 12, 2018 in Asia, Bars, Europe, Food and Drink, France, Going Out, Italy, Japan, Nevada, New York, North America, Regions, Sweden, Travel Miscellany, USA, Western Europe

When it comes to travelling the world, whether you’re enjoying a decadent city break, relaxing on white tropical sands, or even trekking across far off lands, sometimes there’s no better way to unwind in the evening than indulging in an exquisite glass of something bubbly. To help you make the most of your evenings whilst […]

7 reasons why you should spend a few days in Athens on your Summer holiday to Greece

By Maria Nikolakaki on Aug 11, 2018 in Attractions, Europe, Food and Drink, Going Out, Greece, Regions, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

When planning your trip to Greece, treat yourself and spend a few days or more in Athens. For many, it is just a transit city to one of the islands, but for us it is definitely a place to be visited and seen. Athens has a great history and culture, being the city where Democracy […]

One day in Matera: European Capital of Culture 2019

By Jo Mackay on Aug 08, 2018 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Italy, Regions, Western Europe

You are no doubt familiar with the image of the Phoenix and it’s meaning, the legendary bird that rises from the ashes as a symbol of constant re-birth. No city in the world embodies this fate and symbolism better than Matera, the fascinating town located in the southern Italian region of Basilicata, on the border […]

Belgravia: 10 reasons to visit the village thriving in Central London

By Michael Edwards on Aug 01, 2018 in Europe, Food and Drink, Regions, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Within a few miles of Oxford Circus, Paddington, Heathrow and any deafening maelstrom of London chaos you care to mention, Belgravia surprisingly has the aura of a peaceful country village from a bygone era. With artisan bakers, book shop, chocolatiers, delicatessens, jewellers, tailors and vintners on Belgravia’s cobbled streets it seems like nostalgic time-travel. In fact, […]

Special feature: The Hayloft, Cumrew, Eden Valley, Cumbria, UK

By Paul Johnson on Jul 29, 2018 in Accommodation, Attractions, Europe, Family Travel, Featured, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Vacation Rentals, Western Europe

Our latest trip was to the Eden Valley on the eastern side of Cumbria. Whilst many visitors to the county head for the Lake District, areas that are peripheral to the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site are often overlooked. Those who venture further afield than the confines of the National Park are rewarded with […]

Greek destinations that still have availability but not for long

By Maria Nikolakaki on Jul 27, 2018 in Europe, Greece, Regions, Western Europe

It’s almost mid-summer, and although Greece is packed with tourists, there are still some unique destinations off the radar offering great vacation options, especially for families travelling with children. For those not afraid to discover the lesser-known Greek destinations, here are a few great last minute options: Pilio – where the green landscape is mirrored in crystal clear waters The […]

The Greek gods’ answer to luxury accommodation in Thessaloniki

By Paul Johnson on Jul 27, 2018 in Accommodation, Europe, Featured, Greece, Hotels, Regions, Western Europe

Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, is impossible not to fall in love with. Even the ancient Greek gods could watch over it tenderly from their home on Mount Olympus. Thessaloniki is the Balkans’ answer to Istanbul; a beautiful melting pot of different cultures, architectural genres, where ancient wonders blend seamlessly with outstanding modern architecture. Thessaloniki […]

Aarhus: 10 reasons to visit Denmark’s ‘Capital of Cool’

By Michael Edwards on Jul 22, 2018 in Accommodation, Attractions, Denmark, Europe, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hotels, Regions, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

In 2017, Denmark’s second city, grabbed our attention as a European Capital of Culture. Compact with a population of just 300,000, cultured and quirky Aarhus continues to pull in visitors. Aarhus is Denmark’s Oxford with students comprising 20% of the population, that gives the place a Bohemian twist but still structured with Scandinavian efficiency. Many […]

A UNESCO tour of Andalusia’s three cultures

By Alan Hazel on Jul 19, 2018 in Europe, Regions, Spain, Western Europe

The rich history of Andalusia is in many respects the history of its three most influential cultures and their defining religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Andalusia is a vast region of nearly 34 thousand square miles, with some cities established in excess of 3,000 years ago, some of the oldest in Europe. That’s a lot […]

6 ways to experience India in London

By James Jayasundera on Jul 16, 2018 in Accommodation, Asia, Bars, Europe, Events, Going Out, Hotels, India, Real Estate, Regions, Restaurants, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe

One need not travel across the world to experience India’s exceptional treasures. London is bursting with some of the finest ancient sculptures, Mughal jewellery, gemstones, textiles, food, fashion and events. To showcase these wonderful Indian links in our capital, we have compiled our own guide of the best and most enticing places to eat, drink, […]

The Zermatt shuttle

By Dan Frith on Jul 15, 2018 in Europe, Rail Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Switzerland, Western Europe

One of the great things about living in Zermatt is that it’s a car free town. You can own a car here but you can only drive to the car parks positioned on the periphery of town. The mode of transport in the town itself is electric taxi or electric bus. They are both very […]

Category: Western Europe