Category: Leisure Travel

A luxury weekend in Paris with Infiniti

A luxury weekend in Paris with Infiniti

By on Oct 10, 2016 in Accommodation, Europe, Featured, Food and Drink, France, Going Out, Hotels, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, Road Travel, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe

What better way to visit the Paris Motor Show than to drive there. And to drive in the luxury of the Infiniti Q30 is about as comfortable as it gets. This is a car that offers comfort in abundance and is every bit as stylish as it looks. (Some of you may recall that I test […]

Short stay: Best Western Beaumont Hotel, Hexham, Northumberland, UK

Short stay: Best Western Beaumont Hotel, Hexham, Northumberland, UK

By on Oct 09, 2016 in Accommodation, Attractions, Europe, Family Travel, Featured, Going Out, Hotels, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

For a recent sailing weekend at Derwent Reservoir, we stayed at the Best Western Beaumont Hotel in the Northumberland market town of Hexham. We’d often passed Hexham travelling from Cumbria to the north-east along the A69, but rarely had much time to spend there. Previously awarded the title of ‘England’s favourite market town’ in Country […]

The top 5 beaches of Buzios

The top 5 beaches of Buzios

By on Oct 05, 2016 in Brazil, Leisure Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

Surrounded by 23 gorgeous beaches, this chic fisherman village, Buzios, is a paradise beach destination – mother nature’s true masterpiece. Búzios is a sought-after resort peninsula in Brazil, only a short drive, just 80 miles north, from the city of Rio de Janeiro. A city where Brazilians and foreigners live together in harmony, enjoying the […]

Top 4 spa hotels in the Algarve

Top 4 spa hotels in the Algarve

By on Sep 27, 2016 in Accommodation, Hotels, Leisure Travel, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel

Renowned for its beaches, family holidays and of course, golf courses, the Algarve is now forging a reputation for being a centre of inclusive spa retreats. What better place to pamper oneself or seek solace from those irksome knots and dull aches than in the lap of luxury in one of the region’s superb five […]

4 reasons to choose a reverse ski weekend

4 reasons to choose a reverse ski weekend

By on Sep 22, 2016 in Austria, Europe, France, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Switzerland, Western Europe

Taking a ‘reverse ski weekend’ is a great way to enjoy some of the most luxurious hotels, chalets and activities in ski resorts at a more affordable price. A reverse ski weekend is different from a ‘regular’ ski weekend because instead of travelling on the usual days – out on a Thursday and back on […]

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The best places to visit in Greece for an Autumn break

By on Sep 22, 2016 in Europe, Greece, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

Summer in the UK may well be over, but there are still plenty of places nearby where you can soak up some rays. Greece is an excellent place to visit in Autumn; in fact, many prefer to visit at this time of year. There is plenty to see and do in Greece, from visiting historical […]

The 5 most amazing town-to-town hikes in Italy

The 5 most amazing town-to-town hikes in Italy

By on Sep 21, 2016 in Europe, Italy, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

Hiking trails of every length and difficulty crisscross Italy, but we didn’t pick the walks below with backpackers in mind. We’re recommending these town-to- town hikes for active travelers who enjoy slow travel. Walk through medieval towns and fields of sunflowers, and enjoy countryside vistas, then arrive at a fantastic hotel and sleep on crisp […]

The chic, the challenge or the change? The top 3 European ski towns for this Winter

The chic, the challenge or the change? The top 3 European ski towns for this Winter

By on Sep 21, 2016 in Bulgaria, Eastern Europe, Europe, France, Italy, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

The summer sun may be setting over Europe as winter slowly creeps up on us, but the opulence of the continent is evergreen. The sun loungers of Sicily are being swapped for the ski fields of Veneto as the season of sun, snow and the seductive high life begins. But where can you find the […]

Photograph of the week: An incredible dive site in Tulum, Mexico

Photograph of the week: An incredible dive site in Tulum, Mexico

By on Sep 21, 2016 in Adventure Travel, Attractions, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Mexico, North America, Regions, Speciality Travel

A cenote is a pit or sinkhole resulting from the collapse of the limestone bedrock to expose the groundwater below. The Mayans believed the cenotes to be sacred entrances to the underworld. They provide access to the underwater caves and caverns that are the main diving attraction in the Yucatan Penisula, Mexico. One of the […]

Head to Edinburgh and discover 6 talents you didn't know you had

Head to Edinburgh and discover 6 talents you didn’t know you had

By on Sep 20, 2016 in Europe, Food and Drink, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe

As Autumn draws near and the sun sets earlier each day, it’s a great time to think about replacing walks in the park, or al fresco dining, with using the early evenings to discover a talent you didn’t know you had. Edinburgh is home to some of the best and most unusual learning experiences. Cook like […]

Short stay: Bette Davis Suite, Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian, Spain

Short stay: Bette Davis Suite, Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian, Spain

By on Sep 16, 2016 in Accommodation, Bars, Europe, Family Travel, Featured, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hotels, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, Spain, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, Videos, Western Europe

The elegant Hotel Maria Cristina is a member of the Luxury Collection, has 136 rooms and was designed by Charles Mewès – a French architect who was also behind the Ritz hotels in both Paris and Madrid. Since its opening in 1912 it has been a firm favourite with celebrities and international high society and, […]

4 great airport lounge perks and where to find them

4 great airport lounge perks and where to find them

By on Sep 15, 2016 in Air Travel, Family Travel, Leisure Travel, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel

Airport lounges are known for offering a more peaceful respite from chaotic boarding gates, complimentary food and drinks, and sometimes a refreshing shower. But some First Class lounges offer other fantastic perks. Here are four of my favorite lounge perks, and where to find them: 1. Sleeping room It often seems to me that the […]

6 great mountain lakes to visit in the Dolomites

6 great mountain lakes to visit in the Dolomites

By on Sep 15, 2016 in Attractions, Europe, Going Out, Italy, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

The Unesco Dolomites are dotted with bodies of water which reflect the majesty of the mountains which surround them. Bubbling streams and rivers lead to cold lakes which adapt their colours according the their depth. Combining water, forests, towering mountain peaks and green meadows, these landscapes cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Each […]

The smart money is heading to Rio - now

The smart money is heading to Rio – now

By on Sep 15, 2016 in Attractions, Brazil, Food and Drink, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, South America, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany

The general expectation is that there will be a tourism boom during a large event such as the Olympics. However, the smart money realises that the exceptional demand on services raises costs to unjustified levels whilst simultaneously reducing the quality of services on offer (the best of the best being reserved for so-called VIPs). The […]

6 beautiful places to see Autumn leaves in Japan

6 beautiful places to see Autumn leaves in Japan

By on Sep 15, 2016 in Asia, Japan, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel

Japan is world-famous for its cherry blossom, making spring by far the most popular time for tourists. But did you know that autumn has its own natural displays that are just as spectacular – if not more so? Just as hanami (flower-viewing) is integral to the Japanese enjoyment of cherry blossom, koyo, or momiji (leaf-viewing) […]

things in london with kids - bank of london museum

16 great things to do in London with kids

By on Sep 07, 2016 in Attractions, Europe, Family Travel, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

London is a great place for a family holiday as there are so many great things to see and do. But would you know which of these “things” are family-friendly? With so many activities and experiences on offer, it can be tricky to determine which ones are truly suitable and fun for children. This is a […]