Advice

Driving for hours through an empty and snowy landscape to reach a ­remote hotel in a quiet corner of Iceland is a restorative experience. Not seeing another single soul heading in that same direction gives a sense of calm. The same feeling can happen while taking three different boats to get to a secret, tiny,

Please note that our writers visited the Cotswolds prior to the coronavirus pandemic The allure of the English country cottage is strong; whether you seek privacy, space, or a chance to commune with nature, there are plenty of good reasons to choose a break in Blighty. Particularly if you’re travelling with children, the chance to

English country cottages offer unrivalled charm and a chance to revel in nature. Cornwall, in particular, evokes classic bucket-and-spade holidays that are the stuff of British childhoods. With 300 miles of dunes and cliffs, medieval harbours and oak-forested creeks, there is endless scope for adventure. However, attempting to find a cottage among the thousands of

I finally left Seville, from where I sent my last postcard, as Spain entered what the government are calling the new normal. However, passing through Ronda I saw that the people do not necessarily agree. The term ghost town has, by necessity, been vastly overused in these pages, but what else can one say? The lovely old

The travel corridors are opening, and for many the bags will already be packed. But can Britons go on a cruise? The latest advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, updated on June 9, advises against all cruise ship travel, based on medical advice from Public Health England. The Government says it will continue to

With UK weather set to creep up to 24 degrees next week, many will be cheering the news that outdoor swimming pools will be allowed to reopen in England from Saturday, July 11.  The country, and wider United Kingdom, is filled with open-air lidos and traditional pools, despite the islands’ propensity for rain. A golden

Please note our writers visited these destinations prior to the coronavirus pandemic England! That green and pleasant land. An inspiration to poets and painters, writers and filmmakers, from Cornwall’s rugged cliffs and golden beaches to the gentle rolling hills and honey-stone dwellings of the Cotswolds, and then again the granite fells and glassy meres of the Lake

A historic city constantly reinventing itself Havana turned 500 years old last November and is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, all eyes are on this steamy world city in the midst of creating an intoxicating new version of itself. It may not be traditionally known for its food, but the restaurant scene

If anyone deserves to have a birthday stretching over two years it is Ludwig van Beethoven, arguably the greatest composer of all time and certainly a legend in Bonn, the city on the Rhine in which he was born and where he first displayed his prodigious talent. This year was to have been marked by

Please note our writer visited Barcelona prior to the coronavirus pandemic With the advent of the ‘poshtel’, dorm-living has never been more glamorous, and is no longer the domain of the gap year backpacker. Barcelona excels at hostels, from the old city party palaces to the more peaceful retreats up in the hills on the

Postcards podcast – always pulls through latest episode In the latest episode of ‘Postcards’, former Paralympian and TV presenter Ade Adepitan discusses his travel highs and lows, including a hairy moment in Mexico In each episode of ‘Postcards’, host Greg Dickinson talks to globe-trotting guests about three photographs from their travel. These snapshots, of precarious

Please note our writer visited Madrid prior to the coronavirus pandemic With so many world-class museums, excellent shops and characterful neighbourhoods, it is hardly surprising that you cover a lot of ground during a day in Madrid – you clock up your 10,000 steps without even noticing it here, and even the best-laid plans tend to

It’s a novel feeling this – wobbling along a perilously narrow plank, suspended 40ft above the ground, yet feeling safer than those clambering about at ground level in the playground far beneath me. Then again, four months into the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve all acclimatised to a topsy-turvy world.  This, however, is a big day. July

Please note our writer visited Madrid prior to the coronavirus pandemic It’s the little things you discover as you stroll through the different neighbourhoods of Madrid that will leave you smiling. It’s full of romantic spots and is very much a feel-good city where you invariably go home in a much better mood than when you

Please note our writer visited Barcelona prior to the coronavirus pandemic Spain is a welcoming country for families and culturally feels very inclusive for children – segregated eating, for example, is dimly viewed, and little ones stay up later than in other countries. But several hotels make concessions for the smaller ones in the party,

Please note our writer visited Barcelona prior to the coronavirus pandemic The beaches, boutiques and bars aside, Barcelona has enough sights to keep a visitor busy for several weeks – but most endeavour to cram that into an exhausting long weekend. Help is at hand, however, with the new breed of supremely relaxing hotel spas,

A modern, multicultural city between mountains, sea and skyscrapers Vancouver easily earns its reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, surrounded by the sea and hugged by soaring mountains – reflected in seemingly endless gleaming glass skyscrapers. But it’s not just good looks that make Vancouver worth a second glance: there’s a dynamic

Canada’s multicultural melting pot Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, is consistently ranked one of the best places to live in the world. Spending even a few days here makes it easy to see why. Cosmopolitan and cultured, fun and fun-loving, with an icing of unpredictability just to make things interesting, Toronto

Summer holidays have finally been given the go ahead – we want to hear your plans The Government has finally issued a list of countries that British holidaymakers can visit, giving the green light for holidays to go ahead this summer. The list of 59 destinations – including Greece, Spain and France – mean travellers from England

Cherry-picking in a city like no other There is plenty about Brussels that makes it like no other city. It’s the capital of the European Union for a start (but you wouldn’t necessarily sense it), operating in two native languages (French and Dutch/Flemish). The historic centre is like a reverse donut, with the imposing Grand