Advice

Trips abroad are currently all but impossible for residents of Taiwan, but one airport may have come up with a stop-gap solution for those missing the thrill of travel. A group of eager competition winners turned up at Taipei’s Songshan Airport on Thursday to take a flight to nowhere, navigating check in, passport control and

Pintxos, playas and photogenic vistas There is no better spot to eat in Spain than San Sebastián. It’s a brash statement, but if anyone can make it, it’s the food-obsessed Basques that populate this dazzling coastal town. With the second-most Michelin stars per capita and a respectable claim to the title of most bars per

The small, sun-soaked capital of southern Spain Known for its steamy-hot summers, mild winters and sultry operatic gypsy heroine Carmen, Seville is a bijou city whose fabulous food, extraordinary Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, and exotic flamenco rhythms never fail to charm and seduce. History oozes through its very pores, with ancient Moorish walls, Roman

More insider guides for planning a trip to Seville 48 hours Hotels Attractions Restaurants Nightlife Free After a day out soaking up sunny Seville’s sights and sounds, you need to sample the after-hours vibe of the city. In spring and summer after night falls, the air is warm and the streets are buzzing, so whether

The plight of the cruise industry in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic will be examined in a television documentary to be shown this week. The outbreak of coronavirus brought cruising – as well as the wider travel industry – to a dramatic standstill in early 2020. While other areas of tourism slowly return, with

More insider guides for planning a trip to Barcelona 48 hours Attractions Restaurants Hotels Nightlife Free The shopping scene in Barcelona juxtaposes charismatic shops that have been serving locals for centuries and fashion-forward boutiques. Spain’s culinary capital also boasts an exciting array of food shops and markets. From espadrilles in every possible colour and pattern

Catalonia’s colourful capital Barcelona combines everything that is most charming about Mediterranean cities – a relaxed pace, months of endless sunshine, unbeatable food – with the cultural and design clout of almost any city in the cold north. Its patchwork of architectural styles displays dark, Gothic façades next to the harlequin buildings of the Modernistas

As the country eases its way out of lockdown, many of Britain’s celebrated heritage and steam operated railway lines have announced dates for the first post-lockdown journeys of the summer. They have had to make a number of modifications, adapting to the changed times with face masks and social distancing. There will be tighter booking

At the moment the Foreign Office has advised against travel abroad. Some of the destinations below are potential candidates for an air bridge agreement but others are not – be sure to check FCO advice before planning a trip anywhere. Also check with the hotels as spa rules vary between different locations. An insider’s guide

Please note our writer visited Athens prior to the coronavirus pandemic Athens might not have the obvious kid-friendly attractions of green cities like Copenhagen or London. But it does have mythical heroes, Blue Flag beaches, and a sociable, outdoor lifestyle where all ages are welcome. Wherever you go in Athens, your children will be treated

Britons are about to get the green light for trips to Spain. But where can you escape the crowds? La Gomera: Hiking heaven in the Canaries Sidestep the sun-seeking Canary Islands crowds among hauntingly beautiful forested hillsides, jagged rocky outcrops and wonderfully lush valleys of laid-back La Gomera. Why it’s special Feeling worlds away from

Britons are about to get the green light for trips to Greece. But where can you escape the crowds? Ikaria: the happiest Greek Island Named after the fallen god, this heavenly island is the ultimate in go-slow serene tourism, where the locals live long and happy – and so can you. Why it’s special Ikaria

Trust a medieval wool town to tell a good yarn. If you’re wondering why Lavenham, a small village in south Suffolk, has so extraordinarily well-preserved a collection of creaking, half-timbered Tudor buildings, there’s a pleasing storyline that takes the place from great wealth to terrible poverty and back again. We lay our scene in 1524, when Lavenham -

Please note our writer visited Sardinia prior to the coronavirus pandemic An insider’s guide to Sardinia’s top resorts, including the best for indoor and outdoor pools, golf courses overlooking the sea, private beaches, tennis courts, spas, kids’ clubs and exciting dining options. • The best hotels in Sardinia Valle dellErica Resort Thalasso & SPA Sardinia,

More insider guides for planning a trip to Paris 48 hours Hotels Attractions Restaurants Free Nightlife Paris is not known as a budget travel destination and yet the city is replete with sights, activities and experiences that don’t cost a sou (former French coin). From riverside beaches and picnics by Canal Saint-Martin, to watching footballers performing

Blissed-out Balearic paradise with a party heart Ibiza has exerted a potent pull on the world’s wandering spirits for centuries. The Carthaginians were the first settlers to be drawn to its shores, and in the ensuing years the Moors, the Romans and even pilfering pirates all took turns to stake their claim on this magnificent

Lanzarote’s history is as turbulent as the sweep of volcanoes that forged it and today still spectacularly dominate one of Macaronesia’s most dramatic islands, whose entirety is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. Legends swirl around of daring adventurers and scheming pirates, through to marauding Berbers and conquering Spaniards. Since the 1960s affordable jet travel has brought

Costa Rica has announced a series of 14 health-related protocols to allow for the gradual reopening of its tourism industry. Routinely touted as a regional model for eco-tourism and biodiversity initiatives, the country relies heavily on foreign visitors for hard currency, and around a quarter of all jobs directly or indirectly depend on tourism. The

Please note our writer visited St Lucia prior to the coronavirus pandemic St Lucia has beaches of immense beauty and variety. In the north lie long golden strands and coves, whereas down in the volcanic south-west of the island the beaches are generally of the silvery black sand variety, with one notable exception – Anse

Mozambique is Southern Africa’s answer to tropical paradise: with gorgeous beaches, turquoise sea, beautiful islands and a palm-fringed coastline, it’s the stuff travel brochures are made of. Many African countries are not known for their gourmet offerings, but Mozambique is one of the exceptions. Five hundred years of Portuguese influence, tropical fruit and plentiful fish