Advice

Christmas travellers could face chaos at Britain’s airports after Border Force officials announced plans to stage an eight-day strike over the busy festive period.  The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union announced that its Border Force members will walk out for four days over Christmas – from December 23 to 26 – and four further

Serre Chevalier is unlike any other French ski resort. It is based on a string of old villages strung out along a valley floor, with a sizeable ski area of mainly wooded and north-facing slopes rising above the southern side of the road. The rustic old villages have narrow cobbled streets and the main ones are

Serre Chevalier has lots of affordable accommodation, mainly in apartments or small hotels, and some UK tour operators run catered chalets here. But compared with most French resorts, there is little in the way of luxury accommodation. A new four-star hotel, as well as a budget youth hostel, is scheduled to open in Briançon’s disused19th-century barracks

Who hasn’t wanted, at least once, to stay in a castle? Particularly a Scottish Baronial castle bristling with turrets and towers, castellations and crenelations, with the promise of fragrant peat fires and sweeping staircases designed for grand entrances. Castles also tend to come with pleasing views and extensive gardens (and in Scotland often some craggy

The original La Rosière resort (now known as La Rosière Centre) was developed in the 1960s and 70s at the start of the road to the Petit St Bernard pass to Italy, which is closed in winter. More recent development has been concentrated at Les Eucherts, around one kilometre away and linked by a pretty, snow-covered

Ever heard of Jasná (pronounced Yaznah)? Most people haven’t, but as Slovakia’s biggest ski resort, it’s well worth considering by intermediates – and off-piste aficionados, if snow conditions are good. It’s very convenient for short breaks if Luton airport is an option. Low-cost airline Wizz Air has three flights a week between Luton and Poprad-Tatry

In terms of drinking and dancing, Jasná is pretty quiet. However, there are some good value options – and Tatraline is a newly-opened, top-end addition. Low prices are a major attraction here, but visitors also appreciate the variety on offer, with everything from laid back places serving beers, to traditional folk places with a modern twist

The nightlife in Crans-Montana is spread out between the two distinct villages rather than focused in a central area. Montana tends to be younger and livelier with a more traditional après vibe and cheaper venues; while in Crans bars and clubs tend to be more expensive and attract an older crowd. However, while there’s a

While eating out can be expensive in Crans-Montana, it’s no pricier here than in other upmarket resorts in Switzerland, and the quality is reliably high. There are also options beyond the usual Swiss specialities, with restaurants specialising in food from Japan, Lebanon, Argentina and Portugal.  For a real splurge, there’s the one-starred Michelin restaurant, Le

Les Gets is at one end of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area with its 600km of pistes. Its local area of slopes, shared with Morzine, is big and varied enough to keep many people happy for a week – though most will want to explore further afield for a day or two. The main

Vail is much livelier for après ski and nightlife than most US resorts. It has a good variety of places to go that are usually packed when the lifts close, and a few late-night clubs.  What’s more, it also offers great family entertainment at Adventure Ridge at the top of the Eagle Bahn gondola from

Vail is a cosmopolitan, upmarket place and its range of restaurants reflects this. Pretty much every type of cuisine is available and the standards are high, but most places are pricey, especially by UK standards. Each of the base areas has its fair share of good places to eat and drink.  The mountain restaurants are

Madonna di Campiglio is one of Italy’s most fashionable ski resorts, with Italian style noticeable on both the pistes and the streets. Quintessentially Italian and vibrantly attractive, it is second only to the craggy charisma of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites.  The core of the ski area is four small linked sectors around the villages, and intermediates

Thanks to the relatively recent construction of a tunnel bypass, Madonna di Campiglio’s village is virtually car‑free and has considerable traditional charm, with elegant buildings dating back to the 19th century.  There are none of the hyper-chalets that draw wealthy visitors to the likes of Val d’Isère and Courchevel in France; instead there is a

Vail is unashamedly upmarket and expensive with a huge number of luxury hotels and a vast array of restaurants serving virtually every type of cuisine. So be aware, prices for lift passes, equipment rental and lessons are all sky high. Lift passes cost substantially less than the in-resort price if bought in advance online or

There’s a reason why Alexander McCall Smith novels set in Edinburgh feature characters losing their cars. Finding parking can be fraught for residents, never mind visitors, which is why you’ll be advised to either leave your car at home or use one of the long-stay park and ride facilities on the city outskirts. But for

Why not let someone else take the strain this year and enjoy turkey and all the trimmings in the comfort of a spoiling hotel? Christmas in London is a magical affair, with uplifting carol singing in its beautiful cathedrals and churches, streets decorated with Christmas trees and fairy lights and shop windows full of goodies,

Winnie the Pooh once said, “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” With this in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best hotels with woodland walks so you can explore windswept woods and enchanting ancient forests, including the

Oxford Street – two words that bring instant joy or instant dismay depending, most likely, on your tolerance levels for shopping. However, this Mecca to retail that takes you from Marble Arch (and with it access to Hyde Park) right down to Tottenham Court Road (via Bond Street and Oxford Circus), is like a central vein

There are plenty of lively and good-value bars at and around the bottom of Passo Tonale’s slopes. But don’t expect anything too sophisticated or indeed as wild as in some other resorts. For further Passo Tonale inspiration, see our guides to the resort’s best accommodation and restaurants. La Baracca At the foot of the Vittoria chairlift,