Grenada: The chocolate capital of the Caribbean May 3, 2016 Sitting outside the front of the Spice Island Beach Resort I asked a young bellman where he would go to get the best food on the island of Grenada. He smiled, his eyes glazed over and he described how his mother makes the local porridge called tanya log. “She puts bay leaves and nutmeg into [...]
The five best train journeys in the world April 29, 2016 Train travel affords a vision of the world that seems so much more interesting than road journeys; somehow you hardly ever see anything interesting from a motorway. As John Betjeman said, “you need never be bored in a train”. Train travel is liberating in the time it affords for oneself – to read, write, think, [...]
Cross the arid Namibian desert on a self-driven safari April 22, 2016 It’s hard to imagine a landscape more dramatic than that of the largely uninhabited southern African desert nation Namibia. Dot its picturesque lands with a hefty assortment of big game and wildlife and you’ve got the right conditions for an epic holiday setting. A network of well-maintained (though often unpaved) roads means a visit to the [...]
Long Weekend: What to do and see on a city break in Vienna, Austria April 15, 2016 The weekend Spend a luxurious weekend in the city voted Most Liveable European City for the second year running. Vienna is a cultured foodie’s delight; blocks of monumental buildings hosting opera houses, concert halls, art galleries and Spanish stallions (of the equine variety). That’s not to mention the endless kaffee und kuchen establishments, the between-meals [...]
Tackle the hottest event in skiing: The Inferno is the longest, oldest (and poshest) ski race in the world April 15, 2016 Mürren is arguably the birthplace of modern ski racing and yet paradoxically is the sleepiest of ski villages. With no cars and perched on a rock ledge with little room for expansion, the feel in the 1920s must have been similar to today. For one weekend each year at the end of January the quiet [...]
Learning how to ski doesn’t have to be a downhill struggle. Why not grab lessons on the slopes of Verbier? April 8, 2016 The Bec Des Rosses, Verbier, holds mythical status in the world of skiing: 3,223m of snow and rock, angled at over 60 degrees; it’s one of the toughest mountains on Earth and hosts the final, deciding race of the Freeride World Tour (FWT) every March. “The FWT and easy access to off-piste skiing means that [...]
48 Hours in Marrakech – what to see and do on a stopover in the Moroccan city April 8, 2016 Where to stay Get totally chilled out at the Almaha Marrakech, designed by the world-famous Charles Kaisin. The riad has a serene shallow pool that fills up every evening to reflect the starry sky. Visit almahamarrakech.com Where to go Hop, skip and jump through history at Palais Bahia and walk along the artisanal mosaic tiles. [...]
Uncovering unexpected luxury in the flat heart of Norfolk April 8, 2016 THE WEEKEND: A luxury long weekend might conjure images of business-class flights to NYC or the Eurostar to Paris, but have you considered a trip to Norfolk? While it may rest in the public consciousness as the home of Alan Partridge, Bernard Matthews and Colman’s Mustard, it’s a beautiful part of the country and, if you [...]
Need a travel companion? Icelandair is offering a free buddy to transatlantic travellers stopping over in Reykjavik April 1, 2016 Iceland has done an incredible job of positioning itself as a Tolkien-esque tourist destination, making sure everyone knows about its vast, elemental landscape – fit for frost giants – and its storied Viking history. But how to get the most out of this varied country? Why not try ice climbing, or knitting or dining on [...]
Best place to stay in Chamonix: Amazon Creek has it all from hot-tubs to a dedicated chef March 7, 2016 The hot tub outside my huge Chamonix chalet has disco lights that make it look like a b-movie time machine. I’ve got a flute of Bollinger in my hand, and can hear the crackle of a log fire from indoors as I gaze through the steam across snowy peaks. This, I venture, is how one [...]