Why a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords is a journey through time July 11, 2022 At heart, I am a Victorian explorer. A century-and-a-bit late, I often find myself seeking out the new frontiers of my spirit era, so a week-long cruise from Amsterdam to the Norwegian fjords onboard Holland America Line’s new flagship, Rotterdam, is just the ticket. Gliding serenely between steep cathedrals of towering rock to the soundtrack [...]
Why locals prefer Aspen in the summertime July 5, 2022 Even from the air, it’s obvious Aspen isn’t quite like any other town. Situated at an elevation of 2,438m and surrounded on all sides by the snow-topped Rocky Mountains, this remote enclave even requires special pilot training to land at its tiny airport, dubbed one of the most dangerous in the world thanks to its [...]
Château Capitoul is a delicious combination of rustic and luxurious July 5, 2022 Pulling up to Château Capitoul at night gives only the smallest hint towards what to expect. The pitch black countryside just outside of Narbonne on the Mediterranean coast gives way to a long, tree-lined approach, at the end of which rests an imposing, underlit neo-gothic Château, which wouldn’t look out of place on a windswept [...]
Glastonbury 2022: Protest and celebration as festival roars back June 27, 2022 It’s been an anxious three years for Glastonbury, but this weekend the most important and influential of the UK’s music festivals, and one of the most essential stages in the world, returned for the first time since 2019. Did it rain? Of course it did – but only a little bit. Late afternoon crowds on [...]
Krakow’s on the rise, and that’s well-deserved June 22, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Krakow has been one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for decades, its mixture of old world charm and art-flecked cool drawing those in the know for getaways to see ancient architecture, drink copious cocktails, or indeed both. The secret, it seems, is out – the city’s biggest airline, Ryanair has announced that it’s opening [...]
A twin-city break in charming Andalucia is now easier than ever June 20, 2022 “There should be more therapy involving fish,” says Carmen, my guide at the Riofrío caviar farm in the sleepy village of the same name, halfway between Granada and Malaga. Carmen’s crouching down and gazing into one of a dozen ten-metre-long pools of water. Behind her the backdrop of the angular Loja Mountains is framed by [...]
What it’s actually like in Qatar ahead of the World Cup 2022 June 14, 2022 Before I touched down in Qatar, I assumed it was a nation of falconry, beauty pageants for camels, and endless amounts of money. Save for a sprinkling of snazzy, FIFA-approved stadiums, little suggests Qatar plays football. When I arrive I see no goal posts in parks, locals playing, or even “No Ball Games” signs like [...]
Searching for Shelley at Elcot Park in Berkshire June 13, 2022 THE WEEKEND: On the fringes of the market town of Hungerford in rural Berkshire, The Retreat at Elcot Park is set on elevating the country-house hotel stay. The second hotel from The Signet Collection (the first property is the awardwinning The Mitre in Hampton Court), guests can expect more of the brand’s alluring combination of [...]
Dates announced for Aegean Messinia Pro-Am at Costa Navarino June 8, 2022 The dates have been announced for what promises to be Europe’s most luxurious golf tournament later this year. The Aegean Messinia Pro-Am 2022 will take place from 14-17 September at Greece’s incredible Costa Navarino, which was named the World’s Best New Golf Development at the 2020 World Golf Awards. The inaugural 54-hole event, which will [...]
Welcome (back) to Ibiza, as the Balearic prepares for its biggest summer yet June 7, 2022 The pandemic hit every tourism-focused economy hard, but few places felt the effects of Covid more starkly than Ibiza, an island that specialises in squeezing lots of hot and sweaty people into enclosed spaces. Two years of closures and uncertainty took their toll – almost half of the island’s GDP comes from tourism and visitor [...]