Jet off to where well-heeled Athenians summer in Porto Heli, Greece May 9, 2022 THE WEEKEND: If you’ve done Crete, Corfu and Kos, follow royalty, billionaires and inthe-know A-listers to the Greek Riviera. Located on the eastern Peloponnese, pretty Porto Heli is known as the Hamptons of Greece and has been the holiday of choice for wealthy Athenians for years. It’s the ideal twin-centre break if you have time [...]
Dubai’s about arts and culture now, don’t you know? April 25, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Dubai’s new 25hours Hotel One Central is a world away from the synthetic image Dubai struggles with – that of vapid shopping malls and manufactured strips of sand. The city is channelling funds into artistic centres, independent cinemas, galleries and museums and this hotel feels like a part of the nation’s drive for [...]
Heart and Seoul in South Korea, as the nation reopens for tourism April 25, 2022 The baby octopus floats in its tank, blissfully ignorant, until, all too soon, its time comes. The tiny, wrinkled old woman, who, I later learn, has been manning this particular food stall in Seoul’s colourful, noisy, aromatic Gwangjang market for over thirty-two years, yanks it out unceremoniously and whacks it down onto the steel surface. [...]
Make like a Bridgerton and book 18th century period property Keythorpe Hall – with its own staff April 11, 2022 Whether you’re a fan of Regency-era period drama Bridgerton or can’t stand the sight of it, retreating to a stately pile in the English countryside has always been a pleasant experience, especially for Londoners. Even though restrictions have lifted for foreign travel I still love nothing more than a simple drive out of the capital [...]
The magical world of Blencathra: A unique melting pot in the heart of Cape Town April 9, 2022 While South Africa went through a drastic transformation in the early ’90s, with the end of apartheid and Mandela coming to power, something less noticeable but equally magical happened in Africa’s most developed nation. In Cape Town to be precise, the beating heart of the country’s travellers scene. In the leafy neighbourhood of Tamboerskloof, just [...]
Getting lost on the border of Dorset and Wiltshire at La Fosse April 5, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Getaway from the city by escaping to La Fosse in the idyllic village of Cranborne, which is postcard-perfect: simply strolling about will make you feel like you’re on the set of a period drama. Around a two hour drive from London, Cranborne is a much-loved corner of Dorset that remains unspoiled by tourist [...]
Don’t snarl at the beach resort – Sandals is a great way to experience Jamaica April 5, 2022 On his show Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain spoke of the “Two Jamaicas”. There’s the Jamaica where citizens “live, cook and struggle” — what he calls the “Real Jamaica”. And then, he says, there’s the Jamaica “you’re probably more familiar with”. As he says it, we see a sunburned tourist, cocktail in hand, splashing in the [...]
Colourful, hip Copenhagen is a city that’s always changing March 28, 2022 THE WEEKEND: The original Scandi city break, Copenhagen is straight out of a fairy-tale. Royal palaces, looming church spires, cobbled streets and higgledy-piggledy rainbow-bright houses punctuate the serene canals. Yet there’s nothing old-fashioned about the Danish capital, which is always changing. This hip, seafront city is as contemporary as they come, with futuristic architecture, a [...]
As tourism returns, we say: ‘Good morning Vietnam!’ March 28, 2022 Like much of the world, Vietnam was on its knees these last few years. Around 18 million foreign tourists visited in 2019 compared to a paltry 3,500 in 2021. But now visitors are flocking back. What’s more, there’s never been a better time to go: some high-end resorts are offering 25 per cent discounts on [...]
Seville is the sweet spot for rooftop relaxation and city centre cycling March 22, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Seville is the ideal long weekend destination. The flight is less than three hours, it hardly ever rains, and the locals start reaching for their jumpers and moaning about the cold if the temperature drops below 25 degrees. We left grey London on Friday afternoon and spent most of the weekend sunbathing, looking [...]