Why Flaine in the French Alps is up there as one of the best ski resorts for beginners BEGINNER SKIING THE WEEKEND: I’m putting on skis from the first time ever and hitting the slopes in the brilliant sunshine. It’s hard to believe that only six hours earlier I was still in London. I’m in the French Alps ski resort of Flaine, near Mont Blanc, and the sheer ease of accessibility is one of the [...]
Valsana Hotel in Switzerland is a geothermal Alpine retreat To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Noo Saro-Wiwa’s stay in The Valsana, Switzerland’s first geothermal hotel. ••• These days, a sense of wellbeing isn’t just about body and spirit but also about leaving a lighter carbon footprint. Which is why [...]
Best of travel: Conquest, casinos and copious wine in Georgia To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Noo Saro-Wiwa’s journey to Georgia, Europe’s most surprising destination. ••• It has been said that Georgians ‘think with European minds and feel with Asian hearts’. Their nation, clamped between Russia and Turkey, is neither [...]
Best of travel: A feast for the senses in Zanzibar February 18, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Noo Saro-Wiwa’s extravagent journey to the island of Zanzibar. ••• Visiting tropical islands usually involves sacrificing the richness and depth of continental culture for the simplicity of ravishing sun, sea and sand. Zanzibar, however, [...]
Best of travel: Gorilla conservation in Uganda February 16, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Noo Saro-Wiwa’s examination of gorilla conservation in Uganda ••• Standing in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in south-western Uganda, I’m dodging a light hail of fruits being thrown down by gorillas in the trees above. The [...]
Uzbekistan’s untapped tourist scene is a trove of hidden wonders February 15, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Noo Saro-Wiwa’s exploration of Uzbekistan. ••• Gold-leafed mosque interiors, silk carpets, smooth vodka, ninth century mausoleums and some of the best-looking people on earth — Uzbekistan is a hidden gem. And that’s not just [...]
Baraza Resort review: This elegant hotel in Zanzibar is a feast for the senses March 16, 2020 Visiting tropical islands usually involves sacrificing the richness and depth of continental culture for the simplicity of ravishing sun, sea and sand. Zanzibar, however, is almost unique in letting you combine the three ‘S’ with classic architecture and history – all in a space of less than 2,500 sq km. This island off the coast [...]
The unexpected consequences of gorilla conservation in Uganda December 11, 2019 Standing in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, I’m dodging a light hail of fruits being thrown down by gorillas in the trees above. The animals climb down and gallop through the undergrowth. While they roly-poly down the steep slopes, we chase them in a less dexterous fashion, slipping onto our backsides and hoping we don’t roll in [...]
Jumby Bay Hotel Review, Antigua: A luxury hideaway on a former sugar plantation July 8, 2019 To fully unwind on holiday, according to experts in these matters, takes eight days. That means you barely have time to unclench before you’re steeling yourself for a return to the daily grind. Thankfully, there are no such problems at Jumby Bay Island Resort. With a reputation for discreet relaxation, this luxury hideaway off Antigua’s mainland [...]
A land of conquest, casinos and copious wine, Georgia is perhaps Europe’s most surprising destination July 5, 2018 It has been said that Georgians ‘think with European minds and feel with Asian hearts’. Their nation, clamped between Russia and Turkey, is neither fully European nor Asian but rather in a category all of its own. If one symbol encapsulates the Georgian psyche it is the Kartlis Deda “Mother of Georgia” statue, which towers [...]
