British passport sixth most powerful in the world while EU states dominate top ranks July 20, 2022 The British passport is the world’s sixth most powerful with visa-free or visa on-arrival access to 187 countries. The UK passport was one place ahead of the US at 186 countries, while EU states dominated much of the top rankings, data from Henley & Partners’ 2022 Henley Passport Index showed. Germany and Spain were joint third, [...]
Marbella is modern glamour meets rustic charm July 18, 2022 THE WEEKEND: The British love affair with the Costa del Sol continues, but away from the big developments and noisy bars the pretty town of Marbella is the region’s shining star. With its sophisticated clubs, luxurious hotels and world class golf courses its vibe dates back to the 1950s, when European royalty and Hollywood stars [...]
Visit St Andrews if you’re mad about golf, but make time for Kate and Wills nostalgia too July 18, 2022 Adam Bloodworth visits St Andrews, checking into the newly-refurbished Rusacks, the hotel overlooking The Open’s 18th hole on the Old Course Imagine waking up in your hotel room, pulling a jaunty yawn-stretch, opening the curtains and revealing the finishing line of one of the most famous sporting tournaments in the world. There aren’t many hotels [...]
Katikies Mykonos is a haven from the craziness of Cyclades’ party island July 12, 2022 People have been partying in Mykonos since the 60s, and probably even before that. Today, the bold and the beautiful, from Grace Kelly and Jackie Onassis, to Beyonce and, er, Kim Kardashian, have all washed up on the island’s picture-perfect shores. There they loll around on vast white daybeds, bag a bargain at one of [...]
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 [...]