Floating motionless in the deep water of northern Italy’s exquisite Lago di Ledro in beating sun, I felt the contradictory sensation of simultaneous exertion and relaxation. My heart was thumping from the front crawl I’d just done, yet my mind basked in the beauty of this tree-lined valley and my brief, heavenly solitude. The Guardian’s journalism … Read more
Pattaya, Thailand, could see an influx of tourists if a casino gets built in the city. Boonchai Wedmakawand | Moment | Getty Images Thailand is working on a new game plan to boost foreigner arrivals and increase tourism spending: casinos. The strategy has worked for Macao — which has overtaken Las Vegas as the world’s … Read more
On the outer side of Britain’s Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast, is the Longstone lighthouse, which was home in 1838 to a reluctant heroine called Grace Darling. She was the lighthouse keeper’s daugher, and at the age of just 22, she jumped into a rowing boat in the midst of a violent storm and … Read more
My home is a floating island on more than 2,000 miles of interconnected inland waterways in England and Wales. In my 17-metre narrowboat home, I have travelled from the most northerly of the joined waterways – within sight of the Lake District – to the most southerly, about 30 miles from the Channel. It took … Read more
Take A Break is your ultimate guide to the perfect trips to recharge, rediscover yourself and your relationships, and reengage with the world. We’ll cover shopping stops, great bars, restaurants worth your money, photo opportunities, memorable drives and experiences, and other important details you need before you book. Year after year, Italy remains one of … Read more
A cruise along the Rhône in Provence One of my most memorable travel experiences was drifting down the Rhône from Lyon to Avignon. Instead of rushing through France, I chose to embrace the slower pace of a river cruise, allowing the beauty of Provence to unfold gradually. As we glided past vineyards and lavender fields, … Read more
The median price per square foot in Manhattan, NY is $1,500, according to My Dolce Casa. Alexander Spatari | Moment | Getty Images Manhattan, New York is infamous for being expensive. The city consistently ranks as one of the world’s most costly places to live in. Purchasing a 500-square-foot condo in New York City can … Read more
The term “travel agent” evokes a different time. A time, perhaps, when people still smoked on planes. A time when, for better or worse, we did not rely on the TikTok masses to clue us in on every “must-visit” spot at our various vacation locales. But the travel expert industry has seen a resurgence in … Read more
I’m walking through the town of Bad Aussee, in Austria’s alpine Salzkammergut region, where I’m expecting a vision of depravity to emerge through the drizzle. The artists Wolfgang Müllegger and Georg Holzmann gleefully tell me how their big pink sculpture, which was recently placed in the town’s cafe-flanked park, caused shock among locals. Many want … Read more
A peregrine falcon is flying high over the gothic tower of the cathedral while elegant grey wagtails hop across the curving weir among flocks of gulls and geese. Is this really the worst city in the UK? Derby recently came bottom in a Which? poll of big UK cities for a short break. I’m only … Read more
