Europe has all sorts of spots to wander around, from busy streets to quiet riversides and coastal paths. You can explore towns, try the food, or just veer off the main route to see how things really work. 

Travelling from the far north down to warmer landscapes gives a trip an atmosphere that’s hard to plan and even harder to forget. The Arctic feels like the world stripped back to its basics, whereas Morocco’s trails or the Dolomites’ ridges bring colour, noise, and stories that have been told for centuries. 

Florence knows how to do Christmas. By late November the city feels alive again. Lights stretch across the piazzas, music drifts from street corners and the smell of warm panettone follows you through the narrow lanes. Walk over the Arno and the bridges sparkle with illuminations.

Finding the moments that matter often comes down to noticing the experiences that stick, rather than ticking off a long list of destinations. Some moments happen over a meal, some in a rush of adrenaline, and some in quiet streets or stretches of coastline. This guide highlights different types of experiences: food, thrill-seeking, culture, outdoor spaces, and coastal downtime, so travellers can discover what resonates most with them. Each section gives a clear picture of what to expect.

Once a builder’s merchants, now a stunning restaurant with eight rooms. The Merchant’s Yard in Tideswell in the heart of the Peak District is a little hidden gem. The eight rooms all on the ground floor are large and luxurious with the attention to detail usually reserved for boutique hotels.

Coastlines have a way of shaping a holiday without ever demanding it. Some stretch wide with quiet sands, others rise sharply with cliffs that keep the sea just out of reach. From Cornwall to Patmos, and beyond, each offers its own pace and character.

Planning a luxury escape to a remote corner of the world works best when the focus stays on what you want from the place rather than the idea of a “bucket-list” trip. Some travellers seek quiet days in wide-open landscapes; others lean towards wildlife encounters or a slower rhythm on the water. 

Hot new hotel openings including the stunning Tarabel Lisbon. With just nine rooms this little gem will set your heart on fire…

Wellbeing and holistic travel are reshaping the luxury hotel experience, creating retreats that rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. These hotels understand that true luxury means slowing down, restoring balance and connecting with nature—all without sacrificing comfort.

The latest boutique hotel to open in Lisbon has been three years in the making. Read on to find out if it’s worth the wait.

Influencers walk into hotels today with a level of access that used to be reserved for journalists, repeat guests or senior travel buyers. Some arrive with small followings, some with large ones, but their treatment is often the same. Welcome drinks. Room upgrades.

There’s a quiet truth in the workplace that no one seems brave enough to talk about. Older people are being pushed to the sidelines. Not because they lack skill. Not because they lack energy. They are pushed aside because their experience makes others uncomfortable.

How to save money when booking holidays - tips we all need to know!

Brand spanking new and bloody gorgeous, Kingsley House in Haslemere is a beautiful three suite boutique escape in Surrey.

Branded residences are where luxury hotel service meets the warmth and privacy of a home. You get year-round access to world-class hospitality, wellness and community—a true evolution of living well, whilst living away in a foreign country.

There’s a quiet sort of freedom in knowing a trip has been built with someone in mind. No group itineraries, no identical photo stops, no fixed dinner times. Each day unfolds at a natural, unhurried pace, with a personal feel. 

A personalised holiday bends around preferences rather than forcing them to fit a plan. It’s not about extravagance or being waited on; it’s about detail, the kind that remembers how someone takes their coffee or that they’d rather walk than ride. Travel feels different when it’s shaped around a person’s habits and pace, not a company’s timetable or a guidebook’s script.

There’s something grounding about being on an island; maybe it’s the edges, the sense that the world stops at the water. The best ones don’t just offer beaches; they have character, flaws even, that make them real. Luxury here isn’t flash or loud; it’s thoughtful, lived-in, a bit like being let in on a secret. 

The vibe at Mama Shelter in Shoreditch, London, is cool and effortlessly hip without trying too hard. A mix of creative types, locals and travellers fill the open-plan bar and dining area, where people sit with their laptops, lunch, cocktails or brunch. There’s no expectation to move along or order endlessly. You can sit, work, meet or daydream for hours and no one bats an eyelid. The music’s good, the mood’s better, and everyone genuinely seems to be having a nice time.

Adventure and comfort don’t have to be opposites. The best trips strike a balance. You push your limits in the wild, then come back to soft sheets and a glass of wine. It isn’t about excess. It’s about having enough comfort to stay out longer and go further. These journeys aren’t for ticking boxes or chasing five-star perfection. They’re about being out in the world, getting muddy, and returning to something that feels like care. Here are five ways to travel that prove you can have both - the thrill and the pause.

There’s a certain kind of travel that changes how you see comfort. It’s not about chandeliers or champagne on arrival, it’s about space, quiet, and the feeling that everything’s been thought through before you even ask.