The ski resort of Levi in Finnish Lapland is 110 miles north of the Arctic Circle. My wife wistfully longed for our children (aged 14 and 11) to be stricken wit... read more
At first glance, we could almost be in England. My three children and I have flown over 11 hours from London, but emerge to overcast skies. Our guide is in a ri... read more
The pavement cafes are filling up; couples are holding hands in the sunshine. You could be in St Tropez — except that a bottle of good chardonnay is about a t... read more
Rating: It’s not obligatory to have your laptop, tablet or any other snazzy device up and running in the huge lobby at The Hoxton in London’s Holborn — bu... read more
The snow is deep and crisp and even, the air thick with the smell of gingerbread. Christmas tree lights twinkle as children slide and skid on a frozen circle of... read more
Budapest has always languished in the shadows of its more famous neighbours, Prague and Vienna. Yet its glorious architecture rivals the competition, reflecting... read more
A slice of splendid Croatia that no-one has heard of: Discovering Sibenik, a Dubrovnik without the tourist crowds Dubrovnik and Split are famous cities on Cro... read more
Mention Istria and it’s amazing how many people are under the impression it’s simply part of Italy. The Italian influences are everywhere — from the food ... read more
Day one and our first family ski holiday is not looking promising. We’re in Lech and 13-year-old Clemmie is towering over toddlers on the ‘magic carpet’ c... read more
This is one of Europe’s great cultural capitals that still trades off its imperial past. The great hero Emperor Franz Joseph I (1848-1916) left Vienna loo... read more
Never mind the skiing: Switzerland’s Grindelwald has a winter alternative that’s a blast for the family – Velogemel ‘snow-bikes’ (... read more
WINTER IS COMING. It’s that time of year again when those of us in cooler climes spend the morning commute negotiating slippery snow slush and dreaming of esc... read more
There may have been a sign saying ‘not suitable for expectant mothers and people with heart, back or neck conditions’ — but I doubt it. Being the wrong si... read more
Wisconsin! Why on earth Wisconsin? You must be going for the cheese, right? There sure isn’t anything else out there! Such was the derisive reaction of Ne... read more
A Vietnamese whirl! Visit Ho Chi Minh City as the West End hit musical Miss Saigon celebrates 25 years on stage Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) played a pi... read more
A nice day out in the 17th century: Time-travelling back 150 years at Little Woodham, a Hants slice of yesteryear Little Woodham is a family-friendly tourist ... read more
We are standing on the battlements of Pena Palace, a magnificent 19th-century folly on a peak in Portugal’s hilltop town Sintra, which commands dizzying views... read more
Zimbabwe has a terrible reputation, and for excellent reasons. It is ruled by a brutal dictator who is surrounded by a corrupt clique of ministers who have im... read more
Tune in to Terry’s Limerick: Wogan’s beloved homeland provides a great deal more than just good Irish pubs The late Terry Wogan once said, ‘Wh... read more
Colombia has undergone a revolution. Yes, the dark days of rule by drug traffickers (or ‘Narcos’) and guerrilla fighters might never be forgotten – but th... read more
One, two, three, four — tap your toe, stamp. Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? Well, you also have to make graceful, artistic arm movements while your heels dr... read more
Deep in the forest in the Charlevoix region of Quebec is a clearing, and in it a bear whisperer. His name is Monsieur Denis Laliberte and we are watching his bl... read more
