48 hours in… Gothenburg March 1, 2015 WHERE TO GO Cars aren’t allowed on the southern part of the Gothenburg archipelago – the 20 islands offer uninterrupted natural beauty with bijou villages and stunning beaches a short ferry journey from the city centre. Seal safaris, boat rides and fishing are just some of the activities available on the islands. goteborg.com WHERE TO [...]
Okinawa: Japan, but not as you know it February 22, 2015 Everyone who is serious about travel should have their Alex Garland destination; somewhere you can casually name-drop at dinner parties, safe in the knowledge that nobody else will have been. Garland immortalised – and doomed – Thailand’s then-pristine Koh Phangan when he wrote about it in his novel The Beach. That was in 1996, just [...]
48 hours in… Hamburg February 22, 2015 WHERE TO GO Planten un Blomen is Hamburg’s Hyde Park and you can’t beat it for beautiful flora (its name translates as “plants and flowers”). Look out for the Japanese garden and tea house located in the centre of the park WHERE TO EAT Fried plaice with potatoes, pickled herrings and labskaus (a Hamburgian delicacy [...]
Andaz Toranomon Hills arrives in Japan: A surefire contender for the best hotel in Tokyo February 15, 2015 Andaz’s signature blend of luxury and locality is immediately evident as you step into the lobby of its latest opening in Tokyo. More than 50 storeys up (the hotel fills the top seven floors of the second highest building in the city), Hokkaido walnut wood and rice paper panels remind guests that while they may [...]
48 hours in… Kyoto: Where to eat, sleep, drink and visit February 15, 2015 WHERE TO EAT Kiyamachi Sakuragawa Situated along a scenic stretch of the Kiyamachi-dori, Michelin-starred restaurant Kiyamachi Sakuragawa is an accessible way to try kaiseki, Japan’s haute cuisine. Smart casual dress is encouraged and the open kitchen means you can watch the chef whip up dishes while you wait. Call +81 255 4477. Bookings recommended. [...]
5 top trails: Hike your way round Japan’s numerous natural wonders February 15, 2015 NAKASENDO WAY This 11-day hike was a popular route through central Japan for 17th century merchants and travellers, but now it’s a much quieter, enjoyable trek through the countryside with traditional inns dotted along the way. Nakasendo is an ancient highway that translates into “the road through the mountains”, starting off in Kyoto, then [...]
Falling foul of local Japanese culture: Raw fish and faux pas in the land of the rising sun February 8, 2015 It’s customary in travel articles about Japan to talk about how weird it is, and it is weird. This got me thinking: what do the Japanese find weird when they come to the UK? I asked my tour guide as she led me through the bamboo gardens of Kodaiji temple on the outskirts of Kyoto. [...]
48 hours in… Vienna February 8, 2015 WHERE TO STAY The Sacher hotel is the bottom line in Viennese luxury. Filled with grand lobbies, chandeliers and objets d‘art, it’s as impressive as it is efficient. It’s also right on the doorstep of the opera house and pretty much every cultural destination worth visiting. sacher.com WHERE TO GO First on your list should [...]
Group travelling made easy: Where to take the family this Easter February 8, 2015 Taking the family away for Easter? Find a place with room to spare… Mont Tremblant, Meribel, France oxfordski.com Meribel is well known for its generous chalets, but Mont Tremblant is perhaps the best equipped for entertaining large groups. Sleeping up to 12 guests, the property boasts a hot tub, a heated infinity pool – [...]
Top 10 tips for group travel this Easter February 8, 2015 by Rupert Longsdon, Founder of Oxford Ski Company and Luxury Chalet Collection 1 Book early to avoid disappointment – the best chalets and villas always go first and you can never book too far in advance. 2 Forward planning pays off – flights get more and more expensive the closer you get to a holiday [...]