Pearl Mackie: The Doctor Who star on her dream last supper December 3, 2024 Pearl Mackie, star of Netflix thriller The Diplomat and the upcoming production of Noel Streatfeild’s Ballet Shoes at the National Theatre, tells us what she would eat for her last meal on earth My mum was vegetarian so I was veggie when I was growing up, until I was about 12. Back then it wasn’t great [...]
The weird and wonderful world of Japanese model food December 2, 2024 Japan is famous for the way its cultural artefacts seem to evolve separately from the rest of the world. Travel to Tokyo and you can find fax machines that have continued to develop new bells and whistles long after their use in the west began its terminal decline in the 1990s. Shokuhin sanpuru (literally: food [...]
Bad Gastein: Skiing with a touch of belle époque glamour December 2, 2024 They say first impressions matter, and my goodness, Bad Gastein certainly makes a great first impression. When approaching the resort, visitors are met with what at first glance, looks like a Wes Anderson film set. A spectacular cliff amphitheatre is crowned by elegant and imposing turn of the century palaces and hotels. As our taxi [...]
Domaine des Etangs is a weekend escape in the South of France like no other November 29, 2024 Domaine des Etangs is that rare and wonderful thing: a retreat in the most incredible, secluded location that you will never want to leave. THE WEEKEND “This is the land of chestnut eaters,” Jean-François, grounds keeper of the Domaine des Etangs, tells me as we roam the 1,000-hector woods collecting fistfuls of fallen chestnuts. It’s [...]
Ski Club of Great Britain reps return to France after 8-year absence November 27, 2024 Ski Club reps were suddenly withdrawn from French resorts in 2016 after a rep was arrested for allegedly “guiding” without a ski guide qualification, and subsequently fined €10,000 by a French court in January 2015. But after dialogue with French authorities in five resorts, Tignes, Meribel, Flaine, Les Arcs and Val Thorens, the Ski Club [...]
Italy holidays: swap the Amalfi Coast for this town with less tourists and beautiful vistas November 18, 2024 Italy holidays: In this quiet, Amalfi-adjacent coastal town, a much-loved Italian Count and his creations lie beneath a towering Christ the Redeemer WHERE: Swerving the Amalfi Coast, I took advantage of a new twice-a-week flight from London Stansted to Salerno and instead pivoted south on a spacious and picturesque 90-minute Italo train to Maratea, Potenza, [...]
Forget Paddington: Peru comes properly to life on a trip with Belmond November 18, 2024 En vogue right now due to Paddington, Peru is best seen by train, especially a Belmond train, writes Alexandra Pereira, who went on a pilgrimage in memory of her late friend A ruby-red Gothic typeface on the front of a bus adjacent to mine glows against the cornflower blue skies overhead as we creep into [...]
Trump Turnberry on its incredible festive packages November 14, 2024 Nic Oldham, is general manager at Trump Turnberry, the only resort in the UK to receive the Five Star Rating from Forbes Travel Guide, and one of only two hotels in Scotland this year to be rated Five Star in the guide. We chatted to him about the special festive packages on offer and what [...]
Inside the Paris hotel straight out of a Wes Anderson film November 13, 2024 THE HOTEL: Now that the buzz from Paris’s Olympic summer has settled, this is the perfect time to visit the City of Light. The city’s infrastructure is in top form, primed for visitors who want to experience Paris without the high-season crowds. And if you’re looking for a stay that boldly proclaims “We’re in Paris, [...]
Land Rover Defender by Onyx Vans review: Passport to adventure November 12, 2024 While driving behind a caravan being towed along a narrow country road, it struck me what makes this Defender, converted by Onyx Vans, a unique vehicle. Unlike the grey SUVs also headed to our campsite, each one dragging what looked like an oversized fridge through the hedgerows, I was aboard an icon without any white [...]