Travel

Travel

Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, in Italy, with a patio table set for coffee.
EXCLUSIVE
I’ve found Italy’s most elevated city break

Belmond’s new-look Villa San Michele, set in the hills above Florence, combines history, culture and calm for a luxurious and restorative stay. Claire Irvin is first in

Aerial drone view of Camps Bay, South Africa, with the Twelve Apostles mountain range in the background.
Q&A
TRAVEL DOCTOR
‘My disabled dad booked BA business seats but was downgraded’
The Place du Champ-Jacquet in Rennes, France, featuring 17th-century half-timbered houses, outdoor cafes and restaurants, and a statue of Jean Leperdit.
48 HOURS
The historic French city break you can reach by ferry
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
WWI? Grove of Narberth
WWI? Grove of Narberth
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
Win a luxury Pembrokeshire break worth up to £1,500 with Grove of Narberth
Illustration of an Orient Express Corinthian cabin, with a large bed in the center, an orange bench at the foot of the bed, and a balcony with an ocean view on the left.
Illustration of an Orient Express Corinthian cabin, with a large bed in the center, an orange bench at the foot of the bed, and a balcony with an ocean view on the left.
The Orient Express yacht proves we are back in the golden age of travel
Collage of a man's portrait and a landscape image of a body of water with hills in the background.
Collage of a man's portrait and a landscape image of a body of water with hills in the background.
INTERVIEW
Andrew Wincott: ‘I went on an Archers cruise with a shipload of fans’
The Place du Champ-Jacquet in Rennes, France, featuring 17th-century half-timbered houses, outdoor cafes and restaurants, and a statue of Jean Leperdit.
The Place du Champ-Jacquet in Rennes, France, featuring 17th-century half-timbered houses, outdoor cafes and restaurants, and a statue of Jean Leperdit.
48 HOURS
The historic French city break you can reach by ferry
The Place du Champ-Jacquet in Rennes, France, featuring 17th-century half-timbered houses, outdoor cafes and restaurants, and a statue of Jean Leperdit.
The Place du Champ-Jacquet in Rennes, France, featuring 17th-century half-timbered houses, outdoor cafes and restaurants, and a statue of Jean Leperdit.
48 HOURS
The historic French city break you can reach by ferry
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
How to plan your next holiday — whether you want escapism or adventure
WWI? Grove of Narberth
WWI? Grove of Narberth
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
Win a luxury Pembrokeshire break worth up to £1,500 with Grove of Narberth
WWI? Grove of Narberth
WWI? Grove of Narberth
WHERE WAS I? COMPETITION
Win a luxury Pembrokeshire break worth up to £1,500 with Grove of Narberth
Illustration of an Orient Express Corinthian cabin, with a large bed in the center, an orange bench at the foot of the bed, and a balcony with an ocean view on the left.
Illustration of an Orient Express Corinthian cabin, with a large bed in the center, an orange bench at the foot of the bed, and a balcony with an ocean view on the left.
The Orient Express yacht proves we are back in the golden age of travel
Illustration of an Orient Express Corinthian cabin, with a large bed in the center, an orange bench at the foot of the bed, and a balcony with an ocean view on the left.
Illustration of an Orient Express Corinthian cabin, with a large bed in the center, an orange bench at the foot of the bed, and a balcony with an ocean view on the left.
The Orient Express yacht proves we are back in the golden age of travel
Collage of a man's portrait and a landscape image of a body of water with hills in the background.
Collage of a man's portrait and a landscape image of a body of water with hills in the background.
INTERVIEW
Andrew Wincott: ‘I went on an Archers cruise with a shipload of fans’
Collage of a man's portrait and a landscape image of a body of water with hills in the background.
Collage of a man's portrait and a landscape image of a body of water with hills in the background.
INTERVIEW
Andrew Wincott: ‘I went on an Archers cruise with a shipload of fans’
Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, in Italy, with a patio table set for coffee.
Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest — one of the best city breaks for solo travellers
Travelling solo? These are the best city breaks for you

Whether you’re after a food-first weekender, a chance to soak up some sun or immerse yourself in culture, we’ve got somewhere for everyone flying solo

Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest — one of the best city breaks for solo travellers
Travelling solo? These are the best city breaks for you
Inside the obscure US city with new flights from the UK

Columnists

Illustration of the Raffles London Spa's indoor swimming pool with lounge chairs and arched doorways.
Susan d’ArcyNever mind Bali — here’s why London is a wellness wonder
Cathy Adams, a woman in a denim jumpsuit, sits at a kitchen counter with a glass of white wine.
Cathy AdamsHelp! I’m an Avios addict — and I’m not the only one
Aerial panoramic view of The Alhambra fortress complex in Granada, Spain.
Julia Brookes‘I booked scam tickets and Booking.com won’t refund me’
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UK

Lakeside Lodge, Damems, West Yorkshire, one of the best family-friendly Airbnbs in the UK
Britain’s best Airbnbs for a family getaway

The whole gang will love these superb self-catering stays, with bonus amenities like games rooms, bowling alleys and private pools

A row of 600-year-old stone cottages with green doors, flowering vines, and mossy roofs in Arlington Row, Bibury, England.
Spring has sprung! Here are ten ways to make the most of it
Fairmont Windsor Park, Old Windsor — one of the best hotels in Windsor
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Scotland
A bedroom at The Blackhorse, West Sussex, with a bed, a window, and a free-standing bathtub.
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The impressive pub with rooms in one of England’s prettiest villages
Burgh Island Hotel with sea tractor in the foreground at high tide, Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon, England.
The UK’s most nostalgic hotel — now with on-trend wellness, too
Kynance on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall — part of one of the best walking holidays in the UK
It’s a big year for UK walking holidays — don’t miss these 13 irresistible trips
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Scotland
A bedroom at The Blackhorse, West Sussex, with a bed, a window, and a free-standing bathtub.
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The impressive pub with rooms in one of England’s prettiest villages
Burgh Island Hotel with sea tractor in the foreground at high tide, Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon, England.
The UK’s most nostalgic hotel — now with on-trend wellness, too
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It’s a big year for UK walking holidays — don’t miss these 13 irresistible trips
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Fairmont Windsor Park, Old Windsor — one of the best hotels in Windsor
Windsor will never go out of style and neither will these hotels
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Meet our experts

Claire Irvin - Head of Travel, The Times and The Sunday Times
Claire IrvinHead of Travel, The Times and The Sunday Times
Claire leads the travel team at The Times and The Sunday TimesThe Swiss clinic that helped me sleep again — and lose weightI’m a travel editor and I just took my first cruise… to Alaska
Chris Haslam - Chief Travel Writer, The Sunday Times
Chris HaslamChief Travel Writer, The Sunday Times
Chris's beat is the whole world, covering everything from destinations to investigationsHow did the Middle East become so important to air travel?Is this luxury Silk Road train worth £20,000? Here’s my expert verdict
Susan d’Arcy - Hotels expert
Susan d’ArcyHotels expert
Susan has been writing about luxury travel for more than 25 yearsForget the biological age of my ear — I just want to live longerHow the super-rich travel now, from £10 million trips to saving rhinos
Sue Bryant - Cruise expert
Sue BryantCruise expert
Sue has sailed on more than 200 ships across the world's rivers and oceans12 of the best cruise lines for first-timersI lost all confidence after surgery — this cruise helped me get it back

Destination spotlight: France

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Europe

Passalacqua, Moltrasio is one of the best hotels in Lake Como
Como is arguably Europe’s most coveted lake. These are its best hotels

The shores of this Italian lake are home to some of the world’s most glamorous pads, as well as design-led boutique bolt holes and more affordable options

A modern hotel room with a large bed, two brown leather chairs, and an attached open-concept bathroom.
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My stay at Amsterdam’s monumental parkland hotel with heaps of history
View of Iseo lake and surrounding vineyards in Lombardy, Italy.
Forget prosecco — this is where to go for Italy’s finest wines
View of Florence, Italy, with the Monument of Cosimo de Medici, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata.
The Florence hotel that’s like staying in a work of art
Scotland
View of the Gulf of Naples from Posillipo hill, with Mount Vesuvius in the background.
I visit Naples and eat pizza every month. These are the best
Villa Asteri, Paxos, one of the best holiday villas in Greece
These are the best holiday villas in Greece for 2026
Villa Igiea in Arenella, one of the best hotels in Palermo
Palermo is full of beautiful hotels — and Dua Lipa and Callum Turner agree
View of Florence, Italy, with the Monument of Cosimo de Medici, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata.
The Florence hotel that’s like staying in a work of art
Scotland
View of the Gulf of Naples from Posillipo hill, with Mount Vesuvius in the background.
I visit Naples and eat pizza every month. These are the best
Villa Asteri, Paxos, one of the best holiday villas in Greece
These are the best holiday villas in Greece for 2026
Villa Igiea in Arenella, one of the best hotels in Palermo
Palermo is full of beautiful hotels — and Dua Lipa and Callum Turner agree
A modern hotel room with a large bed, two brown leather chairs, and an attached open-concept bathroom.
REVIEW
My stay at Amsterdam’s monumental parkland hotel with heaps of history
View of Iseo lake and surrounding vineyards in Lombardy, Italy.
Forget prosecco — this is where to go for Italy’s finest wines

Where to stay

Cruise

A boat full of tourists travels down a canal surrounded by historic brick buildings in Bruges, Belgium.
This Belgian barge trip is a brilliant way to see Europe in spring

A no-fly, slow trip from Brussels to Bruges on CrosiEurope’s 22-berth MS Raymonde, is a great introduction to life on the water — cruise-sceptics, prepare to be converted

Quebec City at sunset from Pierre-Dugua-De-Mons Terrace.
A string of spring city breaks in the US and Canada? Here’s how I did it
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Whitewashed buildings with vibrant blue doors and potted flowers overlooking the Aegean Sea in Santorini, Greece.
The seven cruise lines that do all-inclusive best
An aerial view of a cruise ship in a bay surrounded by green and brown mountainous islands in the Marquesas.
The remote paradise islands — and the sleek way to reach them
Dining area of the Riviera Radiance cruise ship, featuring tables set with white napkins and glassware, upholstered chairs in green and patterned fabric, and large windows looking out onto a tree-lined river.
The stylish new river ship with food that rivals the poshest lines
Scenic Eclipse — one of the world's most luxurious cruise ships
Champagne on tap and lavish suites — these luxury ships are modern classics
Whitewashed buildings with vibrant blue doors and potted flowers overlooking the Aegean Sea in Santorini, Greece.
The seven cruise lines that do all-inclusive best
An aerial view of a cruise ship in a bay surrounded by green and brown mountainous islands in the Marquesas.
The remote paradise islands — and the sleek way to reach them
Dining area of the Riviera Radiance cruise ship, featuring tables set with white napkins and glassware, upholstered chairs in green and patterned fabric, and large windows looking out onto a tree-lined river.
The stylish new river ship with food that rivals the poshest lines
Scenic Eclipse — one of the world's most luxurious cruise ships
Champagne on tap and lavish suites — these luxury ships are modern classics
Quebec City at sunset from Pierre-Dugua-De-Mons Terrace.
A string of spring city breaks in the US and Canada? Here’s how I did it
A person in a red hat and blue jacket on a small boat navigates through turquoise water with ice floes, surrounded by massive icebergs and snow-covered mountains under a clear blue sky.
Antarctica or the Arctic? The ten best polar expeditions to book now
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City breaks

Place Feddan in Tetouan with ornate pillars and archways leading to a public square surrounded by white buildings and palm trees.
The underrated Moroccan city with new UK flights
48 HOURS
Europe’s most bewitching city is closer than you think
My whistle-stop tour of Asia’s most thrilling city

Family holidays

Small boats moored on and reflected in Loch Morlich in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland.
At ease, teens: my weekend at the MoD’s secret retreat
A family holiday paradise in Tenerife — with Tupperware
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My family’s neuro-inclusive package holiday was a triumph

Beaches

The rooftop bar at Anantara Plaza, Jean-Médecin — one of the best hotels in Nice
Where to check in when the Côte d’Azur comes calling
Where to stay on the sun-blessed island of Lanzarote
Our favourite Seychelles hotels for a tropical escape

Ski

Snow-covered ski resort of Val d'Isere with wooden and stone chalets, ski lifts, and a mountain view.
The Alps’ best party ski resort gets a grown-up glow up
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The surprisingly affordable mountain hotel in upscale Verbier

City breaks

Place Feddan in Tetouan with ornate pillars and archways leading to a public square surrounded by white buildings and palm trees.
The underrated Moroccan city with new UK flights
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Europe’s most bewitching city is closer than you think
My whistle-stop tour of Asia’s most thrilling city

Family holidays

Small boats moored on and reflected in Loch Morlich in Cairngorms National Park, Scotland.
At ease, teens: my weekend at the MoD’s secret retreat
A family holiday paradise in Tenerife — with Tupperware
FIRST PERSON
My family’s neuro-inclusive package holiday was a triumph

Beaches

The rooftop bar at Anantara Plaza, Jean-Médecin — one of the best hotels in Nice
Where to check in when the Côte d’Azur comes calling
Where to stay on the sun-blessed island of Lanzarote
Our favourite Seychelles hotels for a tropical escape

Ski

Snow-covered ski resort of Val d'Isere with wooden and stone chalets, ski lifts, and a mountain view.
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