Ultimate breaks: This week’s top luxury trips February 16, 2014 EXTREME HOLIDAYS For those looking for extreme adventure on their holiday, check out Abercrombie & Kent’s Pioneer’s Collection. The extreme holidays include the chance to test your nerve flying a supersonic fighter jet in Russia, ascend Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, by the most challenging route or push yourself to the limits with a skiing expedition [...]
Father v son: who will master the snowboard? February 9, 2014 Ski fan Keith Perry swapped his skis for a snowboard at Les Deux Alpes to see if he could give his son a run for his money on the slopes THE FACT that I fall into the so-called “grays on trays” category – snowboarders of a certain age – should have warned me off. That, [...]
Discover the craft behind Istanbul’s booming trade February 2, 2014 Turkey has a wealth of experiences on offer for travellers and holiday-makers IN THE ancient city of Istanbul, which straddles Europe and Asia across the mighty Bosphorus Strait, all eyes have been on the completion of the Marmaray sea tunnel, the first rail tunnel to link two continents. For the first time last month, passengers [...]
Take a tour of Swaziland for a small taste of Africa January 26, 2014 An eye-opening voyage around the continent’s best-kept secret, by Sean Sheehan COME on, admit it, you don’t really know where Swaziland is. Perhaps it could be vaguely pointed to on a small map of the world but what about on a larger one of Africa? Squashed in between South Africa and Mozambique, it’s easy not [...]
Get away from it all in style January 26, 2014 From pristine African beaches to chic European winter bolt-holes, 10 luxury island retreats that are guaranteed to get you far from the madding crowd 1. Naka Yai Island, Phuket, Thailandluxurycollection.com/nakaLocated on the southern part of Naka Yai island, just off the eastern coast of Phuket, the Luxury Collection resort has 67 villas, all with private [...]
We let the truffle dogs loose in rolling fields of southern France January 20, 2014 Frederika Whitehead goes in search of pungent fungus that drives foodies crazy SERGE, our guide on the truffle hunt, is twinkle-eyed as he tells us about the aphrodisiac properties of truffles. “Truffles,” he says, “are like women: round, firm and very sensuous. I am passionate about truffles because they are the food of love.” We [...]
A gourmet Tuscan break with a splash of luxury January 19, 2014 From fine olive oil and rolling vineyards to hunting for truffles in the forests surrounding San Gimignano, the heart of Italy is the perfect place for a foodie winter getaway ON MY second day at Castello di Casole, the concierge told me that an American tech supremo recently booked out the entire villa complex for [...]
11 things to know about Val d’Isere January 12, 2014 It’s the ski destination to the great and good. Slopes veteran Cally Squires gives the lowdown on how to get the most out of this stunning downhill paradise 1. Ski with the crème de la crèmeThe resort hosted the Alpine Skiing World Cup last year, which saw golfer Tiger Woods turn out to support girlfriend [...]
Head to the glittering lights of Glasgow for culture and cuisine January 5, 2014 Helen Ochyra gets acquainted with the food, and cattle, of the city set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014 IF YOU had asked me last month which UK city has the best shopping district (apart from London), I’d have gone for Brighton, with its bohemian boutiques, or Newcastle for its vast Metro Centre. I’d [...]
Searching for Santa in the Arctic December 8, 2013 Katie Hope and her four-year-old son James embark on an 18-hour journey to find the real Father Christmas TRACKING down Father Christmas in Lapland is akin to hunting an extremely rare and precious species. Come December, his impersonators are lurking everywhere you look, but the genuine article is tucked away in the icy depths of [...]