thetelegraph--2019-01-23--Russian company creates Our Guys in Salisbury board game in humorous response to novichok attack

Russian company creates 'Our Guys in Salisbury' board game in 'humorous' response to novichok attack

A Russian company has produced a children's board game in which players retrace Russian assassins' route to the nerve agent attack Salisbury, prompting anger from residents.  Called “Our Guys in Salisbury,” a picture of the game board shows a brightly-coloured step-by-step path across Europe. Stops include Geneva, Paris, Amsterdam and London, all of them European cities that the two suspects visited before allegedly poisoning Sergei Skripal.  The finish line is in Salisbury, which is represented by a cathedral and men in bright green hazmat suits.  In keeping with the spy theme, the box features a picture of two men in fake glasses and moustaches.  The Telegraph could not find the game on Tuesday in the Moscow store listed on the seller's website. A saleswoman said the shop sold games by the brand but the Salisbury one “probably sold out already”.  One of the game's developers told state media on Wednesday it had created it in response to Western condemnation over the Salisbury attack.  "We decided to make our humorous answer for our Western neighbours by creating a board game, where our compatriots walk freely in Europe and explore the sights," said Mikhail Bober.  GalaMart, the retail company that listed “Our Guys in Salisbury” on its website, confirmed to The Telegraph that it sells such a game.


thetelegraph--2019-08-31--Gamers increasingly swapping keyboards for dice as board games boom

Video game players are switching to board games on droves as 3D printing is allowing life-like pieces to be made.  The trend is helping fuel a boom in adult board games as enthusiasts and companies are adapting popular video games into new table-top pastimes.  The result is that more and more gamers swapping console controllers and keyboards for dice and miniature figurines, as players told the Sunday Telegraph they were attracted to the home-spun fun of an evening in with friends compared to the increasingly toxic world of online gaming.  Alex Heath, a 32-year-old freelance concept artist who has worked in the video games industry for a decade, said five years ago he “wouldn’t have thought about...


thetelegraph--2019-11-06--The best 10 board games to play with the family at Christmas

Once the Christmas presents have been unwrapped and roast turkey has been devoured, family and friends often get together to while away the afternoon with a classic board game on Christmas Day.  While technology has advanced in recent years, there's nothing better than gathering round with your nearest and dearest to play a good old-fashioned board game, loved by both young and old - even if it does generate a few arguments over who has won.  Whether it's chess, Jenga or Monolopy, there are some games all the family know and love playing. Here are our top picks of the best classic family games, perfect for endless fun and creating memories this festive season.


thetelegraph--2019-11-14--The best family board games for Christmas 2019, according to an expert

Peter Jenkinson is the UK’s leading board games journalist. His job takes him all over the world, attending toy fairs and board game expos. His expertise and ability to absorb rule books means that board game publishers often seek his input for their next potential best-seller.  No longer something you drag out of a dusty cupboard to banish Boxing Day boredom, board games are enjoying a mainstream renaissance. This year, we are truly spoilt for choice thanks to continued growth among smaller independent publishers and major innovation from more established board game makers.  Having attended a number of worldwide events devoted to board games over the past 12 months, it’s evident that an entirely new category has arrived on the scene too - shelf-worthy. These board games are so beautifully crafted, you’ll want to keep them on display even when they’re not being played.  So here’s our new favourite games of the year - not too taxing on the grey matter but challenging enough to ensure they deliver on fun. Whether you’re looking for something high-tech, fast-paced or family-friendly, you’ll find it here.


thetelegraph--2019-11-15--The best 10 board games to play with the family at Christmas


theblaze--2019-11-20--New limited edition of Uno card game promises to save your Thanksgiving from politics

New limited edition of Uno card game promises to save your Thanksgiving from politics  We didn't realize Uno fights on Thanksgiving were such an issue.


upi--2019-12-09--Google celebrates card game Loteria with new interactive Doodle

Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Google released on Monday a new interactive Doodle that allows users to play rounds of traditional Mexican card game Loteria with friends or users from around the world.  Google's homepage features a selection of Loteria cards and beans surrounded by a play button that starts the game.  Popular Mexican YouTuber Luisito Comunica serves as the game's narrator who explains the rules of Loteria.  A board full of cards will be displayed. Cards are dealt to five players and for each matching card, a bean is placed on top of them. Once a pre-determined pattern of beans are formed such as getting four in a row, a winner is declared after the Loteria button is hit.  Loteria originated in Italy in the 15th century and first moved to Spain before it hit Mexico in 1769. The characters and objects on the cards have been updated multiple times to reflect current social norms.  Five Mexican and Mexican-American illustrators designed the over 50 cards for the Doodle including Carolina Martinez, Cecilia Ruiz, Luis Pinto, Loris Lora and Valeria Alvarez.  "Today, Loteria's iconic imagery and the shared experience it fosters across people of any generation has become a source of pride and celebration for Mexican culture. Whether you play today with your familia or a new amig@ around the world, we hope today's Doodle inspires fun, curiosity and a healthy dose of competencia," Global marketing lead, Google Doodle Perla Campos said.


sputnik--2019-03-11--Indian Cities Ban PUBG Online Game Citing Harmful Effects on Children

New Delhi (Sputnik): At least four cities in India now have ordered a complete ban on PUBG, or PlayerUnknown's BattleGrounds, which is a popular battle royale game among Indian youth and teenagers.  Last week, PUBG was banned in the cities of Rajkot and Surat in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Now other districts of the state, namely Bhavnagar and Gir Somnath, have also joined the bandwagon and issued a notification to ban the popular mobile game. The notification observes that games like PUBG incites violence and adds that if people are caught playing the game, then they may be prosecuted under Indian law.  A similar notification was earlier issued against the viral "Momo Challenge", a viral hoax challenge in which an unknown stranger entices users to indulge in harmful, even fatal acts.  PUBG was created and distributed by a subsidiary of the South Korean gaming company "Bluehole". The game has already celebrated its first anniversary of its release. Since last year, the game has achieved tremendous popularity across the world, especially in India.  The game has been severely criticised by officials as well as parents for having negative, addictive and adverse effects on children.  During one of the recent direct interaction session of the prime minister with students through an event, a mother even apprised PM Narendra Modi about her child's addiction to the game.  Some Indians have appealed to the prime minister through social media to ban the game.  There are also several Indians who have objected to the ban.


thesun--2019-01-11--The best family games for that new console whatever age your children are

The best family games for that new console, whatever age your children are

WAS there a shiny new games console under your family's Christmas tree this year?  If so, you might be feeling a little lost, or indeed feeling like you're in danger of losing your family to it. But don't worry -- Andy Robertson editor of AskAboutGames.com is here to help.  He's rounded up the top family games you can get right now that you can jump into, whatever age you are -- helpfully grouped by their PEGI rating so you know they're going to be suitable for whichever family members are gathered around the telly.  Children might not think they need help finding video games to play, but parents can guide them discover a wider range of experiences. To keep gaming healthy it's also important that mums, dads and carers find games that they want to play together with their children, too.  One valuable resource here are the PEGI ratings that designate in great detail which game are appropriate for which age groups. While it's worth noting that this is about appropriate content rather than how old you need to be to enjoy a particular game, these ratings are a good place for parents to start when looking for new games.  New Super Marios Bros. U Deluxe (Switch) - A great two-dimensional Super Mario game that up to four players can play at once. It's a great way to introduce kids to the world of Mario, especially if you happened to play NES or SNES Mario Bros. games. Challenging (but not too challenging) and great multiplayer make this one a winner.  Wordhunters (PS4 PlayLink) - This is a PlayStation 4 game played with mobile phones. This not only means you don't need lots of controllers, but that the interface is super simple for all ages. With the world travelling word puzzles this is a brilliant game for parents and children. The combination of the big screen and handheld devices words perfectly.  Crayola Scoot (Switch, PS4, Xbox One) - Crayola Scoot combines fun scooting action with the colouring entertainment of crayons. You can execute a range of special moves as you traverse the world and improve your scooting skills. Families will also enjoy the split screen colour clash mode and the 4-player party pop challenge. Brand collaborations like this are sometimes questionable, but this is one that offers real value.  Overcooked 2 (Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC) - Overcooked is suitable for all ages, but children probably need to be 8 or 9 to play it competitively. It's a beautifully simple cooking challenge where you collaborate to create specific dishes of food in increasingly strange locations. The genius is how well balanced each level is. Players have to pay attention to the screen, but also communicate with each other to do well. A video game that encourages parents/carers and children to talk to each other is a video game worth having in the family.  Starlink Battle for Atlus (Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC) - This is a beautiful open space adventure where players pilot a variety of customisable craft as they follow a high quality fully animated story line. You can play it electronically, but it really comes to life for slightly younger players when you get it with the integrated toys. These spaceships, weapons, pilots and wings are interchangeable. Snap them together, place them on the controller and they instantly appear in the game. You can also get the starter pack for a big discount at the moment. This is a real winner.  Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Xbox One, PS4, Switch) - If you enjoyed playing Crash Bandicoot or Spyro the Dragon in your formative years these remakes are a great way to revisit those characters and worlds with your children. But even if you didn't, Spyro Reignited Trilogy offers and action adventure experience that children will love. It's perfect for youngsters as it combines exuberant action with exploration and collection.  Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle – Donkey Kong Adventure (Switch) - This is the new expansion to the Mario + Rabbids turn based strategy game. Players take turns to move their characters and attack each other in the battles. It looks amazing, with Mario, Peach, Luigi and the Nintendo crew taking on the Rabbids and other baddies. What's best for younger players is that there is no time limit so they can take their time with each go, and mum and dad can help along the way as need be.  Towerfall (Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PC) - This is a great retro combat game, featuring knights with limited stocks of arrows to fire at each other. It offers a chaotic and frantic experience on all platforms, but on Switch this extends to 6 players and a few new settings. Upping the number of players makes this idea for larger families, or when you have others round for a gaming session. The detailed settings also let you tailor teams and abilities to make sure it's a balanced match even when you have a range of ages playing.  Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch) - This is the latest update of the Super Smash Bros. franchise. On the Switch it looks amazing with a huge array of characters and locations that children will recognise from other Nintendo games they play. Again you can have a large number of players all fighting together, but it's the depth of the roster and need to really learn how to use each fighter, that makes this really good value for families.  Sea of Thieves (Xbox One, PC) - This is an open world game about pirates and the high seas. Players explore the world by ship, and can collaborate with each other to take on missions and earn treasure. The open nature of the game makes it suitable for children who don't want a directed experience, although it's worth noting that more work is required by the player for this to be enjoyable.  Marvel’s Spider-Man (PS4) - This is an open world super hero game perfect for fans of Spider-Man. It's rated for older teenagers because the combat, and for that audience is a perfect fit. There's a combination of strong character progression with an original and emotionally compelling story. Along with the downloadable content that offers new missions and story elements, Spider-Man is one of the best super hero games on the PlayStation platform.  West of Loathing (Switch, PC, Mac) - This is a tongue in cheek slapstick adventure. Players explore the black and white hand drawn world to take on enemies and earn better weapons. Along with the entertaining scenarios and comedic writing, this is a game that feels completely original from the outset. But more than a novelty this offers older teenagers a unique role play experience with quests, puzzles and mysteries.  Ark Survival Evolved (iOS, Android, Xbox, PC) - Another open world game. This takes the basic survival concept of Minecraft but puts it in a realistic universe. Players must survive a world full of dinosaurs and other environmental threats by collecting materials and developing food supplies. It's not an easy game, but one that can be played in many different ways.


thedailyrecord--2019-03-22--Its a no brainer - get your Puzzle Pull-out free with the Ayrshire Post

It's a no brainer - get your Puzzle Pull-out free with the Ayrshire Post

Time to get the brainwaves active for a great give-away in this week’s Ayrshire Post.  Inside you will find an eight-page puzzles pull-out packed with games and word teasers.  And it’s absolutely free for our readers.  The good thing is all the answers are given at the back - so no need to fret for a week.  Get your copy of the 80 page Ayrshire Post from your paperboy on a Tuesday night, or in newsagents from 6am on Wednesday morning.


sputnik--2019-02-06--90s Video Game Classics Making a Comeback Right Before Valentines Day

90s Video Game Classics Making a Comeback Right Before Valentine's Day

Super Mario Bros. 2, first released in 1998, and Kirby's Adventure, a 1993 platform game, will be added to the nostalgia line-up of games available on Nintendo Switch Online — including Donkey Kong and Yoshi — on 13 February.  In order to enjoy the newly introduced classics, subscribers will have to cash out for the service, which costs $19.99 yearly.  READ MORE: Luigi is a Trans & ‘I Am Here for Her': Super Mario Bros Fans Rally on Twitter


thesun--2019-07-25--Make the most of summer with holiday foods and games to keep the kids busy

WITH two-thirds of us planning a UK break this year, holidays at home are the current hot ticket among families.  Make the most of summer with holiday foods and fun games to keep little ones busy. With ideas for sunny play and rainy-day fun – all at glorious prices – you can save a packet over pricier activities.  METHOD: Mix all of your ingredients for the salsa (everything but the salmon, pittas and cajun seasoning), seasoning to taste.  Mix the diced salmon with the cajun spice, then place it on a baking tray and cook at 180C for five minutes (or until thoroughly cooked).  Warm the pittas, split them and fill with the salmon. Top with the salsa and serve.  GET that holiday feeling with these great food buys. Just add sunshine! Buy two for £3 on selected packs of ice creams and lollies at Morrisons, including six strawberry Cornettos, £2, and 12 Mini Milks, £2.17. Get a taste of the Med with Asda Extra Special halloumi & chilli jam tortilla rolls, £1. Go global with three for £7 on Waitrose World Deli nibbles including spinach & feta parcels, £3.50, and chicken harissa skewers, £3. Save 50p on Sainsbury’s crustless tomato, mozzarella & basil quiche, 340g, was £2.30, now £1.80.  METHOD: Pat fish with kitchen paper. Halve one of the garlic cloves and rub it over the sardines.  Brush with some oil and put them in the fridge to chill.  Thinly slice the fennel lengthways and slice the courgette along the diagonal. Brush the vegetables with a little of the oil then season with salt and pepper.  Crush the other garlic clove and whisk into the remaining oil along with the lemon juice and rind, mustard and 2 tbsp of the dill.  Barbecue the veg for three to four minutes on each side, until tender, then add to the dressing.  Next, barbecue the sardines for three to four minutes on each side, until cooked through and the fish flakes easily with a fork.  Serve with the vegetables and scatter with dill.  Give little ones loads of reasons to get outside.  Keep them counting with Morrisons garden snakes & ladders, down from £8 to £5.  Wilko swing tennis, £10, will be a big hit too.  Chad Valley bubble solution (three bottles) is down from £3 to £2.25 at Sainsbury’s.  Buy a tough foam ball at Tesco for £2 or save arguments and buy two for £3.  Keep them covered with Superdrug’s Solait suncare range, buy one get one free, including new Colour


eveningstandard--2019-04-18--Easter weekend 2019 TV guide What to watch on Good Friday and over the bank holiday

Easter weekend 2019 TV guide: What to watch on Good Friday and over the bank holiday

Easter is finally here, which means we can kick back and relax for a couple of days and bask in the British sunshine.  But if being outside isn't your thing, there is plenty on the box to keep you company throughout the weekend from Marvel premieres to the epic that is Game of Thrones.  So here are our top picks for what to watch....  Richard Ayoade explores Portugal in a brief city break with fellow comedian Nish Kumar. The pair sample the local delicacies before roaming the streets of Porto, trying out everything from 5D cinema to artisanal soap.  The second episode of the final season is a must-watch for your Easter Monday viewing, with more people able to catch the 2am showing (in line with the US broadcast) because they won't have to get up for work.


theindependent--2019-01-30--Best February holiday deals from skiing in Meribel to safari in Tanzania

Best February holiday deals from skiing in Méribel to safari in Tanzania

It’s the shortest month, but February can seem to go on for ever. Get a break from winter with a hot-weather holiday or grab a late skiing deal. If you’re looking ahead to May, these ideas might inspire you.  Take advantage of excellent snow conditions with a last-minute ski holiday in Méribel, one of the most popular resorts in France’s Three Valleys. Alpine Elements has availability from 3 February in Chalet Marcelle, which is in a handy spot near the bars and slopes of Rond Point. A week’s holiday costs from £427pp and includes flights, transfers, breakfast, afternoon tea and five evening meals.  Safaris, historic towns, beaches and elephants – you can get all of these on a 10-day holiday in Tanzania. Fleewinter has a break starting in the Selous Game Reserve, where you spend three nights watching elephants and going on game drives, boat safaris and bush walks. Then a couple of nights spent exploring Stone Town before collapsing on a Zanzibar beach for the final four nights. The starting price of £2,650pp excludes flights but includes full board at Selous, B&B in Stone Town and half board in Zanzibar, plus transfers and tours. Departures are throughout February.  Combine a city break with a few days at the beach in Gran Canaria’s capital, Las Palmas. Stroll around the colourful streets of the 15th century old town, Vegueta, and its wonderful food market before hitting the long sandy stretch of Playa de las Canteras. Jet2 Holidays has a five-night break departing 9 February at the Hotel Concorde, which has a rooftop pool and is within spitting distance of Playa de las Canteras. The starting price of £409pp includes flights and breakfast.  Costa Rica’s captivating wildlife and varied landscapes are a winning combination and you can get an enticing introduction to this gorgeous country during Sunvil’s 12-night Classic Costa Rica tour. After arriving in the capital, San Jose, you’ll head off to the Caribbean coast and the mangroves of Tortuguero before exploring the volcanic region of Arenal. Then it’s off to the Monteverde before finishing on the beaches of Nicoya peninsula. Prices start at £2,683 and include flights, transfers, breakfast and two nights’ full board.  Grab a gang of eight for a communal get-together with a difference. Smiths Castle in County Clare dates from the 15th century, and is chock full of antiques and cosy medieval corners. Sleeping eight, the castle is set in five acres, with long sandy beaches and ferries to the Aran Islands within a short drive. Oliver’s Travels has five nights’ rental throughout May from £1,539, and includes breakfast and a welcome hamper. There’s also a private chef service.  Get to know some of the scores of beaches tucked into Sardinia’s southern coast – including the soft sands of Santa Margherita di Pula. Sardatur Holidays has a week’s full board at Hotel Flamingo, which has a long sandy beach just beyond its outdoor pools. The starting price of £606pp includes flights, transfers and all meals, for an 18 May departure.  The wonders of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast deserve long, slow exploration. With a five-night self-guided walking holiday with Headwater, you start in Weymouth before climbing to the top of Burning Cliff and carrying on to the fantastically shaped Durdle Door rock arch towards Lulworth Cove. You’ll also walk along the Purbeck Hills before finishing on the Sandbanks peninsula. The starting price of £699pp is for departures throughout May and includes B&B accommodation, luggage transfers and walking notes.


thesun--2019-05-30--Lidl is selling an inflatable sun lounger so you can relax in the pool on holiday

ENJOY summer to the max with this inflatable sun lounger from Lidl - perfect for relaxing in the pool.  Exactly what you need with you on holiday, the supermarket chain is selling this lounger for just £7.99.  Put your feet up and relax with this comfortable water lounger - it even has an integrated pillow.  It appears that it comes in a few colours - we have reached out to Lidl and will update here when we have confirmation.  It's extra wide at the bottom and has two air chambers - maximum comfort for when you're chilling by the pool.  When inflated, the lounger measures 167.5 x 79 x 22.5cm so you might find your legs dangling into the water if you're particularly tall.  There's no cup holder - which is common with some lilos and loungers - but for the low price of £7.99, we aren't really that fussed.  Amazon is selling a different design for £9.99 whilst a similar model would cost you £12.99 at Aldi.  The sun lounger is available from Lidl stores nationwide - check which is your nearest store here.  It might be worth ringing ahead to see if your nearest branch stocks the lounger before you make the journey.  Wowcher has a deal on a giant inflatable unicorn if you want to grab more inflatable accessories this summer.  Or maybe this sand and water pit from Argos is more your thing for more summer fun in the garden.  Garden games can be extended into camping thanks to Aldi's inflatable mattresses with night lights.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk


eveningstandard--2019-04-04--EGX Rezzed Try out the hottest new games at the Tobacco Dock this weekend

EGX Rezzed: Try out the hottest new games at the Tobacco Dock this weekend

On the hunt for over 200 of the most exciting games to play and explore in the centre of London? This weekend, the Tobacco Dock is serving up just that.  EGX Rezzed, the major gaming expo, is returning to London this weekend as part of the annual London Games Festival. Taking place in Shadwell, the three-day consumer event is all about play and exploration, and with the chance to shop and try out everything that’s hot in gaming right now.  In particular, Rezzed is a chance to try out the next generation of games that haven’t even been released yet.  The expo will include Cake Bash, a four-player game where you fight to make the tastiest cake, Playstation’s exciting new game Dreams from the creators of LittleBigPlanet, and Minit, a 60-second adventure game that promises to take you outside the comfort of your home.  The AMD Ryzing Indies room is worth check out too. A total of 12 promising indie developers have been picked to showcase their new wares. Visitors are invited to try out the different games and then vote for their favourite.  For more gaming fun, there’s the Leftfield Collection, the annual indie showcase which shines a light on some of the most diverse gaming experiences out there, as well as Tabletop Games which focuses on the best board games around.  There’s so much more than just playing games at Rezzed. Every year, the expo holds a Games Industry careers fair, where people can speak to games developers and creators about what it’s really like to work in the industry. As part of the London Games Festival launch, it was revealed that the gaming industry contributes £5.7 billion to the UK economy. If there’s ever a time to get involved in games, it’s now.  Award-winning games designer Brenda Romero will be giving a talk about what it’s like to be a designer, whilst other talks include topics on things such as diversity in gaming, and advice for start-ups.  EGX Rezzed takes place at the Tobacco Dock from April 4 – 6, as part of the London Games Festival.  Tickets are available now and start from £20.  The Evening Standard is the official media partner of the London Games Festival  Subscribe to Women Tech Charge, a new podcast from the Evening Standard.  From fashion to finance, technology is revolutionising our lives. Meet the extraordinary women who are leading the charge.  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.


eveningstandard--2019-04-30--8 of the best family-friendly bank holiday boltholes in the UK

With two long weekends on the horizon, we've rounded up the best family-friendly locales for a long-weekend break.  If you’re feeling the need to be beside the seaside, then check into this nautical-themed hotel right on the buzzy Brighton seafront. Just one hour from central London, the Brighton Harbour hotel is an ideal option for families.  Highlights include the sea-facing rooms, which are highly recommended for the views alone. The hotel is just a short stroll away from Brighton Pier where kids can enjoy traditional fairground rides, or take a ride on the Volk’s Electric Railway train – the world’s oldest electric railway. Brighton Museum and The Royal Pavilion are also nearby, as are the Lanes – a maze of roads filled with a plethora of restaurants and quaint shops. If you get a chance, escape to the hotel’s subterranean spa, which offers ESPA treatments and there are special swimming times for kids. Do try the new Harby’s Bar & Diner, which dishes up the tastiest seafood and seasonal ice-cream parlour style desserts.  Just outside of Oxford, this magnificent 15th-century manor house makes for an indulgent family escape. Beautiful bedrooms, marble baths, immaculate gardens and a two Michelin-starred French restaurant run by chef-patron Raymond Blanc – it may sound like a kid-free zone, but children are very much welcome here.  Spend some quality time together wandering through the acres of picturesque grounds featuring an English water garden, a tranquil Japanese tea garden and an impressive kitchen garden, where you’ll find vegetables and herbs that are used at the restaurant.  If the weather is challenging, there are plenty of kiddie games and DVDs to keep children occupied, along with a goody bag and a cuddly bear, which is handed to younger guests.  There are individually created children’s menus with dishes such as beef burgers, macaroni cheese, homemade purees (for weaning tots) as well as chef Raymond Blanc’s favourite childhood puddings. Kids are also given a behind the scenes tour of the kitchen where they get to pick their own ice cream.  The hotel has created a Family Time package that includes accommodation, a five-course dinner for adults and breakfast, while under 12s can stay and eat for free from the children’s menu.  A two-hour drive from London or a 90-minute train ride from Paddington, you’ll find the 400-acre Farncombe Estate nestled in the picturesque Cotswolds. Book one of the uber-luxe treehouses set on the grounds of the charming Fish Hotel.  Set upon stilts with superb countryside views, the treehouses can accommodate families of four.  You don’t have to be a child to appreciate the sheer delight of staying in a treehouse, especially one with a chic Scandi-esque décor, under-floor heating, en suite bathroom, a fully-loaded mini bar and a indulgent hot tub. Here, you can expect all the luxury of a boutique hotel, including a delicious Cotswolds breakfast every morning.  Little ones will like the children’s play zone made from recycled wood, while older kids can shoot some pool or enjoy family time in the games room.  If you’re fond of the outdoors, there’s plenty to do in the surrounding areas. Borrow some Original Muck Boot Company wellies (available for guests) and explore the nature trails to nearby Willersey and Chipping Campden. The local village, Broadway, is a 20-minute walk - here you’ll find pretty teashops and delis where you can pick up some fine local cheese and honey.  Imaginative kids and Game of Thrones-loving adults will revel in the opportunity to stay in a castle and there are few more magnificent than Devon’s Bovey Castle. There are 64 rooms to pick from or larger families can book one of the three-storey country lodges, which accommodate up to six people.  Set within the Dartmoor National Park surrounded by weeping willow trees, strolling ponies and flowing rivers, you are in prime position for a real family adventure. Bikes are available to borrow and perfect for exploring the vast grounds. Those that wish to take it easy can ask the hotel to organise a tour in one of their 4x4s. A visit to the onsite Deer Park will make you feel like you are in the Serengeti, as you get up close to the creatures watching them feed and run free – it’s a truly magical experience.  Baby sitters can be booked a couple of days in advance should you wish to get in some spa time or a spot of dinner at the Art Deco inspired Great Western Restaurant.  There are plenty of other activities to suit all tastes and ages, including archery, bug house making, survival techniques, apple pressing or slow gin making for grown ups. You’ll wish you’d booked in for a week.  Tucked away in South Kensington, this chic, laid back, family-friendly hotel is perfectly placed for family excursions to London’s popular museums and parks. The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum, The V&A and Hyde Park are a short walk away, making it an ideal hub to crash out at after a day out in the capital.  There is plenty to do at the hotel. A games room is filled with board games, books and a table tennis table. Kids will love the award-winning Science Afternoon Tea. Inspired by the Natural History and Science Museums, the menu is a creative and interactive experience including petri dishes, chocolate spacemen and dinosaur biscuit ‘fossils’ hidden beneath chocolate soil.  All details have been considered here. Expect rooms equipped with mini robes, slippers, child-friendly toiletries, rubber ducks and toy cars waiting on arrival.  Perched in the stunning Usk Valley in Wales, just off the M4, the five-star Celtic Manor Resort is set in more than 2,000 acres of panoramic parkland. The resort incorporates four different properties  – the 330-room luxury Resort Hotel, an historic 19th-century Manor House with 70 rooms, the contemporary Coldra Court and the laid-back Newbridge on Usk country inn – this is the ideal spot for an action-packed getaway.  The self-catering Hunter lodges are ever so luxurious and perfect for those thinking of travelling in a larger group. With four en-suite bedrooms, living space and a dreamy hot tub with picturesque views - the lodges can accommodate up to eight people.  There’s no chance of boredom here. There are an array of activities available to book for all ages, including adventure golf on a Celtic-inspired raft, a treetop adventure for adrenaline junkies, laser combat using high-tech guns, a super games room and a large pool with plenty of family swimming hours.  There are nanny services for parents who want to retreat to the spa (which incidentally offers ‘Teen Dream mum-and-me’ packages), or to have a crack at the spectacular golf course, which was specially built for the Ryder Cup.  If a low-key weekend is on the agenda, simply enjoy being in the midst of nature by walking along the miles of woodland trails around the resort, or explore Wales’s cultural castles - there’s something to keep everyone entertained.  Spend the weekend camping out in style on the grounds of Kent’s majestic Leeds Castle. Leave the camping gear at home. Simply turn up and get comfy in one of the striped, medieval-style Knight’s tents which sleep up to four people. Each tent comes decked out with four-poster beds, warming wood burning stoves and sumptuous bedding.  There are shower and washing facilities in the Knight’s Cottage - a short stroll from the campsite which is set in the castle’s pretty one-acre vineyard.  Included in the price is access to the grounds and castle.  Kids will be fascinated to discover the castle - a palace once used by Henry VIII - and the entire family will have fun navigating the huge maze, before returning to civilisation through an underworld grotto.  From just £75 a night this new, super stylish American-style motel and diner from the people behind Soho Farmhouse and Babington House can be found off the A420 in Buckland. It’s a great base for those visiting central Oxford.  The interconnecting and bunk bedrooms are perfect for families and the rooms are simplistic in design. Large beds are fitted with Egyptian cotton sheets, while bathrooms are equipped with power showers and Cowshed products.  Young foodies will like indulging at the 1950s-style diner, which dishes up treats like cheesy nachos, Dirty Burgers (from the London chain), hand spun milkshakes and sodas. There’s also a ‘Mini Mollie’s’ menu for younger kids. Grown up options include healthy grain bowls, House Press juices, rotisserie chicken and plant-based vegan dishes like the highly-Instagrammable Filthy burger. There’s also a classic cocktail menu serving Espresso Martinis and Bloody Marys.  The motel is located 30-minutes from central Oxford where there is plenty to do, including punting down the River Cherwell, a tour of Oxford Castle is always entertaining and a day out at Didcot Railway, where a ride on vintage 1930s coaches is highly recommended.


eveningstandard--2019-08-14--August bank holiday party guide The best London events to book tickets for

August bank holiday party guide: The best London events to book tickets for

August Bank holiday means two things – an extra day of partying, and an extra lie-in the morning after.  Thousands of Londoners will be making use of the bumper weekend, with a series of great events ready to bring the party across the capital.  The big one, of course, is Notting Hill Carnival, which dominates the bank holiday calendar. If you feel like mixing it up, though, there are plenty of great things to check out elsewhere.  We’ve focused on a selection of London’s best event spaces in the list below, but make sure to check out our clubbing guide too.  These are the best August bank holiday events in London to book now – do bear in mind that tickets for all events must be bought in advance.  One of SW9’s premier party venues, Pop Brixton is gearing up for the bank holiday special. Things kick off with Just Vibez on Friday, before a carnival warm up with DJs Manu and Ando on Saturday. Finally, KD Soundsystem with the Rimboe-Riddim crew take over on Sunday.  This Soho haunt is sashaying its way into the weekend with a drag brunch on Saturday. Things start at midday, with bottomless cocktails and prosecco and live performances from drag acts – a perfect start to the bank holiday.  If you’re after a rooftop party this bank holiday, The Prince of Wales is the place for you. The Byday Bynight event is taking place across two outdoor terraces and three floors on August 24, with house and disco labels and DJs in residence.  Italian restaurant and cocktail bar Bunga Bunga is hosting a bottomless Bellini event at its Covent Garden branch this bank holiday. Expect live acts and free-flowing drinks.  The Piano Works knows how to throw a party, and both chains in the West End and Farringdon are welcoming guests for a weekend of boozy singalongs and bottomless brunches. Tuck in and enjoy the unlimited drinks, before requesting a few songs and enjoying live music into the night.  The drum ‘n’ bass boat party is dropping anchor for Liquid on the Thames, taking Londoners onto the water this bank holiday. Head down from Tower Bridge to Westminster and back over the course of three hours, all with the backing of a thumping drum ‘n’ bass playlist.  Trevor Nelson is taking it back to the old school at Ministry of Sound on August 25, spinning timeless records as part of his #Classics night. Expect a good smattering of soul, as well as 90s RnB and hip hop favourites.  East London haunt the Ace Hotel is hosting a special event to coincide with Notting Hill Carnival, treating guests to an afro house playlist from Drums Radio. Expect to hear tracks from some of the most impressive names in South African house and gqom pumping through the speakers until 4am.  This event has now been cancelled  Lockside Camden is always a good place to spend time, and the place is pulling out all the stops for guests on August 26. The party here goes on until 4am, and guests can expect a great selection of hip hop and R&B tunes throughout the night.


eveningstandard--2019-12-20--The best holiday-themed New York hotels and restaurants to visit this festive season

Holiday madness is officially in full swing, especially in New York.  The shopping, the crowds, the relatives, the array of red plaid, the caloric intake, - in other words, it's time for a drink. But preferably one that's holiday-themed at a terribly trendy bar decorated to the nines for Instagram purposes.  Luckily, New York has quite a few of those. Here are a few you should stop by in between holiday parties, whether you're looking for Frozen 2 vibes or Home Alone nostalgia.  Who doesn't love a good holiday movie? Not watching The Holiday or Just Friends is practically sacrilegious. If you are a big holiday movie fan, the Arthouse Hotel has just what you need. Want to see Home Alone icon Kevin McCallister's house the night of his fake holiday party? It comes complete with the Michael Jordan cutout. Or how about that memorable lamppost from Miracle on 34th Street?They have recreations of the above, plus, the lobby lounge has been transformed into a replica of the living room from A Christmas Story, as well as more from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and, of course, Die Hard (the ultimate Christmas film.)  As for drinks, grab a punch from the leg lamp or eggnog, right out of the carton, from Lampoon.  On both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Lumaca, Chef and Restaurateur John DeLucie’s newest Italian venture in the HGU New York Hotel, is offering Christmas specials all-day in addition to its classic Southern Italian menu. Christmas brunch includes artichokes with goat cheese and herb frittata as well as Breakfast Pizza with San Marzano tomatoes, fontina, and sunny side up eggs. Guests can enjoy Christmas cocktails like a Spiked Hot Chocolate with hot chocolate, cinnamon, and tequila or choose from the restaurant's impressive Italian wine list.  Lumaca will be open on Christmas Eve 7:00am -11:00pm, and Christmas Day from 11:30am - 8:00pm.  If you managed to push through the crowds to see the tree at Rockefeller Center and those gorgeous window displays then you definitely deserve a delicious drink. Check out Valerie, which is right near all of the Manhattan Midtown craziness. It has a great happy hour from 4 to 7 PM and you will love the old school vibes. Think red banquet cushions and beautiful tiled floors. Grab an Old Fashioned or head upstairs to The Blushing Bar if you're in a rush.  The holidays are a wonderful time to be in New York but also an equally fabulous time to be in London. If you don't feel like paying for a flight, then just watch a few episodes of Fleabag (too bad we can't convince Phoebe to do a Christmas episode) or head over to Bluebird London. Yes, the iconic British brasserie is now right here on the Upper West Side. Guests can experience its new holiday menu inspired by a collaboration with home decor and clothing line The White Company. It's actually based on holiday candle scents, including Roasted Chestnut and Fir Tree (but we swear it's delicious and completely edible.)  On Christmas Day, Bluebird offers a pre-fixe menu for $125 per person from 2:00pm - 8:00pm. Options include Lobster Ravioli with lemongrass velouté, pheasant with smoked chestnuts and caramelized sunchokes as well as ribeye with roasted chicken sauce and potato gratin. The restaurant is also offering its classic British desserts, including Sticky Toffee Pudding, Baked Alaska or a Cheese Board paired with a Sherry Trolley. Scrooge himself didn't have that good of a feast.  Of course, to experience a true London holiday, Bluebird offers an extremely Instagrammable high tea. For $50 per person, Holiday Tea will feature Pumpkin Spiced Tart with Maple Meringue (which sounds extremely American), Apple Cinnamon Pâte de Fruit and Chocolate Chestnut Roulade, all accompanied by guests’ choice of tea. Guests also have the option to order a G&T or glass of champagne to really get into the holiday spirit.  Grabbing a drink in a holiday-themed bar is always nice, but what about staying overnight in a full-on holiday-themed room? Well, The Box House Hotel in Greenpoint has just that. You can choose “The Ultimate Holiday in Brooklyn” package and get your own very festive suite complete with décor and a pre-decorated Christmas tree with custom ornaments and complimentary hot chocolate. The Box House Hotel Group also offers these packages at other hotels including the Franklin Guesthouse and Henry Norman Hotel.  While you're in Brooklyn be sure to drop by The Hoxton in Williamsburg to check out their exquisite glass cabins complete with cozy blankets and a grand table. It's all very Frozen 2 (if Frozen 2 took place in Brooklyn). The cabins are set up for groups of up to twelve and offer a family-style menu including cheese fondue, a warm cookie plate, or a rotating selection of homemade pies. Guests can also opt for cocktail pairings or flights provided by Maker’s Mark, Grand Marnier and St-Germain.  The Winter Hideaways offers dinner service seven days a week, and weekend brunch. Two of the three Hideaways seat groups of 6 - 8 people ($500 minimum spend), with the larger Hideaway seating 10-12 people ($750 minimum spend). The Winter Hideaways can be booked now via Resy.


russiainsider--2019-03-12--10 of the Best Russia Holiday Destinations Beyond Moscow and St Petersburg

10 of the Best Russia Holiday Destinations – Beyond Moscow and St Petersburg

This article from our archives was first published on RI in February 2016  Karelia, a republic in north-west Russia, is known as one the country’s most beautiful places. The nature here is breathtaking and more Finnish than Russian, with lakes, waterfalls and trees growing on giant rocks. Ruskeala is a village close to Sortavala, one of the region’s bigger towns. The main interest here is Ruskeala mountain park, with a marble canyon that is now a lake with crystal clear water, and another underground lake. You can rent boats, go diving, or hike. In summer there are light shows on the lake.  Since Ruskeala is tiny most tourists stay in Sortavala. Hostel Lämpö is a popular choice. Don’t be put off by the shabby pre-Soviet building: it is renovated inside and the location is excellent. If you’re staying for a while, there are several resorts, such as Hotel Piipun Piha, near the lake, slightly further from the town centre, which offer sauna and barbecue facilities, too.  How to get there?  Take the train from Ladozhsky railway station in St Petersburg to Sortavala; depending on the train the journey will take about 4-5 hours. From there several buses can take you to Ruskeala, or you can book a taxi – the drive will take about 20 minutes.  On the north-western spurs of the eastern Sayan mountains, the Stolby nature reserve is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Siberia. The reserve’s main attraction are its rocks and cliffs, called stolby, “pillars” in Russian, after their shape. The smallest cliffs are 55 meters high, while the highest go up to 600 metres. Rock-climbing and hiking are popular activities, although for those interested in the local flora and fauna the reserve also offers guided tours of the Siberian fir taiga that sprawls underneath the rocks: a mix of a hike and a botanical and zoological tour.  In the wooden cabins on the reserve’s grounds, surrounded by the taiga and the rocks. There are separate small cottages for six and eight people, and a hostel. The cabins area is called ‘the village’ and is a bit of a hike from the reserve’s main reception buildings but there is a car service for when you first arrive with your luggage.   • Dorms from £5 a night, six-person cottages from £47, zapovednik-stolby.ru  How to get there?  Fly to Krasnoyarsk from Moscow or St Petersburg (about five hours) and get to Stolby on a bus or taxi; that journey will take around 11/2 hours.  Velikiy Novgorod, also known as Novgorod the Great, is one of the most important cities in the country, often called the “birthplace of Russia”. For a long time the city was a sovereign principality, founded by merchants and ruled in relative democracy, and the unification of Novgorod with Moscow in the 15th century was an essential step towards a unified Russia. The city is an historic one and the traditional wooden architecture museum of Vitoslavlitsi is a must-visit; the open-air exhibition of Russian izbas (farmhouses) has an ancient tradition of building without nails or metal to hold the wooden planks together. The Kremlin fortress in Novgorod is also one of the oldest in Russia, dating back to the 11th century.  The Beresta Hostel with its traditional old-Russian interiors, or the Kozhevniki B&B, and its post-Soviet styles, are both good choices.    • Doubles from £26, dorms from £3  How to get there?  Fly to St Petersburg and take a fast Lastochka train (about 3 hours) from Moskovskiy railway station.  Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is on the Kamchatka peninsula in the far east of Russia and is the most eastern town (with more than 100,000 people) in the northern hemisphere. Ecotourism in this region is a new trend, with various activities on offer from mountain and volcano hikes, sailing and kayaking to fishing and hunting trips. The town is also a foodie destination: Kamchatka crabs and other seafood are known delicacies.  In the Nachalnik Kamchatki (The Boss of Kamchatka) mini-hotel, where all the rooms are nature-themed, with names such as Winter, Forest and Bear. There are very few hostels in the town, Hostel Fiesta being one of the few, so book your rooms in advance.    • Doubles from £32, dorms from £11  How to get there?  The only way to get to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky from the European part of Russia is to fly: a direct eight-hour flight from Moscow (book in advance as fares are high).  The city of Kazan, in Tatarstan, is over a thousand years old and has always been an eclectic place, balanced between the Russian Orthodox and Muslim cultures with churches and cathedrals neighbouring mosques. One of the city’s landmarks is the Söyembikä Tower in the Kremlin fortress. It’s named after the city’s last queen, Söyembikä, who, according to legend threw herself off the tower, but actually was captured by the Muscovites led by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, when the city was conquered. The eclectic food of the region, a mix of Russian and Tatar, is one of the city’s highlights: try the traditional tea with chuk-chuk, a sweet pastry dish.  Stereo Hostel in the city centre has a 1970s sci-fi bachelor pad vibe – and a bar onsite. If you’re looking for a quieter stay, the Stary Gorod Hotel (Old Town Hotel) is an affordable retreat in the city centre, with views of the historic Märcani Mosque.  How to get there?  Fly from Moscow (90 minutes) or St Petersburg (2 hours), or take an overnight train from Moscow’s Kazanskiy railway station.  Lake Baikal is the deepest in the world. Many Russians say that seeing the vast “Siberian sea” is a unique experience, and others tell stories of the Baikal monster, echoing tales of the Loch Ness monster. There are several hiking paths and in the summer you can swim in the lake, although the water is cold even in August. The shores are scattered with resorts, hotels and camping grounds, although many of them are of the Soviet times.  The Lagoon Ranch resort is on the western bank of the Baikal, in the area called the Small Sea, and offers several types of accommodation: from the most affordable two-person summer houses to double rooms and separate cabins. There are stables and a horse-riding arena, sports grounds, Russian sauna and Baikal tour guide services available.  • Two-person summer houses from £20, doubles from £28, cabins from £37  How to get there?  Direct flights to Irkutsk are available from Moscow only. Buses and shuttles to the resorts leave from various locations in Irkutsk and take about three hours – ask for details when you book your accommodation.  Yessentuki is a name you might see on the shelves of Russian grocery stores around the world: this historical resort town, famous for its mineral and hot springs, gave its name to a brand of a salty mineral water. The town has been a destination for the health-conscious since the 19th century.  The Kras Hotel Resort is near the city centre, has a spa and swimming pool, and some rooms dining and living room areas. A slightly cheaper option is to book a hotel close to the town’s famous baths and springs, for example Hotel Orange.  • Doubles from £11 in Hotel Orange or from £19 at Kras Hotel Resort  How to get there?  Direct flights to Mineralniye Vodi airport are available from Moscow (two hours) and St Petersburg (three hours). Some hotels offer airport pick-up, or take a train into Yessentuki – the journey is about 40 minutes on a shuttle bus and an hour on a train.  A tiny piece of Russia in Europe, Kaliningrad used to be called Königsberg, and the architecture in the city’s old town still points towards Europe and not Russia. Traces of Kaliningrad’s German heritage can be seen in the surviving Brandenburg Gate and the Fishing Village, a tourist attraction with recreated medieval-style buildings. The flea markets here are known to be the best in Russia – many collectors from all over the world come here in hope of finding relics from the second world war. The Amber museum is another popular attraction.  The city centre Utro Hostel is housed in a 19th century building, with minimalist design and big windows, and the city’s lowest prices per bunk-bed.  How to get there?  Flights to Kaliningrad are available from Moscow, St Petersburg, and several European cities (including Berlin, Riga and Copenhagen). Overnight trains to Kaliningrad leave from Berlin and Warsaw. If you plan to travel between other parts of Russia and Kaliningrad, you will need a double-entry visa. There is also a special short-term Kaliningrad visa available on the border. For more information visit the Foreign Affair Ministry website.  Far east is a dream destination for many Russians, and Vladivostok, at the head of the Golden Horn Bay, is the heart of it. The city was founded in the middle of the 19th century. The best place for views is the Eagle’s Nest Hill, the city centre’s highest point. This is also a food destination as seafood is abundant here and because of the proximity to the Russian-Chinese borders it’s almost the only place in Russia where good Chinese food is widely available.  The Teplo Hotel is close to the railway station, for all those Trans-Siberian railway travellers, and has dormitories and private rooms. Slightly more expensive is A Hotel Amur Bay, which is in a white 1980s-designed building. Although a chain hotel (of the Azimut brand), it’s worth the price for the amazing sea views of the Golden Horn and Amur bays.   • Dorms at the Teplo Hotel from £6, doubles at A Hotel Amur Bay from £24  How to get there?  Direct eight-hour flights to Vladivostok from Moscow. Vladivostok is also the eastern terminus of the Trans-Siberian railway. Trains leave from Moscow’s Yaroslavskiy railway station – the journey will take six days.  Ecotourism is booming in the region with new resorts and hotels popping up all over the Altai – known as the ‘golden mountains’. Many offer guided and themed tours of the nearby areas, such as hikes following the routes described in local legends, that are told to the visitors as they go. Sailing, kayaking and fishing are among other activities. Spa treatments are widely available with special saunas in big cedar barrels. Altai is famous for its honey and herbs, and honey treatments and herbal tea ceremonies are also offered at the local resorts. Altika eco-hotel is one of the new developments in the region. Most rooms have panoramic views of the woods. Maryin Ostrov resort is a slightly more expensive option but also offers treatments in its spa.   • Doubles at Altika from £35 B&B, doubles at Maryin Ostrov from £39 B&B Direct four-hour flights to the Gorno-Altaysk airport leave from Moscow Domodedovo. From Gorno-Altaysk there are buses and trains to the smaller villages, depending on your resort of choice. Transfer can also be organised with the resort; ask before booking.


theguardianuk--2019-01-12--10 of the best yoga holidays in UK and Europe

Combine yoga and Greek sunshine with a holiday on Santorini, the southernmost of the Cyclades islands, staying in whitewashed houses at a boutique hotel with pool outside the village of Oia. There are two daily classes for all levels with warm, encouraging teacher Louise Gillespie-Smith, who balances creative, breath-led flow with gentle, mindful yin. An optional 10-mile hike is included, and guests are also able to enjoy sailing, sea kayaking and wine-tasting if they wish. Louise also leads holidays in the UK and French Alps.  • From £795, with breakfast and three evening meals, 29 June-6 July, adventureyogi.com  Splash out on a special Stillness and Alignment retreat on the White Isle with Lara Stapleton, who teaches gentle but powerful classes, designed to bring guests back to balance. Based in two villas surrounded by olive groves and pine trees, not far from Santa Gertrudis, the beautiful location is complemented by delicious, nourishing vegetarian meals. As well as twice daily yoga, massages, wellbeing workshops, guided walks and healing sound baths are also included. Other Ibiza options with Chaya Retreats include an organic detox retreat in May and a “sacred sexuality” week in September.  • From £1,331, 5-12 October, chayayogaretreats.com  On the Wild Atlantic Way, the Cliffs of Moher Retreat has views of the Atlantic from the glass-fronted yoga studio, alfresco hot tubs, a sauna and great vegetarian food from its organic gardens. Options include yoga and hiking weekends, with 14km of walking along the dramatic cliffs. There are four yoga and meditation classes with teacher Michelle Moroney, as well as massages and time to explore the area. Shannon is the closest airport.  • Connect to Nature Yoga and Hiking weekends run regularly, dates include 8-10 March 2019, from €390 all-inclusive, cliffsofmoherretreat.com  Nineteenth-century manor house in the foothills of the Algarve’s Serra do Caldeirão has been converted into the brand new Wild View Retreat by yogi and nutritionist Andrew Finlay and his wife Erika. Guests can expect yoga and mindfulness classes, guided walks and nutrition talks and demos, as well as three nutritious vegetarian meals a day. Or they can opt for a juice fast and nutrition detox retreat to rest the digestive system and boost the immune system, with a juice and soup diet (plus all the usual activities). Faro is the nearest airport.  • Various dates year-round, seven nights’ from €850 in a triple room, wildviewretreat.com  On the edge of Cabo de Gata national park in Almeria and close to its wild coast, Huzur Vadisi Yoga Retreats is now hosting holidays in what was a stylish, bohemian family home. The main house is strikingly modernist while the outlying farm offers more traditional accommodation, and there are two natural swimming pools fed by springs. Among several options in 2019 is Gerry Kielty’s week of dynamic and restorative yoga (7-14 June). Expect great food too – and a dazzling landscape of mountains and semi-desert. It’s wonderfully isolated but within walking distance of a traditional village.  • Various dates, a week from £895, huzurvadisi.com  Practise yoga in a beautiful villa surrounded by vineyards and mountains 20 minutes from St Tropez in the south of France, with Value Your Mind. Run by former mental health nurse and wellbeing guru Nathalie Kealy, there are two yoga classes a day, plus guided walks to hilltop villages, excursions to the beach and wine-tasting sessions. Groups are small so there’s plenty of personal attention – plus there’s a swimming pool and hammocks for downtime and three healthy Mediterranean meals a day included. Weekend retreats are also offered in the UK.  • 13-17 June, from £500, valueyourmind.com  Nova Milesko’s yoga retreats – held regularly in a converted barn on a farm near Lymington in the New Forest – offer expert tuition and value for money. Over a weekend she packs in 10 yoga, workshop and meditation sessions, with a focus on flowing vinyasa complemented by slow yin (all optional). Vegetarian meals use organic fare from the gardens. Accommodation ranges from basic dorms for four to kingsize doubles.  • Various dates, two nights from £290 in a dorm, novamilesko.com  Yoga is the perfect compliment to running – stretching and strengthening key muscles – and the Yoga and Wild Running Retreat hosts three-night breaks that combine the two at beautiful locations in Devon. Stay in a secluded farmhouse on the edge of Dartmoor (1-4 February) or at the High Nature Centre on cliffs overlooking Gara Rocks near East Portlemouth (5-8 July). Expect three guided runs and two daily yoga classes, plus talks on running and training with expert Ceri Rees (who’s worked with athletes including Paula Radcliffe).  • Three night breaks from £290, wildrunning.co.uk  The Alpino Atlantico, a boutique clifftop hotel in the south of Madeira, 14km from the capital, Funchal, specialises in Ayurveda treatments and has daily yoga classes. The hotel is set amid tropical gardens and all 24 rooms (and three suites) have balconies with sea views. It is part of the Galo Resort, which has saltwater pools, watersports and a spa.  • DIY retreats can be booked through the Healthy Holiday Company, from about £625 a week for yoga, plus £250 for optional Ayurveda programme. Alternatively, Destination Yoga is running two retreats there this year with two yoga classes a day. From £995pp for a week full board, 6 August (intermediate and advanced yogis) and 13 August (all levels), destinationyoga.co.uk  Sardinia Yoga runs yoga breaks at four-star beachfront hotels in Sardinia, Croatia and Mallorca – the Hotel Mlini in Croatia has a yoga deck right on the beach. The company is based at each hotel for several weeks, so guests can arrive on any day and stay for as long as they like (minimum three nights). There are two teachers at each venue, leading gentle and more dynamic classes. A two-hour class each morning is included in the price, and there are optional afternoon classes (€10 each), but this is more of a holiday than a full-on retreat, with plenty of time to relax by the pool and in the spa, or go out exploring.  • From £330pp for three nights B&B, dates vary: Mallorca 30 March-28 May and 28 Sept-3 Nov, Sardinia 17 May-28 July and 23 Aug-29 Sept, Croatia 24 May-21 July and 23 Aug-13 Oct, sardiniayoga.com


theguardianuk--2019-01-31--10 of the best activity holidays worldwide readers travel tips

10 of the best activity holidays worldwide: readers’ travel tips

For climbing and scrambling with a twist head to Le Bourg-d’Oisans in the French Alps south-east of Grenoble. Stay in one of the many campsites (Le Château de Rochetaillée is excellent) before finding La Montagne Sports shop in town who will kit you out for €10 per day with everything you need for the area’s seven spectacular via ferrata routes. On another day, head an hour’s drive west to Alpes du Grand Serre and experience the thrill of scrambling, climbing and traversing along rock, over a raging river and coming out at the top into a beautiful alpine meadow with rosy cheeks and a spring in your tired step. If you enjoyed this, head next to Cascade de la Fare in Vaujany, just half an hour north of Le Bourg. This is a step up and includes two long bridges over a ravine and an ascent to a waterfall with sensational views.  Karen Abell  The Ausangate Circuit in Peru is no small undertaking. The circular trek peaks three times – each at over 5,000 metres – and is regarded as the highest trek in Peru. I completed the circuit at 16 and while fit, I was hardly a finely tuned athlete. But acclimatising to altitude is essential. You are rewarded with some of the most stunning scenery in the world – with plenty of glaciers and cobalt-blue lakes. It’s a five-night camping trip so it’s handy there are several hot springs en route for bathing. We travelled from Cusco having spent three days acclimatising there, taking a three-hour drive to the start of the trek (4,000 metres) in Tinqui. We went with Outlook Expeditions, who put us in touch with a local guide.   Freya  Lie back and enjoy the glow-worms, they said, and they were right. Black water rafting in the underground cave system in Waitomo, North Island, is such fun that once won’t feel like enough. We were guided through the caves in provided wetsuits, holding onto our rubber tyres as we zip-wired from one cave system to another. We then plunged into pools to float and glide effortlessly along the subterranean stream. And to top it off, looking up, it’s not stars that you see but hundreds of glow-worms shining brightly on the cave roof.   • Tour from NZ$125 (around £65), waitomo.com  Paul  Last April, I enjoyed a trek in the central desert in Iran (Dasht-e Kavir) where, with a local guide, I encountered amazing scenery, lots of wild camels, lizards and mindblowingly stark, empty salt flats. I camped and stayed in local hotels in the oases with their pistachio nut shrubs and roses and have never met such friendly people. I finished off the trip with a few days amid the empty beaches, mangroves, salt caves and gorges of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The cost of the trip, through Tehran-based Adventure Iran, was £495pp for six days, food, guide and transfers. I am going back soon, further south, to visit the Lut desert, which has a claim to be the hottest place on Earth, having recorded over 70C.   Bernard Phelan  Last summer, with my husband, I went on a road trip in the States. We had hoped to do lots of hiking, but we arrived in the middle of a 35C heatwave, so we changed our plans. We contacted Regis Canoe Outfitters, on the Saranac River (New York state), and spent the next three days canoeing around lakes and creeks, interspersed with lengthy dips to cool ourselves down. At night, we listened to the croaking of frogs from one of the many free wild camping spots. The camping sites are free, but designated, and are generally first come, first served. If you get lucky, you can have your own private island for the night, at zero cost. True bliss and so much better than hiking in the stifling heat.  • Canoe hire for three days $52, canoeoutfitters.com  Bree  Last November, I ran the Extreme West Atlantic Trail race in Flores island in the Azores. The route, on a hard hiking trail, stretches 36km through mountainous terrain. The morning mist lifting in the volcanic crater lakes, the spectacular waterfalls, the dense forest and the old brick walkways and dry-stone walls gave the sense of a place lost in time. I stayed on the west coast of the island (the most western point in Europe), in Casas da Cascata (doubles from €70), a beautiful stone house under a waterfall.   Sara  Cycling the Four Rivers route from Seoul to Busan is a glorious trip along 600km of generally flat cycle path and quiet country roads covering the length of the country. Accommodation is cheap and plentiful with options from camping to hotels. We found local people to be extremely welcoming, even if you can’t speak Korean. Food was cheap and plentiful and the mountainous scenery was stunning. Taken at your own pace it’s as painful or relaxing as you want it to be, and the best way to see this gem of a country. Summer mosquitos mean autumn and spring are the best times to make the trip, excellent for foliage and wild flowers, too.  Ben  I took a six-night swim trip with Strel in warm turquoise waters taking in the Gulf of Kotor, the stunning Plava Spilja (Blue Grotto) and in Yugoslavian submarine tunnels. Between swims there is the chance to do some great walks through historical towns (brilliant bay views from Vrmac hill town) and small islands. There was boat escort, swimming guides and coaches and breakfast and lunch included.  • From €860, strel-swimming.com  Jenny Mayne  We spent 10 days kayaking around the rugged western shores of this beautiful island. Viglia beach, just west of Kissamos town, was our starting point and we finished 110 miles later at Agia Galini (near Matala on the south coast). We were totally self-sufficient for food and water and wild-camped on beaches. Marble-like majestic rocks rose vertically above us as we cut through the vivid deep blue waters. Occasional strong winds and choppy waters added to our sense of adventure as we paddled along this dramatic coastline with its secluded coves and serene beaches. We hired kayaks from Stelios through Enjoy Crete. He does a drop-off and pick-up service (wherever you end up).  • €1,100 with guide and all transport and equipment. Without a guide, 10 days’ rental is €250 but to do this trip equivalent to British Canoe level 4 is required, enjoy-crete.com  Ruth E  We took 10 family members aged five to 60 mountain boarding, which is a bit like snowboarding but with four wheels, next to the 14th-century ruins of Weobley Castle and the famous Llanrhidian salt marsh. Here, the 200 metres of sloping grassland overlooking Loughor estuary are ideal terrain. It was so exhilarating and breathtaking – fun but physical! Lessons and sessions offered for all; from beginners to advanced. Next on the agenda was surfing at Caswell Bay. Magical. BRD Sports offers mountain boarding lessons on the Gower from £25 each, or £40 for small groups.  • brdsports.co.uk  Anna


theindependent--2019-02-04--From Cape Cod to Cornwall the best holiday areas to try before you buy

We continue our look at inspirational ideas for holiday homes and places for travels in 2019, this week taking in the US East Coast, European foodie tours and, closer to home, the appeal of the Cornish coastline.  New England’s elegant and highly cultured city, Boston is just six hours from London and its airport is only three miles from Downtown so, helped by the hour’s time difference, it’s perfectly possible to breakfast in London and enjoy lunch in Boston.  The city has a reputation for charm and brains. Its many top-flight universities and colleges include Harvard, and its great history encompasses its role as the birthplace of the American Revolution.  Boston is a green and leafy city, easy to walk around and with exceptional architecture including more homes dating from the Victorian era than anywhere outside London.  Boston is also the gateway to New England where autumn brings hordes of “leaf-peepers” to see the trees’ magnificent kaleidoscope of colours, from Maine to Massachusetts and up into Vermont.  In the city centre close to Boston Common, the oldest public park in the US, a stone-and-shingle Victorian four-bedroom detached house with a garden is £784,000. Near Boston Harbour and waterfront in popular Eastside, a 2,110sq ft three-bedroom Victorian house is £803,000, both through Sotheby’s International Realty.  Cape Cod extends into the Atlantic Sea southwest of Boston and has been a low-key but upmarket place to holiday ever since President Kennedy’s family bought their homes there in the Fifties.  It’s romantic and natural, filled with distinctive pastel-painted clapboard houses leading down to undeveloped beaches. Play a round of golf, cycle along the waterfront, tour art galleries, climb lighthouses and eat freshly landed seafood — simple pleasures in pretty, family-focused towns and villages.  Falmouth, directly across the water from the island of Martha’s Vineyard on the southern side of Cape Cod, is 80 miles southwest of Boston. Its 68 miles of coastline includes 10 public sandy beaches and 14 harbours.  And while much of Cape Cod is seasonal, Falmouth is the second-largest municipality on Cape Cod with a truly year-round community.  Beautiful old houses, once home to sea captains, encircle the village green. Yet for all its history, it is a young, vibrant town with an active, outdoor lifestyle.  Live waterfront at 181 Surf Drive, a three-bedroom detached house built in 2000 in traditional New England clapboard with beautiful views directly over Vineyard Sound. The 1,905sq ft house sits in a quarter-acre plot steps from the sandy beach and is priced £1.1 million. Through Sotheby’s.  Europe’s wonderful culinary variety is a major part of its appeal and there are plenty of opportunities for travellers to get involved in local food and wine production.  At Costa Navarino on the Greek Peloponnese, guests can help to make olive oil, following the journey from field to table. Belmond Castello di Casole in Tuscany allows guests to join in the truffle hunt alongside the talented sniffer dogs.  Or in Bordeaux check into L’École du Vin in the city centre for a crash course on wine tasting and production, taking anything from two hours to two weeks, before touring the famous vineyards of St Emilion.  Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in the small village of Bommes 50 minutes from Bordeaux airport is the first “first-growth” vineyard in the Bordeaux region to open as a hotel and restaurant.  Housed in an elegant 17th-century château, the hotel’s main feature is the 90 precious acres of vines that produce exceptional, sweet Sauternes wines.  The 13-room hotel opened last summer after a £9 million refurbishment, with 3,000 pieces of bespoke Lalique crystal and a modern glass-and-steel conservatory dining room overlooking the vines overseen by a two Michelin-star chef. Rooms start from £260 including breakfast.  Estate visits are offered daily from 10am to 6pm from £18 per person. The restaurant is open Thursday to Monday.  Sixty-five per cent of Greece’s total olive production comes from the Peloponnese, including the highly prized Kalamata olives.  Forty minutes from Kalamata airport — with direct BA flights — in the eastern Peloponnese, Costa Navarino is a five-star resort with two hotels, 21 restaurants, beach clubs, numerous pools, two golf courses and some of the best sports and children’s resort facilities in Europe.  Costa Navarino has sold freehold villas for the past two years and new for this year are two-suite apartments of 1,290sq ft, some with a private infinity pool and some directly beside the mile-long sandy beach.  Owners can use their apartment for eight weeks each year, otherwise putting it into the fully managed rental programme with guaranteed four per cent rental returns for the first five years. Prices start from £534,000.  Last summer’s sun-filled days have British tourism hoping for a positive 2019 boost as more of us choose to holiday at home — a staycation trend that was already on the rise. Cornwall, our favourite summer holiday destination, has been working hard to offer sophisticated families more choice, catering for surfers, young families and sport-mad visitors at a variety of price points.  Celebrity chefs including Nathan Outlaw, Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver have inspired local foodies to raise their game. Try Pavilion Bakery in Newquay, the latest outpost of the family-run London bakery and restaurant, or sample the wood-fired menu at local favourite Scott and Babs in Retorrick Mill, St Mawgan.  Families have holidayed at Watergate Bay Hotel along a two-mile sandy stretch of North Cornwall since the Sixties. Even when the Cornish weather does its worst, guests have plenty to do at this family-run resort: swim in the indoor pool, relax in the spa, use the first-class Kids Club or zip into wetsuits and brave the surf.  New this summer is Watchful Mary, a lively waterfront bar set on the sea wall that replaces the original RNLI hut. The lifeguard will be based on the first floor with the bar and terrace above, serving cocktails, craft beers and small plates to enjoy as the sun sets.  This year marks the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death and both Italy and France, where he died, have commemorative events.  Villa rental company Tuscany Now & More has introduced a cultural tour of Florence and Tuscany celebrating the maestro’s life and works for guests staying in its villas. Prices for the three-day tour are £465 per person including transport.  In Basilicata, southern Italy, the extraordinary city of Matera is the European Capital of Culture 2019 and a Unesco World Heritage Site built around 7,000-year-old Sassi, cave dwellings cut into the steep limestone cliffs.  EasyJet joins BA this summer with flights from Gatwick to Bari airport, one hour away.  Paris unveils a Francis Bacon exhibition at the Pompidou Centre from September to January 2020 and in the same month, extends the Entente Cordiale with a Musée du Luxembourg exhibition entitled The Golden Age of British Painting, a homage to 18th-century greats Gainsborough, Turner, Constable and Reynolds.  Close to Leonardo’s masterpiece the Mona Lisa in the Louvre and within 20 minutes stroll of all Paris’s main highlights, Hotel Grand Boulevards opened last year in an 18th-century townhouse.  A sister to London’s Henrietta Hotel, it focuses on laid-back style, an extensive cocktail list and warm service. Nightly room rates start from £200.  The Marais is prime historic Paris, its narrow, characterful streets packed with boutique shops and bijoux bars and cafés. This is where you get closest to the medieval city, with pre-revolutionary buildings that are a world away from the wide, central Haussmann boulevards. A pretty one-bedroom flat on the fifth floor of a mid-1800s building — which has a lift — in the Marais offers romantic views over Parisian rooftops from its narrow balcony. Fully remodelled, the flat is for sale at £631,000, with proven rental returns of a least £2,220 a month net. Through Vingt Paris.


theindependent--2019-02-26--Best holiday deals in March from walking in Spain to skiing in Montgenevre

Best holiday deals in March, from walking in Spain to skiing in Montgenevre

If the recent spring-like weather has given you a taste for proper warmth, now’s the time to get a bit of heat in southern Europe or Australia. Or if winter can’t last long enough for you, nab a late-season ski bargain.  Looking ahead to proper summertime, here’s our pick of the best destinations for June, too.  Move quickly to save £163 on an all-inclusive holiday in Tenerife. Inspired Luxury Escapes has four nights at the five-star Sandos San Blas Nature Resort on the southern tip of the island overlooking Punta de los Abrigos.  As well as a choice of pools, you’ve got the beach within staggering distance. The starting price of £544pp is for a 14 March departure and includes flights and all-inclusive accommodation.  As summer winds down in Australia, now’s the time for a leisurely exploration of Sydney and the Pacific coast. Austravel has a 14-night fly-drive holiday starting with four nights in Sydney before carrying on to the beautiful natural bay of Port Stephens and finishing in Brisbane via Byron Bay. The starting price of £2,395pp includes accommodation, flights and 10 days’ car hire, for departures throughout March.  Spring comes early in the Andalusian countryside, where carpets of flowers bring colour to the region’s pueblos blancos and the surrounding mountains. Inntravel offers a seven-night self-guided walking holiday based in the attractive Andalucian Cottages in Montejaque. The cottages are scattered around the village, and some come with a shared pool. Seven nights’ self-catering costs from £620pp, including car hire and walking notes but excluding flights, for departures throughout March.  Enjoy the late-season snow in France’s southern Alps, where skiing in Montgenevre gives you the chance to potter over to Italy. It’s the only French resort in the mainly Italian Milky Way ski area, and has a fantastic choice of slopes for all levels. Peak Retreats has a week’s self-catering in a one-bedroom apartment for £841 at the Hameau des Airelles apartments. This smart residence has an indoor/outdoor pool and is right by the Chalvet lift. The price includes a Eurotunnel crossing and is for a 23 March departure.  You miss Corsica’s summer holiday crowds in June but still get wonderful Mediterranean sun and warmth. At Villa Clea, with its seaside dining terraces and outdoor pool, you can get away from it all in a spacious five-bedroom villa in the hills overlooking St Florent and Cap Corse. Corsican Places offers a week’s rental for Sunday departures throughout June from £485pp, based on six sharing. The price includes flights and car hire.  If you’ve already done Croatia’s big hitters, get to know some of its lesser-known sights on the Dalmatian coast on a small cruise. Long Travel has a seven-night holiday on a small ship starting and ending in Split. You’ll visit the magnificent waterfalls in Krka National Park and stop in the historic cities of Sibenik, Trogir and Zadar as well as cruise around the Kornati islands. The starting price of £899 includes flights, transfers and half board, for Sunday departures in June.  Georgia is slowly appearing on people’s radars, especially if you’re into hiking in the rugged Caucasus. Explore has an eight-day group walking holiday in the remote region of Svaneti where you hike past medieval villages, grottos, glaciers and waterfalls surrounded by the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The starting price of £1,345pp includes flights, accommodation, guides, transfers and most meals, departing 16 June.  Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk


theindependent--2019-03-28--Where to go on holiday in April and beyond the best trips to book now

Where to go on holiday in April and beyond: the best trips to book now

It’s spring, but not quite as we know it. If you’re pining for a few days of proper warmth, have a look at some of these holiday ideas. For skiers, it’s also the time for a last blast of snow in the mountains.  But if you want to get ahead on your summer holidays and plan to go away in July, here are some ideas that might inspire you too.  Snow is still smothering the Alps, and you can take advantage of the longer days with a ski holiday staying at Chalet Charlie in Morzine, in the vast Portes du Soleil area. Sleeping 12, the smartly furnished accommodation is close to the Pleney ski lifts and has a hot tub on the sun deck. Alpine Elements has a week’s catered holiday for a family of four from £2,100, departing 7 April. The price includes flights, transfers, breakfast, afternoon tea and five dinners with wine. There’s also a deal with lift passes, offering a free child’s pass when you buy an adult one.  Get away for the Easter holidays, preferably to the depths of the Cornish countryside. Holiday Cottages has four nights’ availability at Sowanna Farm Cottage, near Mullion Cove on the Lizard peninsula. The two-bedroom cottage is in the wing of a stone farmhouse surrounded by farmland, and there’s also a games room if the weather turns rough. Four nights from 18 April cost £401.  With spring flowers smothering the Turkish countryside in colour and fragrance, April is an appealing time for a laid-back holiday exploring the peaceful landscapes south of the port of Fethiye. Hole up in the hamlet of Faralya, near Butterfly Valley, where Cachet Travel has availability in the delightful Mandarin & Mango Boutique Hotels. A week’s half-board costs from £882pp, departing 23 April, and includes flights and transfers.  It’s the dry season in Koh Samui in April, with temperatures comfortably in the mid-20Cs. On the island’s quieter north coast is the zen-like Zazen Boutique Resort, where the tropical gardens lead straight to a white sandy beach. Tropical Sky has a week’s B&B at this chic, chilled-out hotel from £1,069pp, including flights and transfers, departing 29 April.  Move quickly to snap up Chiesa Amaro, a former church that’s been converted into a stylish villa deep in the countryside of the Marche region. The exquisite town of Urbino is less than an hour’s drive away, and Adriatic beaches are roughly the same distance. Oliver’s Travels has a week’s rental in this attractive two-bedroom villa, which includes a pool, barbecue and sublime views, for £1,295 from 6 July.  While the Mediterranean resorts swelter in the summer heat, escape to the freshness of the Austrian Alps. Better still, do it on two wheels as you get to know the lake region of Salzkammergut. Headwater offers a self-guided cycling tour that’s a relatively gentle way of exploring lakes and rivers, including the Mondsee and the River Ischl. Six nights throughout July cost from £1,159pp, including B&B accommodation in four-star hotels, four dinners, transfers, bikes, GPS and luggage transfers. Flights are extra but can be arranged.  Be mesmerised by the midnight sun as you take one of the most spectacular railway journeys in Europe. Nordic Experience has a four-night “Across the Roof of Norway” holiday that starts in Oslo before taking you on the Bergensbanen 12-hour train to Bergen alongside magnificent fjords. The starting price of £995pp includes flights, transfers, breakfast and dinners, for departures throughout July.  Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk


theindependent--2019-04-29--Best holiday deals in May from a staycation in Devon to a Barcelona city break

Best holiday deals in May, from a staycation in Devon to a Barcelona city break

If Easter’s brief fling with summery weather had you hooked, head to southern Europe to bask in some warmer weather.  But if you want to stick closer to home, there’s still the Great British Seaside to enjoy (wetsuits optional).  And if you’re planning an August summer holiday, have a look at some of these ideas.  Sheltered by a rocky headland is the very pretty town of Parga on Greece’s Ionian coast. In May the wildflowers will be going berserk among the olive and pine groves overlooking the attractive harbour. Ten minutes’ walk from both the harbour and Krioneri Beach are the Margarita Studios, which have kitchens, balconies and a shared rooftop pool. Sunvil has a week’s self-catering from £389pp departing 12 May, including flights and transfers.  It’s the dry season in May – a superb time for a safari in the Okavango Delta and game cruises along the Chobe River. Mahlatini Luxury Travel has an eight-day safari holiday that offers an exhilarating introduction to Botswana’s wildlife. You’ll start at the Chobe Bush Lodge before spending the next four nights in different regions of the Okavango Delta. The starting price of £3,650 includes international and internal flights, a mix of full-board and all-inclusive accommodation, and safari and lodge activities, departing 24 May.  Before temperatures become unbearable in Barcelona, hop across to the Catalan capital for a few days of superior tapas and architecture. Jet2 Holidays has three nights’ room only at the HCC Regente Hotel, which is right in the centre of the classy Eixample district and includes a rooftop pool with sweeping views of the city. The starting price of £396pp includes flights from Manchester, and is for a 13 May departure.  Before the season really gets underway in the West Country, take some time to enjoy one of the loveliest parts of the North Devon coast. Appledore overlooks the confluence of the Torridge and Taw rivers, and it’s full of colourful fishermen’s cottages. Poachers Cottage is one of them, a cute little two-bedroom, dog-friendly house a few seconds away from the seafront and a handy pub. Classic Cottages has good availability throughout May, with weekly rentals from £493.  While the rest of the population is at the beach, that’s your cue to explore the rugged landscapes and sheer beauty of the Douro Valley. You’ll get to know its wineries on this four-night walking holiday offered by Inntravel. You’ll begin in Porto and have the chance to visit its Unesco-listed Old Town and port wine lodges before taking the exceptionally scenic train through the Douro Valley. There you’ll explore cork forests and vineyards, as well as more port wineries. The starting price of £670pp includes breakfast, two dinners and transfers, for departures throughout August. Flights excluded.  Head to the Italian Lakes for some old-world sophistication, specifically the gorgeous waterside resorts of Lake Como. The town of Tremezzo, set on the lake’s western side, is a good base for old-style glamour and visits to wonderfully over-the-top villas such as Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello. Inghams has a week at the Hotel Bazzoni overlooking the lake from £876pp, including flights, half-board accommodation and transfers, departing 7 August.  British Columbia’s Vancouver Island has one marvel after another, which you can explore on a motorhome holiday with Canadian Sky. Pick up your RV at Vancouver airport and take the ferry across to Vancouver Island – land of fabulous beaches, the breathtaking Malahat highlands and fjords, and provincial parks including Elk Falls. Prices start at £1,799pp and include flights and motorhome rental, for departures throughout August.  Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk


theindependent--2019-05-22--Best holiday deals for June from Tuscany to Namibia

Best holiday deals for June, from Tuscany to Namibia

Before the full-on heat of summer really kicks in (assuming we have another summer like last year’s), now’s the time to head off on a break and enjoy the sunshine. You’ll also miss out on the price hikes of next month’s school holidays.  And if you can’t get away until September, we’ve also got a few ideas to inspire you.  Hole up in the Chianti hills near Siena, where you’ll be surrounded by the scent of cypress trees and pine forests. To Tuscany has an attractive farmhouse complex of 10 villas in a hilltop hamlet near Gaiole, where a one-bedroom apartment is available for £515 for the week of 15 June. There’s a large shared pool in secluded gardens, and all the villas have their own patios for al fresco meals.  Enjoy long sunny days in Denmark’s capital, where, if you visit from 7-10 June, you'll arrive in the midst of its annual carnival. Base yourself in the central district of Nansengade and surround yourself with fun boutiques, bookshops and buzzing cafes. I-escape has three nights throughout June at the funky Ibsens Hotel from £375 per room, B&B.  Soak up marvellous views of the sea from Portland Bill on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast in one of two neighbouring Grade II-listed cottages. Set beside the 18th-century Old Higher Lighthouse, the two-bedroom cottages share a heated pool and a hot tub – as well as access to the lighthouse observatory. Sykes Cottages has a week’s rental in each cottage from 28 June for £828.  Get to know northern Namibia’s spectacular landscapes and wildlife on an eight-day camping tour offered by Rainbow Tours. Get (safely) close to cheetahs while discovering the work of the Africat Foundation, then head off to Etosha National Park, the Skeleton Coast and the country’s highest mountain, the Brandberg. Departing 12 and 26 June, the holiday costs from £2,395pp and includes flights, internal transport, accommodation, guides and most meals.  September will still be beautifully sultry in Menorca, where you could have wonderful views of the island’s longest beach if you stay at Villa Bellamirada. The three-bedroom home offered by Villa Select is in walking distance of the resort of Son Bou and has its own pool, barbecue and outdoor shower. A week’s rental costs from £1,309 in September and includes a welcome hamper.  If you’re looking for an introduction to China, you can scratch the surface on a nine-day tour offered by Explore. Start in Beijing with tours of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square before a walk on the Great Wall and a sleeper train to Xian and the Terracotta Warriors. A bullet train then whisks you away to Shanghai. The starting price of £1,455pp is for a 13 September departure and includes flights, internal transport, guides and breakfast.  Eastern promise: inside the walled city of Khiva, Uzbekistan, now easier to reach (Simon Calder)  This fascinating Silk Road country has had a surge in popularity since it relaxed visa regulations earlier this year. Move quickly to get one of the remaining places on the Essential Uzbekistan tour offered by Regent Holidays. This eight-day tour takes in the splendours of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara – and all via train. The tailor-made holiday costs from £1,850pp and includes flights, internal transport, guides and breakfast, for departures throughout September.


theindependent--2019-06-24--Best holiday deals for July from Kenya to Montenegro

Best holiday deals for July, from Kenya to Montenegro

For all the talk of holidaying in your own country, it’s still very tempting to explore somewhere different and more exotic. While July dates are filling up quickly, you can still get some bargains before the school holidays start.  And if you’re looking ahead to October, some of these ideas might inspire you.  Steer clear of the sweaty crowds on the coast and breathe the clear air of the French Alps. At Les Deux Alpes near the Ecrins National Park, you can swim in mountain lakes, go mountain biking, hiking and even ski on the glacier. During July, Peak Retreats is offering two weeks for the price of one at its self-catering residences Au Coeur des Ours for holidays ending before 27 July. A one-bedroom apartment costs £499 for a 6 July departure, including a ferry crossing, rising to £584 during the school holidays.  With direct flights from Gatwick to Tivat, it’s easy to visit Montenegro’s port town on the Bay of Kotor. From Tivat, you can explore Kotor itself, along with Mount Lovcen and the glossy marina at Porto Montenegro. Inspired Luxury Escapes has seven nights at Hotel Palma, which is right on the beach, from £606pp including flights and breakfast.  Catch one of nature’s greatest spectacles as the great migration of wildebeest and zebra takes places across Kenya and Tanzania. You can get a taste of safari during an eight-day holiday offered by Tropical Sky. Start with five days relaxing on the beach at Papillon Lagoon Reef before spending a couple of days on game drives in the Taita Hills and Tsavo East National Park. The starting price of £1,779 includes flights, transfers, full board and game drives, for departures from 1-10 July.  Western Crete has some of the loveliest beaches on the island, yet it’s only a short drive to the freshness of the mountains where Carob Tree Cottage sits surrounded by olive and orange groves north of Platanias. This two-bedroom stone cottage is beautifully done up, with beamed ceilings and exposed stone walls. In the lush garden is a pool and sun terrace with barbecue and dining area. Vintage Travel has a week’s rental from 9 July for £1,139. Flights and car hire can be arranged.  Temperatures are pleasantly in the high 20s in this laid-back island in the Indian Ocean. At Mauricia Beachcomber Resort, you’ll have soft white sands within crawling distance, along with a palm-fringed outdoor pool. Grand Baie’s nightlife and shops are just a short walk away. Beachcomber Tours has a seven-night half-board break from £1,369pp, departing 6 October, including flights and transfers. The price includes an early bird discount of £362.  Pretend it’s still summer on a relaxing holiday overlooking the Mediterranean in Paphos. The Almyra Hotel, set in eight acres of landscaped seaside gardens, has heavenly views from its numerous terraces, spa and pool – also a scenic spot for private or group yoga classes. The Healthy Holiday Company has a week’s holiday from £1,115pp for departures throughout October, including flights, transfers and breakfast.  Enjoy the mellowness of autumn deep in Tuscany, specifically in the appealing town of Lucca. A stroll within its 16th century walls reveals an enchanting collection of medieval towers, Renaissance palaces and café-filled squares – and Pisa and Florence are also handy for day trips. Long Travel has a seven-night holiday at the elegant four-star San Luca Palace from £974pp, including flights, transfers and breakfast.  Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk


theindependent--2019-07-30--Best August holiday deals from Greece to Iceland

Best August holiday deals, from Greece to Iceland

If you haven’t got round to booking a holiday in August, it’s not too late to pick up a few deals around Europe. And if you’re planning ahead for a November break, have a look at some of these ideas.  If the recent hot weather has been a bit too much, head north to Iceland where temperatures are comfortably in the mid-teens. It’s also whale-watching and puffin season, so cameras at the ready.  Regent Holidays has a five-day fly-drive holiday that takes you to the south of the country past some magnificent scenery, including Skaftafell National Park, the Glacier Lagoon and Thingvellir National Park. The starting price of £1,365pp includes flights, car hire and breakfast, and is for an 18 August departure.  You’ll have to move quickly to snap up a deal on four-bedroom Villa Gerasimos, which is in a superb position overlooking the sea near Skala in southern Kefalonia. Soak up sublime views from the terraces, the pool and landscaped gardens.  CV Villas has a week available from 3 August for £2,200, which is half price and is based on eight sharing. Flights and car hire can be arranged.  Catch the last few days of August in a seaside cottage overlooking Brixham harbour. Sykes Cottages has a week available from 31 August at the aptly named Panoramic Cottage, which has three bedrooms and lovely sea views from its various patios and terraces, as well as a games room. A week’s rental is £768, which includes a 10 per cent discount.  Elegant Opatija is where Croatian tourism began back in the 19th century, and you can still see this in the grand hotels that line the town’s Adriatic coast. Facing the seafront promenade, the stately Hotel Palace Bellevue harks back to that golden age and has sea-facing balconies in most of its rooms.  You get two islands in one trip on this self-guided walking holiday offered by Inntravel. Start by exploring Lanzarote’s eerie volcanic landscapes, including Timanfaya National Park, before taking the boat to La Graciosa for more exploration.  Seven nights cost from £775pp for departures in November, and the price includes accommodation, breakfast, three dinners, car hire and maps, but not flights.  As spring comes to South America, get an enthralling introduction to Argentina and Brazil with this 11-day group tour offered by Cox & Kings. Spend a few days in Buenos Aires before flying to Iguazu Falls and exploring them from the Brazilian side. Then finish in Rio de Janeiro for three days before flying home. The starting price of £2,295pp includes all flights, accommodation, transfers and guides, for departures throughout November.  Discover Lebanon’s compelling mix of ancient Roman architecture, dramatic mountainous landscapes and fabulous food in this tailor-made tour with Wexas Travel. You’ll begin in Beirut, one of the Mediterranean’s great capitals, and carry on to Byblos and Baalbeck via Roman and Ottoman ruins and mountain villages. Prices start at £1,695pp and include seven nights’ accommodation, flights, transfers, excursions and guides. Departures are throughout November.  Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk