Beautiful pictures as thousands of Thai monks put on incredible visual display for sacred full moon festival
These beautiful images show thousands of Thai Buddhist monks gathering to carry lanterns and venerate a statue of Buddha to mark one of the holiest days of the religious calender. Makha Bucha commemorates the full moon day which falls on…
Athens holidays
If the thought of exploring Greece’s ancient world makes your skin tingle with anticipation, you’ll struggle to contain your excitement on a holiday to Athens. The historical capital of Europe, Athens’ landmarks and old ruins are known the world over,…
Insider secrets of Rome
Heaping plates of light-as-air pasta. Art by Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini. Some of the most entertaining people-watching on the planet. Rome is a city like no other. But as welcoming as it can be, to the first-time visitor Rome can…
Autumn in Venice
Although there are days when tourists outnumber locals by two to one, Venice never loses its capacity to enchant. Summer brings some of the most daunting crowds, but there’s a reason why they come: the sheer loveliness of an exquisite…
Walking in Moscow’s winter wonderland
The best way to discover Moscow is on foot. It may seem unrelentingly urban, dominated by cars and towering skyscrapers, but to find the flowering courtyards, icon-filled churches and house-museums, you need to walk through the back streets and pathways….
Singapore finds its cultural feet with culinary renaissance
It is often derided as a cultural desert, but a younger generation of Singapore’s residents and expats is determined to bring an edgier side to the city. They are leading an improvisation drive, chiefly culinary, and the results are rarely…
London travel tips
The English writer Samuel Johnson famously said, “You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all…
Romantic Paris: fashion and lights
The City of Light draws millions of visitors every year with its unforgettable ambiance. Of course, the divine cuisine and vast art collections deserve some of the credit as well. The gentle River Seine rambles through the city, flanked by…
Discover Rio’s arty side
It’s a balmy Saturday morning in Rio de Janeiro and, unlike everyone else in town, I’m heading away from the beach. Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon may be among the city’s most loved attractions, but Santa Teresa, a small district in…
Abu Dhabi – Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Constructed between 1996 and 2007 at the request of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and first president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is by far the most popular of Abu Dhabi’s sights, and…
Valencia and beyond
Eating out The most exciting new restaurant in Valencia is the Arrop Ricard Camarena, set in the spectacularHotel Palacio Marqués de Caro. The owners, Santiago Máñez and Luis Bellvís (the latter a descendant of the last Moorish King of Valencia,…
The best of Thailand
Every tourist board loves a major motion picture. Think Braveheart, think Scotland. Think Jean de Florette, think Provence. Similarly, if you go and see The Beach, you will be treated to 90 minutes of the kind of subliminal advertising that…
The Maldives baring your sole
They’ve stolen my shoes. After 13 hours on a plane, a smiling man has placed them firmly into a bag labelled “No News, No Shoes” and pulled the drawstring tight. I am now barefoot in the Maldives and I feel…
Santorini, iconic of Greek islands
Your first order of business in Santorini is to hit the colorful beaches — the black and red sands make for a memorable visit. Next up, indulge in the archaeological delights of the impressively preserved Ancient Akrotiri. or climb the…
It’s like stepping into a Bounty ad
The Seychellois love to make jibes at Mauritius. Their main competitor for beach-based tourism in the Indian Ocean is ribbed mercilessly, often with faint praise. ‘Mauritius has wonderful beaches, great hotels – and that’s it,’ said one tourism official. ‘People…
Explore Croatia, enjoy Istria
We just had to pull over. On an overcast, sultry day the sun had yet to make an appearance, and the landscape around us, although verdant, felt a little dull. But then – a patch of blue sky. Suddenly the…
Bora Bora a paradise in the Pacific
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale – a tale of a fateful trip, that started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship. If ever you’re looking for a reason to put the Gilligan’s Island theme on…
What’s new in Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca
If you’re in Menorca this weekend, head to Mahón to watch the inauguralMenorca Maxi (until 25 May), a superyacht regatta featuring top sailors including America’s Cup winners, round-the-world veterans and Olympic medalists. Or try it yourself – Menorca Cruising runs…
Three cheers for Skiathos, the Greek island idyll that remains unchanged by time
The Greek island of Skiathos is a special sort of place. My childhood holidays there were filled with walks along parched tracks, views of the Aegean, figs bursting with sweetness still warm from the tree and fresh octopus hanging outside…
Ten best diving adventures
Pulau Weh, Indonesia by Charlotte Boan Our small wooden vessel rocked gently on the water, revealing little of the wild currents sweeping over the coral reefs below. On the signal of our experienced dive guide Arun, we rolled off the…
Fantasy island! Head to Zante for beautiful beaches and delicious food
It’s also an island of two names: Zante is its Italian moniker, given to it by the Venetians who occupied it in the 15th Century for more than 300 years. Its Greek name is Zakynthos, and while you can still…
The rise of Montenegro: Chic resorts and fine scenery in Europe’s new holiday haven
Kotor Bay, which is on the Unesco World Heritage list, is a dramatically beautiful inlet where fishing settlements such as Prcanj cling to steep escarpments, the red roofs of squat houses bright in the sun. Squint, and the whole picture…
How to experience NYC in 24 hours
So, you’re stuck with a long layover in New York City? Before you start making big plans to spend the next 24 hours in the terminal trying to beat your “Angry Birds” high score, consider venturing outside the airport. All…
Touring London landmarks
My first memory of London was my grandmother singing me the nursery rhyme, “London Bridge is Falling Down.” I had no idea what it meant or where it was, but all my childhood I knew there was a London Bridge…
What to discover in Berlin
Berlin, in Germany, was one of the best travel destination surprises I’ve had in a really long time. I fell so in love with the city during a recent visit that I actually didn’t want to leave. In general, Berlin…
Top tips for a Rio de Janeiro trip
On Corcovado Mountain, the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooks Rio de Janeiro, “the Marvelous City.” Choro beats pulsate along the coastline, as volleyballs fly over beach nets and the sweet smell of caramelized popcorn lingers around food carts. As…
Romantic Barcelona
How do you say, “Barcelona?” If you say it in the romance language known as Catalan, it’s actually pronounced “Barthelona.” Barcelona is the capital of the Spanish region of Catalonia, where the Catalan language was born. From the works of…
The best shows in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a great place to catch a show. Why? In addition to a fantastic range of entertainment offerings, most of thehotels’ venues are small and audience-friendly. With well-designed, modern showrooms, there aren’t many bad seats in Vegas. This…
Best ways to spend 24 hours in Miami
For some, a long layover in Miami, Florida, could mean sitting in the terminal counting down the minutes until their next flight, but for others, it’s just enough time to hit the beach! The next time you find yourself with…
Top hotels in Cancun
White sand beaches and crystal blue waters await sun lovers in Cancun and nearby Playa Mujeres, Mexico. These top five Cancun area hotels rank among the best in Expedia’s2013 Insiders’ Select™ List of The World’s Best-Reviewed Hotels. The ranking includes…