‘Walking in the Lake District drizzle rewired my head’: readers’ life-changing trips
From the jungles of Colombia to sailing in Croatia, our readers reflect on the life lessons travel has taught them
Going beyond the surface in the Karst plateau: exploring the new cross-border geopark in Italy and Slovenia
GeoKarst is a new EU-funded project highlighting a unique landscape of caves, gorges and medieval villages near Trieste
The bathroom door scandal: why hotels are putting toilets in glass boxes
Solid doors are being replaced with sliding ones, or even transparent cubicles. For furious guests, this is a cost-cutting measure too far
Rock up to London: discovering stones and fossils from around the world on an urban geology tour
The city’s architecture travels through time and continents, incorporating everything from slabs of the Italian Alps to meteorites that hit southern Africa 2bn years ago
‘Mingling is part of the adventure’: a family trip to Wales shows why hostels are booming
Forget draughty bunk rooms and awkward social encounters, hostels now provide home comforts and a sense of community private rentals will never match
Share a tip on a great gallery or museum in Europe
Tell us about a favourite small museum or gallery you’ve discovered on your travels – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
Wide sandy beaches and amazing seafood in western France
Charente-Maritime is a more affordable, less manicured family destination than nearby Île de Ré
Eight of the best affordable beach holidays, from Crete to the Costa de la Luz
Kick back and dream of summer with our pick of seaside gems, including a stylish Andalucian bolthole and a villa with views of Stromboli
Turkey as it used to be: the beach resort of Akyaka retains its ramshackle charm
Thirty years after she first visited, our writer is relieved to discover that the town has managed to swerve the worst excesses of tourist development
‘Golden sands meld into the clear turquoise sea’: readers’ favourite beaches in Europe
Our readers bask in the memory of great beach discoveries, from Latvia to Sicily
‘I’ve never felt such a skin-zinging feeling of being alive’: my year of swimming in Nordic seas
Dipping in the freezing waters of Scandinavia, Greenland and Finland was life-changing – and full of warmth thanks to saunas, hot springs and like-minded people
‘Bless you, Alfred Wainwright … and you, Rishi Sunak’: England’s Coast to Coast walk gets an upgrade
The multi-day trail between the Cumbria and North Yorkshire coasts is one of Britain’s most popular, and now upgrades, path repairs and trail officers aim to preserve it for future generations
Australians with British dual citizenship are about to see passport rules change – here’s what you need to know
Dual citizens will be ‘expected to’ use their British passport to travel to the UK from 25 February – this is why, and how much the changes will cost
How to have a sustainable family ski holiday: take the train and head high
Cut out flying and you shred skiing’s carbon footprint. And opting for a high-altitude resort that needs less artificial snow makes it even greener. Les Arcs in the French Alps ticks both boxes
Share a travel tip on a holiday in Scandinavia or Finland
From beautiful cities to dune-backed beaches and spectacular Arctic landscapes, tell us about a memorable trip to Denmark, Sweden, Norway or Finland – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break