Tell us about your favourite romantic place in Europe
Share a tip on a romantic spot – whether city, hotel or mountain top – the best wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
Do writing retreats actually work? Reader, I finished my novel in style …
The distractions of daily life can make writing a book a frustrating task, so I sought boltholes offering creative support and solitude in inspiring landscapes
10 of the best retreats in Europe to soothe mind, body and soul
Change your life – or just kick back and relax – by connecting with nature, trying a creative workshop, or taking a yoga course somewhere beautiful
Could a surfing retreat in Morocco conquer my fear of the sea?
The process of learning to catch a wave is an all-consuming activity that can prove to be a powerful therapeutic tool
‘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