A pristine alternative to the Channel: long-distance swimming in Croatia
A new company is offering swimmers the chance to cover the same distance as a cross-Channel swim but in friendlier waters – and with some tempting stops en route
Tell us: share your experiences of traveling with friends
We’d like to hear from people on the best and worst things about traveling with friends
‘Sipping a pint while trout splashed in the river on a perfect summer’s day’: readers’ favourite UK waterside pubs
Our tipsters choose charming pubs on rivers, canals and lakes from Cornwall to Cumbria
10 of the best secret gardens in Europe’s major cities
From Paris to Athens, we pick hidden havens to escape the summer heat and tourist crowds
10 peaceful spots in and around Edinburgh to escape the festival crowds
Even if you’re there for the festival, which starts on Friday, there will be moments you’ll want to take a breather. A local writer suggests the best gardens, walks, beaches, parks and more
‘This truck is our home!’ How Bobby Bolton found love and purpose on a 42,000-mile road trip
No money, no flat, no fiancee: in 2022 Bolton lost almost everything that underpinned his life. Three years and 53 countries later, he has more than rebuilt it
Alpine adventures: fairytale hiking in the hidden French Alps
Little known Queyras natural park promises blue-green lakes, mountain views, pretty villages and plenty of cheese – but almost no crowds
Share a tip on a holiday with teenagers in Europe
Tell us about your favourite family trip with teens – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
‘Reconnect with yourself and nature’: yoga and pristine scenery in Montenegro
Most visitors stick to the coast, leaving the wild interior to hikers, cyclists and fans of mindfulness
‘Unlike anywhere else in Britain’: in search of wildlife on the Isles of Scilly
Whales and dolphins may have proved elusive, but the islands off Cornwall cannot fail to impress with their subtropical plants and Caribbean-like beaches
Explore Portugal’s historic hilltop hamlets in a free electric hire car
A project offering free car rental is revitalising the medieval villages north-east of Lisbon by finally making them easily accessible to visitors
‘We ended up in a pay-by-the-hour love motel’: travel pros on their holiday disasters (and how to avoid them)
From smart luggage causing an airport security panic to a destination wedding where the dress went missing, even the best-laid vacation plans can go wrong. Here, travel experts share their cautionary tales
‘A delightful slice of unhurried life’: readers’ favourite European islands
Lesser-known isles, from a quieter alternative to Capri, to a gem in the heart of Helsinki and the smallest of Ireland’s Aran Islands
Crest of a new wave: Cleethorpes is all set for a seaside revival
The resort is extending its bucket-and-spade appeal to a new generation with a raft of investment, a series of new festivals and some original offerings on the food and accommodation front
‘Women are the guardians of our culture’: why Kihnu is Estonia’s island of true equality
They wear traditional dress, play ancient melodies on violins and accordions, but the women of this island outpost ensure that it is more than just a living museum