An alternative Tuscany in northern Italy: fairytale hills and terracotta villages in Lombardy’s Oltrepò Pavese

Rising from the Po valley to the green Apennines, this little-visited region has good living down to a tee, with its fine wines, great food and historic villages

Sailing across the Baltic: an idyllic voyage from Germany to Denmark

A boat trip to Denmark’s South Funen archipelago takes in the North Sea coast, the historic Kiel canal and the Baltic before delivering its crew to an idyllic island rich in maritime culture

Share a tip on a great dog-friendly holiday

Tell us about a break that set tails wagging – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break

Our perfect slice of Portugal: a family holiday on ‘the best beach in the world’

With a stunning coastline, brilliant surfing and a B&B in the forest, this quiet corner north of the Algarve makes for an idyllic break

A slow boat to happiness: our family holiday on Wiltshire’s Kennet and Avon canal

What happens when you take a screen-addicted family of six on a canal boat with a patchy phone signal? Our writer embarks on a floating digital detox

Interrail passes are free for kids – so I borrowed my niece for a rail tour of Europe’s great cities

It took a few adjustments on both sides – she wasn’t keen on snails or Rembrandt – but after seeing Paris, Berlin and Venice, she wants to go again next year

‘Drift along, stop for a picnic and immerse yourself in nature’: your favourite boat trips in the UK and Europe

From cruising on a Scottish loch and sailing on the Broads to a ferry ride in the Alps and canoeing in France, our tipsters love messing about in boats

‘They erupt from the moor like castles, monsters and giants’: exploring Dartmoor’s tors

These ancient rocks have inspired myth and mysticism for millennia, and a new book and festival celebrate their enduring power

‘Time slows down in Lastovo’: I may just have found Croatia’s most unspoilt archipelago

Five hours by ferry from Split – and a world away from the clubs of Hvar – the islands’ wooded hills, pine-shaded beaches and transparent waters are buzzing with nature

Walking 42 miles in one day: tackling North Yorkshire’s Lyke Wake route on its 70th anniversary

The walk across the North York Moors – which has to be completed in 24 hours – is a mix of trudging and wild beauty. I experienced both as I joined one of the first people to do it in 1955

Nine ways to cut the cost of hen or stag dos and still have a ball

The average weekend jaunt costs £779 a person in the UK, rising to £1,208 if going abroad. But sendoffs don’t have to be that dear

Tell us about your favourite music, art or writing holiday

Have you been on an inspiring writing or artist-led retreat, or a learning holiday focusing on music, singing or dance? If so, please send us a tip about it – the best wins £200 towards a Coolstays break

20 of Europe’s best under-the-radar beaches

Even in high summer, Europe has plenty of unspoilt bays and hidden coves where you can escape the crowds

‘Sun-soaked, wave-lapped and never crowded’: Sicily’s idyllic unspoilt beaches

A world away from Italy’s crowded beach resorts, the island’s south-west offers remote golden sands plus villages, vineyards and great restaurants

Holiday cancellations: can you sell or transfer your trip if you can’t get a refund?

A refund depends on the departure date and the booking type – no wonder more people are now selling trips on