Visiting Paris: I saved money by staying in Chantilly and catching the train
Not only did we find much cheaper accommodation outside Paris but we discovered a whole new area to explore. Plus four more towns for ‘commuting’ to European capitals
My eco-conscious skiing odyssey in the French Alps
You can take it easy on the slopes of Tignes. But if you have a yearning to go higher, further and faster, this beautiful eco-friendly resort is hard to beat
I’ll level with you – I truly love Britain’s flat landscapes
Shingle beach, drained farmland or a bare plain under huge skies; flat spaces distort distance and make me want to run and yell
Share details of a trip to a UK retreat – you could win a holiday voucher
Tell us about a favourite yoga, meditation or other wellness break – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break
A Black Forest fairytale: riding Germany’s ‘hell valley’ railway in winter
The Höllentalbahn is a spectacular line through south-west Germany’s forests and magical towns. Enchanting stop-offs en route include gothic Freiburg and pretty Titisee lake
From historic town houses to rural retreats: 10 great places to stay in Madeira
Where to go on the Portuguese island for lush vegetation, clifftop settings, fine wine and the promise of winter sun
‘I’ve made friends for life’: Rising number of travellers find going solo is the ticket to happiness
Holidays alone are getting easier. The number of single trips has risen from 6% in 2011 to 16% in 2023, according to latest figures from the Association of British Travel Agents
Disabled travel: finding accessible places to stay is the main problem
From the indignities of air travel to the planning required for trains and the lack of ceiling hoists in hotels
Holidays: money-saving tips for booking your dream break
The lowdown on the best deals, plus how to secure and future-proof them
Breathtaking: 24 secret beaches in southern Europe
Dreaming of warm seas and quiet, sunny shores? Our travel writers pick their favourite unheralded beaches in Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy and Portgual
‘Prepare for the sunset of a lifetime’: readers’ favourite beaches in southern Europe
From remote sandy coves in Galicia to bustling town beaches in the Cinque Terre, our tipsters dream of sunny climes and limpid waters
Where tourists seldom tread, part 7: five more British towns with secret histories
From Slough to Stockton-on-Tees, these provincial towns have been derided, mocked and caricatured. But there are so many reasons to visit places that are snubbed by the guidebooks
I’ve made secret discoveries on my doorstep: a year-long journey across my local OS map
We have become disconnected from the wild world around us and I wanted to get regular small doses of the delights of travelling without having to wait for the trip of a lifetime
Rail route of the month: a dramatic ‘back door’ into Switzerland through the Italian Alps
Our slow travel expert alights from the express train in Domodossola to discover a rural route through the hills into Switzerland
Tell us about a great city break in Europe – you could win a holiday voucher
Share details of your favourite discoveries during a city stay in Europe – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break