Perfectly indulgent days out
From personal shoppers to steamy hammams and even a sunset safari, we find indulgent days out in Britain where the whole point is to spoil yourself rotten
Winning the green vote on Filicudi
Quiet enchantment on an uncrowded island in Italy's Aeolian archipelago
Why Syria scrubs up so well
Kevin Rushby puts himself at the mercy of a muscular, tattoed masseur in a hamman in the Syrian city of Aleppo
Scotland’s Buddhist retreat
You don't need to go east to learn how to meditate – try Scotland instead
A stylish wellbeing retreat that won’t break the bank
Need a post-Christmas detox? A new Wiltshire retreat is high on tranquility, but low on prices
Madeira spas: sun, sea and hot sands
Annabelle Thorpe's round-up of hotels and spas that make this Atlantic island one of Europe's leading spa destinations
Siesta time
This Andalucían retreat is the perfect place to do absolutely nada, writes Isabel Choat
Like St Tropez before Bardot
Marseillan can't claim to have the celeb clientele, glam bars and designer shops of its famous Riviera cousin, but that's why it's special, says Ian Belcher
Forget the ferry
Annabelle Thorpe picks a dozen British islands that you can reach by car or on foot - perfect for a day trip or a weekend away
The director, the artist – and the unframed, unmounted work of art
Pedro Almodóvar's new film, Broken Embraces, draws heavily on the landscapes of Lanzarote. Annie Bennett follows in his footsteps around the island
Still word perfect
Few Caribbean rentals are as atmospheric as Pointe Baptiste. Elma Napier's Dominican home has lost none of its 1930s elegance
Ah, the wood life …
Kevin Rushby takes to a cabin in the Dordogne that combines eco simplicity with comfort
Five unusual wellbeing breaks
Rest and relaxation breaks from a Simple Living weekend in Devon to spiritual walks in Bhutan
Get me to a nunnery
Ian Belcher finds himself put through his physical and spiritual paces at Austria's Marienkron Abbey
Great British escapes … Isle of Thanet
This isle holds a European Blue Flag award for no fewer than seven of it's sandy beaches, writes Stephen Emms