Destinations

Sean Sheehan finds superb accommodation in likely and unlikely places To many people, Japan seems a strange and unknown land. But nothing is more assuring than its hotels where the consummate grace and practised politeness of customer service is rooted in the country’s culture. The Park Hyatt, the location for the film Lost in Translation, begins on the 41st floor of Shinjuku Park Tower and climbs steadily upwards to a rooftop swimming pool. Bicycles are available, complete with maps, packed...

If you're looking country pubs, plenty of walks and good grub in a charming setting, you could do a lot worse than Cookham. The Place A mere 39 minutes train ride out of Paddington, Cookham is a picturesque village tucked in to the north-easternmost corner of Berkshire. Crowned as Britain's second richest village in 2011 by The Daily Telegraph, its modest commercial quarter is populated with quaint restaurants and a smattering of historic pubs, which makes it an ideal base...

By Harry Bedford  As one of the five remaining communist countries, Laos is very much a victim of its political history. The domino that fell along with Vietnam in the 1970s is only just starting to pick itself back up - much to the delight of the tourist. Laos is the country nestled between Thailand and Vietnam, landlocked by Burma and China to the north and Cambodia to the south. Buddhism, French colonialism and centuries old Laotian traditions come together...

Sean Sheehan travels 700 miles south of Tokyo Fukuoka, Japan’s sixth largest city, is a refreshing alternative to the ultramodern, neon-lit skyscrapers and anime shops of the bustling capital. Compared to Tokyo, where you have to strain your neck to see the sky, its low-rise cityscape feels liberating. Surrounded on three sides by mountains,Fukuoka has much to offer: a brand new metro system, underground shopping malls and great places to eat. Plus broad sandy beaches and great mountain walks. A fun way to...

by Shilpa Ganatra, travel editor The Maldives – a group of 1,192 coral islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean – might be associated with romantic honeymoons and its sugar-white beaches, but its real draw is found once you step off each island, as its Finding Nemo-style coral reefs are unlike most places in the world. Even the most crowded resorts are surrounded by crystal-clear waters teeming with parrot fish, angel fish, sea turtles, moray eels, reef sharks, manta...

by Emma Silverthorn, TLE writer A few months on from the tragic Paris attacks, and the city has lost little of its joie de vivre. You'll notice it whether on a gastronomic adventure, out designer shopping, or, for the young at heart, a weekend at recently revamped Disneyland Paris. In the famed theme park, there are plenty of attractions and rides but the best is the new Rattatouie ride, perhaps unsurprisingly given its nationality. With this simulation, you see the...

by Shilpa Ganatra, travel editor Oh I do like to be beside the seaside. And you do too - don’t pretend you don’t. For all that city living offers us, there’s no replicating the sea air, or spectacular coastal views. With that in mind, I packed up our weekend bag and hopped in the car for a weekend in Bournemouth, a place I last went on a family trip in my pre-teens. Luckily, it’s changed since then. Around three hours...

Some things never change. Pockets of Italy notwithstanding, you’d be hard pushed to find anywhere as serious about their cuisine as Paris - and thanks be for that. It means after a quick Eurostar ride, you feel a million miles away from the fried chicken joints that punctuate the UK’s high streets, and London’s painfully on fleek one-dish restaurants where patrons need to factor in 30 minutes of momentum-killing queuing time. Exploring Paris's restaurants at the start of the year,...

by Beth Roberts, travel writer Hidden away in the Scottish Highlands, there’s a certain spellbinding something about these uber-luxe lodges that’s seriously good for the soul… “Welcome to Inverness - good luck out there!” our air hostess laughs as we disembark into horizontal hailstones. Scotland, seemingly eager to live up to her rugged reputation gives us a bracing welcome. Half an hour later, we’re met by Mike at tiny Beauly station and are soon winding our way up through Strathglass,...