Travel

"Make no mistake", our taxi driver, a black South African told us on the way back from a shark diving expedition, "racism is as rife as it ever has been in our country." Politics had been on the agenda as soon as we stepped off the plane in Cape Town's international airport. The shanti towns that skirt the runway make an apparent impression on unsuspecting tourists less au-fait to the visible scars of poverty. But according to our driver Ulysses, 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...

Festivals don't always have to mean being knee-deep in mud listening to Coldplay in the rain with a warm beer. Across the world, gatherings of all size, descriptions and reasons take place, bringing together cultural traditions and modern-day passions. With its rich and long history, Central America is packed full of a wide breadth of festivals. Here's our faves... The Mayan River Route Challenge, Belize, 4 – 7 March 2016 Experienced and amateur canoers come together every year to take...

For many, a holiday isn't a holiday without their dog. If you're looking for the perfect pooch-friendly getaway - with a little bit of luxury and plenty of places to go walkies nearby - Inn Places have compiled a list of the top 10 dog friendly inns around the UK. Let's take a sniff... Inn at Cranborne, Dorset Their resident dog loves to meet visiting canines and there are no access restrictions as long as they are ‘well spoken’. With...

by Rosie Benson, travel writer Valentine’s Day is approaching, and whether you’re the type who loves to celebrate it, or can’t stand the excess of it, either way it’s a great excuse to escape for the weekend. So where in the world should you go? At TLE, we’ve picked our top five Valentine’s Day destinations in the world - with Paris a given! Morocco It’s February in the UK, so obviously we’re all dreaming of a little more sun. A...

With the overabundance of cheap holidays and flights around the world right at our fingertips it can be extremely overwhelming when it comes to hunting out your perfect holiday. There is now so much choice out there that picking something out of quite literally thousands and thousands of potential destinations can be quite a struggle. What would be useful is a quick tool to help give you some inspiration, such as a Q&A form or interactive graphic. I stumbled across...

By Courtney Greatrex Top holiday destinations for Brits are usually London, or the coast - but why not try Northumberland? I booked in for a weekend's stay at Matfen Hall Hotel, a beautiful estate just 25 minutes drive from Newcastle Upon Tyne. If you're coming from the south, I will admit it may seem like a fair hike - but I can guarantee that upon arrival, you will not want - or need - to leave the grounds. There’s plenty...

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,...