A car-free trip in the Scottish Highlands: I’d have missed so much if I’d driven

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kate Boardman , a 36-year-old former teacher and current content creator from Massachusetts who has lived and traveled all over the world. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Amsterdam has desperately been trying to shake off its ‘party capital’ image - with limited success.

When mom travels, she is stepping out with her best foot forward. Sans Matin, The Office of Angela Scott, Naot, Cariuma and Sorel are just a handful of chic sneaker brands with expertly baked-in comfort to complete mom’s travel essentials this Mother’s Day. Here are the most stylish sneakers to buy moms who enjoy a good walking tour this Mother’s Day:

It’s a relief to lay my rucksack down, plunge hot feet into the cool stream and pause to revel in the fairytale surrounds. Foxgloves stand tall against a cornflower-blue sky, ferns look almost luminous, the water glints in the early summer sunshine. A patch of moss-covered ancient forest provides shade, a cuckoo calls in the distance, mountains layer on the horizon.

A beach is to a vacation is as ice cream is to apple pie: essential. We dream of beaches in Europe and we imagine that feeling of flaxen sand between our toes, the sounds of sea waves crashing on the shoreline, and the updrafts of salty ocean breeze. The small snag is, everyone else gets the same idea, and during peak seasons, carving out a spot on the shore to set out our picnic or recline with our beach read can feel like an impossible feat of engineering.

If your sights are set on a trip to Europe, be travel ready with these helpful tips from ALG Vacations.

Few things beat the sense of freedom of the open road. Whether it’s an epic motorcycle ride along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way or a leisurely pootle around the Italian lakes by car, a road trip is a brilliant way to explore a country at your own pace, enjoying varied scenery and discovering less-known spots en route. We’d love to hear about your favourite journeys in Europe – where did you go and what made it so special? The best tip will win a holiday voucher.

The sequence M77, M74, M73, M80, A9, M90, A90 may not sound freighted with emotional weight, but those roads are, for me, associated with the sadness of separation and the pleasure of reunion. It’s the route I drive between our home in Glasgow and Dundee, where our eldest boy now lives, having left for university.

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As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, JA Resorts & Hotels extends warm wishes to all observing this sacred time. As we await the joyous occasion of Eid Al Fitr, we are thrilled to announce a host of celebratory offerings across our properties, spanning from the vibrant city of Dubai to the serene mountains of Hatta. Dubai’s largest experience resort, the iconic JA The Resort, invites guests to celebrate this auspicious occasion surrounded by luxury and comfort. Meanwhile, nestled amidst the beauty of the Al Hajjar mountains, JA Hatta Fort Hotel offers a tranquil retreat for families seeking a unique Eid getaway.

For English-speakers, Romanian is easier to learn than German. And you’ll be speaking Swahili sooner than Polish.

There are more than 500 national parks in Europe covering an astounding variety of terrain, from the wild taiga of northern Finland to the coastal dunes and wetlands of the Doñana national park in southern Spain. These protected landscapes offer pristine scenery and endless opportunities for activity and adventure. We’d love to hear about your favourite national park discoveries on the continent, whether it’s a hiking trail through a remote mountain range, a perfect spot for wild camping or an unforgettable wildlife encounter.