Be Our Guest: Love Leeds for longer

Last year, we hired a lovely property sleeping eight two miles from Lake Garda. It was in a hamlet with two gorgeous Italian restaurants and a shop selling seemingly everything. We drove from Lincolnshire with our two dogs, in our motorhome. Our three grown-up children and their partners joined us there. The property owner arranged a pasta cooking day with local wine, meat and cheeses. We barely left the villa and the time spent just talking and playing games was priceless. Having nothing but time to chill and talk proved to be our best holiday.Cath Delsignore

It’s no secret that it’s been a year of ups and downs—but one silver lining is the affordable travel possibilities it’s opened up for American travelers. Thanks to expanding air routes, a strong U.S. dollar, and tour companies catering to younger, more frugal tourists, the world is now more accessible than ever.

A recent report released from travel marketing engine Sojern, analyzed travel trends from January 2015 to April 2016 and found the top international destinations for U.S. travelers as well as the top emerging and declining international spots.

Summer, also known as high season for travel, is almost here. And according to AAA just about everyone is poised to hit the road. The organization predicts two-thirds of what it categorizes as “leisure travelers” plan to take vacations this summer, meaning millions of Americans will be hitting the road.

If you’re dreaming of long days soaking up the sun, ice-cold drink in hand, soaking up the scenery, the National Geographic Traveller (UK) team has just the ticket. Here are our 10 favourite pubs in the UK for summer drinking, from a remote beachside boozer to an urban brewery bar.

“People are responsible for their own safety,” National Park spokesperson Abby Wines told CNN. She was referring to this summer’s killer heat at Death Valley and elsewhere, but ultimately, this is true for every traveler. As the security experts at Global Guardian noted in a Forbes story on the world’s most dangerous countries, “When in doubt, don’t go.” Or if you’re hiking in a hot climate, go early, go hydrated, or don’t go.

There’s no better endorsement for a hotel than the patronage of royalty or celebrities. Beyoncé — rather, Queen Bey — is regarded as both. Few entertainment industry power couples have had the impact that Beyoncé and Jay-Z have had, from their illustrious careers to their luxurious lifestyle. Factor in a combined net worth somewhere in the billions, and you know that any hotel that’s good enough for the Carters is guaranteed to be something spectacular.

California's Death Valley has long been considered the hottest place on Earth.

A 71-year-old man died after going for a hike in Death Valley, California, on Tuesday after the area received numerous extreme heat warnings, with temperatures soaring to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has to be Berlin. During a month-long summer trip in the late noughties, I fell in love with Kreuzberg’s €2 kebabs, cheap pilsner and vibrant street art. I strolled through leafy Prenzlauer Berg, home to endless coffee, cake and culture. This city has whatever food you could possibly want (currywurst is a must – meat, veggie or otherwise, big and budget-friendly). But the highlight was taking a train out to the stunning lake Wannsee. We packed a picnic, stripped off, sank our toes in the sand and swam, swam, swam until the canalside clubs began calling our name.Jessica Cole

It’s not lost on me, the irony of writing about mobility while sitting at my desk for hours, with a bent spine and cramped stomach. I’ve spent the last few years writing a book about past movement and mobility; footprints becoming trails that turn into a torrent of trods and roads.