There’s Nothing Like a Scenic Viewpoint

‘It’s cold here in January,” says my guide, Michèle Caserta, as we stroll along Cannes seafront, where warm autumn sunshine sprays diamonds on the waves. “Maybe 15C?” She notices my raised eyebrow. “I’m Mediterranean: for me, that’s cold!”

This two-hour train trip gets seriously scenic after Coleraine, when it partly follows the coast and Lough Foyle. As it runs along Downhill Beach, the sands and turbulent ocean are just outside the window, with the domed Mussenden temple perched on the cliffs above. On through farmland and past views of craggy Binevenagh – a towering cliff on the edge of the Antrim plateau – it will offer views of wintering geese, whooper swans and waders on the shores of the lough.

In the gloom caused by the loss of many rural bus services and Rishi Sunak’s shameful rollback of environmental pledges, there has been one gleam of (green) light. The bus fare cap, now set at £2.50 across England, will run until 30 November 2024. The cap doesn’t apply to buses in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but there are still some reasonable fares, so here are 10 great sightseeing routes across the UK.

On October 19, the U.S. Department of State issued a rare advisory that Americans overseas “exercise increased caution” due to heightened tensions and chances of terrorism around the world, spurred by the Israel-Hamas war. It’s part of a system of travel warnings that’s been around in some form since 1978, designed to help citizens assess how safe a destination might be at a given time.

ITV’s This Morning's resident vet, Dr Scott Miller, explores the Arctic onboard Scenic Eclipse in a new three-part Animals of the Arctic feature investigating the rare, unique animals of the region.

Iceland has been a waystation for budget travelers hopping the pond ever since Icelandair first burst on the scene with cheap transatlantic flights in the 1960s. While the deals are often irresistible, doubts crept in about the risks of flying to Iceland on the cheap when in 2019, Icelandic low-cost carrier Wow went bust in spite of (or perhaps because of) stunts like $49 fares from the United States to Europe.

My dad and I always try to take one unique trip a year. Last fall, we decided to go on the Seabourn Venture, a luxury expedition cruise ship operated by Seabourn Cruise Line.

Amadeus is piloting a new AI-powered retail system meant to make airlines sales more like shopping on Amazon.

Train journeys are one of the most nostalgic ways to travel, and they become even more romantic in the winter months. Scenic routes become even more majestic when it’s cold outside, transforming into winter wonderlands decked out in white. There’s nothing as comforting as watching flakes of snow fall while cuddled up inside your own luxe sleeper cabin as the train sweeps past frozen rivers, frosty mountains, and picturesque villages.

Tall sailing ships seem to turn back the clock, evoking a bygone time when merchants, admirals, and pirates ruled the seas. Wildly evocative, with billowing white sails overhead and hulls directed toward points unknown, their dynamic form captures not only the wind, but the imagination.

The story of Alcatraz is a fascinating dive into US history. 

A little before 10:30 a.m., a royal blue train hummed into Platform 4 at Venice’s Santa Lucia station, coming to a halt with a hiss. More than a few passengers had expected a steam engine, surprised—if not a little disappointed—to see the modern locomotive pulling along 16 carriages almost a third of a mile. “This train is far too heavy for a steam engine; it’s been years since they used one,” said the attendant greeting guests. With bags and suit carriers already handed over to stewards, passengers walked the length of the train searching for their carriages as red carpets rolled out of the doorways like tongues cooling off.