Castle tips

Britain’s most southerly port, Porthleven has swapped its traditional products of tin and china clay for some of the best gelato, seafood tapas and freshly caught fish on the Cornish coast. The Harbour Inn (doubles from £109 B&B; harbourinnporthleven.co.uk) is the place to stay, a recently refurbished pub with rooms right by the sea, serving up fish caught in nearby Newlyn and a “Chip Shop Upgrade” – curry sauce, pickled egg and onion and bread and butter. Elsewhere, Amelies (ameliesporthleven.co.uk) overlooks the fishing boats and offers small plates of Cornish mackerel pâté and salt and pepper squid, crispy pizzas and fragrant bouillabaisse. Leave room to choose at least two of the 30 flavours of ice-cream at Nauti (nautibutice.co.uk) and then stock up on Cornish treats at Pengelly’s (pengellys-porthleven.co.uk) before finally heading back home.

For many people, the joys of winter center on strapping on skis, snowshoes or skates and getting outdoors. Of course, that is no less true in many parts of Asia. But with climates ranging from the famously snowy Japanese island of Hokkaido to the tropical forests of Malaysia, the continent offers a wide variety of wintertime delights for travelers who are seeking something different from a day on the slopes. Fresh-caught mountain trout sashimi, anyone? Here are five festivals to check out this winter.

Some places in the world present delightful surprises around just about every corner. Along one of many twisty roads is a picturesque cove with no sign of development, and then a stretch of golden sands backed by wild grass-covered dunes. Past a roiling river and across a stone bridge, an atmospheric tea room makes an appearance, coated in a blanket of crimson-hued Virginia creeper. Down a long set of polished rocky steps, a centuries-old stone chapel is snuggled in the side of rugged limestone cliffs. Elsewhere, in a bucolic landscape, a neolithic burial chamber pops into view, seemingly out of nowhere. All of these discoveries and many more can be found in Wales, a country whose reputation, in the minds of many travelers, seems to revolve solely around an abundance of grazing sheep, a multitude of Medieval castles, and a landscape that’s a patchwork of verdancy. To truly discover Wales in all her unique, cool and, sometimes, quirky glory, lay your head in any (or all) of these stellar accommodations that range from the understated to the serene to the eccentric.

In the autumn of 1948, Marcel Bich, owner of a company located north of Paris that produced ink cartridges for fountain pens, pushed a wheelbarrow in his garden in the village of Rhuis. He considered the new ‘ball point’ pen launched by the Reynolds company in the United States, and was mystified by the allure of this expensive instrument that produced what he considered as shoddy writing. He turned around, peered at the wheel imprint left by his barrow on dirt, and was flooded with a realization. The ball point pen did the same as the wheel—it left an imprint by rolling, not by scratching. He knew this could lead to more fluid, easier writing.

Standing on a frozen ridge at Bosworth Field, my feeling is that there are certainly less attractive places to draw one’s last breath. On this frigid December afternoon, I’m looking out at a mist-shrouded hinterland of crisscrossing fields as a milky orange sun sinks behind a distant smudge of cloud. Somewhere out there on that bleak horizon in August 1485, King Richard III died a violent death, made all the more visceral by the gaudy array of spiked weapons hanging on a wall inside the nearby Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024.

If we adopted a child’s-eye view of the world, how would we choose to have fun? It’s likely to be about more than the usual incentives, such as an ice cream, suggests research from Nature Communications. According to the journal, children as young as four seek experiences that deliver positive results, guide action, answer questions about the world — and are just plain fun. Whether it’s getting up-close with crustaceans on a rockpooling adventure, diving into a good book at a literature festival, learning to surf, taking to the stage or gazing at the stars, these 12 UK-based experiences deliver hands-on learning and creativity. 

Each year, Ljubljana's LUV Fest celebrates love in all its guises — whether it's romantic affection, the love between good friends, a passion for the arts, an appreciation for great food or the deep connection many have with nature. The festival also celebrates the beauty of Ljubljana itself — the Slovenian capital with no shortage of charm.

The idea of a “meal fit for a king or queen” gets plenty of lip service among those with no experience eating food served in a castle, or presiding over a monarchy. Taken literally, what would be the perfect royal meal for luxury food tourists searching the globe for a unique experience?

The ski resorts of Bulgaria have long been seen as the best option for British skiers hoping to hit the slopes on a budget. Borovets and Bansko might not have the glitz of Verbier, the after-ski buzz of St Anton, or the picturesque villages of the Trois Vallées, but as the solid, wallet-friendly option, Bulgaria has been unbeatable for more than a decade.

Nemacolin is a resort in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, outside of Pittsburgh, that takes me back to the spectacular castle estates in Ireland and Scotland that I’ve been lucky to experience over the last decade.

France’s winding cobbled lanes and tree-lined rural roadways offer a straight shot into the heart of the country. Incredible countryside vistas merge into unique and highly wanderable villages, castles and coastlines that will etch your journey into your memories.

Sitting on the shores shores of the Caribbean, the Hyatt Regencyis a stunning hotel located in the city of Cartagena, Colombia. Combining modern elegance with breathtaking views and world-class amenities, this property is the perfect destination for both leisure and business travelers, allowing you to immerse yourself in the rich culture and history that Cartagena is known for.

No first trip to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The world-famous icon of Scotland is part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the country. Dominating the skyline of the city, the fortress looms over the streets below from its position on the Castle Rock. Due to its strategic location, it has been a royal residence, a military stronghold, and a focus of countless sieges and battles. It also offers stunning panoramic views over the city of Edinburgh. Due to the size and walkability of the city center, the best way to explore Scotland’s capital is on foot. That means, if you are looking for a central Airbnb, you’ll be no more than a 30-minute walk from the Royal Mile — the main street leading to the castle gates. The Airbnb near Edinburgh Castle rentals we’ve selected here are steeped in history, have views of the iconic site, Superhost status, and five-star reviews from past guests.

Although Luxembourg is very small and made up of primarily rural land, this wealthy European country offers an impressive amount of opportunities for excitement and relaxation. It’s bordered by Belgium, France and Germany — and the culture of its nearby neighbors are reflected in the atmosphere of luxury and adventure of Luxembourg. The geography features dense forests and rocky gorges, but the capital city of Luxembourg City hosts urban opportunities to explore including castles and museums. There are many fine Luxembourg Airbnbs, but staying in a hotel offers a more traditional European hospitality experience.

Luxurious beach vacations aren’t always friendly on the wallet. Albania, however, is one of the more budget-friendly countries in Europe, and also coincidentally has some of the best lesser-visited beaches on the continent. Hotel Castle Beach Club, for example, in the heart of Ksamil, Albania, offers a special blend of relaxation and adventure. Ideally located close to the town center, it’s the perfect getaway for those seeking a tranquil beach vacation with all the conveniences at their fingertips.

Nothing epitomizes French luxury quite like staying in a castle. While Villa Le Castel might not be a castle in the traditional sense, it’s about as close as you’ll probably ever get. Located in the heart of Vallauris, a town renowned for its pottery and ceramics, Villa Le Castel is a magnificent villa that’s the perfect blend of comfort and opulence. The villa has six bedrooms, each with its own character, and the decor combines modern luxury with traditional elegance.

Founded by Greeks in the first millennium BCE, Naples is one of the most ancient cities in Europe – and it remains alluring to this day.

If you are still making your list and checking it twice, we found a few gift ideas in Santa's workshop that are sure to please you and the lucky recipient.

The rolling green fields, mist-draped mountains, castles and cliffs of Ireland have been the backdrop to countless romantic vacations.

After closing for renovations in 2020, the five-star Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris is finally set to reopen its doors on Jan. 25, 2024.

Switzerland might look tiny on paper, but with most of its land gobbled up by the Alps, this little European nation packs in a lot of elevated space.