Visit Birmingham: Why 2022 is Birmingham's time to shine

The secret is out about Belize, although seasoned globetrotters added the country’s vast mountain range and deep-sea wonders to their bucket lists years ago. And as easy as it is to fly to the Central American country – most major U.S. cities are two to three hours away – it’s just as quick to obtain a visa to enter. In fact, you may not even need one. 

Its consistently warm-to-mild temperatures and lack of a harsh winter mean there’s never really a bad time to visit St Lucia.

With its dense tapestry of cultures and landscapes, India feels like dozens of countries rolled into one, but a single visa will cover you for travel across more than three million square kilometers of territory, taking in everything from steamy jungles to the high passes of the Himalayas.

This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Justin Miller, a Tokyo-based DJ and English teacher. He shares what he's learned about Tokyo after living in Japan for 15 years. It's been edited for length and clarity.

The excitement started before I had even arrived in Gibraltar. As the plane steered towards the landing strip, the aircraft’s wing appeared to almost dip into the sea water. Shrieks of joy echoed around the cabin. “Dolphins, dolphins, look, there’s babies!”. All those without window seats on the right-hand side – including myself – were left feeling glum as we missed out on the preshow. But I wasn’t disappointed for too long. This 7-square-kilometre piece of land had plenty more surprises to come.

Croatia is an endlessly appealing destination with sun-drenched beaches, picturesque hilltop towns and atmospheric streets.

This summer, many families had their first holiday abroad since the pandemic began. But as autumn sets in and the cost of living crisis deepens, that week or two by the sea may soon seem a distant memory. Perfect timing, then, for the Ocean Film festival’s UK tour. Nell Teasdale, the tour director, says audiences can “dive into a night of wild seafaring voyages and astounding marine life, without getting their feet wet”.

Sri Lanka is emerging as one of the world's coolest destinations, with growing numbers flocking to hotspots like the southern port town of Galle, and the tea plantation-covered hills of Kandy. Our advice? Avoid the crowds and head for Sri Lanka's east coast — before the rest of the world does the same.

Scotland sports such a strong selection of tourist attractions – from castles and cabers to kilts and whisky – it’s easy to forget that there is much more to this land. Venture away from the cities and you'll find rugged mountains, remote glens and mile-upon-mile of wave-lashed beaches. Ready to explore? Here are seven Scottish places that you've probably never heard of, but must visit.

The smell of vanilla hangs thick in the air over Papantla, a bustling hill town in the jungly northern reaches of the Mexican state of Veracruz. The prized aromatic has been cultivated here since pre-colonial times, by the same Totonac people who still live here, speak their own language, and practice a brand of Roman Catholicism infused with pre-Christian ritual; visit during planting season and you might see the blood of sacrificed chickens being scattered on the fields. Few foreign tourists make it to Papantla, but those who do, come to roam the ruins of one of Mexico's most important, yet enigmatic, Mesoamerican cities: El Tajín.

2020 awards season is in full swing! And what better way to celebrate than to look at some of the most beautiful filming locations gracing our screens this year. If you're still working on your travel plans for the year, read on for our pick of the top TV and Film locations to visit in 2020. Take inspiration from The Secret Garden and embark on a road trip to visit some of the most beautiful ornamental gardens in the UK or follow in the footsteps of Mulan and explore the wide-open landscapes of New Zealand’s South Island. All of the destinations on the list are just as spectacular in real life as they are on screen.

There are two very different streams down in Dumfries & Galloway, the region that makes up Scotland’s southwest corner. First, with the region sitting on the shoulder of the English Lake District, there is – inevitably – a stream of cross-border traffic plying the A74.