Escape from Covid
Patrick Stuart takes a break from Covid restrictions with an unexpected trip to the Maldives The Maldives have never had a place on my bucket list. And I say this
The origin of Christmas: ancient festivities and the winter solstice
Christmas has never been a religious holiday for me. At first, when I was younger, it was all about the presents, although as I got older it gradually became all
Meet in Madeira: a winter Quinta escape for all the family
Hot tub soaking while diving into a great read. Spectacular sunsets behind towering sea-cliffs. Warm winter evenings sipping on local rum cocktails. Unforgettable hiking through hidden valleys complete with cascading
Staycation, Vila Vita style
A fabulous luxury staycation resort, right here on our doorstep. Travel has become more complicated this year, but fear not, Vila Vita Parc in Porches has everything you need, spread
Venice, Bride of the sea
La Dominante. La Serenissima. Queen of the Adriatic. Venice is enchanting, mysterious, monumental and rich in history. Many believe Venice is overrun by tourists but the City of Water has
Escaping to Évora: last-minute luxury getaways
As we near the end of a year unlike any other, perhaps, like me, your mind is turning to a last-minute break from ‘normality’ before the Christmas celebrations (hopefully subdued
Portugal’s Alto Alentejo
The Alentejo, Portugal’s largest province, has a distinctive character and beauty unlike anywhere else in the country. The vast plains of the Baixo (Lower) Alentejo in the south are sparsely
The Long-Lost City of Atlantis: Life on our planet
Earth, Terra, The Blue Planet Around 71% of the world’s surface is covered by water and the earth’s oceans hold around 96.5% of that water. Sometimes beautiful and serene, other
We can whine about Covid … or we can wine and dine
Every autumn our group of wine-loving friends organises a four- to five-day trip. The objective is pure hedonism – we stay in wonderful hotels, eat a lot of excellent food,
Vines, volcanoes and vigorous testing: an autumn escape to the Azores
Dark clouds danced above São Jorge in the distance, the angry winds of the Atlantic keeping them moving at pace. Far beyond the natural swimming pools sunk into the slate-black