Travel guides
Practical travel guides, updated as things change.
Things to do
Things to do
Things to do in Cancún: beaches, day trips and Holbox
The best of Cancún's Hotel Zone, Isla Mujeres, cenotes, Chichén Itzá, Tulum and Cozumel, plus how to add a few nights on Holbox.
Things to do
Things to do in Punta Cana: the best excursions and beaches
Saona or Catalina, Hoyo Azul, Macao buggies, Samaná whales, Santo Domingo and Los Haitises, and how to choose a safe tour.
Things to do
Sydney in summer: beaches, New Year's Eve and things to do
Sydney from December to February: the harbour, Bondi to Coogee, Manly, New Year's Eve fireworks, January festivals, day trips and beach safety.
Things to do
Things to do in Orlando: theme parks, springs and day trips
How to plan Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, plus the best of Orlando beyond the parks: Winter Park, springs, beaches and Kennedy Space Center.
Things to do
Phuket things to do and the best Thai islands to visit
Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Koh Samui compared, with the best time for each coast and how to island-hop.
Things to do
Things to do in Da Nang and Hoi An, and which to choose
Beaches, lantern-lit streets and day trips to My Son, Hue and the Golden Bridge, with the best time to visit central Vietnam.
Things to do
Things to do in Amsterdam: museums, canals and day trips
How to book the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, the best neighbourhoods and canal walks, tulip season and easy day trips.
Things to do
Things to do in Hurghada: reefs, resorts and Egypt day trips
Where to stay on Egypt's Red Sea coast, the best snorkelling and island trips, desert adventures and day trips to Luxor and the pyramids.
Things to do
Things to do in Las Vegas: shows, sights and day trips
The best of the Strip and Downtown, the shows worth booking, free things to do and the national parks within a few hours' drive.
Things to do
Things to do in Barcelona: Gaudí, beaches, tapas and day trips
How to see the Sagrada Família and Park Güell without the queues, the best neighbourhoods and beaches, and easy trips to Montserrat and Girona.
Things to do
Things to do in Dubai: skyline, souks, desert and beaches
From the top of the Burj Khalifa to the old souks of Deira, desert safaris and day trips to Abu Dhabi, with tips on when to go.
Things to do
Things to do in London: 25 best sights, free museums and day trips
The classic sights worth paying for, the world-class museums that are free, the best neighbourhoods and easy day trips.
Things to do
Things to do in Paris: the best sights, museums and day trips
How to see the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame without the queues, plus the neighbourhoods, views and day trips worth your time.
Things to do
Things to do in Rome: the best sights, food and day trips
The Colosseum, the Vatican and the Pantheon without the stress, plus the neighbourhoods, food and day trips that make Rome special.
Things to do
Things to do in New York City: sights, views and neighborhoods
From the Statue of Liberty to Central Park and Broadway, plus free things to do, the best observation decks and how to get around.
Things to do
Things to do in Tokyo: temples, neon, food and day trips
The best neighbourhoods, sights and experiences in Tokyo, how to book the popular ones, and easy day trips to Mount Fuji and beyond.
Things to do
Things to do in Bali: temples, rice terraces, beaches and islands
The best experiences in Bali by area, from Uluwatu's sunset dance to Ubud's rice terraces, Mount Batur's sunrise and Nusa Penida.
Itineraries
Itineraries
Costa Rica itinerary: 10 days of volcanoes, cloud forest and beaches
A first-timer's 10 days in La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio, with travel times, car-or-shuttle advice and Guanacaste, Caribbean and Osa options.
Itineraries
Cape Town and Garden Route itinerary: 10 days by car
Four nights in Cape Town, then the drive east through Hermanus, Wilderness, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma, with an optional Addo safari.
Itineraries
10 days in Italy: Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast
A first-timer's route with the big sights, a taste of Tuscany and three days on the coast, all by train and ferry.
Itineraries
10 days in Greece: Athens, Santorini and an island you'll love
A first-timer's island-hopping route with ferry times, the best months to go and how to choose your second island.
Itineraries
10 days in Japan: a first-timer's itinerary for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
Day-by-day plans, how to use the bullet train and an IC card, and whether a Japan Rail Pass is worth it.
Itineraries
Croatia island hopping: a 10-day route from Split to Dubrovnik
Hvar, Brač, Vis and Korčula by ferry and catamaran, with timings, the best months and how to beat the crowds.
Itineraries
Japan ski holidays from Australia: Niseko, Hakuba and when to go
The best months for powder, how to get to the main resorts, and how to add Tokyo or Kyoto to a snow trip.
Itineraries
Italy by train in 7 days: Rome, Florence and Venice
A first-timer's week on Italy's fast trains, with what to book ahead so you are not stuck in queues.
Itineraries
7 days in Japan for families: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
A first-timer's week that keeps travel days short, with tips on trains, food and booking ahead.
Comparisons
Comparisons
Tenerife or Lanzarote? Choosing your Canary Islands winter sun
Two of the UK's favourite winter sun islands compared: beaches, scenery, family days out, nightlife and the best areas to stay.
Comparisons
Carnival 2027: Rio, Venice or New Orleans? Dates and how to plan
The world's most famous carnivals compared, with 2027 dates, what to expect and tips for tickets, costumes and places to stay.
Comparisons
Cancún or Punta Cana? How to choose your Caribbean beach vacation
Two of the most popular warm-weather escapes from the US, compared on beaches, things to do, resorts and flights.
Comparisons
London or Paris for your first trip to Europe? (Or both?)
How the two cities compare on sights, food, cost and getting around, and how to see both in one trip.
Comparisons
Lisbon or Barcelona? Choosing your Iberian city break
Two sunny cities by the sea, compared on sights, beaches, food, cost and the best time to go.
Comparisons
Bali or Fiji for a family holiday from Australia?
Flight times, resorts, culture, costs and the best months, to help you pick the right island escape for your family.
Comparisons
Turkey holidays from the UK: Antalya, Dalaman or Bodrum?
Which coast to choose, when to go, and what to know about all-inclusives, money and the heat.
Comparisons
Majorca, Menorca or Ibiza? Choosing the right Balearic island
Families, couples or a lively week away: how the three main Balearic islands compare for beaches, things to do and atmosphere.
Comparisons
Best Caribbean islands for a winter getaway from the US
Nine warm escapes from 1 to 5 hours away, including two that don't need a passport for US citizens.
Comparisons
Winter sun in Asia from the UK: where to go from November to March
Five warm, dry escapes for the British winter, and which coast to pick in each.
Comparisons
Bali vs Phuket: which is better for a family holiday?
Weather, beaches, hotels and getting there compared, so you can pick the right island for your travel dates.
Best time to go
Best time to go
Best time to visit New Zealand: seasons, skiing and road trips
Summer beaches, autumn colours, winter ski fields and spring waterfalls, with tips for planning from Australia.
Best time to go
Best time to visit Hawaii, and which island to choose
Hawaii is warm all year, but rain, surf, whales and prices change with the seasons. Here is how to pick your month and your island.
Best time to go
Best summer holiday destinations in Europe for 2027, from the UK
Twelve sunny favourites by flight time, with sea temperatures, who each place suits and how to dodge the hottest weeks.
Best time to go
Best time to visit Greece: month by month, with wind and crowds
When the sea is warm, when the islands are windiest and busiest, and when Greek Easter falls in 2027.
Best time to go
Winter sun from the UK: 9 warm places from 3 to 9 hours away
Where it is actually warm between December and February, how long the flight is, and which places suit families, couples and beach lovers.
Best time to go
Japan cherry blossom 2027: when and where to see the sakura
Typical bloom dates city by city, how to use the forecasts, and the best spots in Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond.
Best time to go
Best time to visit Cancún: weather, seaweed and crowds month by month
When Cancún is driest, when the sargassum seaweed tends to arrive, and when to go for the best prices.
Best time to go
Best time to visit Thailand: month by month and region by region
Thailand's coasts have different rainy seasons, so the best month depends on where you go.
Best time to go
Best time to visit Bali: dry season, crowds and Nyepi
When the weather is best, when it gets busy, and the one day each year the whole island stops.
Best time to go
Best time to visit Japan: cherry blossom, autumn and quiet months
Japan's seasons change the trip completely. Here is what each one brings and when to avoid the crowds.
Best time to go
Best time to visit Switzerland: summer, winter and the quiet months
Summer lakes, winter snow or quieter shoulder months: when to go, where to stay and what to book early.
Travel tips
Travel tips
Hong Kong Lunar New Year 2027: fireworks, parade and events
The Year of the Goat begins on 6 February 2027: when the night parade and harbour fireworks are, flower fairs, temples, what's open and where to stay.
Travel tips
Edinburgh Christmas market and Hogmanay 2026: dates and tips
Edinburgh's Christmas runs 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and Hogmanay 29 December to 1 January: tickets, things to do, where to stay and day trips.
Travel tips
Finnish Lapland: Christmas, northern lights and husky safaris
When to go, where to stay (Rovaniemi, Levi or Saariselkä), the best winter activities and how to see the aurora.
Travel tips
Fiji for families: where to stay, what to do and when to go
Denarau, the Coral Coast or the islands? A practical guide for families flying from Australia.
Travel tips
Your first trip to Europe from Australia: routes, stopovers and timing
How to handle the long flight, when to go, how long to stay and the paperwork for Australian passport holders.
Travel tips
Your first trip to Europe from the US: where to go and how to plan it
How long to go for, which cities to combine, when to travel and the paperwork to sort out before you fly.
Travel tips
Seeing the northern lights in Iceland: a guide for US travelers
When to go, how to read the forecast, where to stay and how to drive safely in an Icelandic winter.
Travel tips
The Algarve for families: where to stay, best beaches and when to go
How to choose between Albufeira, Lagos, Vilamoura and Tavira, plus beaches, day trips and tips for little ones.
Travel tips
Christmas in New York: what to see, when to go and how to plan
The tree, the windows, the skating rinks and the lights, with 2026 dates, weather and tips for visiting from abroad.
Travel tips
The best Christmas markets in Europe, and when they open in 2026
Nine classic markets from Vienna to Edinburgh, with typical opening dates, what to eat and drink, and how to avoid the crowds.
Travel tips
Spring break 2027: 10 warm trips from the US, by flight time
Ideas for families, couples and college groups, from passport-free Puerto Rico to Costa Rica's dry season.
Travel tips
Bali from Australia: flight times, best months and what to know
Australia's favourite overseas island, with flight times from each capital and the practical things to sort before you go.
Travel tips
Maldives on a budget: local islands vs resorts
How guesthouses on local islands compare with private-island resorts, and how to save on transfers.
