Travel, restaurant and hotel reviews written by experts

destination • food & drink • hotels • restaurants • self-catering
destination
Alsace-Lorraine — Cruising the Canal de la Marne in Alsace-Lorraine.
Antwerp — A little bit of what you fancy does you good!
Belgium — Gourmet weekend in the Ardennes.
Cappadocia — Fantastic Turkish landscape; unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Dalmatia — One of the Med's best sailing areas.
Dubrovnik — Rich in history and brimming over with charisma.
Flanders — Fun, Flirty, Fabulous Flanders!
Greek Islands — Magical cruising in the Ionian Sea.
Holland — Secret Holland.
Istanbul — Exotic. Guaranteed to stir your emotions.
Kvarner Riviera — Cruise amongst the islands off Croatia's Kvarner Riviera. Splendiferous.
Madrid — Laid back, cultured and stylish.
Slovenia — Go now, before everyone else discovers just how good it really is.
hotels
Bailbrook House Hotel, Bath — The Bailbrook features an elegant Regency mansion, twenty acres of wooded grounds complete with tennis court and prices that are remarkably low for those qualities.
Macdonald Bear Hotel, Woodstock, Nr Oxford — Attentive and welcoming 'home from home'.
The Bell at Skenfrith, Monnow Valley, Wales — Monmouthshire's tranquil Monnow Valley is the setting for the beautifully-restored The Bell, a 17th century country inn with oodles of chic � but with a very sympathetic down-to- earth-approach.
The Crown at Whitebrook — Home to the blue-eyed boy of Welsh cuisine, James Sommerin, this former 17th century drovers' inn is now run as a 'restaurant with rooms' and has the distinction of being the first restaurant in Wales to be awarded a Michelin star.
The Big Sleep Hotel, Eastbourne — Where else could you guarantee a decent night's slumber than a hotel called The Big Sleep!
Botleigh Grange, Southampton — At first sight a Victorian, castellated, generously-proportioned Scottish hunting lodge with Highland cattle and ancient pines in the grounds!
Bovey Castle, Dartmoor — Hidden away down narrow lanes in Devon is an incredibly beautiful valley with views towards idyllic, unspoilt hedged fields and woods. And here sits the wonderful Bovey Castle...
The Brooklands Hotel, Weybridge — It's got style, a buzzy atmosphere, friendly staff and there are lots of points of interest. The perfect hotel?
The Grand Hotel, Bristol — Classic Victorian features outside but inside reflects more of today with all the modern amenities that you expect and want.
Kendov Dvorec Hotel, Slovenia — One of the best two hotels in a country with all the charm and eccentricity of a Don Camillo tale.
The Lambert Arms — It's a rare surprise � and pleasure � to discover something is better than perceived from its website and brochure. One such 'find' is The Lambert Arms.
Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford — Enjoy the 'Best of British' at this traditionally British hotel in the heart of one of Britain's favourite cities.
The Talbot Inn, Ripley — Much more than a mere gastropub, with a modern British menu more akin to fine dining. First rate.
Tortworth Court Hotel, Wotton-under-Edge — Built in nearly the same scale and style as the National Trust's massive Victorian mansion Tyntesfield, the 190-room Tortworth Court is enjoying a new lease of life following a £20m restoration.
Hotel Triglav, Slovenia — One of the two best hotels in a country with all the charm and eccentricity of a Don Camillo tale.
The Walpole Bay Hotel, Cliftonville, Margate — A souvenir of Margate, dating back to the mid-1920s, says of the Walpole: "Good and liberal table is kept and every attention given to the comfort of visitors". It's a Walpole tradition that you'll find is still running today.
restaurants
The Ambrette, Margate — Exceptional restaurant specialising in subtly-spiced Indian dishes with melt-in-the-mouth explosions of delicious flavours. Startlingly different and a very special fine-dining experience.
self-catering
Cerne Barn, Charminster, Dorset — A charming 18th Century stone-built property offering comfortable holiday accommodation for up to seven people.
Sandy Balls Holiday Centre, Hampshire — Forget the credit crunch and Pound vs Euro fiasco: book your family holiday in the UK. And you can't go far wrong at Sandy Balls in Hampshire, with excellent facilities and the outstanding natural beauty of The New Forest on your doorstep.
food & drink
Pastis — Visiting France? Have a fling with Pastis!
Bread & Butter Pudding — Top chef's secret recipe for that elusive 'Perfect Pud'.
Chocolate — Six scrummy chocoholic recipes.
Monkey Shoulder — World's first triple-malt Scotch (plus some whisky cocktail recipes).
Turkish Wine — Not to be overlooked.
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