Europe and Middle East

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in Europe and Middle East. independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

Montreux Palace exterior

FAIRMONT LE MONTREUX PALACE

Freddie Mercury lived there while looking for a home in Switzerland, Vladimir Nabokov used the proceeds of Lolita to fund a permanent suite and Deep Purple recorded Smoke on the Water in its lake-side pavilion. There may not be a more celebrity-studded hotel in Switzerland than the Montreux Palace, arguably the country’s most glamorous hostelry.

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blackie in the burren

Going back to County Clare

It’s easy to become nostalgic and here I am 40 plus years later going back to County Clare on a return journey re-exploring those childhood landmarks

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Mountain Reflections1

Walking the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites

The immense cathedral-like spires of the Northern Dolomites are the perfect venue for tackling one of Europe’s classic long distance treks. Forget about luxury hotels, the only accommodation is in mountain huts, known as Rifugios and I’ll have to carry everything on my back. Walking the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites runs for around 140 km and my eight day walk will involve daily distances of between 9 and 16.5 km, with ascents of up to 900 m and descents of up to 1,300 m. Will I be tough enough?

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Hilton London Bankside

Hilton London Bankside. An urban neighbourhood reinvented.

Finally, a gritty inner London neighbourhood regentrified into a culture hub has got the stylish five-star hotel it deserves. Hilton London Bankside, perched opposite Tate Modern on the industrial side of Southwark Street, aims to appeal to leisure travellers – Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market are also close by – as well as a business clientele.

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Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Schiphol view from roof to lobby.lr

Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Perfect for restful overnight

You can walk straight through Arrivals to the Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which replaces Amsterdam’s old airport Hilton, but you might miss the stunning architecture which can only be fully appreciated from outside. So as soon as you check in, step out the door to admire the sleek lines awash in diamond-shaped windows – this super-streamlined building looks ready to take flight itself.

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Librije's Zusje Restaurant

Delicious LIbrije’s Zusje Restaurant. Amsterdam

Given that hotels find it hard enough to get every guest into their signature restaurant, it’s saying something that Librije’s Zusje Amsterdam has made the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam a dining, as well as sleeping, destination within less than a year of opening.

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