Europe and Middle East

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

Andy Mossack reviews Librije's Zusje, the Waldorf Astoria's two star Michelin restaurant in Amsterdam. Sidney Schutte

Librije’s Zusje. 2 Michelin Star Masterpiece. (Now called Spectrum)

I will say this right from the off. Sidney Schutte is a genius. Anyone who can deliver a 2 Michelin Star service from a tiny galley on a moving canal boat deserves every bit of credit there is. This is not to say of course, that Sidney is any less gifted in his kitchen at Librije’s Zusje his 2 Michelin star restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, because frankly that goes without saying.

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GAW Res night table view

Galvin at Windows

Years before Galvin at Windows, the Hilton Park Lane has been one of the iconic London landmarks ever since its opening in 1963. I remember spending more than a few nights pretending I was actually living the life of a playboy down in Trader Vic’s. Those were the days.

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Andy Mossack discovers a Madeira Reinvented. A beautiful reinvigorated island that wants to prove it can appeal to everyone.

Madeira Reinvented. Discover a beautiful island that appeals to everyone.

Half way through a half day catamaran cruise and I’m having a silent moment. It’s not every day you get to see Atlantic dolphins in the wild, and right now, I’m not just seeing them, I’m surrounded by them. This is a somewhat different Madeira experience to one I was expecting, and if this is Madeira Reinvented then give me much more of the same please.

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Snow Shoe Snack

Eating in Vorarlberg Austria

Situated in the westernmost part of Austria, bordering Switzerland and Germany, eating in Vorarlberg reflects its neighbourly influences in its food and has startling local products.

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the Windmill Hotel

The Windmill Hotel. Clapham’s super stylish pub with rooms.

What makes travellers select a pub on far-flung Clapham Common as one of the 25 best hotels in the UK – and the only one of 13 in the capital which is not on the central tourist trail? The answer would seem to be a sense of history in the pub, super-stylish bedrooms and a glimpse of the green and charm which distinguishes so many London neighbourhoods that have retained their original village feel.

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Our test family The Bakers review Eurocamp Les Ecureuiles camping accommodation.

Eurocamp Les Ecureuiles. Luxury mobile homes in the Loire.

After a reading a staggering statistic which showed the number of camping holiday nights booked in 2013 in Europe totalled over 360 million, with nearly half of those taken in static mobile homes, I admit I felt my view of outdoor leisure living needed a rethink. It was time to test out these impressive statistics, and after getting a family of four teamed up with Eurocamp, a provider of camping and mobile home holidays for over 34 years we tested out a week at Eurocamp Les Ecureuiles in Vendee.

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