Europe and Middle East

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

Rupert Parker stays at the Waldhaus Sils hotel in Engadin, Switzerland

Waldhaus Sils. Discover Living the Grand Hotel Experience in Switzerland.

What I like about the Waldhaus Sils is that, although it’s just 7 miles from St. Moritz, it’s in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by nature, perfect for relaxation. It also helps that it’s been owned by the same family since it was built in 1908, and they’re very much in evidence around the hotel.

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Foligno. Still undiscovered in Umbria

Early evening and the ancient Palazzo Candiotti in Folingno has a big smile on her face. It’s just like old times. A proper baroque banquet. The Festa d’Oro e di Vento no less, with 250 guests commemorating the 70th anniversary of the modern Quintana joust. I can almost feel this grand old dame sighing in contentment in her Sunday best. If I didn’t know better, I would think I’d been teleported back to the 17th century.

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Samoens. The French Alps’ beautiful little secret

Mention the French Alps and a few famous names spring to mind; Chamonix, Val d’Isere and Courchevel perhaps, but there is one village tucked away in the Giffre Valley which has been a firm favourite with those in the know for many years, in both winter and summer. Yes, Samoens is the French Alps little secret.

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Tea Ceremony

St. Moritz Gourmet Festival Japanese Edition

The St. Moritz Gourmet Festival Japanese Edition. The town of St Moritz, at an altitude of over 1800m, was Switzerland’s first winter resort and still attracts the rich and famous to its classy 5* Superior hotels. Designer stores line its streets and expensive furs dress the women, while the men dig in their deep pockets […]

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6 secret Paris treats

6 secret Paris treats for an unforgettable visit to the French Capital.

Even if guided tours don’t appeal, there are secret treats for those prepared to hop a Metro to less-travelled parts of the city or bag a perch offering a ringside view of the most famous landmark in the world. Here are six secret ways to get the most out of la belle Paris:

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Andy Mossack finds there is plenty to do in Chamonix for non skiers, which includes himself.

Chamonix for Non Skiers. Uncover a world of fun.

It is not often the French thank the English for anything, but in the case of Chamonix for non skiers and good skiers alike, they cannot thank us enough. It was a bunch of intrepid Englishmen in the 1800s, men like Whymper, Kennedy, Ball, Wills and Tyndall, who, armed with precious little equipment, first explored the Alps and Mont Blanc in particular. They formed The Alpine Club and returned many times to climb the peaks.

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