Travel

Travel

The Independent Travel team are firm believers in the power of travel, whether that’s to explore new landscapes, delve into other cultures or simply to bring joy with a really great vacation. Our features, guides and reviews aim to inspire your travel, as well as provide you with all the key information to ensure your trip runs smoothly – from picking the best hotel to finding the cheapest flight and discovering the most authentic experiences.

Latest travel features

<p>The 'Flowerpot home' in Idaho, Elevation 40 Zion cabin in Utah and a refurbished Chinook in Florida make Airbnb's 'most wishlisted' ranking for 2025</p>

10 amazing US homes that make Airbnb’s ‘most wishlisted’ ranking

From California to Maine via Utah, they are unique stays that offer ‘immersive experiences’

<p>Block Island is often eclipsed by the more famous Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, but it offers a slower pace of life</p>

This New England town is the perfect alternative to Martha’s Vineyard

<p>Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan star The White Lotus season three</p>

The White Lotus season three filming locations, revealed

<p>Could a Parisian city break be a greener – but also family-friendly – alternative to Spain?</p>

Why we ditched the Canaries for a more sustainable trip to Paris

New York

<p>For dazzling lights and buzzing city atmosphere, head to The Knickerbocker in Times Square </p>

Best New York City hotels near Times Square, reviewed

<p>Views are the city can’t get much better than at the 23-storey William Vale hotel</p>

Best hotels in New York 2025, reviewed

<p>The Sands Point Preserve was the inspiration for East Egg in F Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’</p>

On the glittering trail of F Scott Fitzgerald in New York

<p>Spend a relaxing session at the Shibui Spa at the Greenwich Hotel </p>

Best spa hotels in New York 2025, reviewed

California

<p>Add a package to your stay at The Peninsula Beverly Hills and younger guests will be greeted with tipi and stuffed animals on arrival</p>

Best family hotels in LA, reviewed

<p>Head to The Maybourne for a touch of luxury in Los Angeles</p>

Best luxury hotels in LA for 2025, reviewed

<p>It’s glitz and glam all the way when you’re living like a Real Housewife</p>

How to explore Beverly Hills like a Real Housewife

<p>You can’t get closer to the heart of Hollywood than the Hotel Roosevelt</p>

Best hotels in LA in 2025, reviewed

Florida

<p>Mollie Davies and her partner, James, at Walt Disney World in Florida</p>

How I found love at Florida’s Walt Disney World

<p>Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in the Florida Keys</p>

What it’s like to stay at America’s only private island resort

Premium

Disney Treasure first look: Adventures with Aladdin and Donald Duck

<p>There’s much more to this Florida city than just theme parks</p>

Swap Mickey Mouse for Matisse: A culture-filled trip to Orlando

Canada

<p>The sun sets on the British Columbia parliament building in Victoria</p>

Why Victoria is the overlooked Canadian city you need to visit

<p>The colourful harbour in Veli Losinj, Croatia</p>

The best holidays to book for June 2025

<p>Coldi-locks: Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs hosts an annual International Hair Freezing Contest</p>

Inside the mad world of Canada’s hair-freezing competition

<p>Echoes of the past: The hand of Hercules at the ancient citadel in Amman, Jordan</p>

The 11 travel destinations our experts are desperate to visit in 2025

South America

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The first-timer’s guide to South America

<p>Arequipa is overlooked by snow-capped volcanoes</p>

The best cities and towns to visit in Peru

<p>From Florianópolis to Ceará these are the beaches that showcase Brazil at its best </p>

Best beaches in Brazil for 2025

<p>Ecuador has an abundance of natural sites </p>

The best places to visit in Ecuador in 2025

Caribbean

<p>Robyn takes in the views in northern Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve </p>

Caribbean and Central America

The five-day trek in the Guatemalan jungle that’s worth every blister

<p>The Chapultepec Scenic Garden hosts one of the judgment-free events </p>

Inside the carefree Mexico City dance parties where alcohol is banned

<p>Robyn found serenity on the private beach at Punta Maroma</p>

Crowd-free Yucatan: A peaceful stay on Mexico’s party peninsula

<p>Exploring Panama's Copia de Parque Nacional Barú</p>

Caribbean and Central America

Could this central American country become as popular as Costa Rica?

Mexico

<p>From dining to dancing, there’s something going on around every vivid corner</p>

Why you shouldn’t miss this colourful alternative to Cancun

<p>Oaxaca is a city celebrated for its rich cultural heritage</p>

7 best Mexico holiday destinations for 2025

<p>‘There’s no up, down, to the side because there’s no gravity. You don’t feel any pressure on your body in any particular place’ </p>

Adventure travel

Why freedivers take extreme risks to find peace deep under the surface

<p>The peaceful lagoon pool at Haven Riviera </p>

Why Mexico is an ideal choice for LGBT+ honeymoons

Europe

<p>Lausanne enjoys panoramic views of the Alps</p>

Why a journey around Switzerland makes the ideal summer coolcation

<p>Bahia del Duque’s courtyard-style, open-air pool has been set up for guests to make the most of relaxation under the sun</p>

Best luxury hotels in Tenerife 2025, reviewed

<p>Seek out Sicily’s best hotels, such as Monaci delle Terre Nere where farm-to-table cuisine makes the offering truly special </p>

Best hotels in Sicily 2025, reviewed

<p>Santorini is known for its cliffside whitewashed hotels, with suites cascading down the side of the caldera</p>

Best hotels in Santorini, reviewed by a travel expert

Italy

<p>The Roman Forum and Colosseum will remain open during conclave </p>

What it’s like to visit Rome ahead of conclave

<p>You can keep costs low while still enjoying a brilliant place to stay in Rome</p>

Best cheap hotels in Rome 2025, reviewed

<p>Tuscany is famous for its rolling green hills </p>

The best towns and villages in Tuscany

<p>Travellers of all ages will likely love a few hours in the pool when you visit Rome</p>

Best family hotels in Rome 2025, reviewed

France

<p>Château de Chanet is surrounded by the lush greenery of the Périgord Vert</p>

Domaine de Vieux Mareuil, France review

<p>The Maison Européenne de la Photographie contains work from some of the world’s best-known photographers</p>

Paris’s Pompidou is closing – visit these overlooked museums instead

<p>Marc Shoffman beside Avalon Artistry II</p>

Why a river cruise is the best way to get a true taste of Bordeaux

<p>Some regard Paris as one of the most attractive cities in the entire world, but where are the best places to take in its beauty? </p>

The most beautiful places to visit in Paris 2025

UK

<p>This year's winged May Queen walks through a fire arch in The Dell</p>

A Midsummer Night’s Dream on acid: Bringing Celtic traditions to life

<p>The Isle of Harris in Scotland's Outer Hebrides is home to some of the UK's most dramatic sandy beaches </p>

Our travel team’s favourite beaches in the UK

<p>Chris Davey at The Cotswold Guy farm shop, deli and cafe</p>

Beyond Diddly Squat: The Cotswolds farm shops that are worth the trip

<p>The five-star Hotel Gotham occupies a Neoclassical 1920s building that once housed the Midland Bank</p>

Best hotels in Manchester for 2025, reviewed

Asia

<p>The exterior of the Palace Hotel Tokyo </p>

The Palace Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, review

<p>The sky garden at OMO5 Tokyo Gotanda</p>

OMO5 Tokyo Gotanda by Hoshino Resorts, Japan hotel review

<p>The Shanghai skyline</p>

How to take advantage of loophole allowing visa-free travel to China

<p>Inside The Ace suite at Kyoto’s hip Ace Hotel </p>

Ace Hotel Kyoto, Japan review

Japan

<p>For a traditional taste of Japan that is less-crowded than Kyoto, head to Kanazawa</p>

The best Japanese destination swaps 2025

<p>Representational: This picture taken on 1 February 2023 shows tourists boarding a bus at the Owakudani volcanic valley in Hakone, Kanagawa prefecture</p>

Japan’s first bunk-bed bus allows tourists to skip the hotel

<p>The ancient pilgrimage route weaves through forests and open spaces with mountain vistas</p>

What it’s like to hike Japan’s ancient Kumano Kodo trail

Japan’s vending machines now serve authentic ramen in a can

Bali

<p>Song and dance: A traditional Balinese performance </p>

The only way to visit dream destination Bali in 2025

Islands such as Bali and Lombok have become increasingly popular destinations for tourists visiting Indonesia

The best Bali holiday destinations

<p>Paradise beaches take prime position on the “Island of the Gods” </p>

The best beaches in Bali

<p>Bali is Indonesia’s famed holiday isle </p>

Bali travel guide: Everything to know before you go

Cruises

<p>River cruising is an increasingly popular way of having a holiday on water</p>

Lindblad Expeditions aims to make waves with European river cruises

<p>MSC Cruises family-friendly ships sail to a variety of destinations</p>

The best MSC Cruises ships and sailings for 2025

<p>Increasing numbers of couples are getting married at sea</p>

Cruise weddings: Why more couples are getting married at sea

<p>Explore beautiful Bruges on a mini-cruise</p>

5 of the best mini-cruises from the UK in 2025 and 2026

Skiing

<p>The TravelSmart guide to far-flung ski destinations</p>

The TravelSmart guide to far-flung ski destinations

<p>Trysil is the country’s largest ski centre, with 69 slopes and 32 lifts </p>

8 best ski resorts in Norway for your 2025 skiing holiday

<p>Fiona McIntosh hits the slopes</p>

How to have an extraordinary ski holiday on an ordinary budget

<p>Port del Comte is one of Catalonia’s 10 ski resorts </p>

Swap the French Alps for a slowed-down ski holiday in Catalonia

Sustainable travel

<p>Perks of packing for a train over a plane include the stamp of sustainability</p>

The best flight-free holiday destinations from the UK

<p>A room at Richmond’s Bingham Riverhouse, which was the first independent hotel to gain B Corp status</p>

Sustainable travel

What does it take to become a B Corp hotel?

<p>Barcelona residents have marched through the city in a string of anti-tourism protests</p>

Sustainable travel

Bali to Italy: 39 destinations cracking down on overtourism

<p>Pilgrims travelling down the Camino de Santiago in Spain has brought economic boosts to many communities over the years</p>

Seven unusual ways to travel ethically in 2025

	
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