Travel
Travel: St Ermin’s Hotel, London
YOU want a discreet hideout right in the heart of London? Go where the spies went. Get off the tube at St James Park, turn right into Caxton Place, right again into an elegant courtyard, and there you are – its name above the foyer in the least obtrusive lights you could imagine: St Ermin’s Hotel.
City guide: Abu Dhabi
NOW it may seem that in a country where summer temperatures top 50°C, the opportunities for meaningful sports-related activity are limited.
Travel: Kirkenes Snow Hotel, Arctic Norway
TIME for bed. I wore merino wool base layers, pyjamas, hat, muffler, balaclava and socks enhanced by heating pads. I was snuggled into a sleeping bag capable of withstanding temperatures of –30°C. I was still cold. Understandable, perhaps, as this was the Kirkenes Snow Hotel in Arctic Norway. Ron, my partner, and I flew for about two hours from Oslo to Kirkenes, an ice-free port inside the Arctic Circle, to stay in the Snow Hotel and then view the somewhat elusive, ethereal, mysterious aurora borealis – the northern lights.
Holiday cash runs out with two days to go
The average British holidaymaker runs out of cash five days into their seven-day break, according to research.
Warsaw packed with value
Poland provides the best-value five-star hotel accommodation, according to a survey conducted by a travel website.
Travel: Kilmartin Glen, Argyll
HISTORY lies thickly layered in Kilmartin Glen. I’m standing at Nether Largie Cairn South, the oldest of the five stone mounds that once comprised a linear cemetery, a complex of burial and ritual monuments that extended the length of this flat-bottomed Argyllshire valley.
1 comment
Travel 48 hours in Riga
ADAM SZÓSTKO whisks around the Latvian capital to admire the country’s rich history and Art Nouveau architecture
Edinburgh council set for major row over ‘tourist tax’ revival
EDINBURGH City Council has set itself on a collision course with hoteliers after reviving plans for a “tourist tax” for the capital - despite a previous plan being ruled out by the Scottish Government.
Travel: North Spain
People flock in their thousands to the lush northern coast of Spain as part of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, but there’s plenty there for non-believers too.
Travel: Uganda
WHEN a gigantic silverback lands with a thud in the Ugandan jungle a few feet from where you stand, it pays to have your wits about you
Travel: Norway
NORWEGIAN islands offer a change of pace, scenery and amazing wildlife, but it’s the people you’ll remember
1 commentTravel: Late Deals
MALTA: To celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee, the Phoenicia Hotel is offering a three-night package for £282 per person sharing, valid for travel between 2-6 June, including B&B accommodation, three-course dinner with wine on the first evening and a Moet Champagne afternoon tea.
Travel: Malta
Sitting on the shaded roof of a rustic farmhouse sipping a delicious array of crisp whites and sumptuous reds, I peered out into the endless sea of sun-kissed grapevines.
Travel: Fiji
ONCE occupied by cannibals, Fiji is these days home to one of the warmest welcomes on the planet
Travel: The Pierhouse Hotel, Port Appin
YOU NEED a reason to visit Port Appin the first time. Though it’s probably only an extra 20 minutes’ drive to reach than it would be to get to Oban from Edinburgh or Glasgow, the village is tucked away on the shores of Loch Linnhe, on a dead-end road, and is not the sort of place you would find simply passing through.
1 comment
City guide: St Petersburg for art lovers
S T PETERSBURG was founded by an emperor looking to emulate the cultural modernity of Europe. Today, in many respects, Russia’s ‘northern capital’ eclipses its Western counterparts. The historical significance of the city cannot be overstated, but St Petersburg also offers a veritable smorgasbord of culture for shrewd visitors to enjoy. Finding art is not difficult – the city is home to nearly 50 galleries and one of the largest museums on the planet – but divining what deserves your attention can be tough.
Travel: Lake Titicaca, Peru
On the Incas’ “sacred lake”, Lake Titicaca, 12,500ft above sea level in the Peruvian Andes, lies a remarkable piece of British engineering: a Victorian ship called Yavarí.
Charlie Chaplin Walk planned for star’s favourite Highland retreat
HE WAS world famous for his wonky walk as the superstar of silent film. Now, plans are afoot to have a dedicated Charlie Chaplin Walk in the Scottish seaside resort he loved.
8 comments
Travel: The Horseshoe Inn, Eddlestone
Just outside the vibrant commuter town of Peebles in the Scottish Borders, you’ll find the quiet, picturesque and unassuming village of Eddleston.
Travel: cruising the Gulf of Arabia Picture gallery
SHE glided imperiously, all clean lines and perfect angles, immaculate in form and bearing, with a hint of exotic places experienced and still more to come.
Travel: Brown’s Hotel, London
There can be few hotels where history just seems to ooze from every oak-panelled wall, but at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair you can almost taste it.
Travel: Santa Cruz de La Palma
Friday, 2pm Check into the 78-room Parador de La Palma (rooms from €80,), which boasts sweeping Atlantic views. With a botanic garden, outdoor pool and sauna, it fits into the relaxed Santa Cruz vibe.
Travel: Japan
THE gradual creep of a homogeneous, global, mass-media culture has left few places capable of discombobulating visitors to their shores. Japan, thankfully, has retained such powers in abundance.
Travel: St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Road, London
RE-OPENEDin 2011, this is almost certainly the most striking of London hotels. Built by Sir George Gilbert Scott, it is an example of the High Gothic Revival architecture (the Albert memorial and Glasgow University are others) for which he was renowned.
- Bare Buff offers naked cleaning service
- Harley-Davidson devotees rescue crumbling Scots home of legendary motorbike maker
- Scottish pensions crisis: Scots born today ‘will retire at 77’
- The world is not enough: soon we’ll need three planet Earths
- Diamond jamboree as Bonnie Prince Charlie’s gem auctioned off
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
