Author: staff

Wistful travellers are planning retro, nostalgic getaways as an escape from the stress of everyday life. Planning a holiday is usually all about the where, but according to new research, it’s becoming more about the ‘when’ too. Whether it’s back to a childhood home, back to a cherished resort, or back to the 1980s, rosy retrospection is profoundly influencing travel plans.According to Globetrender and Amadeus’ Travel Trends 2025 report, nostalgia travel, in all its many forms, is tipped to be one of the hottest travel trends of the coming year. Dubbed ‘New Heydays’ by the authors, the concept highlights how a…

Latest online war of words involves Hungarian MEP András László and the former European Commissioner for Digital Affairs, Thierry Breton, and misinformation about the EU’s power to interfere in elections. The tech billionaire Elon Musk’s latest post on X is likely to further anger European leaders who have already accused him of using his reach on the social platform to interfere in national debates.On Saturday, the Hungarian MEP András László, a member of the ruling Fidesz party, took to X to complain about what he perceived to be double standards in who can donate funds to European NGOs and who…

The protest comes on the same day that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire talks in Doha. Several ambassadors to Israel have joined the weekly rally in Tel Aviv of family members and supporters demanding the government reach a deal to return the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.The protest comes on the same day that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to talks in Doha, in a sign of progress towards ending 15 months of war.”We are…

The world’s second deepest tunnel has been reopened after three months of renovations. Planning to drive between France and Italy in 2025? You can now take the Mont-Blanc Tunnel, which links the two countries beneath the Alps, as it has been reopened after months of renovation work.A 600-metre stretch of the 11-kilometre tunnel was completely reconstructed.Alternative ‘scenic’ routes continue to be available but do add to your travel time. Here’s how to plan your Europe road trip around this coming year.Why was the Mont-Blanc Tunnel closed?Opened in 1965, the Mont-Blanc highway tunnel links Chamonix in Haute Savoie, southeast France, with…

A local resident shares her views on the two opposing visions – Savoie and Haute-Savoie – for the French Alps. Spruce and fir trees tremble along the ravine’s edge, their branches heavy with rain—the rushing waters of the Bonnant River snake beneath the Valléen gondola some 200 metres below. The view makes my head spin.Few have seen this perspective until now – unless perhaps they’re paragliding. The valley below leads to Geneva, past the rugged cliffs of the Fiz Mountains, the Quatre Têtes of the Aravis Range looming above the town of Sallanches, and the sparkling waters of Lake Passy,…

Want to explore a different side of Europe? From Cologne’s Carnival to Innsbruck’s pistes, this train route goes deeper. Europe’s newest long-distance rail route is nearly ready to get rolling.On 5 February, European Sleeper will launch its overnight route connecting Brussels and Venice. But it’s more than a convenient way to travel from Belgium to Italy.The sleeper train will stop at nine cities in total, cutting through the Netherlands, Germany, European ski centres in the Alps and finally into Italy. If you want to see more than the inside of a sleeper carriage, here are four great destinations to visit along…

Spain’s most visited city is seeking quality over quantity in 2025. The writing was on the wall – literally. Last year, graffiti appeared in Barcelona telling tourists, “We spit in your beer. Cheers!” Another message read: “Your luxury trip – my daily misery”. But in 2024 the Spanish city’s pushback against overtourism reached new heights.With more than 15 million tourists visiting Barcelona every year – drawn by its stunning blend of art and architecture, top-tier football team, and beachside location – locals are feeling the strain. It’s not the only place in Europe calling timeout on too many tourists. Italy, for example,…

Can Tbilisi stay a haven for digital nomads amid rising costs and political tensions? Before I could even place it on a map, I had heard glowing reports of life in Tbilisi.I heard that the Georgian capital was affordable. The food was incredible and hospitality even more so. Best of all, most nationalities did not need a visa to enter the country – and they could stay for up to a year at a time, with no limit to the number of re-entries.What more could a digital nomad need? Well, besides affordable WiFi and workspaces.Earlier this year, my wife and…

American Airlines flight services have resumed across the United States after they were temporarily grounded due to a technical issue impacting the airline’s entire system. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that a ‘nationwide groundstop’ of all American Airlines flights has been lifted.Earlier, the FAA reported a technical issue affecting the carrier’s entire system. The problem has been resolved and the system is running again. Delays are still expected after the hour-long outage with flight tracker Flightradar24 posting on X that “it will take some time for flights to get back to normal”.Services are expected to be departing on…

Festivals such as Surva have roots that extend back to pre-Christian times. Europe’s most intriguing festivals aren’t always the ones on postcards or Instagram feeds.As winter melts into spring, you’ll find age-old celebrations steeped in local folklore, unique rituals and community spirit across the continent.These folk festivals immerse you in traditions that stretch back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Whether it’s torchlit processions, folk dances or modernised pagan rituals, these events take you far off the beaten path into Europe’s cultural heart.  Bonfires and blessings: Medieval Andalusian traditions at the San Antón FestivalFrom 16-18 January, Andalusian villages come alive for…