Europe and Middle East

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

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Quinta Bonita. Beautiful boutique Quinta close to Lagos

I’m having breakfast at Quinta Bonita and watching hens wandering around in front of me on an immaculate lawn. Playing match my breakfast egg with that hen is a fun diversion for a few seconds, but owners Chantelle and Fraser have to play it for real every day as they wander the grounds of Quinta Bonita searching for those freshly laid eggs. “They could be anywhere” says Chantelle “but we always try their favourite spots first.”

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Andy Mossack explores Val Gardena in summer and discovers art, landscapes and gastronomy in the beautiful Dolomites.

Val Gardena. Experience Glorious Summer in The Dolomites.

Anna is teaching me the highly skilled art of Tyrolean cooking at the chalet Luech de Curijel in Selva and she’s not looking best pleased. It seems my Apfelstrudel and spinach crafuncins, two of the simplest of local dishes here in Val Gardena, are not up to standard. Now when your teacher possesses hands with the power to knead dough as if it were mash potato, generating hostility is not a healthy option.

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gallery jerpoint abbey from rear

Kilkenny. Friendliest city in the world?

Kilkenny, only 90 minutes south of Dublin has been voted one of the friendliest cities in the world. It was also Ireland’s tidiest town in 2014. No wonder. Locals talked to us nonstop about nothing and everything and I never saw a stray ice cream wrapper or a crumpled greasy chip bag during my stay in this beautiful medieval masterpiece along the ‘Ancient East’ route.

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Andy Mossack stays at the Langham London and enjoys the hospitality of the Langham Club.

The Langham Club. Discover an executive lounge with style and luxury

Eduardo is a bit quick off the mark at the Langham Club private check in. As soon as I cross the threshold of the third floor foyer there’s a cool drink in my hand, a towel at my side and a beaming smile in front of me.

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join the colony cocktail

Artesian at The Langham London

“Your room or mine?” Carla asks me straight out, in the middle of the Langham London’s Artesian. I make a mental note to test her other preferences as soon as humanly possible before succumbing to her proposal

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