Discover the Pas de Calais. A Fabulous French Department far less travelled than it deserves.
05/08/2026 .
Trip Reviews
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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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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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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Hello to Hanoi. 5 top tips. Unmissable Insider guide.
For me, saying hello to Hanoi for the first time was like opening up a box of chocolates; it all looked good, but until you took a few bites you wouldn’t know if you were going to enjoy it. I had my doubts, after all, it was, before unification, Ho Chi Minh’s seat of power as the communist capital of north Vietnam, and although Vietnam remains a communist country, it doesn’t really feel like one, if my experiences in Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An were anything to go by.
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Ho Chi Minh City insider travel guide. 6 unforgettable things to do.
My Ho Chi Minh City Insider travel guide has, for me, put even more colour on a city reborn after such a turbulent past. Yes you can visit Saigon’s typical tourist hot spots, but uncovering the real Saigon is an experience not to be missed.
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Baqueira Beret. Seductive Spanish ski gem.
Baqueira Beret is a Spanish ski gem in the heart of some of Europe’s most snow sure mountains and Isabel Conway reviews Spain’s premier ski resort.
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