Parga: the Greek island that forgot to be an island
Parga has the pastel houses, Venetian castle and Ionian water of a Greek island, but it’s on the mainland, so it’s cheaper and easy to reach from Preveza.
Hong Kong’s best skyline view comes after a sweaty climb
Hong Kong is famous for skyscrapers, but much of its land is hills, beaches and country parks. Here’s how to see the city by ferry, tram and on foot.
Travel for men 45+
City breaks, longer trips, road trips and walking holidays — where to go, how to get there, and how to travel well without paying over the odds.
Archie Inglis plans the trips for men 45+ — city breaks, road trips and travelling well for your money.
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Crete is wasted on the young and the all-inclusive
Crete has a reputation for package resorts and Malia’s party strip. Go west, go south, go in autumn, and you’ll find Greece’s most rewarding island for grown-ups.
Vilnius: the baroque capital with a KGB basement
Baroque lanes, a KGB prison and a self-declared republic of artists. Why Vilnius suits a long weekend from the UK, with flights, rough costs and where to spend your time.
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City breaks
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Prague in spring: blossom, Dvořák and beer at about £2.50
Prague in April and May means orchards in blossom, castle gardens reopening, a world-class music festival and beer gardens with views. Here is how to do it properly.
Dubrovnik in spring: King’s Landing without the queue
Spring is the season for Dubrovnik. Walk the walls, hunt down the Game of Thrones locations and see the old Ragusa beneath the fan tourism, all before the summer crowds arrive.
Edinburgh is a horror story with excellent pubs
Grave robbers, Gothic spires, very good whisky and a festival that takes over the whole city in August. How to do Edinburgh well, whether you come for the Fringe or avoid it.
Bath, Colmar or Würzburg: which autumn vice is yours?
Hot springs in Bath, Riesling in Colmar or Silvaner on a Würzburg bridge: three small cities that look their best in autumn, and how to reach each by train from London.
Valencia: the city that turned its river into a park
Valencia is Spain’s third city and an easy direct flight from the UK. It has a beach on the tram line, a nine-kilometre park and the real paella.
Road trips
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The American road trip that doesn’t need Route 66
Forget the neon nostalgia. Drive from Oregon’s working harbours to California’s redwoods for a US road trip built around good seafood, short walks and worthwhile detours.
The Baltic road trip where lunch picks the route
A 7–10 day fly-drive from Riga to Vilnius, planned around rye bread, smoked fish, Karaim pasties and cepelinai, with realistic prices in pounds and the back roads worth taking.
Five European road trips worth the petrol
From Kintyre to the Julian Alps, these five drives reward getting out of the car. Here’s where to start from Britain, and which famous routes to reconsider.
Winter sun
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Let the house pay for winter: the sums behind three months in the sun
Letting your home while you spend winter in Spain or Portugal can cover much of the cost. First check HMRC rules, your lease, your insurance and the small print.
Swap Tenerife for a beach where beer costs under a quid
Vietnam’s southern coast is dry when Britain is at its gloomiest, the soup is better than anything in the Canaries, and Britons can stay 45 days without a visa.
The Canary Island the package holiday forgot
El Hierro is the smallest, most westerly Canary Island. It has no big resorts and no direct UK flights, and that is exactly why it’s worth the extra effort.
Skip Phuket this Christmas: three warmer, cheaper bets
Phuket at Christmas means peak prices and a long-haul slog. The Gambia, Sri Lanka’s south coast and Cape Verde give you the heat for less money.
Winter
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Reykjavík’s best winter dip isn’t the one you think
Venice in winter: fog, fewer crowds and no day-tripper fee
Venice in winter has fog, quiet canals, cheaper hotels and no day-tripper fee. Here’s when to go, what to pack, and how high water and new border checks affect British visitors.
The Algarve is better when the sun clocks off early
Forget the beach-club Algarve. In winter, southern Portugal offers long walks, working towns and room to breathe — provided you pack for the weather you’ll actually get.
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About Travel
Archie Inglis writes about travel for men 45 and over: city breaks, winter sun, road trips, rail journeys, walking holidays and the longer trips you've been putting off. Where's worth going, how to get there without the hassle, and how to make the money go further.