Health spa holidays: energy and meditation in Switzerland

 
 
 
 
 
The natural powers at the Sass da Grüm wellness retreat in Switzerland give our writer the chance to tap into a world of calm. "Close your eyes and begin to concentrate on your breathing," said a soft voice from across the circle. It seemed a shame to shut out the view: the sun was setting over Lake Maggiore, the chestnut woodland beneath me, and the resorts of Ascona and Locarno on the opp[...]

Noma restaurant creates garden as buffer zone against gawkers

 
 
 
 
 
The Copenhagen restaurant Noma attracts so many tourists it has designed a Nordic garden to stop them peering at diners through the windows.   If there's one thing sure to further sour the taste of a pickled quail's egg – one of the many culinary delights on the menu at Noma, "the world's best restaurant" – then it's got to be the sight of a hungry tourist gawping at you through the[...]

Paris hotels with Michelin-starred restaurants: The Fab Five

 
 
 
 
 
Here are "The Fab Five", hotels in Paris with Michelin-starred restaurants. Le Meurice Now in the hands of multi-starred superchef Alain Ducasse, Restaurant Le Meurice offers superb dining under a blowsy rococo ceiling. Ducasse protégé Christophe Saintagne has really come into his own here with pared back, refined cuisine that gets back to the essentials of quality ingredients. The hotel's l[...]

5 ‘Must Do’ Things in Brussels

 
 
 
 
 
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the headquarters of both the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). What began as a mere fortress outpost in the 900′s has grown into a sophisticated metropolis, admired the world over for its architecture and its food. Brussels is a bilingual town, where residents speak, and street signs are printed in, Dutch and French. The pe[...]

Europe's Best Adventure Destinations

 
 
 
 
 
Attention thrill-seekers and adrenaline-junkies! We all know Europe as one of the world's best destinations for history, culture, and cuisine, but it's also where you can live some of the world's most unforgettable adventures, provided of course that you're willing to strap on your boots and leave those museums and city streets! To help get you inspired, we've gone to the open community of trav[...]

13 of the Most Beautiful Cities in Europe

 
 
 
 
 
Dave and I have been dreaming of Europe this past month. It was this time last year we were in Bologna enjoying time in Italy’s quiet countryside. Oh how we miss Balsamic Vinegar with fine Parmesan Cheese, creamy gelato, rich coffee and of course Italian wine and Prosecco. All our reminiscing got us talking about the most beautiful cities we’ve visited in Europe. We most certainly haven’t seen all[...]

10 of the best spots for culture in Paris

 
 
 
 
 
There are good reasons why the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower are respectively the most visited museum and monument in the world. However, we thought we'd go slightly off the beaten tracks and reveal some of Parisians' favourite hotspots for culture in Paris. From louche Pigalle to up-and-becoming-groovy rue de Bagnolet, from gritty rue d'Aubervilliers to the leafy Jardin du Luxembourg, we have selec[...]

The Top 5 of Florence

 
 
 
 
 
As many people around the world know, Florence, Italy is the European capital of renaissance history and art. It's incredible to think back to the early 1400s when architecture, literature, science and fine art began a whole new movement of change. Before you go across the pond, make sure these five activities are set in stone as you plan to walk the same streets as Michelangelo. 1. Peruse the Mu[...]

Greece's Rock-Pinnacle Churches: Suspended in Mid-Air on the Looney Front

 
 
 
 
 
Some say it started 10 million years ago, other 25 to 30 million, yet others 60 million years ago. Just for the heck of it, let's say 25,636,666 B.C., give or take a week. It was then that Mother Earth got a bad case of tectonic indigestion and burped up the floor of what was then an inland sea on Greece's Thessaly plain. Further eructations caused nearby mountains to move in and compress the n[...]

Why Montpellier's Old Town Is One of France's Perfect Little Cities

 
 
 
 
 
Want to spend a few days strolling through narrow, centuries old streets, viewing the old masters and modern art, savoring southwestern French cuisine, and listening to music in the squares? Come to Montpellier, the eighth largest city in France and just a little over three hours from Paris on the TGV train. You'll ride through the country's scenic breadbasket with fields of wheat, mustard, and po[...]