My kids are holidaying without me – and I’m worried they’ll repeat my foreign faux pas
Zoe Williams
As my nonchalant offspring head to France, I have tried to instil in them a hard-learned lesson about hunger, buffet cars and theft, says Zoe Williams
Skip the coast: three of Europe’s loveliest lakes to visit – by travel experts
Three writers pick their favourite lakeside getaways in France, Germany and Italy, with boat trips and great places to stay and eat
‘My escape is going north’: heatwaves begin to drive tourists in Europe to cool climes
Whether swapping the south of France or Mallorca for the UK or Scandinavia, rising temperatures are changing habits
June 2024
Retro Paris: stepping back into the 70s
Take a nostalgia trip at a newly-opened hotel in the bohemian heart of the French capital
Rail journey of the month
Rail route of the month: Nantes to Quimper, France – a Breton classic
In Brittany, modern regional trains with huge windows invite you to soak up the views. Our author’s final piece in her series takes in the line to Finistère
Wild west: a walk on Brittany’s rugged Crozon peninsula
The fishing villages, clifftop paths and sandy coves of the Breton coast provide the perfect backdrop for a five-day hike
May 2024
South of France, but not as we know it: exploring Nîmes and the Gard
Unesco listing for the city’s Roman temple put this city on the map last year, but there are uncharted delights in the surrounding towns as well
Europe’s best beach holidays: Arcachon, France
A buzzy town prom, plates of moules with chilled rosé and cycle rides to sandy beaches on Cap Ferret add up to happy holidays on the Atlantic coast
10 of the best beach towns in Europe, with places to stay
From the Turkish Riviera to the Île de Ré, we select quiet and unspoilt places to stay for sun, sand, snorkelling – or just snoozing
April 2024
Pass notes
Going for gold! Have the Olympics overturned centuries of no-tipping etiquette in France?
My four-day rail and ferry adventure from the UK to Albania
Rail journey of the month
Rail route of the month: vines on the line from Avignon to Lyon, France
Five of Europe’s best national parks – with all the beauty but none of the crowds
My hike on the hardest trail in Europe – Corsica’s GR20
White cliffs to wetlands; discovering France’s Pas-de-Calais
March 2024
Light fantastique: Paris through the eyes of the impressionists
From Monet to Degas, the light of Paris has inspired countless artists. As the city celebrates 150 years of impressionism it’s still shining bright
I’ve written about France for 20 years – here are my favourite places to visit
After a lifetime exploring the country’s cities, coast and countryside, our France expert chooses her personal highlights
My top restaurants and food discoveries from 20 years of writing about France
Readers' travel tips
‘This is the France you dream of’: readers’ favourite travel discoveries
Monet happy returns: Normandy celebrates 150 years of impressionism
