MOVE over, New York! Chicago will win your heart (and stomach), says writer Qin Xie.
“Is this place famous or something?” I overhear someone ask as our camera-wielding tour group files into Mr Beef.
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Move over New York… Chicago will win over your heartCredit: Alamy Stock PhotoMural mania in Wicker ParkCredit: Shutterstock / WhiteBlush
The low-key Chicago sandwich shop is a cult favourite, serving wafer-thin slices of roast beef in gravy-dipped bread since 1979.
But thanks to TV show The Bear, which is inspired by the eatery, its popularity has sky-rocketed and now fans are flocking here on food tours.
At £96 plus tips, the half-day bus tour is a pricey day out – but as I bite into my flavour bomb of a sandwich, there’s nowhere I’d rather be (Chicagofoodtours.com).
Pizza the action
I’ve visited Chicago a few times and I always book a food tour, because the city is home to some of the best restaurants in the US.
First-timers should try the gut-busting Original Chicago Pizza Tour, £66 for a half-day, where the classic deep dish is the star (Chicagopizzatours.com), though the fabulous half-day tacos and tequila tour in Pilsen, the city’s Mexican neighbourhood, is better for making friends.
Twinning is winning at chic L7 Chicago By LotteCredit: Supplied by PR
I met a local improv comedian on mine and ended up going to his show.
Fantastic food aside, I love checking out the artworks scattered around Millennium Park, free fireworks displays at Navy Pier every Wednesday and Saturday night, plus quirky attractions like the Museum of Ice Cream, where you can try the hot-dog flavour!
It’s certainly an experience, but the strawberry cheesecake flavour is so much better.
On gloriously sunny days, it’s utter bliss to cycle along the Lakefront Trail next to Lake Michigan, stopping to flop out at the sandy beaches beside the city skyline.
I use bike-share scheme Divvy – there are bikes everywhere and they cost just £13 a day (Divvybikes.com).
The Museum of Ice Cream’s ‘hot dog’Credit: Supplied by Qin Xie
The best place to refuel is Whispers at Oak Street Beach, right on the sand, although an iced coffee here will set you back close to £7 (Whispersgroup.com).
I’m staying at L7 Chicago By Lotte, a hotel in the heart of the city with rooms that come with yoga mats and free weights (Lottehotel.com).
It’s steps away from Chicago Riverwalk, the waterside footpath where the locals hang out, and it’s here that I join Urban Kayaks for a paddle past towering skyscrapers as a guide shares stories about the architecture.
Exploring the neighbourhoods, like leafy Lincoln Park with its free zoo, or trendy Wicker Park and Bucktown, which are packed with cool street art and edgy boutiques.
It’s why I can’t get enough of this city – each of its 77 neighbourhoods feels like somewhere new.
Qin joined Urban Kayaks for a paddle past towering skyscrapersCredit: Supplied by Qin Xie
FYI
A five-night trip with return flights, a room at L7 Chicago By Lotte and selected tours costs from £1,575 per person (Audley travel.com).
I’M standing open-mouthed on the edge of the desert, south-west of Cairo, the magnificent Great Pyramid of Giza directly in front of me.
For 4,000 years it was the tallest structure on the planet, and it is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.
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Camel riders pass pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and MenkaureCredit: GettyThe Grand Egyptian MuseumCredit: GettyVisitors to GEM looking at a cracking exhibitCredit: Getty
Here in Egypt at its base, with the heat of the afternoon sun radiating around me, I’m struck by its awesome scale and the astonishing human endeavour that constructed it in the desert 4,500 years ago.
Experts believe it took around 100,000 men 20 years to build this tomb for the ruling pharaoh Khufu, and mystery still surrounds the methods of its construction.
“Could they build this without belief? Could they build it without science? Could they build it without art?” says my tour guide, Dr Tarek Sarhan.
“Three things: Belief, science, art. This is the triangle of civilisation.”
A short distance away on the Giza Plateau is the Great Sphinx — a colossal limestone statue of a mythical creature, part lion, part human.
Even with its nose missing, this enormous creature still cuts an imposing figure.
History courses through the foundations of this captivating site.
But my four-day trip to the Egyptian capital is characterised not just by the old, but by the new.
Just over a mile from the pyramids, the $1.2billion new Grand Egyptian Museum has finally opened more than two decades after work first started.
The enormous building, covering an area of 470,000 square metres, houses more than 50,000 artefacts — and the centrepiece of its collection will bring all 5,000-plus treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb together for the first time.
Stepping through its pyramid-shaped entrance, the 3,200-year-old, 83-ton statue of Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II sits in GEM’s soaring central atrium.
Another striking set piece here is the museum’s Grand Staircase, punctuated by fascinating relics of some of ancient Egypt’s most important kings and queens.
I walk up, passing statues, columns, granite doorways and sarcophagi.
At the top, a vast window frames the three main pyramids of the Giza Plateau.
Here is where visitors will also find GEM’s 12 main galleries, but the main draw will always be the entire contents of the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun, displayed together since it was first found by British Egyptologist Howard Carter.
The collection, of course, includes Tutankhamun’s spectacular gold mask, throne and chariots.
The collection, of course, includes Tutankhamun’s spectacular gold mask, throne and chariots
Standing in front of statues of kings and queens is only part of the picture.
At the city’s National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, I get to stand in front of their mummified bodies.
Located in the Old Cairo district of the city, this modern museum has a large and open exhibition space with artefacts spanning prehistoric times to the modern day.
But for its biggest draw, I have to descend to the underground Royal Mummies’ Hall.
This dark-walled, low-lit space is now the resting place of 20 royal mummies — 18 kings, including Ramses II, and two queens — displayed in glass cases.
Some of them are showcased with the coffins they were found in.
A huge statue draws in gawping visitorsCredit: GettyThe pharaohs’ tombs on displayCredit: GettyThe mosque of Muhammad Ali in Salah El DinCredit: Getty
Sweet perfume fills the air
Shadows shift as visitors move through this superbly presented exhibition and there’s a sense that one of these mummified bodies might suddenly be reanimated.
There is certainly life to be found in Cairo’s vibrant Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
The intricate, linking alleyways of this open-air marketplace are lined with stalls selling everything from lanterns and candles to jewellery and figurines.
Colourful textiles and printed designs hang from walls and stands, and a sweet perfume fills the air.
Away from the buzz of the bazaar, the five-star Waldorf Astoria is an oasis of calm.
Located in the upmarket Heliopolis district, its high-ceiling, glass-walled curved atrium is part botanical garden, part chic Art Deco lounge.
There is certainly life to be found in Cairo’s vibrant Khan el-Khalili bazaar
My room here is spacious and quiet and the breakfast offering a lavish buffet selection with additional a la carte options and a pancake and French toast station.
EasyJet now offers year-round flights direct to Cairo’s Sphinx airport from Luton as well as a huge choice of packages with easyJet holidays.
If your visit here is brief, you won’t want to miss the sweeping and unforgettable views of this fascinating city from the citadel of Salah El Din.
This ancient fortification served as the seat of power in Egypt for 700 years and it remains one of Cairo’s major attractions.
Inside is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali with its stunning domes, towering minarets, ornate interior and huge central chandelier.
The vistas from this elevated position are wonderfully panoramic.
As I take my transfer back to Sphinx along one of the city’s upgraded highways, I remember the words of my guide, Dr Tarek, in front of the Great Pyramid: “Egypt is a story with no end.”
Perhaps nowhere is this truer than in Cairo, which is building on its past as it looks to the future.
GO: CAIRO
GETTING THERE: Flights from London Luton to Sphinx Airport up to three days a week.
WITH its harbour, picturesque beaches and rugged countryside, the island of Guernsey could be any ordinary holiday destination at first glance.
But scratch below the surface and you’ll uncover the fascinating story of its five-year occupation by the Nazis — and about an an unlikely survivor of the invasion, Timmy the Tortoise.
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The stunning Petit Port BayCredit: SuppliedThe colourful harbour and of Saint Peter Port, GuernseyCredit: GettyA crowd watches a military vehicle paradeCredit: Supplied
I was keen to learn about it during my adventure on the second largest of the Channel Islands.
So I booked several short guided day trips with Tours Of Guernsey.
Guide Amanda Johns and I ticked off all the key sites, from museums to former bunkers and even a German underground hospital.
This medical centre — which incredibly doubled up as an ammunition store — had to be the highlight, and the extensive dark passages are a must-see for any history buff.
Its underground bunker can only be viewed by private tour.
Restored by Festung Guernsey, with many original features being reproduced using a 3D printer, the walls within are still dotted with German inscriptions, including the Nazi Eagle.
Potato peel pie
It was an honour to pay it a visit the day after Princess Anne was shown around while on the island for the Liberation Day celebrations.
The day marks when Allied troops freed the locals from Nazi rule on May 9, 1945.
One local making headlines during the celebrations was Timmy, 87 — actually a female — who survived Nazi occupation.
Maggie Cull and Timmy the TortoiseCredit: States of GuernseyThe radio room in the Occupation MuseumCredit: AlamyNazis march through Guernsey in 1940Credit: Getty
She was given to Maggie Cull as a christening present in 1941, not long after she and her parents were turfed out of their home by the Nazis.
After all that history I’d certainly worked up an appetite.
Luckily my base, St Pierre Park Hotel, was just a 25-minute walk into St Peter Port, where there are pubs and restaurants aplenty.
Fifty Seven restaurant is set over two floors and has stunning views of Castle Cornet and the coastline.
The menu features steaks cooked fresh on the grill as well as some excellent fish dishes including oven-baked monkfish on chilli linguine.
As you’re by the sea, grab yourself some fish and chips — the restaurant at Les Douvres Hotel dishes up one of the largest portions I’ve ever seen.
On my last night I dined on a special Liberation Day menu at the Old Government House Hotel, close to the harbour.
This 5H property was turned into the German General Staff Headquarters during the war and it still has an old-world feel about it today.
TWISTING the handles of his personal periscope around, my son Billy lets out an excited gasp.
Through the lens he’s able to catch a glimpse of the rollercoasters and colourful rides that await him at Chessington World of Adventures, right on the doorstep of our hotel.
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The Paw Patrol gang cut looseCredit: AlamyOne of the five Paw Patrol roomsCredit: Chris Read-Jones/Chessington World Of AdventuresThe Sun’s Lydia Major and son BillyCredit: Supplied
I’m staying in one of the theme park’s new Paw Patrol-themed rooms, offered up just in time for half term.
Part of Chessington’s Safari Resort hotel, the five new pup-tastic bedrooms offer a glimpse of what’s to come when a new Paw Patrol-themed land opens next spring.
Nothing has been spared on making these spaces as immersive as possible.
Funky bunk beds have been disguised as the famous Paw Patroller truck featured in the show, with a driver’s seat at the front and a steering wheel that little ones can play with.
A yellow periscope in the main room, that fans will recognise as a replica of that from the Paw Patrol Lookout Tower, is surrounded by coloured bean bags which kids can plonk themselves on when spying on the theme park.
And if the view from the periscope isn’t enough to impress them, the bedroom window one will be.
Rooms overlook the park’s Wanyama Reserve, and one afternoon we were treated to the sight of two giraffes munching away on their leafy dinner.
I was grateful for some tranquillity to balance out the “wow” of the all-singing, all-dancing bedroom.
The decor here is bold and bright, with huge murals of the pups showing their wacky adventures.
Rooms sleep up to two adults, in a plump double bed, and three children.
They also come with a special Paw Patrol parking outside.
Even when you’re dining at one of the two restaurants, you’re likely to bump into your little ones’ favourite character.
As Billy tucked into his junior Wanyama burger (£7) at dinner, he clocked Skye giving some of her fans a high-five and a cuddle across the room.
If you don’t get to meet your hero at the hotel, Paw Patrol guests can nab fast-track entry to daily meet-and-greets with Chase, Skye and Rubble in the park.
A night’s stay comes with a huge buffet breakfast – which has everything from a full English to pancakes and pastries and is available from 7am to 10am.
Access to the hotel’s Savannah Splash Pool means children can burn off any extra energy.
After an action-packed day here, adults will be just as grateful for the ultra-comfy beds as the kids are.
Paw Patrol stays start from £155 for a family of four, including bed and breakfast. Stays include early ride access, a Pup Pass (meet-and-greet fast track pass) and a Reserve & Ride one-shot pass.
Guests staying before the Paw Patrol-themed land opens will have a chance to be one of the first to ride the new rollercoaster in 2026.
FANCY a bit of the royal treatment? I know just the, er, palace.
The Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort on Morocco’s north-west coast is regal in both size and design.
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The Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort, MoroccoCredit: SuppliedRick’s Cafe replica bar inspired from the iconic flick CasablancaCredit: AlamyA giant bed and sea view at MazaganCredit: Supplied
With its dreamy arches and soaring ceilings, traditional Zellij tiling, tree-lined atrium and central courtyards, this five-star wonder is truly fit for royalty.
Inside, everything smells of rich orange blossom. You could get lost here. In fact, you want to.
Pop princess Paloma Faith stayed here with her family this year and Moroccan golf star Ayoub Lguirati — winner of the first Arab World Professional Championship in 2023 — often plays the resort’s beachfront course designed by one of the sport’s greats, Gary Player.
Oh, and now I was there.
The 500-room Mazagan is so grand that it is home to one of North Africa’s largest casinos — and one evening, my friends and I joined the guests trying their luck on its 37 gaming tables, 80 roulettes wheels and 370 slot machines.
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Good news for risk-takers is that the casino stays open 23 hours a day, so this hotel almost never sleeps.
But as amateurs, we didn’t fancy losing a king’s ransom on Blackjack, so moved on to the 1940s-themed Studio 42 lounge bar next door which is swathed in royal-green velvet drapes.
It has live music at weekends and serves glam cocktails including a homemade rosé liquor and gin concoction for £10, or local beer from £5.50, so is a sure bet for a nightcap or two.
When it came time to hit the hay, my ocean-view room was similar in its grandeur to the rest of the hotel, with traditional metal hanging lanterns, dark-wood furniture, and a bed that could fit a family of four.
Thankfully, 80 per cent of the rooms are connecting, so parents do not have to share with little ’uns.
Even with the balconette doors to my room closed, I could hear the inviting roar of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is safe to swim here — there’s a lifeguard during the day — but you can also rent paddle and bodyboards, or make the most of the swell with surf lessons.
Even in late September, temperatures in El Jadida can reach 30C.
Animal-lovers will enjoy a trip to the Mazagan’s farm, which has goats, cows and chickens. Its beachfront stables are immaculately maintained and the horses and ponies have shiny, glowing coats.
Riding on the beach has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, so on an unusually grey afternoon I climbed on to a palomino-coloured mare called Rosa and headed for the shore.
She trotted along Haouzia Beach, steadily swerving the incoming tide, as I sat back — nay, upright — to enjoy the view. The next day, for something more fast-paced, our group zoomed along the sand — thankfully flat — on quad bikes.
The Mazagan also has laser games, go-karting, paintballing, a 22ft climbing wall, archery, a gym, and pickleball and tennis courts. There are daytime clubs for both kids and teens, too.
But a holiday in Morocco calls for a spot of haggling in the medina — and just the place for that is Casablanca which is the country’s largest, most cosmopolitan city, just an hour’s drive from the hotel.
Built in the early 19th century by the French, the New Medina is smaller and less chaotic than its walled older counterpart but just as authentic.
We find everything from artisan teapots and pottery, leather bags and hand-woven Berber rugs, to stalls piled high with native olives for a fraction of what we would pay at home.
Casablanca also has a striking mix of religious buildings, owing to its colonial history.
Many of these, such as the monumental Hassan II Mosque on the city’s promenade, offer guided tours.
Arabesque carvings
The Hassan II Mosque is a gem — with the world’s second-tallest minaret at 689ft and an elaborately decorated prayer room which can fit 20,000 worshippers.
As is customary if entering a mosque, we removed our shoes.
Our guide then recounted tales of its craftmanship as we quietly admired the stonework, arabesque carvings, Murano glass chandeliers, and titanium doors weighing several tonnes.
It’s always cocktail time at MazaganCredit: SuppliedThe stunning Hassan II Mosque in CasblancaCredit: Getty
For many Brits, though, Casablanca will conjure memories of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman’s 1942 film — although the wartime classic was actually filmed in Hollywood.
Disappointed to discover Rick’s Cafe from the film did not exist, an American woman opened a replica bar, with grand piano and Moroccan hanging lanterns, in the Old Medina in 2004.
“Of all the gins joints in all the towns”, to quote from the film, this one was well worth walking into for a boozy pit-stop on the way back to the Mazagan.
But, of course, there’s nothing wrong with spending a week simply lazing beside the resort’s lagoon-style pool, having treatments in its award-winning spa and eating and drinking like royalty in its 13 restaurants and bars.
Horse riders on Haouzia BeachCredit: SuppliedFor many Brits Casablanca will conjure memories of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman’s 1942 filmCredit: Alamy
The Market Place evening buffet offers an abundance of local and international dishes, from salads to saffron slow-cooked lamb, shawarma and a wok station.
Or the hotel’s jewel in the crown, the dimly lit Bushra restaurant, serves up Middle Eastern dishes and a live band to its impressively receptive diners.
Sat under gigantic brass chandeliers and dramatic drapes, even the grannies sang and clapped cheerily between mouthfuls of hummus with beef fillet, grilled jumbo shrimps and the most tender slow-cooked lamb.
Just like the flavours, the service is five-star — waiter Wafae deserves mention.
But I had my favourite-ever starter in Sel de Mer.
The nautically-themed seafood restaurant has an extraordinary signature dish of blue lobster salad with fennel remoulade and mustard jus. At £26, it is not cheap, but lobster never is.
I could get used to living like a queen.
Hayley Doyle at the stablesCredit: Supplied
GO: MOROCCO
GETTING THERE: Royal Air Maroc offers daily direct flights from Heathrow to Casablanca with fares from £250, including 23kg luggage.
YOU’RE in the Alps for a ski holiday – you’ve got your gear, your lift pass and the optimism that you won’t wipe out on a blue run as kids whizz past you.
But what if skiing on a skiing holiday is optional?
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Alpine Glasto gets in the swingCredit: GettyDJs get the crowd goingCredit: Gwilym Thomas
What if there’s an Alpine world that doesn’t require you to throw yourself downhill at speed?
The wild and wonderful phenomenon of après-ski only gears up after the lifts stop — and the party gets going.
Après-ski is no small affair — this is not just drinks before dinner.
In the Three Valleys area of the French Alps, après is a daily festival and feels like a way of life.
Picture this: a live band steps on stage ahead of a DJ surrounded by strobe lights, crowds are dancing on the tables (in ski boots) and bobble hats are thrown in the air.
This melee of strangers is swaying together, drinks in hand, as revellers sing at the top of their lungs.
This is a kind of Alpine Glastonbury, where people swap flower crowns and flags for puffer jackets and goggles.
And the best part? You don’t have to ski or snowboard to enjoy it.
The Three Valleys is known for some of the best slopes in the world, with almost 600km of pistes, as high as 3,000 metres, to pick from.
But interconnected Valleys resorts Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens also showcase thousands of music gigs.
The magic is thanks to London and Méribel-based agency Après Ski Bands, which books more than 3,500 such events per season across 130 venues.
These aren’t bog-standard cover bands — they’re high-energy pros, picked in X Factor-style auditions in the UK, who turn ski resorts into concert venues during winter.
In five days in the Alps, I saw nine superb acts without even trying — starting with party band Magnolia, ending with DJ and MC duo Rio & Rhymes and acts in between including emerging alt-rock talent Pattern Pusher and diverse après heroes The Wingmen.
For folk fans, there’s guitarist Chris Quinn, who opened for the Jools Holland Orchestra, and singer-songwriter Albert Jones, who appeared on BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Performing in the Alps is hard graft, as musicians play up to 140 dates in a single season.
At Lodge Du Village in Méribel alone, there are 900 live gigs each winter — with Mondays to Wednesdays often wilder than Saturday nights (free shots for those who arrive early).
Le Rond Point — or Ronnie — in Méribel is one of those places where you show up for one drink and suddenly it’s four hours later, and you’re leading a conga line and wearing someone else’s unicorn onesie.
And let’s not forget ultra-Insta La Folie Douce, a venue likened to Ibiza in the snow. If it sounds like an attack on the senses, that’s because it is.
But if partying isn’t really your thing, there are other things on offer in the Valleys.
For a touch of luxury, hit a hotel spa or soak in your chalet’s outdoor hot tub with a glass of fizz, watching skiers from a distance.
If you want to be on the white stuff minus the face-planting, then snowshoeing or sled-dog walking are great for exploring at a gentle pace.
Then, of course, there is the ultimate Alpine sport — eating.
Revellers get ready for the apres-ski bashCredit: Supplied
Food here is an attraction in itself, with Méribel’s Le Cro Magnon and La Terrasse du Village delivering everything from hearty Savoyard to refined French-British fusion.
If you come to the Alps and don’t eat fondue, tartiflette or raclette, did you even visit the Alps?
And now it’s not just a winter thing, with resorts shifting towards year-round tourism, meaning the party doesn’t stop when the snow starts to melt in April.
Whether you’re dancing on tables, belting out rock anthems with a crowd of strangers, exploring snowy forests, or eating your bodyweight in cheese, you’ve made it down a black run to holiday heaven.
GO: THREE VALLEYS
GETTING THERE: Private transfers from Geneva Airport to Meribel cost from £59.50pp for a group of four people.
STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering at the Chalet Rosa Apartment in Meribel Village, just a couple of minutes from the piste and La Terrace du Village, costs from £258.34pp, based on six sharing in low season.
SHE is one half of TV’s most romantic couple in Netflix’s No1 UK hit Nobody Wants This. But in real life, Kristen Bell’s relationship is a little more unconventional — as she admits she would not bat an eyelid if husband Dax Shepard cheated. Kristen, 45, said of infidelity: “Kind of who cares, to be…
BRIDGERTON’S Simone Ashley is in pole position to feature in the sequel to Brad Pitt’s movie F1.
The 30-year-old, who starred with Jonathan Bailey in the Netflix romance, was cast in this year’s flick but her scenes were cut.
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Simone Ashley is in pole position to feature in the sequel to Brad Pitt’s movie F1Credit: GettySimone wows in a barely there outfitCredit: GettySimone shot to fame after starring in the hit Netflix show Sex EducationCredit: Getty
A source said: “A script is already in the works with early plans to go into production next year.”
As well as appearing in Sex Education, Ashley has also lent her acting chops to suspense drama Thriller.
She shot to fame after starring in the hit Netflix show Sex Education.
The star developed her acting skills at the Arts Ed school in Chiswick, which specializes in Musical Theatre & Acting degrees.
Simone has spoken about coming from a traditional Indian family, who finds her acting career “quite scary and unsettling”.
She told Veylex: “My parents are incredibly protective over me, and sometimes I found it quite stifling.
“It made me want to escape and do things my own way. I’ve always been a bit rebellious in that sense.”
“I am incredibly privileged to be apart of a generation where young women from all over the world have more opportunity than ever before, where we are being less stereotyped and walls and being broken down slowly.”
Simone strikes a pose in this ensembleCredit: GettyBrad Pitt as Sonny Hayes in F1Credit: AlamySimone (as Kate Sharma) with Jonathan Bailey (as Anthony Bridgerton), in Netflix show BridgertonCredit: Netflix
From gorgeous Getxo to the City of Love, you won’t want to come home from these mint mini-breaks
Find foodie heaven near BilbaoCredit: Supplied by PR
SPAIN – Palacio Arriluce Hotel, Getxo
Commissioning Editor Martha Cliff and fiancée Lauren found foodie heaven near Bilbao.
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THE PAD
Check in and zone out at the Palacio Arriluce
Perched on a striking cliffside overlooking the Bay of Abra in Getxo and with a beauty of an outdoor pool, this 18th-century boutique gem sits in a palatial setting and offers the perfect blend of historical charm and contemporary elegance.
Craving vistas of the rolling Basque mountains? You’ve got it. Want to gaze at boats bobbing in the harbour? No problem. A city view more your vibe? It’s got that, too.
Be sure to eat breakfast – think other-worldly Spanish tortilla and Iberico ham – on the terrace to take full advantage.
Meanwhile, come dinner at Delaunay, try local specialities such as grilled kokotxas (hake chin) on stewed spider crab, £35, and Iberian pork shoulder with passionfruit, £31.
Make sure you’re there on a Thursday to join locals in Getxo for “pintxo pote”, a foodie’s dream bar crawl and Basque country tradition.
Restaurante Ixta Bide offers four pintxos (small savoury snacks) – our fave was pintxo de txaka, akin to a mini crab sandwich – and two vinos for a mere £9.
Just don’t expect to bag a seat! Wind your way up the steps of Algorta to reach Arrantzale and finish on its perfectly salted pork belly (Arrantzale.com).
While day-tripping, step into one of Bilbao’s oldest bars, Café Iruña, just a hop from Arbando metro station.
Dating back to 1903, the beautiful tiling is reason enough to visit, but coffee for just £1.75, is a big pull, too.
Or opt for a glass of the local txakoli white wine, £2.70, instead (Cafeirunabilbao.com).
DON’T MISS
The works inside Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum are, of course, breathtaking, but the building itself and its surrounding sculptures – including Puppy, a massive dog made of flowers by American artist Jeff Koons – are worth the trip alone.
Fly to Bilbao from London Gatwick and Heathrow with Vueling from £56 return (Vueling.com).
FRANCE – Hôtel Dame des Arts, Paris
Creative Director Mark Hayman and wife Margaret fell for cocktails and culture in the French capital.
Fall for cocktails and culture in the French capitalCredit: Getty Images
THE PAD
Rest easy at Hôtel Dame des ArtsCredit: LUDOVIC BALAY
This sleek bolt-hole in the city’s Latin Quarter has shaken off its Holiday Inn past to channel full Hollywood glamour.
Think rich woods, bamboo accents and pretty palms, with rooms that feel like film sets, thanks to glass dividers, velvet finishes and luxe bathrooms made for long soaks.
Downstairs, Pimpan serves up bold Franco-Mexican fusions on a leafy terrace – highlights include beef tartare with piquillos, £12.50, lamb shoulder with harissa, £25, and hibiscus-poached pear, £11.
But the real scene-stealer is the rooftop bar, where 360-degree skyline views stretch from the Eiffel Tower to Sacré Cœur – even locals come here for the vistas.
Order a Spritz del Arte (Aperol, mango liqueur, rum and prosecco), £17, or the punchy Uno Mas margarita, £14, pop on your biggest sunglasses and watch the city turn blush at sunset.
There’s also a sauna and a gym kitted out with sculptural wooden equipment for those partial to a designer workout.
EXPLORE
Explore the history of Notre-DameCredit: Getty Images
First time in Paris? Glide down the Seine aboard the Batobus – this hop-on-hop-off riverboat is a relaxing (and photogenic) way to tick off major sights like the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre.
For more treasure-hunting, swing by the flea market off Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine – a weekend haven of vintage mirrors, mid-century ceramics and nostalgic postcards.
There’s no entry fee, just bring cash and your best haggling game.
Then head to the Panthéon, a neoclassical gem where Voltaire, Rousseau and Marie Curie lie in dramatic crypts beneath a rooftop dome offering jaw-dropping views.
Lively, retro-chic Brasserie Dubillot’s espresso martinis, £10.50, are a must, but equally good is the sausage and mash with truffle sauce, £16, steak-frites, £21, and the perfect crème brûlée, £8 (Lanouvellegarde.com/brasserie-dubillot).
Craving something casual? PNY serves next-level burgers with aged beef, brioche buns and toppings like smoked cheddar and pickled jalapeños, from £11.50 (Pnyburger.com).
Or just nab a pavement perch at Café Saint-André for a croque monsieur, £10.50, a glass of sancerre, £7, and some world-class people-watching.
Double rooms at Hôtel Dame des Arts cost from £226 per night (Damedesarts.com).
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Fancy something a little more party? Rixos Premium Dubai JBR sits in one of the UAE city’s buzziest neighbourhoods, with captivating views of Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest ferris wheel.
Suave rooms come with huge tubs, rain showers and espresso machines, from £304 per night (Rixos.com).
Rixos Premium Dubai JBR sits in one of the UAE city’s buzziest neighbourhoodsCredit: SuppliedThe suave rooms have captivating views of Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest ferris wheelCredit: SuppliedHead to Aussie beach club Byron Bathers for great foodCredit: Byron Bathers Club/Instagram
Downstairs is Azure Beach Club with its large pool, pumping soundtrack, outdoor gym and private beach (Azure-beach.com/dubai).
The breakfast buffet is, in true Dubai style, eye-poppingly big – you can even blend your own fresh peanut butter.
Plus, you’re half an hour’s cab ride from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, for that classic Dubai selfie – viewing platform visits cost from £37 per person (Burjkhalifa.ae).
When you’re craving a chilled day, head to Aussie beach club Byron Bathers for lobster linguine, £37, and burrata pizza, £17, with excellent Whitsunday spritzes – an exquisite blend of grapefruit bitters, strawberry shrub, pink grapefruit, citrus vodka, Aperol and prosecco, £14 (Byronbathers.com).
