Now we’re in the midst of autumn, with winter a whisker away, it’s good to make plans and look forward to the return of sunny days in spring. We’re big fans of Eastbourne on the south coast, which is

Twenty great cottages to suit every group holiday

Discover foodie stays in County Antrim, East Sussex, North Yorkshire and Devon, as well as festive homegrown treats to gift

In a nutshell Michelin-starred tasting menus and spa experiences in a Georgian estate tucked away in 200 acres of peaceful countryside. What’s the vibe? The collection of honey-hued farmhouse building

Even by the standards of an emirate that shows all the constructional restraint of a toddler with a trunk of Lego, Dubai is in turbocharge mode. Eminent hotel groups are flooding in as superhotels spring up on man-made islands. Yet for all Dubai’s veneration of the new, decades of innovation have left a legacy of eye-catching and, in some cases, surprisingly affordable sanctuaries in which to bed down, whether you’re based in Burj Khalifa-dominated Downtown, the buzzing Marina or amid the sugary sands of Jumeirah Beach and the Palm. Throughout it all, the hospitality ecosystem seems to hum with a customer-is-king efficiency.

A change of scenery can be restorative at any time of year, but it can be particularly uplifting during the dreary winter months. Come Christmas, decadent hotels exude warmth on even the frostiest of