We set off after a leisurely wander around the town seeing the gentle bustle of the great country. Sri Lanka is a much calmer beast than India, its people are smiling, courteous, helpful and have a wicked sense of humour. At one street food stall we stopped for a vegetable roti (really well spiced and not hot….but with a ‘ball burning’ aubergine chutney to go with it) and fresh coconut milk.

After a good night's sleep breakfast beckoned - more curry, centred around a lovely mild dhaal served with a collection of hot and spicy chutneys, gambols and freshly cooked coconut roti bread...absolutely fabulous!

“It is the new cockfighting arena,” says Walter, pointing to the impressive new structure, as he kickstarts his Kawasaki motorbike and begins the arduous task of negotiating numerous water-filled potholes that straddle the narrow roadway outside his home. It is the rainy season in the Philippines and I am a passenger in his tricycle sidecar.

Many hotels boast ‘USPs’ – a Unique Selling Proposition - however, few can truly substantiate the bold claims they often make: the Peninsula Manila Hotel, with bullet holes in its reception artwork, is an exception to the rule!

In a world dominated by notifications, fast-paced itineraries, and the pressure to always stay connected, a new kind of luxury is emerging in travel: JOMO – the Joy of Missing Out. Rather than over-scheduled itineraries or rushing through crowds, today’s mindful traveller is intentionally seeking out destinations that offer stillness, seclusion, and restorative experiences.

This summer, Nova Maldives, the soulful island resort, is partnering with the world’s leading scuba diving organisation, PADI, to host a unique ocean adventure week from 13 to 20 July, in celebration of PADI’s 11th Women’s Dive Day on 19 July 2025.

Jet lag can be the downside of flying high, particularly on long-haul, and is an inevitable consequence of international air travel: the further you fly, the worse it gets. It can impair cognitive functions, interfere with metabolic cycles, and ruin sleep patterns. However, while there is no silver bullet to zap jet jag, there is a lot you can do to diminish its effects.

When you’re on the move and your mobile is packed complete with its numerous apps, including pay wallets and banking software, that’s when you are at your most vulnerable to cyber criminals.

Thanks to the rise of embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) technology, travellers no longer need to factor expensive international roaming charges into their holiday budgets. Unlike physical SIM cards, eSIMs are built into mobile devices and offer users multiple lines that can be switched at their convenience.

“I love this place because there aren’t too many Brits, there’s not an English breakfast in sight and it is still very much ‘authentic Thailand.’” Angela** who was holidaying with her husband and two young children, didn’t pull her punches. After all she ran a 500-student dance school in London: clearly organisation was her middle name and she knew exactly what she wanted from a vacation.

Group Travel Editor for the P.ublished.com Media Titles, Phil Hopkins, takes a brief look back at 2023 and overviews where he’ll be visiting in the first quarter of 2024.

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collectively initiate and pursue cross-destination tourism promotion.