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A few miles south of Truro, hidden in trees above the creeks, is Trelissick. It has beautiful gardens with a nice tea shop and is an escape from the crowds on a week day.
Afterwards, if you leave the car parked and walk down towards the ferry via the road, you can take the footpath north or south along the wooded edge of the river to find many tranquil deserted creeks where you may spot a lone heron. This is a very different side of Cornwall that many people don't see.
4 miles south of truro on the B3289
The Istanbul-Bodrum ferry is an ideal way to travel between Bodrum and Istanbul, offering excellent views of the Aegean coast and Greek islands on the way, and a dramatic entrance into the heart of Istanbul.
More like a cruise liner than a cross-channel ferry, it has a swimming pool, fitness centre and restaurants. The ship leaves Istanbul on Fridays and Mondays, and Bodrum on Sundays and Wednesdays (Istanbul-Bodrum is about 24 hours, Istanbul-Cesme is 17 hours). The midweek sailings stop in Çeşme on the way. Prices are about £50-70 per person sharing a two-berth or double outside cabin, meals not included.
Website www.denizline.com/eng/index.html
Telephone: +90 216 444 3369
This excellent budget hotel in the centre of Pokhara's Lakeside area is great value, with pleasant doubles with shared bathroom at around Rs 600 a night ($10).
The staff are friendly, and the large garden is a lovely place to relax and drink tea, to which Suraj likes to add lemon grass from the flower beds. They can recommend great guides if you are going trekking.
At the turn from the main road (B3315) for Treen, instead of going up the hill go down through a fecund valley to a stream at the bottom. You'll have to walk from here. The stream is perfect. Cross the bridge and pass a hair house with doves and flowers. Continue to the fisherman's cottages and boats at the working cove.
This place is timeless. There's no beach, no pub, no cafe. There's a bench to sit on if you can't bear the rocks. You can't hear any traffic or planes, just sea and one or two mackerel fishermen. This is a place to simply be.
On a fine day, it's just plain peaceful, on a stormy day it's cathartic. You could also walk to it from the car park at Treen, along the coast path, and then back up the valley, turn left up the hill into Treen and get waylaid in the Logan Rock over a few pints of Tinners.
One of the few remaining chilled-out beach resorts on the island. They are run by a great English couple and don't welcome s*x tourists.
Big buddha beach (North Samui), www.samui-shambala.com
A setting so contained, so peaceful, so much part of the landscape of emerald fields and air that sparkles, that it changes the way one looks at the world. Just being here clears the mind, heals the spirit.
Very difficult to get to. No train. Bus from Carmarthen.
Looking for something serendipitous, a bohemian Baghdad Cafe experience? Nothing tops this cool, retro trailer park and campsite.
Situated in southwest France in the gorgeous and historic Ariege department, on a hilltop with breathtaking views of the Pyrenees, little can prepare you for the gloriously time-warpy sight of several fully-equipped and lovingly maintained genuine Airstream trailers, each one with its own garden and totally kitted out with authentic vintage gear. From orange sun loungers to pink flamingoes, you have to see it to believe it.
Facilities include a farm shop that sells basic goods (including farm-fresh organic lamb for the barbie), shower/toilet block, hot tub and last, but not least, the groovy Apollo lounge - an Airstream converted into a proper bar house in a circus tent, serving meals and providing entertainment.
The surrounding area is packed with stuff to do. If you don't fancy just chilling out in front of your cool caravan, you can go hiking, biking, fishing, climbing, Cathar castle-spotting or sightseeing in nearby Carcassonne to mention only a few options.
Belrepayre truly is a fabulous way to discover an area of outstanding beauty and laid-back charm.
Must be seen!
Web: www.belrepayre.com
Telephone: 0033 561 68 11 99
Belrepayre is near the town of Mirepoix, about 40 minutes from Carcassonne (which is served by Ryanair from the UK) and approximately one hour from Toulouse.
Leros is a beautiful island. We stayed at Vangelis studio apartments in Panteli with the best views in Panteli.The place is ideal for family. Relax in the evenings under the olive tree with a bottle of retsina and enjoy the view. Vangelis studios is situated at the road to Panteli very near to the beach.
Leros is a beautyful island .We stayed at Vangelis studio apartments in Panteli with the best views in Panteli.The place is ideal for family. Relaxing in the evenings under the olive tree with a bottle of retsina and enjoy the view.Vangelis studios situated at the road to Panteli very near to the beach.
Lake Iseo, with Monte Isola, southern Europe's largest lake island, is Italy's best kept secret and behind it is Valle Camonica with skiing, rivers and more lakes.
Easy to get to, lots to do, not expensive and unspoilt.
Just north east of Bergamo (Ryan air hub for Italy) see
www.monticolo.it/lakeiseovallecamonicaandmontecampione.html
What a breath of fresh air this place is, a really laid back, cool and hassle free bar in the pulsating heart of the Chiang Mai city.
Designed by renowned UK designer 'Simon somebody' (sorry I forgot his surname) The What Bar is super easy to relax and unwind in.
As a play on words, The What takes its name from The Thai word for Temple (Wat) and like a temple to cool, it welcomes travelers and expats in to the warmth of its embrace.
The food is excellent, the atmosphere tolerant and arty, it really is worth stopping in for a meal or one of its famous pool tournaments. I highly recommend checking this place out if you are within 50 km of Chiang Mai.
The What is located on Loy Kroh road, within walking distance of the Night Bazaar and Thapae Gate. Look for the sign which is a play on the symbol used by the UK band The Who.
Well worth a visit.
Take any Tuk Tuk to Loy Kroh road, 'The What' is located near the 7/11.
Hidden away from the seagulls and sound lies a little courtyard where virginia creeper meet sparrows and butterflies - Libra Court, the cheeky jewel on Sidmouth's crown.
If you fancy a wander around artist studios, a nibble on chunky farmhouse bread, or just to sit and watch the buzz do its buzzing, hop off the seafront, go straight on down the highstreet, take a right, then nip left.
Life has a rather colourful palette in Libra Court.
Libra Court, Fore Street, Sidmouth, Devon
A lovely inn/hotel nestled in the above hamlet, a few hundred yards from the edge of Dartmoor proper. The food is exquisite, service friendly and fantastic, with a beautifully tranquil beer garden to soothe those aching legs after a hike on the moor.
I got up early one morning in April and walked through the woods below the hotel which were stunning in the light of early dawn. And sitting atop Hay Tor at 7am is simply breathtaking.
www.rock-inn.co.uk
01364 661305
Woody Bay is a remarkably secluded, peaceful spot. It does require a long, winding walk down a cliff to get to it - but do not let that deter you.
Every minute you spend with the kind of quiet you will find there makes it worth the effort.
Near Lynton
This is the sea wall around Havana, and a fantastic place to cool off after a hot day. You can sit in the night's cool air, feel the sea breeze and enjoy the local rum.
It's also a great place to meet and talk with the locals.
This B&B is charmimg and on the web (phone as they speak English) but out of town where it is quieter. The breakfast is excellent and drinks during the day are very cheap. The rooms are remarkably good and there is a small pool. A great relaxation venue.
You could walk up the hill (an hour is fair and it is pleasant in the evening) but take a taxi down. Dine, sightsee and come back down for a quiet sleep. There are no taxis around for some reason so do not get stranded in town at night.
The restaurants are OK but not that impressive if you eat a great deal in Italy. This is a very pleasant but tourist saturated town made famous by a novel and romanticism. There is no fountain, OK!
www.ilsoledelsodo.com/index_eng.htm
Ring from the train as they will book a taxi (10 Euros). You cannot walk from the station to Cortona or the B&B.
A lido jutting out into the lake. Perfect when Geneva is hot and you are feeling envious of the ducks paddling around - you can join them. Entry is super cheap, there is a good cafe serving substantial salads and terrines and showers/ loos/ changing rooms. There are different sectioned off swimming areas, some deeper, some shallower (and with a pebbly beach for little ones). Super relaxing and quite fun to be bobbing around next to a family of ducks. It's open from early til 8pm and they also have a hammam and massage facilities (but think hammam is currently being refurbished and you definitely need to book for massages).
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30
1201 GENEVE
www.bains-des-paquis.ch/
A friendly neighbourhood bar in the relaxed Carouge area. Run by a young team, nicely decorated, with an outdoor patio of comfy sofas shielded by a wall of willows. Nice wine list, tho' everyone seemed to be drinking rose. Some good bar snacks (assiettes of charcuterie/ cheese and chunks of good bread).
Rue Ancienne 1, 1227 Carouge
Well connected by trams (Marche or Ancienne stops on the 12 or 13 line)
A long stretch of sandy beach, with few people, and only 90 minutes from London.
Part of a group of sandy inlets (les Abers) on the northern tip of Brittany. Impossibly green farmland becomes wooded and gives way to tree-lined rocky slopes running steeply down to white sand and turquoise sea littered with impressive jutting rocks reaching out to a shimmering horizon.
Quiet sun-beaten villages, excellent créperies and restaurants which offer seafood and local, more terrestrial fare.
In winter it's misty and mysterious.
The tidal reach is about 9 metres, and the light is stunning.
Go to Brest or Morlaix and head out onto the northwestern coast. the 'Abers' are well signposted.
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