Travel

Throughout my life, I’ve returned to the industry in various guises. Now, I find myself on the other side of it—almost a spectator looking in. And it’s a great place to be. I get to write about these places without having to do the AFDs or deal with those customers who probably shouldn’t have gone out for dinner that day.

If you’ve noticed your dream destinations feeling more crowded, more expensive, and harder to enjoy, you’re not alone. Travel in 2026 is shifting—and savvy holidaymakers are quietly ditching the obvious hotspots in favour of something smarter.

Every tourist planning a shopping spree in Paris needs to know one golden rule: a tax refund in France is your legal right to save up to 20% on your purchases.

What makes Europe particularly suited to cycling isn’t just the scenery but the infrastructure around it. Dedicated routes, clear signage, and reliable connections between towns make longer journeys feel manageable. 

The UK has a way of offering contrast within short distances. You can leave a busy street in central London and, within a few hours, be walking across open moorland or along a quiet stretch of coastline. What stands out isn’t just the variety, but how accessible it all is.

So here I am at Mira — a self-contained shack set at the base of an incredibly beautiful waterfall, completely surrounded by… well, nothing but forest, hills and farmland stretching as far as the eye can see.

Corsica will feel like home if you love to move. Mountains rise almost straight from the sea while the river pools cut through dark rock. Pine forests also hang onto steep ridges, and small paths slip between all of it. Camping in Corsica lets you sit right inside that landscape instead of just passing through it. 

Manchester is a sprawling metropolis, the kind of place that really rewards a bit of planning. But I’ll be honest – I’d already made one very solid decision before we’d even arrived. We were staying at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, and if we didn’t do a single thing else all weekend, I knew I’d already nailed the hotel.

There’s a moment that happens when you travel alone—usually somewhere between ordering your first coffee and realising no one is waiting for you—that everything shifts.

Last year it was Lake Como. Before that, it was Sicily. And now? The Amalfi Coast is once again having its moment — with over 900,000 Google searches in just the past month alone.