Coast to coast
Long weekends surfing and eating in the French sunshine are now even easier thanks to British Airways’ new flights to Biarritz. Launching at the end of May, the twice-weekly route will have you strolling the old port at 10am, or surfing at Plage de la Côte des Basques. If that sounds a little bit like too much hard work, try watching the action from Le Surfing restaurant with a cocktail and a decent burger. Visit keyweek.com for nice appartments. From £48 one-way. ba.com
Kevin Eaves
Pitch perfect
No doubt you’ll have an extensive list of things to do before you die: climb Everest, call mum back, buy more bog roll. You may not have thought about the places you should pitch your tent before you die, though. Well now you can thanks to a new book, aptly titled 50 Places To Camp Before You Die (£15.99). Expect in-tents views of some of the world’s most spectacular sights. Butlins, this is not.
A vine idea
Museums: a bit dull sometimes. Unless you’re heading to Bordeaux, France, where La Cité du Vin, a new interactive, multi-sensory wine museum is about to open. It’ll be the world’s largest culture centre dedicated to the living heritage of wine. Ease your cloudy head at Le Saint-James, a luxe gastronomic hotel located in a little village of Bouliac, just a 15-minute taxi away.
Tim Graham
Crete escape
We love a good bargain, especially in the form of cheap flights on nice new planes. If you do, too, check out Norwegian Air’s new service from Gatwick to Chania in Crete, Greece. Operating three times a week, with one-way fares from £29.90, it’s a wallet-friendly way to reach this picturesque city, or set about exploring the rest of the unspoiled island.
Sakis Papadopoulos/Robert Harding
A Hoy, there
Inspired by the ferociously competitive (and notoriously dicey) keirin track-cycling race, HOY Vulpine’s Senko range is made for going fast. Its co-creator – Sir Chris Hoy – knows a thing about that, but even mere mortals like us can get in on the act. We tested the new kit on the hot and windy Sardinian coast and it made us almost as quick as Sir Chris. Like we say – almost.
Get in the festlane
Everyone who’s ever been to a festival abroad knows they can be a flipping logistical nightmare. That’s where Festlane comes in – a new website that helps you book tickets, flights and accommodation for some of the world’s best fests. Think travel agent for festivals, without having to go through the process of actually speaking to anyone.
Making Hay
For full-on interior envy head north of London to the Wye Valley, where you’ll find Westbrook Court, a design-led bed and breakfast set in a 17th-century farmhouse. It’s just a five-minute drive from Hay-on-Wye – aka ‘the town of books’ that hosts the upcoming Hay Festival. If driving’s a drag, and you prefer to take your chopper, the nearest helicopter pad is a mile away. Nightly rates from £95.
Finn Beales
Home cooking
For a bedroom abroad that looks as good (and serene) as you, book into Casa Cook, a cool new boutique hotel group that’s just about to open its first property on the Greek island of Rhodes. Along with 90 eclectically designed rooms and an adults-only policy, you’ll also have direct pool access from your own private veranda. Nightly rates from £75 per room. casacook.com
Georg Roske
New wave
If you’re a surfer you’ll know that it’s not a hobby – it’s a way of life. If you’re not quite, er, on board with that mindset yet, pick up a copy of Surf Odyssey, out this month. It’ll soon make you realise there’s more to the sport than palm trees, neoprene and beach boy clichés – this book depicts contemporary surf culture, with epic images of cold-water surfing and sun-drenched breaks. £32; shop.gestalten.com
Home from home
Holidaying on the French-Caribbean island of St Barths doesn’t have to leave you bankrupt. Sure, the island’s packed with luxe hotels, but if you fancy those turquoise waters without the wet-towel service, try a new range of holiday accommodation from Only Apartments. Options range from couples-only cottages to sprawling mansions fit for big groups of friends. only-apartments.com
Nik Wheeler
Path to success
Bored of pacing the same old route to work? New app Wandrr can’t change your job but it can change the route to your desk. This new navigation tool allows you to ‘get lost’ and explore new surroundings – whether it’s leafy London roads you never knew existed, or the backstreets of Paris. The focus is on the journey, not the destination – perfect for that long-overdue weekend walk in Luton. itunes.apple.com
You’re in the dog huts
Next month the pooch-friendly Cary Arms is set to expand its room offerings, with six new beach huts on the sands of Babbacombe Bay, Devon. Rooms will boast fresh New England-style decor, while the spa includes a glass-fronted pool and sundeck with sea views – just what every hard-working urban dog needs. When you’re not Instagramming your pug/lab/burger, sit back on your deck and lap up some of the finest sea views in England, with a locally brewed beer in hand, obvs. Nightly rates from £375. caryarms.co.uk
No Yellowstone left unturned
Here’s some pub trivia for you – Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming US was the world’s first national park. Not only that, it’s packed with grizzlies, wolves and geysers. If getting deep into America’s wilderness sounds like your idea of fun, try Intrepid Travel’s new seven-night hiking and kayaking trip through the most remote parts of the park, resting weary arms and legs at a campsite or remote lodge each night. Can we come? From £1,565 per person per week, departing 2 September. intrepidtravel.com
