Experience the best of New England

20 May 2024

Combining history, culture, and mountains, our New England self-drive holiday is an amazing trip, perfect for all year round, and when you choose to go will depend on what you want to experience. May and June are the best spring months, with gorgeous blooms and reliable warmer, drier weather – perfect for hiking. Summer is all about New England's rocky and white-sand beaches, while autumn is the most popular time because of the famous ‘fall foliage’. In winter, you can ski in Stowe and enjoy lots of winter activities in Mount Washington.

Itinerary overview

11 nights from £3,366pp for 2 sharing, based on a 05/10/2024 departure. Visit three states: Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont

Includes car hire and indirect flights with Virgin Atlantic Airways.

You’ll start out in the historic Boston, with two unforgettable nights in the Godfrey Hotel Boston in Downtown Crossing – Theatre District. This lovely boutique hotel is perfect for venturing out into this fascinating city, where unmissable attractions include the Freedom Trail, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, and John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum. The food is also worth the journey alone – think the likes of fried clam platters and a classic and delicious clam chowder.

From here you’ll drive to Kennebunkport with the popular Goose Rocks Beach and a quirky Seashore Trolley Museum of streetcars. Don’t miss the charmingly named Cape Porpoise, a lobster-fishing village with the 19th-century Goat Island Lighthouse in its harbour. You’ll spend two blissful nights in Kennebunkport’s 1802 House Bed and Breakfast, a colonial inn with a personal touch and three-course breakfasts made with fresh, local, and often organic produce.

Next up is Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island on Frenchman Bay, with a host of sights to see including a pretty pier and the Shore Path with Atlantic and Porcupine Island views. It’s also a gateway to the Acadia National Park, which is overlooked by Cadillac Mountain with its hiking trails. You’ll spend two restful nights in the charming Bar Harbor Manor set within peaceful grounds.

From Bar Harbor, you can carry on to the classic New Hampshire property of the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, which stands out for its Spanish Renaissance architecture. There are thrilling experiences on offer here with zipline canopy tours, golf, skiing in winter, and pampering in the spa. It’s also home to Stickney’s Steak & Chop Pub and a prohibition-era speakeasy.

Your next port of call is the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, a unique place to spend a night, with European-style accommodations and cuisine, spectacular mountain vistas, and seasonal outdoor activities, from hiking and biking to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing ensuring you have the most exciting stay possible.

And to round things off in style, you’ll head for The Constance, inspired by one of its early owners, a British carpenter who invested years of craftsmanship into his home, the Constance is the epitome of charm and comfort. It’s in the heart of Lenox, where you’ll find Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Shakespeare & Company theatre venue, with its indoor and outdoor performance spaces.

To book your New England self-drive holiday, call your Travel Counsellor today.

Two Rixos resorts, two very different ways to switch off

29 December 2025

For guests who like their holidays easy but still want quality, variety, and a bit of personality, Rixos delivers a refreshing take on the all-inclusive concept. In the UAE, two standout properties show just how different that experience can be. Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island leans into polished beachfront living with a strong focus on food, wellbeing, and family-friendly design, while Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah offers a more expansive, activity-led escape with space to spread out and a packed entertainment calendar. Choosing between them really comes down to how you like to holiday.

Luxury made easy: A closer look at Grecotel LUXME Costa Botanica

29 December 2025

All-inclusive doesn’t have to mean predictable, and Grecotel LUXME Costa Botanica is proof of that. Sitting on Corfu’s northern coast, this resort is designed for guests who want everything taken care of without losing personality or choice. Part of Grecotel’s LUXME collection, short for Luxury Made Easy, it blends high-end dining, thoughtful design, and family-friendly experiences into one seamless stay. The idea is simple: remove the hassle, keep the quality, and let your holiday unfold at your own pace.

The top 5 food markets around the world

29 December 2025

There’s nothing quite like exploring the world through your taste buds. From dawn-till-dusk markets where locals haggle over spices to late-night stalls pouring steaming bowls of noodles, food markets give travellers a delicious shortcut into the heart of a destination. Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or planning that first big trip, these five global markets offer flavours and experiences that make the journey as exciting as the destination itself.