What's the secret to a truly stress-free holiday?

High-end cruising has entered a new era. Today's luxury travellers aren't looking for big flashy experiences. They want slow-paced, intimate travel and authentic cultural immersion. More than anything else, they're looking for ease: that feeling of being genuinely cared for, safe in the knowledge that they're experiencing the best of the best.
That means excellent quality food and drink, of course – it's got to be restaurant standard and cater to all tastes – but also onboard enrichment experiences of the highest calibre. The great beauty of cruising has always been that not a second is wasted. Savvy travellers get to explore a rich and rewarding variety of exotic, off-the-beaten track locations, but instead of spending half their holiday stuck in motorway traffic, they're honing their swing in the golf net, or sipping on a cocktail on the upper deck as they travel from destination to destination.
When they're onshore they want genuinely immersive experiences that get them under the hood of a destination: think cellar tours of local vineyards or speedboat cruises to hidden beaches. Done right, a high-end all-inclusive cruise is the ideal form of slow travel, offering a perfect balance of adventure and indulgence, proper pampering and a thrilling sense of discovery.
The world's most luxurious fleet
First among equals when it comes to the new era of luxury cruising is Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which offers more than 170 different itineraries visiting over 550 ports of call worldwide. Each of the six ships in their fleet is opulently appointed with beautifully designed communal areas and a huge array of amenities, but none of them has a capacity of more than 746 guests, ensuring space and freedom for all aboard.
The all-suite accommodation means that the private spaces are similarly roomy, each having a private balcony and marble bathroom. And service is always impeccable with a crew-to-guest ratio that's nearly one-to-one, meaning that the team can always go that mile extra for all travellers.
Across the ships, the food is uniformly excellent. As well as Regent's signature Compass Rose restaurant, with its daily changing menu of bistro classics like lobster bisque and New Zealand lamb chops, the different ships also feature a range of speciality dining venues. These include Prime 7, a New York-style steakhouse, Pacific Rim with its pan-Asian menu (be sure to try the miso black cod), and fine-dining destination, Chartreuse, where the chefs turn out sophisticated plates of upscale French cooking like Beef Tenderloin Rossini and Seared Foie Gras.
With a number of long cruises on their roster, Regent has made sure that each of its ships is akin to an ultra-luxury, boutique floating hotel with an incredible variety of things to do during the day and top-level entertainment at night. There are courts for paddle tennis and bocce, and the onboard spa offers a range of exclusive bespoke treatments. The ships host talks by experts in their field and cooking lessons are also available on some of the ships at the culinary arts kitchens where visiting chefs guide guests in how to make wow-factor dishes that relate to the ports of call. In the evening, the Constellation Theatre hosts lavishly staged productions from a team of Broadway choreographers and artists.
Destinations that match the onboard luxury
Of course, none of this onboard luxury would mean much if the destinations weren't up to scratch, but Regent's superbly curated itineraries are up there with the very best. Its week-long trips include culture-packed European tours like Glories of Iberia which sails from Barcelona to Lisbon, and thrilling frontier explorations such as the Great Alaskan Adventur e from Whittier to Vancouver.
Longer trips include four-week Legendary Journeys from Athens to Montreal, and fully immersive explorations of the Arctic. Long or short, these itineraries are all underpinned by a commitment to taking guests right to the heart of a destination with the kind of bespoke onshore activities and expert-led insights that mean on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyage, adventure is guaranteed.

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Times

an hour ago

• Times

The five best-value holiday destinations right now — and how to see them

With summer holidays on the horizon, there's good news for most people planning to get away this year. The Post Office's latest Holiday Spending Report, released this week, has found that the British pound is stronger than a year ago against 25 of the 30 bestselling currencies. Those visiting Turkey can feel particularly smug as they'll reap the biggest rewards, getting almost a third more for their money compared with last June. Other countries that offer Brits significantly extra currency for their sterling compared with a year ago include Mexico (12.8 per cent more, which is about an extra £57 for £500), Brazil (12.5 per cent, or an extra £55), Egypt (11.3 per cent, or an extra £51) and Jamaica (9.8 per cent, or an extra £45). Beware travelling to Thailand, Malaysia, Sweden, Switzerland or Japan, however, as all of their currencies have risen in value against the pound, although Thailand and Malaysia still offer good value overall. Instead, consider the report's top five destinations where the UK's pound is strongest. We've picked three holidays in each that will make your money go even further this year. This article contains affiliate links, which can earn us revenue No need to splurge on spendy flights to Orlando. Antalya's mammoth The Land of Legends is Turkey's biggest theme park, with a 40-slide waterpark, nightly parades, a string of white-knuckle rollercoasters and, for little ones, a Nickelodeon Land that opened earlier this year. One of three hotels onsite is the all-inclusive Kingdom hotel, which has an extensive, child-friendly buffet, mini discos, an indoor pool and cartoon-coloured rooms that come with games consoles. Details Seven nights' all-inclusive from £892pp, including flights and luggage ( • Read our full guide to Turkey Turkey's Mediterranean coastline has the same brilliant blue waters, seafront restaurants and long sunny days as nearby Greece, but often for a fraction of the cost. The five-star adults-only Supreme Beach Icmeler hotel is next to the sand and surrounded by pine forests, and less than a mile from Marmaris with its open-air nightclubs, marina and bustling bazaar. The all-inclusive hotel has 68 simple, modern rooms with tiled bathrooms, two pools, a fitness centre and a spa with a Turkish bath and Seven nights' all-inclusive from £386pp, including flights ( With its historical landmarks, gourmet restaurants and cultural attractions, Istanbul has all the charm of other major European cities for friendlier prices. Visit the Blue Mosque with its colourful tiled interior, sail along the Strait of Bosphorus which divides Europe and Asia, or pick up (even more) bargains in the 15th-century bazaar. Stay in Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul Curio Collection by Hilton, which is close to the major sights and has extravagantly decorated rooms, a garden restaurant offering shisha, and a spa built around a 1,500-year-old Five nights' room only from £614pp, including flights and checked luggage ( • 23 of the best things to do in Istanbul Next to the bath-warm Caribbean Sea but better value than islands like Barbados or Antigua, Cancun has white-sand beaches, a buzzy nightlife, spectacular coral reefs and nearby Maya ruins to explore. The Oleo Cancun Playa resort simplifies its rates by including everything from 24-hour room service to art workshops and meals in five restaurants. Rooms are all-white and minimalist, and some have sunset sea views. There are restaurants and shops within walking distance and the El Rey Archaeological Zone is less than two miles away. Details Seven nights' all-inclusive from £1,186pp, including flights ( Take advantage of cut-price currency and see even more of Mexico on this nine-night self-guided tour. You'll spend three nights in a Mexico City hotel, including a visit to the Teotihuacan pyramids, before flying to the arty Yucatan capital of Merida for three nights in order to visit cenotes on the inner rim of an asteroid crater and the ancient Maya complex of Chichen Itza. Finally unwind with three nights in an all-inclusive beachfront resort on the Riviera Nine nights' B&B from £2,559pp, including flights, transport, some excursions and some extra meals ( • Read our full guide to Mexico Decent exchange rates mean it's even possible to visit Mexico during one of its most famous festivals. This small-group tour, departing on October 28, includes six nights in Oaxaca during El Dia de los Muertos, otherwise known as Day of the Dead, when the southern Mexican city thrums with street parades and candlelit vigils. You'll view several, as well as joining an orientation walk round the city and taking a tortilla-making workshop in a local family's home. Details Six nights' B&B from £1,599pp, including activities and some extra meals ( Fly to Oaxaca • 10 of the best places to visit in Mexico (and how to see them) Escape the British weather without blowing the budget by jetting to Rio de Janeiro for its endless stretches of sandy beach, rainforest trails, lively nightlife and the towering Christ the Redeemer statue. The Windsor Florida hotel is in a residential district within strolling distance of Flamengo beach but also two minutes' walk from the nearest metro station for easy access to the sights without paying city-centre prices. It has an outdoor pool with loungers, a gym and a lavish buffet Five nights' B&B from £1,099pp, including flights and luggage ( Nab a bucket-list adventure for less with this eight-night small-group tour of Brazil's highlights (plus a brief foray into Argentina). After a first night in Buenos Aires, you'll fly to Iguazu for three nights exploring both the Brazilian and Argentinian side of these humongous falls, before a night in the Unesco-listed Portuguese colonial-era town of Paraty. Afterwards, a van and ferry will whisk you to Ilha Grande for two nights of hiking, snorkelling and fresh seafood before a final night exploring Rio de Janeiro. Details Eight nights' B&B from £1,612pp, including transport and excursions ( Fly to Buenos Aires Even a five-star all-inclusive represents a bargain in Bahia, known for its clear waters, historical sites and the waterfall-filled Chapada Diamantina National Park. The Iberostar Waves Bahia is close to the village of Praia do Forte and lies directly on its white-sand beach, though the hotel also has three pools in its gardens. There's also a golf course, a large spa with Roman and Turkish baths, a two-storey fitness centre with a spinning room, a sea-turtle monitoring station and museum, and six restaurants including a poolside food All-inclusive doubles from £218 ( Fly to Salvador • 21 of the best affordable holiday destinations for 2025 Hectic Cairo can be exhausting to fit into a weekend, so take advantage of the exchange rate and go for longer. Stay outside the centre in the residential Fifth Settlement neighbourhood for some breathing space between sights, with the Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum half an hour's drive away. Local restaurants and shops are within walking distance of the Triumph Luxury hotel and there's an outdoor pool with a bar, padel court, kids' playground and spa for relaxing. Details Seven nights' B&B from £915pp, including flights, transfers and luggage ( • Egypt travel advice: is it safe to visit right now? Once the sole preserve of the wealthy, voyages down the Nile became more affordable late last year when Tui's Marella Cruises brand launched its first itineraries on Africa's longest river. On a round trip from Luxor you'll visit Edfu (for excursions to the Temple of Horus and the double temple of Kom Ombo) and Aswan, with all the on-board food, drink and entertainment included. The decent exchange rate means you can splurge on extra shore excursions, including a tour of the rock-cut Abu Simbel temples or a hot-air balloon trip over Luxor's Valley of the Kings. Details Seven nights' all-inclusive from £1,824pp, including flights and transfers ( • 18 of the best Egypt tours You'll get near-guaranteed sunshine and wonderfully low prices if booking a beach break in Sharm el-Sheikh, on the southeastern coast of the Sinai peninsula. Stella di Mare Beach hotel and spa ticks every fly-and-flop box, with a large pool right next to its own beach, a jetty from which to jump straight into the Red Sea, a Padi centre for diving, a spa and three restaurants. Naama Bay's shops, nightclubs and cafés are less than a ten-minute taxi ride away. Details Seven nights' B&B from £571pp, including flights ( Beaches don't get much more exclusive than the one at Catalonia Montego Bay on Jamaica's northwest coast. As well as the 1.5-mile stretch of white sand right beside its pool, the hotel has its own palm-tree-ringed private island, reached by walking across the clear shallow water. A spa, tennis courts, a diving centre and a mini-golf course might also tempt you from your lounger, and there are three à la carte restaurants including Japanese and Italian options, plus a jerk bar and beach Seven nights' all-inclusive from £1,160pp, including flights ( • 12 of the best all-inclusive hotels in Jamaica There'll be plenty of opportunities to spend that holiday money during this small-group island tour of Jamaica's highlights. Travelling by coach between five comfortable hotels, the itinerary includes a trip to a coffee plantation in the Blue Mountains, a visit to the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, swimming on the sheltered Blue Lagoon beach, a guided tour of the Rose Hall Great House and rum tasting at the Appleton Estate distillery. Splurge on optional excursions such as local cooking classes or rafting on the Rio Nine nights' B&B from £2,349pp, including transport, most excursions and some extra meals ( Fly to Kingston Spend the extra you'll claw back with that favourable exchange rate on a stay at GoldenEye, Jamaica's most famous hotel, and the former home of the James Bond creator Ian Fleming. This tranquil resort has just 18 cottages and villas within 52 acres of tropical gardens around a 150m stretch of white sand and a large lagoon. Spend your days snorkelling, paddleboarding or exploring the area on mountain bikes before dining by candlelight on the beach or in the Gazebo, a fine-dining treehouse restaurant. Details Seven nights' room-only from £2,215pp, including flights ( • 21 of the best luxury villas in Jamaica

The Independent

2 hours ago

• The Independent

Surging travel in Europe spikes concerns over tourism's drawbacks

Suitcases rattle against cobblestones. Selfie-snappers jostle for the same shot. Ice cream shops are everywhere. Europe has been called the world's museum, but its record numbers of visitors have also made it ground zero for concerns about overtourism. Last year, 747 million international travelers visited the continent, far outnumbering any other region in the world, according to the U.N.'s World Tourism Barometer. Southern and Western Europe welcomed more than 70% of them. As the growing tide of travelers strains housing, water and the most Instagrammable hotspots in the region, protests and measures to lessen the effects of overtourism have proliferated. Here's a look at the issue in some of Europe's most visited destinations. What's causing overtourism Among factors driving the record numbers are cheap flights, social media, the ease of travel planning using artificial intelligence and what U.N. tourism officials call a strong economic outlook for many rich countries that send tourists despite some geopolitical and economic tensions. Citizens of countries like the U.S., Japan, China and the U.K. generate the most international trips, especially to popular destinations, such as Barcelona in Spain and Venice in Italy. They swarm these places seasonally, creating uneven demand for housing and resources such as water. Despite popular backlash against the crowds, some tourism officials believe they can be managed with the right infrastructure in place. Italy's Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè said she thinks tourism flows at crowded sites such Florence's Uffizi Galleries that house some of the world's most famous artworks could be better managed with AI, with tourists able to buy their tickets when they book their travel, even months in advance, to prevent surges. She pushed back against the idea that Italy — which like all of its Southern European neighbors, welcomed more international visitors in 2024 than its entire population — has a problem with too many tourists, adding that most visits are within just 4% of the country's territory. 'It's a phenomenon that can absolutely be managed,' Santanchè told The Associated Press in an interview in her office on Friday. "Tourism must be an opportunity, not a threat — even for local communities. That's why we are focusing on organizing flows.' Where overtourism is most intense Countries on the Mediterranean are at the forefront. Olympics-host France, the biggest international destination, last year received 100 million international visitors, while second-place Spain received almost 94 million — nearly double its own population. Protests have erupted across Spain over the past two years. In Barcelona, the water gun has become a symbol of the city's anti-tourism movement after marching protests have spritzed unsuspecting tourists while carrying signs saying: 'One more tourist, one less resident!' The pressure on infrastructure has been particularly acute on Spain's Canary and Balearic Islands, which have a combined population of less than 5 million people. Each archipelago saw upwards of 15 million visitors last year. Elsewhere in Europe, tourism overcrowding has vexed Italy's most popular sites including Venice, Rome, Capri and Verona, where Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' was set. On the popular Amalfi Coast, ride-hailing app Uber offers private helicopter and boat rides in the summer to beat the crowds. Greece, which saw nearly four times as many tourists as its own population last year, has struggled with the strain on water, housing and energy in the summer months, especially on popular islands such as Santorini, Mykonos and others. The impact of overtourism In Spain, anti-tourism activists, academics, and the government say that overtourism is driving up housing costs in city centers and other popular locations due to the proliferation of short-term rentals that cater to visitors. Others bemoan changes to the very character of city neighborhoods that drew tourists in the first place. In Barcelona and elsewhere, activists and academics have said that neighborhoods popular with tourists have seen local shops replaced with souvenir vendors, international chains and trendy eateries. On some of Greece's most-visited islands, tourism has overlapped with water scarcity as drought grips the Mediterranean country of 10.4 million. In France, the Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, shut down this week when its staff went on strike warning that the facility was crumbling beneath the weight of overtourism, stranding thousands of ticketed visitors lined up under the baking sun. Angelos Varvarousis, a Barcelona- and Athens-based academic and urban planner who studies the industry, said overtourism risks imposing a 'monoculture' on many of Europe's hotspots. 'It is combined with the gradual loss and displacement of other social and economic activities,' Varvarousis said. What authorities are doing to cope Spain's government wants to tackle what officials call the country's biggest governance challenge: its housing crunch. Last month, Spain's government ordered Airbnb to take down almost 66,000 properties it said had violated local rules — while Barcelona announced a plan last year to phase out all of the 10,000 apartments licensed in the city as short-term rentals by 2028. Officials said the measure was to safeguard the housing supply for full-time residents. Elsewhere, authorities have tried to regulate tourist flows by cracking down on overnight stays or imposing fees for those visiting via cruises. In Greece, starting July 1, a cruise tax will be levied on island visitors at 20 euros ($23) for popular destinations like Mykonos and 5 euros ($5.70) for less-visited islands like Samos. The government has also encouraged visitors to seek quieter locations. To alleviate water problems, water tankers from mainland Greece have helped parched islands, and the islands have also used desalination technology, which separates salts from ocean water to make it drinkable, to boost their drinking water. Other measures have included staggered visiting hours at the Acropolis. Meanwhile, Venice brought back an entry fee this year that was piloted last year on day-trippers who will have to pay between 5 and 10 euros (roughly $6 to $12) to enter the city during the peak season. ___ AP journalists Laurie Kellman in London, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens and David Biller in Rome contributed.

Times

6 hours ago

• Times

The pretty Portuguese city perfect for an affordable family holiday

With the end of term in sight, summer holiday fear may have set in if you haven't yet booked a getaway. Look beyond the Med's best-known resorts and it's still not too late to book, especially if you prefer to break away from the beach for history, culture and shopping. Often overlooked in favour of crowded Lisbon, Portugal's second city Porto makes the ideal summer week away, with its brightly coloured old town, peaceful parks, vibrant street art and child-friendly museums. Temperatures in the mid-20s and a cooling Atlantic breeze mean you'll also be able to enjoy boat cruises on the Douro River or spend lazy days on beaches just outside the city. For a little more space and much lower prices, swerve the historic centre for Vila Nova de Gaia, just south of Porto on the opposite bank of the Douro. Seven nights' room-only at Gaia Residence, including flights from London Gatwick, costs £371pp with easyJet, based on a family of four, departing on August 2; you can add breakfast for £59pp for the week. An underseat cabin bag is included and a 15kg suitcase costs an extra £80pp return. A taxi from the airport takes less than half an hour and costs about £28 one way ( The modern apartment building is a 30-minute walk to the 19th-century iron Luis I Bridge, which crosses directly into Porto's Unesco-listed old town, Ribeira. Alternatively, Joao de Deus metro station is a ten-minute walk away, where you can jump on the yellow Line D to Trindade station, five minutes' stroll from Ribeira, for about £2. You'll stay in a roomy one-bedroom apartment with wooden floors, plenty of storage space and a kitchenette for whipping up picnics. A separate living area has a sofa bed for children. There are bikes for rent, a small spa and an indoor pool, but this does cost an extra £17pp per day. A stylish but informal restaurant serves brunch, classic Portuguese dishes like prego no prato (beef with fried egg) and child-approved favourites like burgers and pizza. You're already on the right side of the river for the Gaia Cable Car, which has the best view of higgledy-piggledy Ribeira (adults £6, under-12s £3; or see it from the water while cruising on a rabelos, a traditional wooden boat (£17; From the river, most sights are within walking distance including the Sao Bento train station with its decorative blue and white tiled interior, the 249ft bell tower of Clerigos Tower (£9 adults, under-10s free; and the magical Livraria Lello bookshop, said to have inspired the one-time Porto resident JK Rowling to write the Harry Potter books (£9 entry redeemable against book purchase; • Read our full guide to Porto Snoop round the cobbled back alleys looking for street art, then call by interactive museum World of Discoveries (adults £15, under-12s £10; or the 3D Fun Art Museum (adults £11, under-12s £8; If the sea is calling, the sandy Lavadores and Madalena beaches are about three miles from the hotel and are lined with seafood restaurants to watch the sun go down over the Atlantic with a glass of local port. This article contains affiliate links, which can earn us revenue • Return Gatwick-Porto flights, departing on August 2 • Underseat cabin bag allowance• Seven nights' room-only at Gaia Residence ( Feeling flush? If you're inspired but you've got more cash to splash, you could try: Over the river in Porto itself and 20 minutes' walk from the heart of Ribeira, the newly refurbished four-star Room Select Porto is in Praca da Republica, close to the city's cathedral. Forty-three rooms have a Scandi-chic feel with chestnut oak floors, wooden room dividers and minimalist furniture including a desk. Many have views over the rooftops towards the river. Downstairs, there's a small 24-hour fitness centre and a bar with a terrace, which serves a good buffet breakfast for an extra cost. City tours can be arranged at the front desk and a paid-for shuttle to the city centre is Seven nights' room-only from £781pp, including flights ( • 16 of the best hotels in Porto for 2025 One of Porto's most luxurious hotels, the five-star Pestana Palacio do Freixo is in a baroque 18th-century palace in the riverfront suburb of Freixo and is classified as a national monument. Rooms are in the adjacent former flour mill and contemporary shades of chestnut and gold, complete with mosaic-tiled bathrooms and abstract art. In summer, there's an outdoor infinity pool with a bar and river views, while the spa has an indoor heated pool and Turkish bath. The fine-dining frescoed restaurant Palatium serves upmarket Portuguese dishes made with local ingredients but also has a menu of children's favourites for peaceful Seven nights' B&B from £1,229pp, including flights (