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Travel

Where to go and what to know

Welcome to The Independent’s travel section, here to provide everything you need to plan your perfect trip. From inspiration for your next beach holiday, off-the-beaten-track adventure or city break to the practical information you need to save money when booking a getaway, our team of experts is here to help.

Check out our reviews of the best hotels to ensure you bed down in style, browse our deals to bag a bargain, or select a destination and start daydreaming, whether it’s in the UK, Europe, USA, Asia, South America, Africa or Australasia.

The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder is on hand to share all the latest travel news, plus his top tips and advice for travelling on a budget, while environmentally conscious travellers can discover greener ways to see the world in our sustainable travel section. Planning an urban escape? Don’t miss our City Guides, revealing the best places to eat, drink, shop and stay.

<p>Combining city and countryside, the region is often called ‘Japan in miniature’ </p>

This diverse part of Japan is the perfect spot for first-time visitors

Looking for a way to distil the country’s quiet islands and lively cities into one trip, Kinza Shenn explored little-known Hyogo

<p>Carrie-Ann in an accessible room at Mercure London Earl’s Court hotel</p>

The best wheelchair accessible hotels in London in 2026, reviewed

These hotels in the capital make staying overnight easy for wheelchair users, with top-notch accessibility features for all budgets

<p>'Le Dernier Panache' is Puy du Fou’s award-winning IMAX-meets-theatre show, featuring swashbuckling violinists</p>

Does this historical French theme park live up to the hype?

<p>The decision to have commuter-only sections has caused debate across the Channel</p>

France’s child-free train carriages? Sounds blissful to me

<p>Ferrara is a quieter counterpart to Italy’s romance frontrunners </p>

The alternative romantic breaks to book in 2026

TravelSmart Weekly

<p>Watch to find out more about how to visit Gozo</p>

Exporing Gozo, Malta’s wilder, quieter island

<p>Watch to find out more about how to visit Cadiz & Costa de la Luz</p>

Explore the majesty of Cádiz and the Costa de la Luz

<p>A rail adventure from London, through Europe, to Morocco </p>

The ultimate rail adventure from London to Morocco

<p>Louisiana TravelSmart</p>

Delve into the rhythms and flavours of Louisiana

Winter sun travel

<p>Cape Verde promises tourists a tan top-up with temperatures that range up to 26C </p>

Winter sun holidays

The best winter sun holiday destinations with a short flight

<p>Spain’s balmy weather, which usually sits at 20C, make it the short-haul choice for those in the know</p>

The six warmest holiday destinations in Spain for winter sun

<p>Cancún’s resorts serve everyone from energetic spring breakers to families looking for a relaxing break</p>

Where’s hot in March? The best holiday destinations for sunny weather

<p>Hit the beach in Saly, Senegal, for a real escape from the January blues</p>

Winter sun holidays

6 unexpected winter sun destinations to beat the winter blues

Europe

Expert travel guides and the best European destinations to visit on your next break.

<p>The kitchen at Palazzo Previtera restaurant benefits from the local bounty of Etna</p>

How Mount Etna has turned Sicily into a foodie destination

<p>Maradona has an almost religious status in the city </p>

Naples remains a city in love with the beautiful game

<p>Around 80 per cent of hotels in Calvía and Magaluf are now four or five star</p>

Magaluf is quietly becoming Spain’s most cultural getaway

<p>A new transport link means that festive travel to the north of France is particularly easy this year </p>

Brittany in winter is surprisingly beautiful

<p>The National Library is known as the ‘Castle of Light’, serving as a symbol of Riga’s ambition</p>

Is this city Europe’s new capital of cool?

USA

Expert travel guides and best American destinations to visit on your USA holiday.

<p>Hannah’s final stop for a <em>Yellowstone</em> experience in Montana was Montage Big Sky</p>

How to have an authentic Yellowstone experience in Montana

Inspired by the hit US show, Hannah Ewens saddles up on a dude ranch and gets a taste of what Big Sky is like for the one per cent

How to have an authentic Yellowstone experience in Montana

Inspired by the hit US show, Hannah Ewens saddles up on a dude ranch and gets a taste of what Big Sky is like for the one per cent

<p>Hannah’s final stop for a <em>Yellowstone</em> experience in Montana was Montage Big Sky</p>

<p>Philadelphia's restaurants and cafes rival those in New York and Chicago</p>

Philadelphia is the USA’s ultimate city for food

<p>Mitchelville Historic Freedom Park on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina stands in the place of the first self-governed town in the United States of formerly enslaved people</p>

Mitchelville could be the most important place you visit in the USA

<p>Zoey discovered the heart of Las Vegas via its neon lights and carnival atmosphere </p>

Modern Las Vegas might be fading, but its vintage side still thrills

<p>Zoey Goto and Jared Boyd at the Floyd Country Store on Virginia’s Crooked Road</p>

I visited the birthplace of country music – and it’s not Nashville

<p>Zoey Goto and Jared Boyd at the Floyd Country Store on Virginia’s Crooked Road</p>

I visited the birthplace of country music – and it’s not Nashville

Louisiana: a guide to the musical state that never sleeps

<p>Rory Buccheri embraces all things LGBT+ in Chicago</p>

The ultimate LGBT+ travel guide to Chicago

UK

From hotel reviews to city guides and best offers, our experts guide you through the best UK staycations.

UK hotels

Partner content

Holafly: Seamless internet for family trips and big-time travellers

<p>Delve into Norway’s fascinating history with a cruise that takes you to diverse locales boasting fascinating sites and immerses you in local communities </p>

Explore Norway’s fascinating past and rich heritage on a Nordic cruise

<p>From coastal resorts to idyllic islands Greece makes for the perfect beachy escape</p>

Uncover culture, cuisine and coastlines in this ultimate Greece guide

<p>From breathtaking beaches, such as Tarifa, to rich cuisine and culture, Costa de la Luz ticks every travel box</p>

From nature to culture and cuisine: Uncover hidden gem Costa de la Luz

Simon Calder

<p>TIme machine? Bombardier Global 8000 private jet</p>

Could this private jet become the successor to Concorde?

<p>Axminster in Somerset was badly hit with cars stranded on flooded roads</p>

Storm Chandra latest: Rail chaos and flood alerts continue

<p>People look at floodwater in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford</p>

Met Office issues yellow weather warning for ice

<p>Red to go: Mark Wild, chief executive of HS2 (left) and rail minister Lord Hendy at the ceremony to begin the last stretch of tunnelling to London Euston</p>

HS2 station at London Euston ‘will serve whole country’

Travel deals

<p>Soak up big savings with the latest TUI voucher codes</p>

This TUI discount code saves you up to £300 on holidays

<p>Save up to £600 on Easter holidays with these travel deals </p>

Best Easter holidays deals 2026: Save up to £600

<p>Blow away the winter cobwebs with these last-minute holiday deals </p>

Last minute deals for up to £700 off February half-term holidays

<p>We’ve secured two exclusive TrainPal promo codes </p>

Our exclusive Trainpal promo code saves you 20% on travel

Family travel

<p>Calcot Manor & Spa in Tetbury is a family-friendly stay</p>

This might be one of the best kid-friendly hotels in the Cotswolds

<p>Chug along the line, <em>Polar Express</em>-style, this winter </p>

These real-life ‘Polar Express’ trains bring magic to your journey

<p>This country stay will get you in the festive spirit without breaking the bank</p>

These affordable Devon lodges are perfect for a cosy family getaway

<p>London lights up with seasonal events from November to January </p>

The 15 best things to do in London this Christmas

Accessible travel

<p>Carrie-Ann at Liverpool’s Albert Dock</p>

An accessible guide to Liverpool – by a wheelchair-user

<p>Mari and her chid, E, went to Fuerteventura for their first holiday abroad</p>

My child has additional learning needs – this is how we travel

<p>The City of Arts and Science is one of Valencia’s most accessible attractions</p>

Valencia named one of fastest-growing accessible tourist destinations

<p>Kim Wiltshire had never entertained the idea of venturing abroad as a family – until she considered the Ria Formosa</p>

These Portuguese islands offer respite for my neurodiverse family