Mijas clings to the hillside around five miles inland from Fuengirola. It is miles away from the brashness of the packed beaches and the sun, sea and sangria mecca of Fuengirola and is worth visiting, but be prepared for car parking issues. Much-hyped Mijas proved that hill walking and I don't mix. Why? Well, the white-washed hilltop village may be...

​ With a population of 70,000, Estepona is one of the few coastal towns that maintains a pueblo charm and character. The sun was rising in the blue sky but there was a fresh breeze. We'd wandered along the well-appointed and cared-for promenade at Estepona. And, thankfully, we've also strayed into the main shopping and café area. We both felt that ...

Spain's region of Andalucia is composed of eight provinces, stretching from the south-east to the south-west of the country, each one named for its capital city: Cadiz, Cordoba, Jaen, Huelva, Almeria, Malaga, Granada and Seville. This Spanish region is the third most popular in Spain after the Canary Islands and Catalonia. Andalucia's foreign touri...

Not surprisingly I get asked what are my favourite places in Italy, or the most romantic, or the best to "la dolce vita" (the sweet life)... So this week I'm going to share five of my favourite places to visit and explore off the beaten path when on your next trip to Italy. Of course you do know it's impossible to narrow it down to just five, and s...

Northern Finland has launched a new hotel experience where a glamping cabin is towed into a remote wilderness location, deep in the Arctic Circle. The new mobile room, which includes a clear Aurora viewing roof, is located six kilometers east of Kilpisjärvi, Finland and is available to book through Off the Map Travel for any guest travelling until ...

Domaine de Manville's restaurant has been awarded its first Michelin star. The restaurant reopened in March 2018 as Restaurant l'Aupiho and where Chef Matthieu Dupuis-Baumal showcases the very best local produce from the region. Located in the Baux de Provence, close to the Luberon, the Domaine de Manville was once devoted to agriculture, with shee...