For the modern traveler looking to script their own epic escape, preferably without the ten-year transit time, the loss of an entire crew and some civilisation-altering PTSD, here is how to experience the world of The Odyssey on your travels this summer.

Most people in 2026 instinctively understand a Michelin Star. Far fewer people understand Michelin Keys. Launched in 2024, the Michelin Key is very much a newcomer on the block, and this marker of quality is one of the most straightforward ways for travellers to seek out the extraordinary. Here’s why they matter.

Rather than positioning itself against Marrakech, Michelin Key hotel IZZA sits in its beating, rhythmic heart. The Medina isn’t waiting beyond the threshold or reduced to a romanticised backdrop; it seeps through the doors and offers the most unforgettable escape.

The fact that Northumberland – that ancient, sprawling and culturally significant border county in England’s wild and windy northeastern reaches – remains considered a hidden gem is both confusing and cause for celebration. Here are some of the most unmissable adventures, stays and flavours in the borders.

For years, Gothenburg – Sweden’s second city and West Coast capital – remained a glaring, unexplained blind spot on my travel map; the mythical "other side" of the peninsula I’d somehow managed to entirely ignore. Clearly, this needed to be rectified… and I couldn’t be more glad I went.

Helsinki is the kind of city that benefits from what we specialise in – the best spots aren’t necessarily the most obvious nor the most expensive, and much of its big-hitting allure comes from simply wandering around, soaking up the vibes and leaning into the city’s innate quirkiness. Curious? Dive on in.

Situated in the UK’s smallest city, Twr y Felin is a jewel in St Davids’ miniscule but glittering crown. Exceptional service, delicious local flavours and a chance to unwind in style makes this Pembrokeshire hotel one seriously worth the journey to the wild, wild west of Wales.

The smartest travellers aren’t chasing the sun anymore, but rather choosing to step away from it and avoiding the hordes of lobster-pink tourists in the process. The Coolcation — as awkward as that moniker might be — might just be here to stay.

At its best, Cornwall offers a collection of stays that don’t just give you access to the county, but shape how you experience it – and that’s exactly what we’re here to highlight with our rundown of the most unmissable Cornwall hotels for staycations in 2026.

La Chapelle Saint-Martin couldn’t be more charmingly Gallic if it tried, and yet it’s close enough to home in minutes travelled to feel as though one could whisk someone away here for a memorable date night. Tempted? You should be.

Within the very heart of Jaipur’s relentless pace and dynamism, there exists an oasis of calm and sophistication: The Raj Palace, one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s most iconic properties, and a property where time stands still, noise fades into the distance and chaos dissipates the moment one steps through the door.

This is the last in a short, unplanned series of articles about trying to find the Greek islands I actually liked enough to return to. Amorgos was the final stop, and with its bombastic mountainside monastery and vast sea views, I had a suspicion that I’d saved the most interesting for last.