Honeymoon Helpers

15/12/2021

Fresh from its Olympic and Paralympic success, Japan is a dream holiday destination that should be firmly on your list for 2022. This year, however, it's time to go beyond Tokyo and explore the country's rural side. Japan's newest bullet train route, Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, is set to open between Nagasaki and Saga in autumn 2022. This will help speed up Nagasaki connections from the current Kyushu bullet train line that comes into Fukuoka from Tokyo.

The trains themselves will be called kamome meaning 'seagull,' following the popularity of lockdown video game franchise, Ghost of Tsushima, which is set on the stunning archipelagos surrounding the city of Nagasaki. Over the next decade, there will also be new bullet train lines joining Tokyo directly to traditional Fukui, snowy Sapporo and passing through the Nakasendo walking trails of the Kiso Valley. Japan is set to be one of the biggest rail holiday destinations of the future...

15/12/2021

Closer to home, Holland will host the magnificent Floriade Expo. With its timely eco-theme of ‘growing green cities’ and fascinating floral exhibitions, we'll have six months to soak up the horticultural marvels at this once-in-a-decade attraction.

For beach-lovers, one classic Caribbean island has become easier to reach from the UK with a new flight route from Virgin Atlantic that winter sun fans will appreciate. In fact, there are two Caribbean beauty spots on our radar for 2022.

When it comes to hopping over to the continent for a city break, a new European Capital of Culture offers a photogenic destination you might have previously overlooked. Its tree-lined promenades and historic architecture are worth the low-cost flight.

Here on home soil, we’ve got our eyes on the foodie city hosting the Commonwealth Games. And there's countryside close to Edinburgh with a host of new openings and glorious coastal views.

Check out our top picks for the best holiday destinations to visit in 2022.

15/12/2021

After a challenging 2020 and 2021, travel will be back with a bang in 2022 as a whole host of best holiday destinations welcome travellers to start exploring again.

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'S EXCLUSIVE 2022 HOLIDAYS

From major events taking place, to new flight routes opening up beautiful places and highly anticipated movie releases bringing Hollywood-worthy locations to our holiday wish lists, there are many reasons to get excited about travelling in 2022.

In sport, the FIFA World Cup in Qatar will put the Middle Eastern country under the spotlight - but with its ultra-modern architecture influenced by Islamic design and thriving arts and culture scene, you might wish to discover the destination before the football crowds arrive.

14/12/2021

Rügen is the largest and most beautiful of the German Baltic islands. Separated from the rest of Germany by the Strelasund, it's linked to the mainland town of Stralsund by a causeway. The island's beauty stems from its diversity of landscape, including everything from flat farmland and forest-covered hills to expansive sandy beaches, lagoons, and lovely peninsulas.

A fun thing to do here, especially for outdoor enthusiasts, is to pay a visit to the Jasmund Peninsula, which in places reaches heights of 161 meters. Here, you'll find Jasmund National Park, popular among nature lovers for its abundance of wildlife, with notable species found here, including rare white-tailed eagles.

Another draw are the island's beautiful Stubnitz beech forests, part of Königsstuhl National Park. One of the most dramatic parts of the island's scenery can be enjoyed where these dense old forests come to a dramatic end on the Königsstuhl (King's Chair), a sheer chalk cliff plunges down to the sea from a height of 117 meters.

13/12/2021

This walk in the Malvern Hills begins at North Quarry Car Park in Great Malvern. It is one of a number of car parks run by the Malvern Hills Trust. It opens from 6am to 11pm and costs £4.50 for the day. The ticket is transferrable to any other of their car parks.

There are 3 options to get back to the beginning of the walk after you finish in Ledbury.

13/12/2021

Now head diagonally left up the hill on the other side until you reach another sealed track. Turn left and follow the track out of the deer park to the main road. The entrance to Eastnor Castle is in front of you and well worth exploring if you have the time.

Turn right on the main road, follow it for 50 meters and then turn left down a narrow track that brings you to Eastnor Church

13/12/2021

Take the path on the right side of the car park signposted to British Camp (Herefordshire Beacon) and wind your way to the 338-metre summit. Its strange shape is due to the man-made iron age fort that used to command the views of this area.

Having absorbed the vista, head south over Millennium Hill, turn left and zig-zag steeply down before turning right. Stick to the path that keeps the forest closely on your right and after a while the path heads into the trees to Peacock Villa

13/12/2021

From here the trail heads south. Take either the sealed path around Summer Hill summit and past Beacon Road Car Park, or the gravel track over the hill and along the top of the ridge until it meets the main B4218. Cross the road and take the path heading up the ridge, keeping the public toilets on your right. The obvious trail now follows the top of the ridge over Perseverance Hill, Jubilee Hill and Pinnacle Hill to the top of Black Hill

13/12/2021

Start at the North Quarry Car Park (P on the map) and take the trailhead at the southeastern end of the car park towards North Hill. Stick to the higher path as it heads through forest. After passing Ivy Scar rock, turn very sharply right (signed to North Hill) and complete a large zig-zag up the hill. Exiting the trees, join a wide track called the Lady Howard de Walden Drive. Follow it clockwise around North Hill for 90 degrees and then turn left and take the clear trail straight up to the top of Worcestershire Beacon

10/12/2021

Lake Palace
Now a luxurious hotel, Lake Palace once acted as a summer residence and retreat for members of the royal dynasty of Mewar in India. Built between 1743 and 1746, the sparkling white palace can be found in Udaipur – the ‘City of Lakes.’ Magically set upon an island in the middle of a lake, the palace makes for a very romantic sight.

Its elegant domes and facades are dreamily reflected in the surrounding waters. Besides its lavishly decorated suites, the hotel also has fantastic pavilions and courtyards for guests to explore, alongside lush gardens and merrily twinkling fountains. Thanks to its serene setting and marvelous architecture, Lake Palace really is a joy to gaze upon.

10/12/2021

Grand Palace
Lying on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Grand Palace can be found right in the heart of Bangkok. Built in 1782, the sprawling complex and its extensive gardens were once home to the Thai kings of old.

Now partially open to the public, the palace boasts lots of beautiful buildings, regal courtyards, and pretty pavilions, with a wealth of lovely Thai traditional architecture on show. The undoubted highlight, however, is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is the most revered Buddhist site in the whole of Thailand.

09/12/2021

Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most popular resort towns in Egypt, located at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. With its warm, deep blue water and great golden beaches, Sharm (as it’s affectionately called) is a popular package holiday destination with its own airport.

But this old fishing village has so much more to offer than simply sunbathing. Nicknamed the City of Peace after the countless international peace talks that have been hosted here, Sharm el Sheikh is one of the best scuba diving spots in the world. Don’t miss the chance to snorkel or dive the extraordinary reefs around Tiran Island and Ras Mohammed National Park, home to some astonishingly colorful marine life.

Despite being the perfect spot for a fly and flop holiday, those looking for adventure will find it here too. Sharm el Sheikh’s at the southern tip of the peninsula gives easy access into the desert, where you can visit Bedouin camps and climb Mount Sinai, an ancient biblical spot known for its spectacular view of the sunrise.

09/12/2021

Saqqara
The name Saqqara refers to an Egyptian village, but more importantly, an age-old necropolis with a scattering of both large and smaller satellite pyramids spread across a dusty desert plateau. Buried beneath the sand overlooking the Nile Valley until the 19th-century, Saqqara has since been undergoing a significant restoration process.

Named after Sokar, the Memphite god of the dead, Saqqara served as a cemetery for the ancient city of Memphis for thousands of years and is the largest archeological site in Egypt. As such, it’s home to hundreds of fascinating tombs and burial sites for pharaohs and other Egyptian royals.

The highlight of Saqqara is the Step Pyramid of Djoser – the oldest pyramid on Earth. You’ll find some of the best views of the Nile from the top of this pyramid, accessible via a wooden ramp when the gate is open. Try one of the many doors and explore any that are unlocked – you never know what kind of mysteries lie behind them. The Pyramid of Teti with its fascinating Pyramid Texts and the Mastaba of Ti with its incredible reliefs are two more must-sees.

08/12/2021

Tomar
One of Portugal’s most pretty and picturesque towns, Tomar lies in the center of the country, surrounded by fertile farmland. As it was once the headquarters of the Knights Templar, its ancient streets are home to important historical, cultural and religious monuments.

In the center, you can find beautiful buildings that exhibit some exquisite architecture, with Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance styles all displayed. While centuries-old churches, chapels, and palaces abound, its main attraction is the Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ.

Once a Templar stronghold, it was from this sprawling and spectacular citadel complex that Portugal’s overseas expansion and Age of Discoveries began.

Remarkably, it was also in Tomar that the nation of Portugal was founded. For centuries, it was a massively influential city and settlement. This rich history, culture, and heritage is still evident wherever you go, and a number of important festivals and events still take place in the town every year.

08/12/2021

Braga
The third-largest city in the country, Braga lies in the north of Portugal surrounded by gently rolling hills, sweeping valleys, and fertile farms. Although it is known as the ‘city of archbishops’, it boasts much more than just churches, with a charming old town and lively nightlife for visitors to explore.

While its historical center is full of winding narrow lanes, elegant plazas, and beautiful old buildings, there is a youthful and lively feel about town thanks to its large student population. As such, cheap but excellent cafes, restaurants and bars abound, while magnificent monuments and museums can be found here and there.

01/12/2021

Many traditional customs associated with the bygone farming lifestyle are still recognized and celebrated today, particularly those associated with the end of the alpine summer when the cows return from their high alpine pastures to the valleys, such as the Chästeilet cheese festival in Mägisalp in the Bernese Oberland.

01/12/2021

The moment was exciting but not surprising: the National Geographic Society had joined other cartographers in recognizing the Southern Ocean, a fifth ocean in the world.

What is surprising, though, is the way Geographer Alex Tait announced the news, speaking over twangy music on the social platform TikTok, reminding viewers that the news marks an opportune time “to update maps, textbooks, and pub quizzes.”

01/12/2021

A precarious exile: When the Mediterranean island of Elba couldn’t hold Napoleon, the Waterloo-defeated French leader was sent in 1815 to the isolated Atlantic island of St. Helena. He died there in 1821. Above, photographer Robert Ormerod captures the island’s capital, Jamestown, nestled between volcanic mountains.

01/12/2021

Wherever I go, I find Thoreau. That was certainly the case a year ago, when I made a sojourn to Walden Pond (pictured above), near Concord, Massachusetts. I hiked around the pond twice, and dropped into its crystal waters at numerous spots, searching for a transcendent soak.

“A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature,” wrote Henry David Thoreau in Walden. Long after the book’s publication, this study of nature—within us and around us— continues to inspire.

01/12/2021

The climax happens in his ultimate destination—a grand but slowly crumbling 200-year-old palazzo approachable only by gondola, backing onto a ruined garden, and staffed by two servants who “knew the difference between a Bloody Mary and a crème de menthe frappé.” The increasingly high style, the shady road trip, and the decaying palazzo mirror Ripley’s own twisted social climbing ambitions and crumbling brain. They are his sad, very boozy doppelgangers.

01/12/2021