Beach front Eco Fisherman’s Cottage, Lanzarote, Spain
Take Four Friends…. Take up to four friends to the Eco Fisherman’s Cottage right on the beach at Arrieta. Big beds, great local shops, and some outdoor showers for warm weather. Visit lanzaroteretreats. Image: Courtesy of Lanzarote Retreats
Private Beach Cabin, Elba Island, Italy
Take Four Friends… Take up to four friends to your own private cabin on Elba Island. Organic food and wine. Private beach access. White cliffs. See-through blue water. If you want to do it on a budget you can camp in the grounds. Visit bioelba. Image: Courtesy of BioElba
Indie Cinema, South Hampton, England
Indie Cinema Bliss The Harbour Lights Picturehouse is on the waterfront, blessed by film festivals, and loved by the BBC legend Mark Kermode, film reviewer extraordinaire. You never know who you’ll see in the audience. For listings visit picturehouses uk Image: Courtesy of Picturehouse
Chiconomical Hostel Heaven, Canterbury, England
This was a finalist in the Hoscars (the Hostel Oscars) and from sixteen squid a night, this Canterbury legend is well worth a look. The magic word is ensuite single room. Book well, well ahead. The website is at kipps-hostel
Nirvana for Stitchers, Sewers and Knitters in London, England
Nirvana for Stitchers, Sewers and Knitters You must go to V. V. Rouleaux when you are in London and see the ribbon, tassels, feathers, fake flowers and general fabric frippery. This legendary shop is at 6 Marylebone High Street and online at vvrouleaux. Image: Courtesy of V V Rouleaux
Super Chemist in London, England
The Super Chemist – John Bell and Croyden If you can’t find what you need from Boots, check out John Bell and Croyden, who are at 50-54 Wigmore Street and online at http://www.johnbellcroyden.co.uk. We find it useful for pre-flight purchases: eye-masks, Bach essence, useful advice on sleeping pills. Images: Courtesy John Bell & Croyden
The Religious Shop: London, England
The Religious Shop Saints and silver, pictures and postcards, and stock good enough for Harry Potter films (true: the stuff here featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone). Graham Kirkland is the name of the shop and it’s unlike anything else, anywhere. Visit http://www.grahamkirkland.co.uk and 271 Lillie Road SW6.
The Royal Family’s Chocolate Shop, London, England
You’ll buy this chocolate just for the boxes (hot pink and turquoise and gold) never mind the Royal Family’s warrants. But those traditional English rose and violet creams have to be tasted to be believed too. Prestat is at 14 Princes Arcade, a little arcade just off Piccadilly (nearest tube Piccadilly Station). The website is […]
Perfume Shopping in Paris
I’ve discovered some of the smaller boutique perfume houses in Paris over recent years, each one with its own unique smells and sensations.
The Top Ten of Responsible Travel
How’s your carbon footprint? Sara Foster passes on her top ten for holidays that give back, help the locals – and keep the planet green.
How to Travel Light
It was my grandmother’s habit to drag her suitcases from storage at least three weeks before any trip, plotting and planning which beaded jacket to take with which cocktail dress, how many sheets of tissue paper she’d need to layer her knits, which swimsuit went with which sunhat. You can’t go anywhere without a cocktail dress – not even the beach – because you never know, you see, who might be there and where they might invite you. Call it ready for anything. Call it super-organised. Call it neurotic. Whatever. I inherited this gene.
Holiday Goddess Travel Tips
I have always found that hauling on a massive make-up bag of remedies, oils, balms etc, a teensy bit futile. Eye-cream, a nice moisturiser (like Clarins Beauty flash), a really light cleanser, a floral spritz and the orange are all you really need. If you care for skin during the flight, all you need before landing is a bit of concealer under the eyes, a tinted moisturiser and some blush.