
EXCLUSIVE I'm a celebrity hairdresser - this is the very common mistake people make and what to do instead for perfect holiday hair
Holiday hair can be a huge frustration when jet-setting around the globe.
While some people love to embrace their natural beach waves, many holidaymakers are met with the fear they'll end up looking like Monica from Friends while sunning themselves abroad.
There's also the issue of ensuring your locks are in a presentable condition when you've got to wake up for an early flight, and head straight from the plane to a business meeting or maybe a wedding.
But if you're worrying about how to look after your hair on your next holiday, fear not – as celebrity hair stylist Michael Douglas is on hand.
Having preened the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss and his partner Davina McCall, the mdlondon creator has exclusively revealed to MailOnline his best tips for always having the perfect hair on holiday.
He also tells us some of the biggest mistakes tourists often make with their tresses – including a big towel no-no…
Blow-dry your hair the night before
If you've got an early morning flight and want to look your best even at the airport, the best thing to do is wash and blow-dry your hair the night before.
Michael says: 'If you've got an early morning flight and want to look your best even at the airport, the best thing to do is wash and blow-dry your hair the night before'
There's no budget for hair and makeup on Long Lost Family, so when Davina is going away to film that, I'll always do her hair the night before, and it still looks good the next day.
And a blow-dry doesn't need to take too long.
If you want body and volume in your hair, then all the fluffy, frizzy bits underneath can actually be left, as that is what gives the hair body.
You don't need to use too much product either – as that can all make it flatter too.
All you need is a bristle brush, nozzle on your hair dryer and primer, which you should spray in when your hair is about 80 per cent dry – I use The Prologue by Arkive.
Then the real trick is to try to not have too much of a rough night's sleep. A silk pillowcase or head scarf is great to stop all the hair from moving around.
The better you can do something with your hair the night before, the better it's going to look the next day.
Dry shampoo trick
'A lot of people wait until their hair goes greasy and sweaty to use dry shampoo – but it's a good idea to spray it into the roots after you've styled it,' says Michael
A lot of people wait until their hair goes greasy and sweaty to use dry shampoo – but it's a good idea to spray it into the roots after you've styled it.
When you sweat in the night, you'll secrete any grease, as you would normally, but it will instantly get eaten straight away.
So it acts as a preventative to greasy hair, and also makes the hair feel really nice and lifted.
Experiment with your parting
If you find your hair is looking flat when your flight lands, or you're on day two of your holidays and your hair is looking lifeless, then change up your parting to get more body in your hair.
A lot of people part their hair on the side, and then end up with loads of hair on one side, and barely any on the other.
So a good little tip is to move it to a diagonal side parting, and you'll get more hair on both sides of your head, giving the appearance of more volume.
Don't be afraid of heat
Lots of people get scared to use heat on their hair on holiday, for fear of putting too much pressure on it, on top of sun damage.
But I'd recommend taking a curling wand or straighteners with you, to style just the front or sides of your hair, limiting the amount of heat exposure.
A great tool for giving your day two hair a bit of oomph is the mdlondon Wave, which I actually made for Davina, to take with her to film Long Lost Family.
It's like one big heated roller with retractable bristles, and it's super easy to use to refresh your hair.
You can also lock the bristles in and use it like a curling wand on dry hair.
Use hair masks
It's a great idea to use a long-lasting hair treatment on your hair before you go away, as it should last a few days.
Then when you are away, I'd use a hair mask every day, while you're sitting on the beach or by the pool.
So whenever you've just come out the water with wet hair, you can just rub it in there, just like you do with sun cream on your skin.
Your hair will drink it up, and all the heat of the sun will help it penetrate so it'll be good all day long.
You don't have to spend a fortune either. I recommend OGX Bond Protein Repair, which is just £15.
Ditch the towel
Too many people make the mistake of putting conditioner in their hair, combing it through, rinsing it off and then towel drying their hair like they're scrubbing a turnip – don't do this!
The trick is to comb your hair while you're in the shower, get all the knots out in there and then try not to put any knots back in it.
Instead of roughly drying your hair, squeeze the hair so it's not disturbed too much – this will help reduce frizz.
Another mistake people make is to sit with their hair in a turban for a long time.
This can make your hair end up drying into the shape of it, so it's best to move your hair into the style you want without the towel on it.
Hat hair dilemmas
One problem many people face on holiday is hat hair – it can get very hot under there!
To ensure your head is still protected from the sun and your hair in good condition, it's best to wear a loosely fitting hat with lots of holes for the air to pass through, reducing the buildup of sweat.
Cowboy hats are a great option for this.
Loose ponytails
Another way of keeping yourself cool on holiday is by wearing it up – but tying hair back tight isn't a good idea, as it puts a lot of tension and stress on your hair.
Instead, choose a loose ponytail, as it's quite nice and gives it a lot of oomph.
It also means most of your hair is hidden, so won't get affected by heat damage from the sun.
Are you looking for some holiday inspiration where you can use these hair tips?
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Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
The European rail journeys that offer timeless luxury (at £11,000 a ticket)
A long-distance luxury train journey may be the truest expression of the idea that how you travel is just as important as where you travel. The very best, of course, combine stellar style with stellar places to visit – think Paris and Istanbul, San Sebastián and Santiago de Compostela, Rome and Palermo. And while often harking back to an earlier, golden age of travel, the trains themselves have moved seamlessly into the 21st century, offering supreme comforts, exquisite cuisine, cocktail bar conviviality and that greatest luxury of all: time. Such pleasures come with eye-watering price tags (see below), but with ever more high-end trains coming to Europe, there is clearly a market for them. At their best, luxury train journeys offer a gold-embossed ticket to adventure – here are nine of the finest, plus three more set to arrive on the Continent in the near future. 1. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Belmond Let's start with the mother of all modern-day luxury train journeys: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a magnificent recreation of the legendary Orient Express that used to transport the great and the good (and the not so good) between Paris and Istanbul in the years before and after the First World War. This train, which consists of beautifully restored art deco carriages complete with Lalique glass panels and black lacquer finishings, has been delighting lovers of this form of travel since 1982, and remains the benchmark for suave, sophisticated elegance on (and off) the rails. Fine dining, black-tie panache, piano-bar jollity and mountain-peak views at dawn are the hallmarks of a journey on this justly fabled train. Don't fancy those rather compact original bunk-bed compartments? Recent years have seen the addition of expansive suites offering double (or twin) beds, en suite bathrooms and free-flowing champagne. Departures: Journeys to Venice, Vienna and Istanbul, March-December. Price: Paris to Venice with Belmond from £3,530pp (historic cabin); £7,985pp (suite); £10,165pp (grand suite). 2. Britannic Explorer Belmond The latest addition to the Belmond stable – launching in July 2025 – marks a genuinely new departure, for the first time giving lovers of this form of travel the chance to explore the scenic wonders of England and Wales in a leisurely, indulgent way. Three itineraries take in the Cornish Riviera, Snowdonia and the Lake District, with a range of off-train activities including hikes, wild foraging and gallery visits enhanced with glasses of champagne. On board, there will be plenty of time to enjoy the buzz of the botanical-inspired bar, the culinary creativity of Michelin-renowned chef Simon Rogan and an interior design that incorporates themes of the English country garden and rugged coastlines, with light oak panelling, antique mirrored ceilings and arresting floral motifs. Departures: Selected dates between March and November. Price: Three-night journey with Belmond from £11,000pp. 3. La Dolce Vita Orient Express Arsenale/Accor The other new kid on the block for 2025 involves a bold take on the luxury train theme, one rooted, as the name suggests, in the Italy of La Dolce Vita – the 'sweet life', as depicted in the classic Frederico Fellini film set in Rome circa 1960. Cavorting Anita-Ekberg-style is not compulsory for passengers on this train, but there may be gasps of appreciation at the stylishness of an interior involving double beds, wood-beamed ceilings and vibrant hues of orange, terracotta and purple. One or two-night sorties starting in Rome visit the likes of Venice, Portofino and Sicily; the inaugural run in March 2025 was to the vineyards of Tuscany. Three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck oversees the cuisine. If it works, there could be more trains of this calibre down the line. Departures: Eight itineraries run on selected dates year-round. Price: One-night trips from €3,060pp (£2,588). 4. Al Andalus Renfe A stylish train for a stylish part of the world. The name Al Andalus conjures up the period of Moorish rule in Spain – it was what they called the vast area under their control. And boy did they leave their mark, most spectacularly in the grand design and intricate carvings of the fortress and palace at Alhambra in Granada, the start (or end) point of a gentle six-day meander through the wonders of Andalusia. Other treasures visited include Seville, Córdoba and Cadiz, the most ancient city in Europe. On board, some carriages are original Wagons-Lits, built in France in the 1920s and once enjoyed by members of the British royal family. Belle Époque flourishes are complemented by en-suite cabins featuring walls fashioned out of wooden marquetry (very Moorish). The bar and lounge cars are good places to mix, mingle and take stock, ideally over a glass of Jerez sherry. Departures: Granada-Seville on selected dates March-October. Price: From €6,000pp (£5,074) with Luxury Trains Spain. 5. El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo Renfe Why have one luxury train when you can have… four? Alongside Al Andalus in the south, Spain has no fewer than three top-end rail propositions in the north, all of which combine travel by train with shorter excursions by coach. The oldest (and most celebrated) is the El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo connecting the foodie haven of San Sebastián to Santiago de Compostela – end station of the fabled pilgrimage route. Journeying along tracks once used for the transportation of coal, this train, too, boasts some 1920s Pullman carriages and oozes opulence. The narrow-gauge track means that cabins are cosy, though a 2011 reconfiguration made more of the spaces available. Breakfasts and most dinners are on board, while lunches tend to involve visits to restaurants showcasing regional specialities such as Asturian fabada (stew) or Cantabrian anchovies. Stops include Bilbao, Santander and the medieval treasure of Santillana del Mar. The train is stationary at night, though the same may not necessarily be said of passengers who find their way to the 'disco car'. Departures: March to November. Price: From €9,250pp (£7,822) with Luxury Trains Spain. 6. Costa Verde Express Renfe Tracing a slightly shorter but similar route, the Costa Verde Express offers a more reasonably priced way to journey through the verdant landscapes of northern Spain's Costa Verde (green coast). Expansive windows offer great views of the rugged coastal scenery and the dramatic peaks of the Picos de Europa. Big-hitters here include Bilbao (of Guggenheim Museum fame) and Altamira, site of some of the greatest prehistoric cave art in the world. There are opportunities to explore lesser-heralded towns such as Arriondas, the beaches (and breezes) of Gijón and Ribadeo, and to sample the wonderful white wines of Galicia – best accompanied by freshly shucked oysters in the open-air food market of Santiago de Compostela. Departures: March to November. Price: From €4,700pp (£3,975) with Luxury Trains Spain. 7. El Expreso de la Robla Renfe For those not sure about spending too many days on a train, a more modest three-day/two-night adventure between Bilbao and León may appeal. Less lavishly appointed (and priced), the train comes with comfortable bunk-bed cabins, air conditioning and vintage-style lounges from which to take in the passing scenery. Highlights include out-of-the-way villages such as Frías, the waterfalls at Tobera, the Roman town of La Olmeda and the gothic cathedral of León. A longer itinerary – the Pilgrim's Route, starting and ending in Oviedo and extending over six days – gives passengers the chance to combine the train travels with some fairly substantial walks. Nothing like building up an appetite for suckling pig and pintxos (Basque tapas). Departures: The classic Bilbao to León route operates June to September. Price: From €1,150pp (£973) Luxury Trains Spain. 8. Golden Eagle Danube Express Golden Eagle Luxury Trains Some very different sides to Europe are opened up on a train which whisks you though the great capitals of the Habsburg Empire and delves deep into the Balkans. The train – which includes carriages belonging to the presidential train in communist Hungary – was given a comprehensive makeover after it became part of Golden Eagle Luxury Trains in 2015, with larger cabins, en-suite bathrooms throughout and more emphasis on fine dining. As befits its adventurous central and eastern Europe itineraries – highlighting countries such as Poland, Bulgaria and Bosnia-Herzegovina – there is less formality on this train and a more relaxed dress code. That said, necks should perhaps be covered when the train travels through Transylvania… Departures: Multiple itineraries on selected dates year-round. 9. Royal Scotsman Belmond Can anything compare with an open-air observation deck from which you can marvel at spellbinding scenery – in this case the Scottish Highlands? Belmond's long-running Royal Scotsman is the only luxury train in Europe offering such a facility – one of many reasons for its enduring popularity, particularly with Americans. With its mahogany panelling and tasteful traces of tartan, this train seeks to combine the feel of an Edwardian country house with modern-day indulgences such as an on-board spa. Accommodation options range from single cabins to grand suites with dressing tables. Itineraries start and end in Edinburgh, venturing to the north and west, taking in castles, gardens and distilleries, and the engineering marvels of the Firth of Forth Bridge and Glenfinnan Viaduct (of Harry Potter fame). This being the land of the brave, there are optional swims in freshwater lochs. Fortunately the train is well stocked with reviving malt whiskies. Departures: Two to seven-day itineraries from April to November. Price: Taste of the Highlands (two nights) from £4,800pp with Belmond. All these trains can be booked through the Luxury Train Club.


Times
4 hours ago
- Times
18 of the best places to visit in September 2025
September may mark the start of autumn but it can also be a transient, liminal month. Take Europe, for instance, where the sea remains wonderfully warm off the sun-soaked shores of Malta or Greece, yet harvests have begun in earnest amid Transylvania's valleys, bringing breathtaking golden hues and a need for jumpers. Further afield, whales come to Argentina's coast; South Africa steps into spring with wildflowers and ideal conditions for spotting wildlife; and savvy scuba divers head to Indonesia for its calm, clear waters before the rains sweep in the UK, of course, the downpours are just getting started. Here's where to escape to. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Why go in September? To swim with calving humpback whales When reaching a South Pacific archipelago involves travelling 10,000 miles on multiple flights with tickets costing four figures, a compelling motivation is essential. Luckily, Tonga has a unique string to its bow: there's no better place on earth to share the sea with humpback whales. As the mighty, musical cetaceans come here from Antarctica between July and September to calve, responsible local operators can safely get divers and snorkellers thrillingly close. Manta rays, dolphins and sea turtles should also be around. Try the northerly Vava'u group of islands, where some of Tonga's finest white-sand beaches await. Expedia has a range of hotels, guesthouses and cottage rentals for exploring all Tonga's best beaches and outcrops. The UK-based adventure tour operator Natural High offers tailor-made Tonga itineraries, and help with all the complicated travel logistics. • Best wildlife holiday ideasWhy go in September? For the autumn colours A bucket-list destination for US autumn leaves, New England is everything you see in the brochures and more. Think dense foliage in reds, oranges and yellows reflected in mirror-like lakes, with a church spire or gable roof peeking through at intervals. The temperature is just right for those mountain hikes — cooler in the mornings and evenings, but still warm enough to wear a T-shirt during the day. The trick is to get out of the cities and head for those more remote corners of the state where phone reception is hit and miss, like Mount Washington. And, while the timings vary, aim for the end of the month when the transformation from green to golden really stands out. Stay at the Glen House in Gorham, where the main restaurant has a breathtaking view of those autumn colours each morning. • How to see New England in autumnWhy go in September? For a beach break without the crowds The summer hordes may have departed Malta but the balmy weather certainly hasn't. In September you can still expect temperatures to reach the high 20s — comfortable for both sightseeing or simply flopping on the beach. Valletta, with its cobbled streets, honey-hued fortifications, and magnificent churches, will no doubt be at the top of your list. But cross over the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities and you'll get an even better view — Vittoriosa is the one to head for if you only have time for one. Sea temperatures, meanwhile, will have had an entire summer to warm up, and won't have cooled much yet, which makes it ideal for snorkelling. Grab your gear, catch the ferry to Gozo and then bay-hop. Base yourself at db Seabank Resort & Spa in Mellieha for sea views and easy access to Gozo ferries and the rest of Malta. • Best places to visit in Malta• Best hotels in VallettaWhy go in September? For an extended summer escape across the islands If you're not bound by school terms, September is the ideal month for travels in the Greek islands. Air temperatures are a notch down from their peak, but still at summer holiday levels, and sea temperatures are warmer than in the other shoulder season month of June. Before ferry services in the Aegean start to wind down for the winter, there's time for some unhurried island-hopping. The Dodecanese are pleasingly varied and, along with the main island of Rhodes, there's Kos with its long, sandy beaches, Kalymnos for rock-climbing opportunities, spiritual Patmos and the steaming volcanic caldera of Nisyros. OKU Kos is just steps from a quiet stretch of beach on the island's north coast, and is a place for grown-up relaxation and spa treatments, with cuboid architecture in line with the Greek island look. • Best Greek islands• Best hotels in KosWhy go in September? For whale-watching off the coast of Patagonia The coming of spring in Argentina shifts the thermostat to varying degrees in a country that touches the tropics at one end and points to Antarctica at the other. While southern Patagonia is just beginning to unfreeze, flowers start to bloom in the Argentine Lake District; it's a less humid time at Iguazu Falls, and Buenos Aires is a pleasantly mild starting point for nationwide explorations. Perhaps best of all is the Valdes Peninsula in the province of Chubut, northeast Patagonia, with its historic Welsh settlements. Southern right whales stay in the area from roughly June to December, and in September they migrate around the peninsula, often close enough to shore that they can be viewed from land. The 84-room Hotel Tolosa in Puerto Madryn, the gateway to the peninsula, has a degree of urban sophistication that might come as a surprise in a small city in a remote and rugged region. • Best places to visit in South AmericaWhy go in September? For a city break with seafood and lots of craic Live music in brightly painted pubs and on the cobblestoned streets is what most people come to Galway in search of. Food culture is another strength: while visitor numbers elsewhere on Ireland's west coast tail off after mid-September, the last weekend of the month brings the Galway International Oyster Festival. There are cooking classes and tasting trails devoted to other produce of the sea, too. Day trips north of the city lead to the hills and loughs of Connemara, while to the south across the bay is the limestone landscape of the Burren and the towering Cliffs of Moher. The House Hotel is a sturdy stone building centrally located in Galway's quayside Latin Quarter, newly refurbished with plenty of boutique touches such as plush headboards, patterned comfy armchairs and rainforest showers. • Most beautiful places in Ireland• Best luxury hotels in IrelandWhy go in September? For the beauty of life in the desert Namibia's place names hint at a land not to be messed with, whether it's the ships' graveyard of the Skeleton Coast or the Kalahari ('great thirst') Desert. September in Namibia is generally the last full month of the dry season and sees a slow return to warmer days after southern winter minimums. It's a perfect time to visit national parks such as Etosha in the north, where elephants, giraffes, lions and leopards crowd at watering holes dotted around a vast salt pan. Nights at desert safari lodges are still on the chilly side, but night skies are spectacular in one of the world's most sparsely populated countries. Blending in well with the natural landscape, Ongava Lodge has 14 thatched stone chalets on a ridge overlooking a watering hole, in a private game reserve on the edge of Etosha National Park. • Best safaris in AfricaWhy go in September? For an alternative to carnival in the city of canals An absolute haven of historical re-enactment, Italy's national calendar is dotted with events where proud citizens dress like extras from Romeo and Juliet and compete in time-honoured challenges. September brings the likes of Arezzo's Saracen joust, or Asti's Palio, where flags and trumpets, horses and jockeys are toasted with spumante, the northern city's famous fizz. Over to the east, Venice stages its own spectacle on the first Sunday of the month: the Regata Storica, where the usual all-black gondolas on the Grand Canal are replaced by a colourful flotilla. Venice isn't a complete time capsule though — this month is also when the International Film Festival rolls out the red carpet on the island of Lido. You don't go to Venice for minimalism, and at Ca Maria Adele the damask drapes, wooden beams and chandeliers really dial up the drama, all in a discreet spot in the Dorsoduro district near the entrance to the Grand Canal. • Best things to do in Venice• Best hotels in VeniceWhy go in September? For more room to savour a French holiday classic As la rentrée sends schoolchildren and office workers back to their desks at the start of September, vacancies pop up in some of France's most attractive corners. These include the Dordogne, a region that has inspired residents and visitors for at least 17,000 years, if the cave paintings of Lascaux are anything to go by. In September there should still be plenty of golden light at castle towns huddled against riverside cliffs and through rows of grapevines in the thick of the harvest. The season for the famous black truffles of Périgord (as the province was once called) is still a few months off, but the area's gastronomic reputation rests on other pillars too, from charcuterie to chestnuts. The turreted, 19th-century Château Hotel Edward 1er overlooks the southern Dordogne's hills from the medieval town of Monpazier — it has 17 bedrooms and a fine restaurant. • Best villas in France Why go in September? For a fine blend of culture and beach time Indonesia is spread over some 17,000 islands. Bali nabs an outsize share of visitors, so why not show some love to its other outcrops? There's one of the world's most populous, Java, with its rice fields, volcanoes and ancient temples such as Borobudur. Rare species hide in the jungles of Sumatra and Borneo, and there are white sands of the pint-sized Gili Islands. You'd expect some climate variety in such a sizeable country, but visit in September and, in most parts, you'll hit the interval between peak-season August and the October start of big rains. Even in the typically wet northern tip of Sulawesi, with its rich coral life and fantastic diving, the month is the year's least rainy. Siladen Resort & Spa is a great choice for beach breaks and exploring the diversity of the Coral Triangle, with its offshore island location near Manado in north Sulawesi. • Bali honeymoon ideasWhy go in September? For a short-haul tropical feel Madeira isn't actually in the tropics, but with locally grown bananas, papayas and mangoes in its markets and fern-cloaked gorges looking like a lost world, it might as well be. Although visitor numbers are down from July and August, temperatures into the high 20s aren't. Almost the only thing spoiling the 'Hawaii of Europe' illusion (other than the splendidly Portuguese architecture) is the lack of natural sandy beaches — but, if you're keen, these can be had on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, two and a half hours away by ferry. It's easy to get the measure of Madeira from its many clifftop viewpoints, but for an island speciality, try to fit in a hike along its lush levadas (water channels). An 18th-century mansion in botanical gardens on a hill overlooking the capital Funchal is the setting for Quinta Jardins do Lago, which has classic interiors and a sprawling swimming pool. • Best things to do in Madeira• Best hotels in MadeiraWhy go in September? For major celebrations in the Catalan capital Barcelona is one of the few places in Europe to combine a big-name city break with a beach holiday and September brings the best balance between the two. That's especially true in the second half of the month when temperatures make it easier to soak up a range of architectural treasures while making time for warm rays of sun on the sand. Of the two big events in September, the National Day of Catalonia on the 11th is more politically tinged, while the five-day Festes de la Merce later in the month brings parades of giant statues, thrilling fire runs and gravity-defying human towers. Yurbban Trafalgar Hotel in the old town is a short walk from the cathedral and Plaça de Catalunya, while a 30-minute stroll to Barceloneta beach. A rooftop pool with sunloungers and sweeping skyline views ensures plenty of respite from the action. • Best things to do in Barcelona• Best family hotels in BarcelonaWhy go in September? For peace and quiet on storybook woodland trails Late summer is the most enticing time to put in the distance on the roads and hiking trails of this 100-mile chain of hills and mountains in Germany's southwest. The pretty cathedral city of Freiburg im Breisgau in the lower-lying regions bordering the Rhine Valley is considered Germany's warmest and sunniest. At the centre of the region, the Kinzig Valley includes towns such as Schiltach and Gengenbach, which offer some of the country's finest half-timbered architecture. The Hotel-Gasthof Zum Weyssen Rössle at Schiltach dates from at least 400 years ago, with crown-glass windows in its wood-beamed dining room and the odd four-poster in its welcoming bedrooms. • Best river cruises in EuropeWhy go in September? For a brilliant flowering on the desert's edge The wildlife of South Africa would make a spotter's checklist run to several pages. So if that's your priority then September is the last non-humid month in Kruger National Park to tick off sightings of the big five. But even with such eye-catching fauna, you shouldn't overlook the flora. The Table Mountain area alone has more plant species than the whole of Britain. Here and elsewhere in Cape Town's cooler and wetter surrounds, many of the wonderfully diverse fynbos shrubs are in springtime bloom. Further north in Namaqualand, spilling into Namibia, the flowering season is short but glorious: aim for early September to see the semi-desert sport a vivid carpet of oranges and pinks. In the hills of the Northern Cape province, Naries Namakwa Retreat offers guests a choice of rooms in a Cape Dutch-style manor house, self-catering cottages and luxurious, boulder-like domed suites. • Best hotels in Cape TownWhy go in September? For timeless cave hotels and tranquil balloon flights The summer crowds have eased along Turkey's Mediterranean coast, but despite the temptations of beach days in the high 20s, now might be the time to turn your attention inland. The historic region of Cappadocia lies in modern-day Central Anatolia, almost at the centre of this transcontinental country. Being on a plateau more than 1,000m high means that while summers are almost as hot as on the southern coast, winters are much colder. The transition period is a delightful time for touring ancient towns that melt into a dreamlike landscape of caves and rock spires, where traditional crafts are treasured and hot-air balloons take to the skies on calm days. Aren Cave Hotel in the town of Goreme shows how far from primitive it can be to live in spaces hollowed out from the rock, with its ten gracefully furnished rooms. • Cappadocia's hot-air balloon rides: everything you need to know• Argos Cappadocia hotel reviewWhy go in September? For good times at the kick-off of Aussie spring The start of southern hemisphere spring brings more warmth and less rain to some temperate parts of Australia, while the tropical north is still awaiting its wet season, making September a happy average across this continent of a country. This is usually the driest month in Sydney, and a great time for hikes in mild temperatures in the nearby Blue Mountains. At the Indian Ocean end, the corner of Western Australia around its capital, Perth, blooms with unique wildflowers, as does the city itself in the month-long Everlasting Kings Park Festival. It's an inviting time to sample the eateries and bars of Perth, and pay a visit to its port in the city of Fremantle — where you can also take a ferry to Rottnest Island, home of photo-bombing quokkas. Como the Treasury is a luxury hotel based in the Victorian-era State Buildings at the very heart of Perth, its 48 rooms and suites spacious and elegantly understated. Read our full review of Como the Treasury • Best things to do in Perth• Best hotels in PerthWhy go in September? For cottages and castles among the forests A mountain-ringed land where rural traditions are still strong, Transylvania looks splendid with summer drawing to a close and autumn preparations under way — as harvest festivals start up and sheep are brought down from high pastures. Dracula-based clichés will only weigh more heavily as October 31 approaches, so this month is an ideal time to do a loop around the region's historic cities, beginning in Cluj-Napoca with its good flight connections, and taking in Sibiu, Brasov and Sighisoara. There are also plenty of farm stays and thoughtfully renovated cottages for a taste of Romanian village life, plus an epic challenge for drivers on the hairpin-rich Transfagarasan Highway. Copsamare Guesthouses spreads its rooms across a set of traditional Transylvanian Saxon village houses, one valley over from the Unesco-listed fortified church of go in September? Sightseeing with fewer downpours Temperatures in Singapore are pretty much constant year-round but its two monsoon seasons can put a dampener on things. Fortunately, September offers some respite with shorter showers and more opportunities for sightseeing. The city state bills itself as a city in a garden, so leafy attractions such as Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay should be top of your list. For a small nation, it's also extremely multicultural. Go on a walking tour of Kampong Glam to learn about its Arab heritage, see Little India via its many temples, and don't miss the colourful Peranakan houses. For families Sentosa is a haven — there's a choice of beaches but also theme parks such as Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove Waterpark. Raffles Singapore is a classic hotel, and you'll need to stop by the Long Bar for a Singapore Sling and peanuts. Read our full review of Raffles Singapore • Best hotels in Singapore Additional reporting by Richard Mellor


Times
4 hours ago
- Times
We were victims of Spain's ‘highway pirates'. Don't let it happen to you
My husband, Greg, and I were navigating our way out of Barcelona in a hire car when it happened. A car appeared next to us, with a man on his own who was frantically waving and pointing to the back of our car. He indicated for us to pull over. At first we didn't, because it was tricky to stop, but it did worry us. Then, about 50km down the road, he tried again. This time, we pulled over. He got out of his car, talking very fast in Spanish, which we couldn't understand, and gestured for me to get out of the driver's seat. I stayed where I was, but Greg got out. As I was sitting there, I saw somebody sitting up in the back seat of this man's car. I assumed he had a child in the car, who had just woken up or something. Later, I realised what had happened. We're very regular travellers. I'm from northwest London, and used to work with British Airways, which is how I met my husband, Greg, in the 1990s. He worked for the Australian foreign office and we've lived in Perth, Australia, since then. Now I'm mostly retired, although I still do freelance management consulting with businesses including KPMG. We love to travel, and do a big six-week trip every 18 months or so. I like to think we know what we're doing, but anyone can be caught off-guard. We were on one of our big trips, taking in Malta and going around the Croatian islands. We'd had a week in England, then came to Spain. The plan was to fly to Barcelona, pick up a hire car, then drive to see friends in Perpignan in France for a few days, then back down to Moraira, to stay with other friends. It was a very early flight from Heathrow, so we were tired by the time we hired the car from Centauro at Barcelona airport, and quite frazzled when this man pulled us over. He kept yammering on at us in Spanish, getting very excitable, and he kept trying to get me out of the car. Eventually, I did get out to see what was going on. I felt uncomfortable, though, and so picked up the car keys and both of our phones — which are in wallet-style phone cases with our bank cards. Looking back, I should have locked the car. But perhaps the passenger door was open, I can't recall. I came to the back of the car, and Greg and I did our best to understand what he was trying to tell us. We were looking for a scratch or a flat tyre or something. Although this man positioned himself so that we were often looking away from the car, towards him. After a few minutes, he gestured for us to wait and walked back to his car as if he was going to get something. Then he suddenly drove off. We were like, 'What was that?' It was so weird, because we couldn't see anything wrong with the car. So we got back in, and only then did we realise that my handbag was gone. It had been in the footwell of the passenger seat, so the person I saw in the back of their car must have sneaked out and taken whatever they could. We didn't see or hear a thing. Thank God I had picked up our phones and credit cards. But they got our passports — both my British and Australian ones — and also lots of inconvenient things like my Australian medical card, make-up and glasses. Luckily, we were meeting a friend near Girona, just north of Barcelona, who was able to help us speak to the police in Spanish. We found a police station, reported it, and then called the foreign office in Canberra about our passports. They said we had to go to the Australian Embassy in Madrid. This was Monday. We made an appointment at the embassy for Wednesday, then had to drive for eight and a half hours on Tuesday to get to Madrid. We got new passports, but temporary ones that last for nine months. And it cost us about $250 Australian dollars (£120) each. I believe we were targeted because the car had a big sticker with the car hire company name on the back. I've since learned that it's a very common problem on the road around Barcelona. On the way back, we noticed lots of warning signs in English, saying: 'Don't stop for anybody.' But we hadn't seen any on the way out of Barcelona. Our friends who live in France, just over the border, told us that they've driven down that road and seen lots of tricks to try to get tourists to stop. Even a doll in a pushchair with ketchup on it, so it looks as though a child has been injured. Apparently it's quite well known, and locals would never stop. • 'I was forced to abandon a case of expensive wine at Palermo airport' I do think the car hire company should have warned us, particularly since having that sticker on the back of the car made us a target. The Australian foreign office does have a warning about this on their website. But I personally would never have thought to check travel warnings for Spain. Maybe if I was travelling to Afghanistan, but not Spain. It took me a few days to get over it, thinking about how we could have been so stupid, and what we could have done differently. But on the other hand, if we'd seen him and tried to stop him, they might have hurt us. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) says that 'highway pirates' in Spain can target foreign-registered and hire cars, especially those towing caravans. They may flag you down, claiming there is something wrong with your car or that you have damaged theirs. If you decide to stop to check the condition of a vehicle, stop in a public area with lights, such as a service station. Be wary of anyone offering help. When driving, be wary of approaches from people posing as plainclothes police in unmarked cars. In all traffic-related matters, police officers will usually be in uniform. Unmarked police vehicles have a flashing electronic sign on the rear window saying 'Policía' or 'Guardia Civil'. Genuine police will only ask you to show vehicle documents — not to hand over your bag or wallet. The FCDO does not keep statistics specifically on carjacking, but consular data show that the number of Brits having reported being a victim of crime in Spain is on the rise. • Seven of the biggest travel scams (and how to avoid them) To report a crime, including stolen property and lost or stolen passports, you can file a police report (denuncia) at the nearest police station. Some Spanish cities offer a Foreign Tourist Assistance Service (Servicio de Atención al Turista Extranjero or SATE) where you can report crimes in English. Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do. The FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including finding English-speaking lawyers, translators and interpreters in Spain, or getting help if you're a victim of crime. Always check the latest advice from the FCDO before travelling