ASK THE EXPERTS

IN NEED OF ADVICE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP? ARE YOU AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS, TIPS AND GUIDANCE? THE TRAVEL GEEKS HAVE THE ANSWERS…

// I’m looking for a luxury weekend getaway with a spa, but within easy reach. Is there anywhere you recommend?

QSerial spa-goers who want somewhere new to explore are in for a treat. The Buxton Crescent hotel in the Derbyshire spa town has just opened for the first time in nearly 30 years, following a multimillion-pound renovation. Close to the Peak District, the five-star hotel is the first foray in UK from the Ensana Hotels brand, which already has some 26 spa properties across Europe. Treatments harness the therapeutic benefits of the town’s thermal mineral waters, but also include a wide range of massages and facials. If you really want to splash out, book one of the luxurious suites with four-poster beds and freestanding baths. From £125, based on two people sharing an Attic Room, B&B. ensanahotels.com

One of my favourite iconic spa hotels, however, remains Gleneagles, just an hour from Glasgow or Edinburgh. Although it did close earlier in the year due to coronavirus, it’s now reopened to much fanfare and, with 850 acres of countryside, it’s easy to unwind in socially distanced style, with golf, horse riding and numerous country pursuits on offer. The Espa Spa has won numerous awards and continues to offer a range of treatments including aromatherapy and Balinese massages. Also on offer this winter, on selected dates, is the Wild Wellness programme — a three-day, wilderness-based retreat with walking, foraging and forest bathing, from £3,100. Rooms otherwise from £395, B&B. gleneagles.com

Should you prefer a more off-grid escape, with workshops, treatments and outdoor activities, then you’ll want to make a beeline for the South

West. On the banks of Cornwall’s River Fal, Thera-Sea offers guests the chance to de-stress and connect with nature. The venue is only accessible by hike or boat and requires a reasonable level of fitness. Don’t expect any ultra-luxurious accommodation — this is all about immersion in your environment. Instead of plush suites, guests bed down in comfortable yet humble lodgings such as potting sheds, treehouses or shepherds’ huts, and feast on delicious meals cooked by a chef on an open fire. From £395 for a two-night retreat. therea-sea.co.uk SAM LEWIS

// Now seems like the ideal time to try a boating holiday but I’ve never done it before. What tips do you have for a beginner?

QFirst-time boaters will be relieved to know that no past experience is required and driving a boat is surprisingly easy. But rest assured, full instructions are given before departure when dealing reputable hire companies.

Operators and local authorities have extensive maps, which make it clear where you can and can’t go on the waterways. Other on-board information tells you approximately how long it will take to travel from point to point, where you can moor and what you can expect to find in each waterside town or village. Le Boat, for instance, also has a host of region guides who can help plan an itinerary in finer detail.

Many operators have more than one base, which means you can either return your boat to the same place you started or cruise one-way between two dierent bases. Usually, you can book any duration from a three-night short break to a two-week holiday, or even longer. An average of three to four hours cruising a day is a nice pace for a first-timer.

As for where to go, a personal favourite is Brittany in France. From early May, the waterside village of La Gacilly is blooming with a colourful display of flowers. Another option is Aigues-Mortes, in the south, which oers the chance for a very pleasant cruise. leboat.co.uk

The number of countries British passport-holders can currently enter without

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When placed under UV light, the pages of Norwegian passports

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