From Coronation Street to Florida: Michelle Keegan finds her inner princess in Orlando

Michelle Keegan

She has become famous behind the bar at the Rovers Return, but Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan had never been to Orlando or Disney World. Until now - and a trip to Florida with her ex-TOWIE fiance Mark Wright.

Which? reveals best and worst airlines: (...and guess who came last)

Change of direction? Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary appears to be taking a different tack with his company's image

Little-known Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Services beat the big names to take the top spot for short-haul flights but a certain Irish airline was found wanting...

A crazy position to be in: Why was I doing yoga at 7am in the Maldives?

Yoga

Tristan Davies is not a man who goes in for the hippy-dippy things in life. So why had he agreed to 'ruin' his break in the Maldives by getting up at dawn for yoga?

On a slow boat and (bike) to Venice: Italy's greatest city by pedal power

Chioggia

There are many ways to see Venice, but Adam Wakelin thinks he may have found one of the best - a cycling and sailing tour that skips the usual crowds.

Wunderbar!: Naked saunas and lots of room on a glorious Germanic cruise

Europa 2

Step onto the Europa 2 cruise ship and you find yourself in the Germanic world - naked folk in the sauna and superb food for dinner, says Caroline Hendrie.

Stars, bars and guitars: Gourmet grub, and looking for Taylor in Nashville

Broadway

Nashville is famed as the swaggering home of country music. But there is a lot more to this great Tennessee city than cowboy boots and guitars.

Cool for cats: The Parisian cafe that's just purr-fect for Bobos in Le Marais

Customers enjoy a beverage as a cat relaxes on an armchair at the Cafe des Chats

Bobo is short for 'bourgeois and bohemian', two concepts that are visible in Paris's Marais district. Victoria Gooch goes in search of good food and 'purr therapy'.

The Crafty Traveller: Seeking sun with the best breaks for the winter of 2014

Gran Canaria

The dark and cold is now firmly upon us, and will remain here for another few months. So where to escape for a dose of winter sun? Fred Mawer has a few ideas.

A pilgrimage to Spain's most historic hotels: Asleep in the past in a parador

Santiago de Compostela

Spain's network of paradors - historic properties converted into accommodation - is one of the country's best-kept secrets. Anna Melville-James visits Santiago.

Skiing is child's play: An expert's verdict on why kids make great skiers

Ski school kids

If you're fed up with bright young things zipping past you on the slopes, it's time to ski more like them. Phil Smith lists what we can learn from kids on the snow.

Walk off the mince pies: A Christmas stroll in dreamy Devon countryside

Devon walk

There are two ways to do the Christmas season: Sit in front of the TV. Or take a walk through the glorious British countryside. Jennifer Cox does the latter.

Drink to the past! Matt Tebbutt tours the Douro Valley on a port odyssey

The Douro Valley

He's always used it in his cooking but when chef Matt Tebbutt headed to the old-world vineyards of Portugal, he found himself falling for the drink too.

On a budget in Zermatt? A guide to saving cash in the Swiss ski resort

Zermatt

If you are planning a cheap skiing holiday, you don't think of Zermatt, the pricey Swiss resort. But Thomas W. Hodgkinson has a few cash-saving ideas.

Silence, lobsters and not a murder in sight: Janet Street-Porter heads to the Nordic Isles

A late summer's evening on the boardwalk at Fjallbacka Harbour, Bohuslan, Sweden

Who needs the well-trodden resorts of the Med when you have the serene beauty of Scandinavia's quiet islands? Janet Street-Porter reports on just caught lunches and swimming in icy waters...

Finding a subtropical swimming paradise in the wilds of Woburn Forest

Woburn Forest

Center Parcs' fifth UK resort opens at Woburn next year and it's packed with improvements and innovations, says Cat Massey.

Take to the water! From Marne to Mekong, there's a river cruise for you

Woman rowing boat in the Mekong river delta & selling bananas

If you love new experiences but also like time to absorb your surroundings, a river cruise holiday could be perfect. Here's what's new in the water world.

Mihir Bose retraces a childhood journey from Mumbai to Kolkata

Say it with flowers: Mihir and his wife Caroline at the Malik Ghat flower market

VIDEO STORY: The rail trip from Mumbai to Kolkata was an annual pilgrimage for Mihir Bose as a child. Here, he recreates that epic journey.

Snow every 20 minutes! The Xmas Disney magic is on overdrive in Paris

Anna and Claudie meet Minnie Mouse at Disneyland Paris

Few places do festive cheer like Disney. Anna Melville-James and daughter Claudie head for Disneyland Paris and find it festooned in yuletide magic.

Ocean's Seven: Look beyond winter's dark days at cruises on offer for 2014

Montego Bay

Whether you fancy sunning yourself in the Caribbean, crossing the Indian Ocean or sailing round the UK, here's the pick of the cruises next year.

There's an elephant in the garden, Mum! A family holiday to the Serengeti

Cheetahs feast on a gazelle after their kill on the Serengeti

Philippa Forrester and family (plus Benny the toy giraffe) savour the Serengeti - in all its untamed glory before turtle-spotting at a beach retreat.

A great train ride into the past: Steaming across England on an old-fashioned journey

Tornado

In search of JFK: Childhood tales and Cape Cod days on Kennedy trail

Favourite pastime: President Kennedy aboard the US Coast Guard yacht 'Manitou' in Narragansett Bay in 1962

Today marks the 50th anniversary of JKF's shooting. But there's a brighter side to his tale. Helen Nicholson finds his ghost in Boston and Cape Cod.

Vibrant and very Catalonian: You'll love to Rambla in buzzy Barcelona

El vino: Enjoy the wine and tapas at a street cafe

When it comes to the perfect city break, Barcelona scores a hat trick - especially when staying at the perfect mix of ancient and modern that is the Mercer hotel.

A house full of Swallows & Amazons: A stay in Arthur Ransome's home

Swallows And Amazons still

It is one of the most iconic children's text in English Literature but how can you find out more about the man who wrote it, asks Frank Barrett.

Doing the Skoki cokey! Following the footsteps of Kate and Wills in Canada

Bridget McGrouther with guide Alan, and the lodge

Weather makes all the difference to a winter adventure, as Bridget McGrouther discovered when she headed across the icy plains of Skoki, in Alberta.

Get on track! The best websites for... rediscovering rail travel in Europe

Jungfrau railway

Murder and fun on the Orient Express: Playing Poirot on a nostalgic Kent trip

Period drama: Lucy in her 1920s outfit boards the British Pullman

Lucy Verasamy gets her glad rags on and turns detective for the day on a 1920s 'murder mystery' trip on board the elegantly stylish British Pullman.

On your bike in Belgium: The best way to see Ghent? On two wheels...

On your bike: Helen stops to admire the view from one of the many bridges that criss-cross the river Leie

The Flemish city has eco-friendly credentials galore...including a cycle culture to rival Amsterdam's. Helen Nicholson gets in the saddle to explore.

Vietnam's hot ticket! An epic journey by boat, train and tuk tuk

Train on the Vietnam coast

From mopeds to 'soft sleeper' carriages on long-distance trains, there are plenty of unusual ways to travel around Vietnam says Christine Healy

Checking In: Why New Zealand makes Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood dance

Craig Revel Horwood

He is the acerbic voice of doom on Strictly Come Dancing. But which travel destinations receive top marks from the ever hard-to-please Craig Revel Horwood?

Spicy food and the cutest pandas in exotic Chengdu

Chengdu

Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province, is one of China's rising cities, known for its technology industry. But for Jennifer Cox, it is all about the (very) hot food - while John Craven makes a few cuddly new friends.

A Moroccan maelstrom: Dark clouds and regal riads in North Africa

Lightning

When Richard Hartley-Parkinson planned a late-summer break to Morocco, he envisaged hot days of relaxation. Cue a series of biblical thunderstorms...

Stars in their eyries: Jay-Z's favourite Paris hotel is a snip at £16,000 a night

Dining in style: The Belle Etoile suite's roof terrace has views stretching from Sacré Coeur to the Eiffel Tower

Continuing our series on the world's hippest hotels and the celebrities who frequent them, Sarah Turner visits the rap world's favourite, Le Meurice.

Swapping Austria for Kazakhstan? Where we might be skiing in ten years

Chinese family on a ski resort

A recent summit in Kazakhstan has shone a spotlight on winter sports destinations that many have never thought of. Robert Stewart takes a different angle..

One big family, one big barn: Rural bliss for in north Norfolk

Weybourne beach

Winter is perfect for hunkering down in a cosy barn. Jo Tweedy and family find a particularly toasty offering in North Norfolk and plenty to entertain them when they decide to emerge from hibernation.

Cathedrals, castles and Gerald the giraffe: Six things to do in Exeter...

Cathedral Close, Exeter

Exeter may be a gateway to the South West's glorious coastline but stay a while if you can, for there is plenty in this majestic city to enjoy.

Bing

Like
MailOnline

Follow
@MailOnline

Hot to trot in Jerez: Horsing around in the dressage capital

Andalusian School of Equestrian Art

The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is the spiritual home of 'horse dancing'. After a tour and a glimpse at the professionals in action, Anna Melville-James tries her hand at the sport that was the talk of the Olympics... dressage.

Reaching the Ashes the scenic way: Bowling gently to the heart of Australia

Ghan train, Australia

In a bid to relax ahead of another stint in front of the microphone, the BBC's Jonathan Agnew boards the legendary Ghan train from Darwin to Adelaide.

It's behind you! From pantos to ice rinks, the best websites for Xmas fun

Pantomime dame

Skating, Christmas markets, Santa in Lapland. As the season of goodwill approaches, Fred Mawer looks at the top websites for planning a Christmas break.

Great courses, fine food and a fast ferry make it a perfect day for golf

Hotel du Golf Barriere

For self-drive British golfers, Normandy offers the ideal combination of convenience and quality. Minty Clinch finds the area suits her to a tee.

Basking sharks and failed fishing: A Majestic way to see the Hebrides

Duart Castle on Mull with the Glen Tarsan at anchor in the loch

Sarah Gordon boards the tiny 12-passenger Glen Tarsan and heads to the blustery isles of the Inner Hebrides for a sociable six days of good food and history.

Let's race! The lowdown on ski cross with Emily Sarsfield, the British No.1

Ski crosser Emily Sarsfield

Think downhill assault course on skis: Emily Sarsfield lifts the lid on the thrilling winter sport of ski cross, including the places where you can try it for yourself.

We've been Tangoed...by romance of Yorkshire: Halifax is star of BBC series

Old flames: Alan and Celia in Last Tango

Pretty towns and villages like Skipton and Hebden have a starring role in the Bafta-winning series Last Tango in Halifax, says Bridget McGrouther.

Wild West lives on in Arizona: Mosey on down to a gunfight at the OK Corral

An actor in the gunfight

Tombstone's main street is stuck in an 1880s time warp and the OK Corral is a collection of museums. But it's the gunfight most people want to see.

Dazzled by the tale of three cities: Fascinating Istanbul is full of mystery

Discoveries: Simon Sebag Montefiore explores the alleyways of Istanbul

It has borne three names, and is one of the most famed imperial cities in the world. Simon Sebag Montefiore delves into Istanbul's rich - and often bloody - history.

The Crafty Traveller: Slapping the car on a slow but memorable train to Italy

Welcome alternative: The Dutch motorail service still operates in the summer, from the Netherlands to northern Italy, Tuscany and Slovenia

If you don't want to drive to Italy - and don't fancy high air fares and baggage restrictions either - the Dutch motorail service could be the answer, says Fred Mawer.

Spring in Sicily... and an epic encounter with Etna, the lava lout

Lava spews from the top of Etna

A winter-weary Alistair Horne is mesmerised by fiery Mount Etna and tales of its irascible cyclops. He retreats to the luxurious Timeo hotel to warms his bones.

The Norwegian Epic is a floating city...full of gauchos and Blue Men

The Blue Man Group

Size is important on the Norwegian Epic, writes Brian Claridge after sailing around the Western Mediterranean on this 'fun ship'.

Alligator wrestling and cliff camping: Charley Boorman's U.S. adventures

On the road: Charley Boorman embarked on an extraordinary six weeks - crisscrossing the United States in search of extreme challenges for his Channel 5 show

The TV presenter embarked on an extraordinary six weeks - crisscrossing the country in search of extreme challenges for his latest Channel 5 show.

A walk on the wild side: Hippos next door and elephants at the hotel bar

Andrew and his family

When Andrew Yates was given a safety briefing at his Zambian hotel, he didn't pay much attention... until he encountered an elephant en route to the bar...

Cocktails, personal shopping and the races: Chester's a weekend winner

Chester Rows, the city's historic covered walkways

Max Wooldridge whisks his partner north-west for a weekend of romance Chester-style. On the menu is cocktail making, shopping and a trip to the races.

Paralympian Richard Whitehead in St Lucia after 40 marathons in 40 days

St Lucia

The double leg amputee ran a marathon a day this summer from John O'Groats to Land's End so he was more than ready for a relaxing holiday.

Snorkelling, trekking and cocktails on a whistlestop tour of the Whitsundays

Protected: Whitsunday Island is government-owned, which means you can't stay overnight

There is no better way to stave off the gloom of a British winter than a trip to Australia. Jenny Coad heads to the wonderful Whitsunday Islands.

An Inspector Calls: Terse talk and low expectations at Rowhill Grange, Kent

Rowhill Grange

The Inspector was not expecting much from a night at Rowhill Grange & Utopia Spa in Kent. First there was the stand-off on the phone. Then the price...

The high life: Fine food and glorious Inca sites in Peru's Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley

Tourists going to Machu Picchu tend to dash through the Sacred Valley - but Anthea Gerrie is keen to take things more slowly on a tour of Peru's high corners.

A breath of fresh air: Empty slopes and glorious cross-country in Sweden

Cross country skier

Not many people have heard of Are, even fewer know how to pronounce it, but if you're looking for Scandinavian skiing, it's the best, says Belinda Archer.