Getting away from it all doesn't always have to involve taking a flight to a far-flung exotic location. Instead holidaymakers can indulge their island fantasies and eke out the last of days of sunshine on a break much closer to home, by discovering Britain's lesser known isles including Lundy Island (centre and top left); Herm (bottom right); Isle of Arran (bottom left); and The Holy Island of Lindisfarne (top right).
An embarrassed seal, a dancing sifaka and a laughing goat: The short list for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is pure animal magic
In its inaugural year, the competition has received 1,502 entries from wildlife snappers based in 52 countries worldwide. The next stage of judging will take place later this month, before the winners are announced on November 11. The victor will win a one-week photographic safari in southern Tanzania for them and a guest with return flights, and a Nikon D750 camera.
It's just like riding a bike! Learning how to ski again in Slovakia's High Tatras mountains (and easing those nagging aches and pains in the lap of luxury) after 18 years away from the slopes
Set along Slovakia's northern border with Poland, resorts in the High Tatras mountain range offer a bargain break for skiers, with cheap food and beer, and quick transfer times. As MailOnline Travel writer Chris Kitching (inset) found out, the mountains provide ideal conditions for learning how to ski again. Those seeking extra luxury can retreat to the five-star Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras (top right) for fine dining and relaxing treatments at its award-winning spa (bottom left).
Stunning architecture... and the cocktails are well-designed, too: Why the Melia Sky Barcelona hotel is a towering success
Created by renowned French architect Dominique Perrault, it soars nearly 400 feet upwards (left) and appears to defy gravity. MailOnline Travel's Ted Thornhill has the low-down on it. He discovers that it's as striking on the inside as the out. And has one of the best outdoor pool areas (top right) around.
Child monks, stunning mountains and fearless tribesmen: The most breathtaking travel photos of the year revealed
Sujan Sarkar's spectacular snap of a group of children playing with an umbrella (left) at a river in Cooch Behar, India, was named the best travel photo of the year in an annual contest held by Intrepid Travel. It beat more than 7,000 submissions from 3,000 photographers from around the world. Stunning shots of child monks in Bagan, Myanmar (top right), and a cold and wet monkey clinging to a rock in Japan (bottom right) were among the finalists.
Infinity pools, an indoor Jacuzzi and your own steam room: Inside the stunning Cape Town Spa House that has wowed design experts around the world
Located in a local fisherman's village in Hout Bay, South Africa, Cape Town's Spa House is the ultimate retreat for those looking for some serious - and secluded - relaxation and rejuvenation. A design marvel, it was also awarded the CIA Award for Architecture and named Winner of Best Design 2011. Pictured: the 'floating' patio (left), an indoor-outdoor living space (top right) and the private spa amenities (bottom right).
The dusty hearse that was resurrected as a holiday home: 'The Reaper' is a fully functioning campervan that features a kitchen in the COFFIN
The hearse, owned by Norman Crisp, from Shropshire, has tinted windows and funky allows and took 10 months to build, including three months in the paint shop. Despite the quirky nature of his unusual project, his wife Jean, 67, has supported him throughout. Eight years ago Norman spent 10 days in a coma following an operation - and his holiday hearse is his way of 'putting two fingers up to death'.
White beaches, designer bed linen and daily massages: The hotels the likes of Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston and the Beckhams stayed at this summer (and how much it'll cost you to stay there, too)
MailOnline Travel takes a look at some of this year's celebrity holiday hotspots and how much a stay at them would set you back. Pictured top left is the Domes of Elounda, where Helen Hunt stayed, top right is the Four Seasons in Bora Bora, where Jennifer Aniston checked in, bottom right the Hotel Royal Monceau Raffles where Kim and Kanye visited and bottom left is the Varsity Hotel & Spa where the Beckhams took a break.
Brighten up your holiday: From heartwarming hues in Havana to pastels in Porto... the world's most colourful cities
The likes of St John's in Canada, Valparaiso in Chile, Locarno in Switzerland, Little India in Singapore and Cape Town in South Africa all pride themselves in having some of the world's brightest buildings. The main picture shows a technicoloured Porto, top right the picturesque and dazzling Italian town of Liguria and bottom right the kaleidoscopic city of Guanajuato in Mexico.
PICTURED: American Airlines pilot who died after suffering a 'heart attack' at the controls despite desperate efforts of stewardess to save him
Are these the best cruise lines in the world? The award winning ships making waves feature Nobu cuisine, West End shows and mystery itineraries
Cruise Critic has announced the winners of its annual UK Editors' Picks Awards for 2015 highlighting the best cruise lines across 25 categories featuring Crystal Cruises (top left) for 'Best Luxury' line; Azamara for 'Best Shore Excursions' including a cathedral concert (top right); Fred.Olsen (bottom left) won 'Best Itineraries' with its mystery cruise highlighted; Royal Caribbean (bottom centre) was crowned Best Entertainment and Sanctuary Retreats (bottom right) was awarded the accolade for 'Best River Line for Cabins'.
From 'zero gravity' beds to robot waiters: Blasting off to space-themed hotels that transport holidaymakers far, far away
MailOnline Travel takes a look at the best galactic guest houses from Switzerland to Singapore. The Kameha Grand Zurich Hotel opened a 'space suite' this month (top right), with the idea being to immerse guests - or 'crew members' - into the atmosphere of a space station. The main picture shows the Pengheng Space Capsule Hotel in Shenzhen, China, and the bottom right image the Wanderlust Hotel in Singapore.
Why the stunning Scottish locations for Macbeth upstage actors Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard
The movie was filmed predominantly on the Isle of Skye, just off Scotland's west coast - a place still steeped in myths as well as mists, and where you can easily imagine yourself back in the 11th century, when Macbeth ruled. MailOnline's Laura Latham visits the Scottish Highlands ahead of the film's release. Macbeth was released in UK, France and U.S cinemas on October 2. The main image shows Glamaig mountain on Skye, where they filmed some of the epic battle scenes. Pictured left is Michael Fassbender as the tyrannical ruler.
The ultimate retreat: Stunning walled medieval town on Tuscan hilltop goes on market for £30MILLION (you'll need a lot of money to do it up)
Villages, which were abandoned during the recession as their owners fled the country to find jobs in the city, have been put up for sale with asking prices ranging between £130,000 and £30million. The 800-year-old Poggio Santa Cecila Estate in Tuscany (above) is offering 1,729 acres of land alongside the numerous farmhouses, workshops and cottages on the site.
Tomb Raider: Photographer's images reveal the breathtaking beauty of the scene-stealing abandoned temples made famous in the Angelina Jolie movie
Photographer Alex Teuscher travelled to the northern province of Siem Reap, Cambodia, to capture the stunning beauty of Angkor's famous abandoned temples. With over one thousand temples to visit in the ancient mega-city, Angkor Wat - along with the many other complexes on site - perfectly illustrates the beauty of the Cambodian landscape through the historic, overgrown architecture.
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TOP STORIES IN TRAVEL
- From restaurant to runway: Hungry passengers can now order in-flight meals by phone thanks to these food delivery apps .
- The magical moment a pod of humpback whales swim beneath the Northern Lights off the coast of Norway
- The British grandmother, 82, whose Spanish stroll became a 440-mile mountain trek and attracted a host of local admirers .
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- Sleep on a budget, enjoy the bustling nightlife and indulge in the Turkish baths: The ultimate guide to the best of Istanbul
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- Forget Venice beach and Santa Monica: How gritty Downtown became LA's hippest area (with laid back Los Feliz hot on its heels)
- It's just like riding a bike! Learning how to ski again in Slovakia's High Tatras mountains (and easing those nagging aches and pains in the lap of luxury) after 18 years away from the slopes
- Stunning architecture... and the cocktails are well-designed, too: Why the Melia Sky Barcelona hotel is a towering success
- Child monks, stunning mountains and fearless tribesmen: The most breathtaking travel photos of the year revealed
- Dead chickens fired at the engine, stalling mid-air and bending the wings NINETY degrees: The extreme testing planes go through before being delivered
- An embarrassed seal, a dancing sifaka and a laughing goat: The short list for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is pure animal magic
- White beaches, designer bed linen and daily massages: The hotels the likes of Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston and the Beckhams stayed at this summer (and how much it'll cost you to stay there, too)
- Best in (cattle) class! Air New Zealand, Etihad and Qantas named world's best economy cabins... but no British or American carrier made the top 10
- Infinity pools, an indoor Jacuzzi and your own steam room: Inside the stunning Cape Town Spa House that has wowed design experts around the world
- Turkish delight: Stunning photographs capture a spectacular dawn armada of HUNDREDS of hot air balloons floating over Cappadocia
- Heathrow named the most dangerous airport in the UK for laser strikes as aviation authority urges the public to call the police if they see lights being shone at planes
- Pictured: The chunk of metal that 'fell from a low-flying jet' and crashed onto the roof of a house
- The free things you CAN take from your hotel room (and the ones you should never steal)
- Why you shouldn't post pictures of your boarding pass on social media: Experts warn that cyber thieves can exploit the information on them to access private details... and even change itineraries
- Disney set to introduce on-demand pricing based on the size of its queues
- Budget or blowout: They range from £40 to £1,900 a night... but can you guess how much these hotel rooms cost?
- UK airport using Star Wars-style £8,000 'lightsaber' to scare off birds that pose threat to planes
- 'An overwhelming smell of faeces and some sad looking cats': Could this be the end of the cat café trend?
- The future of travel revealed... from vertical plane seats to 800mph trains... and a virtual Stonehenge
- Pictured: The decaying seaweed ruining the once pristine white beaches of the Dominican Republic
- Cannes beach invaded by hungry RATS after they were forced out of sewers by floods that left 20 people dead
- Pictured: The 20-year-old tourist killed by a box jellyfish at popular Thai resort after she became entangled in its tentacles
- Why it's all kicking off at the Sardinian coastal resort where kids hone their football skills with former England stars Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora
- Paris police say crime against tourists is down 17% as officers arrest 4,000 thieves at Eiffel Tower, Louvre and other landmarks
- Fans flock to real life 'haunted' hotel which inspired new season of gripping US show American Horror Story
- Are these the best cruise lines in the world? The award winning ships making waves feature Nobu cuisine, West End shows and mystery itineraries
- Pilots and flight attendants share their secret tips and tricks for beating jetlag (and no, coffee doesn't help)
- German tourist dies from box jellyfish stings at popular Thai resort after she became entangled in its tentacles
- Love is in the air! The incredible moment a passenger jet creates a beautiful heart-shape in the clouds as it comes in to land
- In plane view: 15 stunning pictures that show why you should ALWAYS choose the window seat when flying
- Secrets of the hotel inspectors: Abandoned sex toys, an amorous owner and the perils of bed bugs are among worst experiences
- From 'zero gravity' beds to robot waiters: Blasting off to space-themed hotels that transport holidaymakers far, far away
- Now THAT'S crazy golf: The incredible moment a man hits a ball from a boulder balancing 3,245ft above the ocean
- The mountain even daredevils fear opens for business: K2 set to become the next Everest as commercial expeditions to the summit begin for the first time... for up to $60,000 a person
- The ultimate retreat: Stunning walled medieval town on Tuscan hilltop goes on market for £30MILLION (you'll need a lot of money to do it up)
- Thrillseekers pay £48,000 for a ticket on board the world's fastest private jet to experience the Caribbean's top 'rollercoaster' runways
- Tourists are left screaming in terror after a brand new glass-bottom walkway CRACKS under their feet at 3,540 ft high in China
- Tomb Raider: The photographer whose images reveal the breathtaking beauty of the scene-stealing abandoned temples made famous in the Angelina Jolie movie
- The yacht that's powered by the sun: On board the world's first solar-powered, zero emissions boat set to cost £1.85million
- Why the stunning Scottish locations for Macbeth upstage actors Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard
- Heathrow Airport releases new images of proposed £19billion third runway, central terminal and extended business park
- Three in four British travellers 'now actively avoiding' Islamic countries as holiday destinations, says new research
- Classical musician 'threatened with arrest and patted down by security' at airport after she refused to remove expensive gold flute from its case
- Never have enough time to catch up on your favourite TV shows? Now there's a binge-watching retreat at a HIMALAYAN monastery for uninterrupted viewing
- Hot tub canoodlers, inattentive parents and hallway hellraisers: The most annoying hotel guests revealed (are you one of them?)
- PICTURED: American Airlines pilot who died after suffering a 'heart attack' at the controls despite desperate efforts of stewardess to save him
- Passengers delayed for 90 minutes after security officials discover pilot had 'sneaked bluetooth recorder into the cockpit'
- Leading animal charity accuses Thomas Cook of continuing to promote 'cruel' elephant-riding tours
- And you thought planes were cramped now! Airbus files patent for radical split-level mezzanine seating design that would see passengers placed top of each other
- We are never ever getting back together (if we get lost in this maze): Fans pay the ultimate tribute to pop sensation Taylor Swift... by creating a giant corn labyrinth in the shape of her face
- View from the canoe: Stunning Norwegian Fjord Instagram snaps taken from the seat of a kayak
- 'Coughing fit over... eye mask on... open mouthed snoring': Actor Russell Tovey live-tweets from flight to US about his 'embarrassing' fellow passenger
- 'I'm guessing she's not a Burberry fan': Chinese tourist shamed on Twitter for allowing a young boy to defecate in front of shoppers at designer outlet mall in Bicester
- Foul stench sparks fears of terror attack on train travelling from Brussels to Marseille... but it was just a package of smelly meat in a passenger's bag
- 'Insensitive' easyJet refuses to refund woman's cancelled holiday flight after she was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer (but do offer a voucher)
- DO give up your day job! Engineer who dreamed of becoming a photographer ditched his career to travel the world taking pictures... he's now a full-time snapper (and these images show why)
- Don't make demands for freebies, NEVER insult staff and speak to a manager if you still aren't satisfied: How to complain to a hotel or airline and get what you want
- British holidaymakers to pay more to visit Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza as Balearic government plans tourist tax of £1.50 a day
- Isn't it precious? $675-a-night tree house inspired by The Hobbit has Elvish language signs, film memorabilia and a 5ft circular door that would make Bilbo Baggins proud
- So THAT'S how they do it! Fascinating timelapse video shows British Airways' new 787-9 Dreamliner plane being assembled and painted in just four minutes
- Out of thin air! Mesmerising footage shows passenger jets emerging through dense fog while landing at Manchester Airport
- From enchanting forests on sacred lakes in Japan to New York's multi-coloured Central Park: These are the places where autumn leaves look the most magical
- Better than the Celebrity Big Brother house: Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton and her young family enjoy a caravan staycation in Wales
- From a gothic castle with tree houses to a 900-year-old inn with a priest's hole: These are the 10 best hotels in Britain
- Inside the world's only ocean liner: What it's REALLY like to sail across the Atlantic on board Cunard's Queen Mary 2
- Book your flight at 1am, ask for an upgrade and check in as late as possible: How you could save almost 20% on the cost of your break (and get a few freebies, too)
- Must have a head for heights! Fearless holidaymakers are the first to cross Germany's longest rope suspension bridge... 300 FEET above a canyon floor
- Is this the most beautiful island in the world? The atoll that dazzled Lord of the Rings fans on screen is even more beautiful in the flesh (and there's not an Orc in sight)
- Chase away the winter blues... in Finnish Lapland: Meeting Santa Claus and staying in a magical ice hotel at the village Father Christmas and his reindeer call home
- It's not just for newlyweds! How whale sharks, ice cream parlours and beach cinemas make the Maldives an ideal place to bring the kids
- The Crafty Traveller: Is it best to book direct with hotels or should you go through an agent? The pros and cons revealed
- From a trading city founded in 8th century BC to stunning Unesco World Heritage Sites: Why Albania should be high on your travel list (and not just for the Adriatic beach parties)
- So peaceful the sea turtles have been returning for 40 million years: From deserted beaches to ancient ruins, the hidden treasure of Cirali is one of Turkey's best kept secrets
- Blackened shrimp, zingy mango sorbet and pan-fried foie gras: Is Barbados THE new foodie hotspot?
- More than just Santa's helpers: Meet the nomadic Mongolian mountain tribe who have depended on REINDEER for thousands of years for food, clothes and transport
- A spontaneous Greek odyssey: From luscious Crete to sun-drenched Santorini, how you can wing your way through five-star paradise using an APPLE WATCH
- It's no Disneyland! Critics blast new children's theme park that celebrates China's Communist Party (and doesn't have a roller coaster in sight)
- Do Dubai without a sheik's budget: Forget seven-star hotels and flashy cars, here are the top tips to experiencing the glamour without breaking bank
- Late passenger arrested after 'phoning in bomb threat so he wouldn't miss his flight' (and he could now be banned from flying)
- A whiff of ancient Rome in Bavaria: Touring the cobbled streets and colourful towers of Regensburg (and standing in awe of a stone wall that looks like it's from Game of Thrones)
- 'Red fluid was leaking from the wing': Passengers forced to jump from moving plane on runway after it suffered a mid-air hydraulics malfunction and made an emergency landing
- Aircraft's ceiling is left CRACKED after passenger is hurled against it during 'terrifying' turbulence... and travellers are stretchered off after the plane lands
- Lost... and found! Airport documents Ra Ra the teddy bear's extraordinary journey home to a four-year-old girl after being left 1,800 miles behind in Toronto
- Rose-tinted Instagram spectacles: Image collection called Broken India shows the sometimes stark realities behind glamorous shots
- The superpod strikes again: Video of the incredible moment THOUSANDS of dolphins race a tourist boat in Costa Rica
- 'The passengers... they're going to be pretty upset': Shocking audio recording of the moment pilot radios emergency after door falls off mid-flight .
- Table salt mountain? The incredible Monte Kali in Germany that attracts 10,000 climbers every year
- Holidaymakers booking Airbnb in Paris will be charged a 'tourist tax' for each night they stay that could see authorities pocket as much as €5m
- A 'Day 1 vacation shirt', a 'special' stick of deodorant and a bacon sandwich en route to the airport... travellers reveal their top tips for getting into vacation mode fast
- Celebrity guests, a ballroom with 26ft high ceilings and a terrace with stunning views of New York: Inside the $75,000-a-night hotel penthouse suite that is the most expensive in the world
- A dog-surfing instructor, 'sleep concierge' and fairy godmother: The weirdest jobs in travel revealed