The £200m Banyan Tree hotel on Andalucia's Costa Tropical has been stopped in its tracks as the local town hall is accused of awarding a licence without special permission.

The USA, with its enormous portions, is unsurprisingly the worst country in the world for holiday weight gain, but it is closely followed by the Caribbean and even Italy and France.

It is exactly a century since the American explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovered the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Fleur Chavasse follows in his footsteps.

Few men are prepared to admit that they need to work on their fitness. But with a triathlon coming up, Matt Fortune surrendered to reality - and booked into a fitness boot .

Rick Stein's name is almost synonymous with the Cornish harbour town of Padstow. But what will The Inspector make of the chef's St Petroc Hotel and Bistro?

They know about the finer things in Buenos Aires. Mark Hughes-Morgan heads to the Argentinian capital for giant steaks and sensuous tango dances (on an observer's basis only).

The favourable dollar rate and a host of new attractions such as the Screamin' Gator Zip Line at Gatorland combine to make the Sunshine State a tasty option.

It is a dilemma that may be more difficult to figure out than you think - if you are planning a holiday in Spain this summer, do you opt for a villa or a hotel? Frank Barrett investigates.

The pretty French region of Ariege is blissfully unknown among English tourists. Andrew Morrod and family descend on a 19th century chateau for a self-catering break with style.

Forty years on from Burton and Taylor, Croatia's charming port is once again attracting the stars, from Tom Cruise to Beyonce. Polly Humphris can certainly see why.

Jaci Stephen vowed to keep fit on her Mexican Riviera cruise, just as soon as she finished her champagne and sampled the ice cream. But despite the odd slip-up, she still lost weight!

It has long been a refuge for celebs. But there is more to Palm Springs than sunshine. Gareth Huw Davies finds antique cable cars and desert zoos in this California enclave.

Beautiful Castle Archdale on the shores of Fermanagh's Lough Erne in Northern Ireland, is a peaceful retreat, but it played a surprisingly important part in WW2.

You might not think a cruise ship is ideal for romance. But many modern liners are love boats. From couple massages to on-board blessings, Amy Watkins finds the best.

Keen to get fit while having fun, Francesca Timms tried salsa classes at Thoresby Hall. So how did her husband take the news that he would be gyrating rather than eating?

Boston has expanded upwards and outwards from the original peninsula but its revolutionary past is still alive and kicking. Sebastian Lander embarks on a red-brick-path dance.