The islands of Trinidad and Tobago both have tropical beaches, steamy rainforest and amazing wildlife but are far from identical twins. Here we look at which island to head for on your first trip to these Caribbean siblings. Which has the best beaches? If you’re the type of traveller that packs at least three novels…

Snow-white beaches, giant coconut-eating crabs and karate-loving grannies: Okinawa is Japan but not as we know it. This alluring chain of sun-kissed, hibiscus-draped islands offers a blend of Southeast Asian heat, unique ‘un-Japanese’ culture and delicious, life-extending food. Andy Turner explores how to make the most of a trip to Japan’s subtropical paradise. Find the…

Steamy rainforest, smoking hot volcanoes and stunning reef-fringed shorelines, Central America is a god-given playground for the adventurous. Whether you’re packing a surfboard, a wetsuit and a GoPro or simply a pair of hiking boots, Andy Turner rounds up the best activities in the region. Surf in El Salvador Once off limits due to gang…

For a few chunks of rock in the southern Mediterranean, Malta is a hugely versatile destination. Like its unique language, the country is an intriguing blend of Italian, Arabic and British influences, a legacy of centuries of invasion and assimilation. As its capital, Valletta, gears up for a stint as European City of Culture in 2018, Andy…

In this article sponsored by 457 Visa, Andy Turner covers everything you need to know about driving in Australia. With its stunning Outback scenery, arrow-straight roads and stupendous scale, driving in Australia is the ultimate way to see it the country up close and personally. Whether you’re driving a souped-up Land Cruiser capable of crossing a croc-infested creek…

For most travellers it’s the people they meet that linger longest in the memory, whether it’s the safari guide you’ve spent days spotting rhinos with or the street-food vendor that serves up the highlight of your trip. Andy Turner selects eleven travel heroes that go beyond the call of duty – add yours in the comments below. 1.…

Street art has exploded in popularity over the last few years, relying on a strong aesthetic impact to make you think, or at least raise a smile. Andy Turner takes a look at the Shoreditch scene and learns to distinguish a Banksy from a Borondo A curious thing happens when you walk south across Bishopsgate,…

During ten days living on a boat, drifting around the Raja Ampat islands, Andy Turner finds more than just a diver’s playground in Indonesian West Papua.   “Ladies and gentlemen we have begun our descent to Sorong”. Flicking up the airline window blind I’m greeted with an almost comical vision of paradise. Pink candyfloss clouds…

Thought Czech food was only good for soaking up beer? Think again. A recent culinary revival has put the country firmly on the European foodie trail. Andy Turner volunteers his taste buds to investigate what and where to eat in Prague.  The wind howls down Wenceslas Square as I walk past the giant equestrian statue…

Deep in the Swedish birch forest your mind can begin to play tricks. As the shadows lengthen and a chill creeps into the pine-scented air you’re reminded of the folk tales that originated here, from gnomes and trolls to the siren call of the Tallemaja or “Lady of the Woods”. But there is one much-mythologized creature very much…