
Go all-inclusive in Madeira and the Canary Islands with Dreams Resorts & Spas
From 24-hour room service and a daily restocked mini-bar to unlimited premium beverages and beach waiter service, prepare to be impressed across its clutch of resorts – here's our pick of the best.
Local explorations in Madeira
Set in the traditional fishing village of Caniçal, the recently revamped Dreams Madeira Resort, Spa & Marina is an excellent bet if you want a local, culturally immersive experience that doesn't sacrifice on facilities.
Its 366 rooms offer views of the Atlantic Ocean or lush gardens, and if you upgrade your stay, choose the Preferred Club programme, which includes exclusive access to a private lounge, enhanced amenities and a concierge service.
Facilities-wise, you'll find pools (one adults-only), a marina and state-of-the art gym alongside eight restaurants. Cuisines range from Portuguese to Asian; try wine-paired local plates at Club de Fado or head to Oishii for teppanyaki tables and a scenic terrace.
When you aren't indulging in the food, get active in the surrounds; sailing, surfing, golf and more are all at hand and there's hiking aplenty in the Laurissilva Forest, alongside cultural explorations in colourful Funchal, where the Monte Palace Tropical Garden combines lush plantings with fascinating artworks.
On site, the Explorer's Club has a roster of kids' activities, while the Core Zone offers games for teens, and you can expect a range of evening entertainment too.
A family-friendly stay in Lanzarote
Set on Playa Dorada, one of Lanzarote's best-known beaches, Dreams Lanzarote Playa Dorada Resort & Spa flanks a stretch of golden sand in lively Playa Blanca. It's a five-minute walk to Marina Rubicón, where shops and restaurants frame a yacht-lined harbour, while the lunar-like landscape of Timanfaya National Park is just a short 20-minute drive away.
But you might struggle to leave – on site, there are nine pools, a water park, a 24-hour gym, spa and more. If you're looking to get active, try your hand at stand-up paddleboard yoga, volleyball, aqua spin and boxing; or if you're keen to learn some new skills, take part in a Spanish class, join an art and wine workshop or try a gin tasting.
Six restaurants include everything from Mediterranean buffet dining to an American-style grill, and there's a handful of bars plus a Preferred Club lounge and restaurant. Kids' and teens' clubs provide down-time for parents; this is an ideal spot for a great-value family holiday, where itchy-feet types won't run short on things to do.
Tenerife's upscale Costa Adeje
Located in the heart of popular beach resort Costa Adeje and a five-minute drive from award-winning water park Siam Park, Dreams Jardin Tropical Resort & Spa is perfectly positioned for exploring Tenerife's highlights.
Couples are well looked after here, with rooms and suites offering views of the Atlantic and the nearby island of La Gomera. Choose a Preferred Club room if you want extra perks, and expect colourful, African-inspired décor throughout.
There's plenty of choice on the culinary front too, with seven restaurants and four bars – catch the sky turn ruby with an evening cocktail at the Sunset Bar, then head to Pintxos for Spanish tapas or try Trattoria for home-made pasta.
Burn off some of the indulgence at the open-air gym, which faces the ocean, or rent a bike to explore Tenerife's dramatic landscapes on two wheels. Golfers can get preferential rates on local courses – head to the nearby 18-hole Abama Golf course, a 20-minute drive away, to experience one of the best on the island as the ocean flickers on the horizon, offering views of the surrounding Canary Islands from most of the club's 18 holes.
British Airways Holidays packages include a generous checked baggage allowance for each customer and come with full Atol protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your all-inclusive holiday to Hyatt Inclusive Collection with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.
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Times
06-07-2025
- Times
Bangkok outshines Paris as home of world's top restaurants
If your image of Thai cuisine is a red or green curry, or cheap and cheerful street food, think again. Bangkok has just sealed its reputation as an international capital of fine dining. For the first time the Thai capital has more entries on a prestigious list of the world's 50 best restaurants than any other city. Forget stir-fried noodles. The six Thai restaurants on the list are more likely to serve connoisseur-pleasing dishes such as 'ant larvae and dried fish soup' or 'squid, strawberry and salted egg'. The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 is regarded by the industry as the most influential ranking of its kind. It is chosen by 1,120 international food writers, critics, chefs, restaurateurs and gourmets, who have recommended restaurants in 32 cities across 22 countries. This year, for the first time, Thailand has the most entries on the list, knocking Paris (four) off its usual top spot and outranking another strong non-European performer in Lima (also four). London has two restaurants in the list. Bangkok's highlighted restaurants include Potong, an innovative establishment in the heart of the city's Chinatown run by Pichaya 'Pam' Soontornyanakij, the woman named by the same panel as the world's best female chef. Born into a family of traditional Chinese herbal medicine providers, Pam specialises in Thai-Chinese cuisine. The food at Potong, ranked 13th in the world, focuses on five elements: salt, acid, spice, texture and Maillard reaction (the chemical process of reducing sugars that creates distinctive flavour). Specialities include pork tongue with caviar and 14-day aged duck. 'Fine dining used to feel like something imported, a format from Europe or Japan brought into Thai spaces,' she said. 'Bangkok has always had a strong food identity but there is now a confidence among Thai chefs to lead with their own culture, their own flavours and their own sense of place. At the same time, diners here have become more adventurous. They're open to tasting menus and to multi-sensory experiences.' The other Thai restaurants on the list include Nusara, a glamorous restaurant near the Grand Palace overlooking Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, in Bangkok's old town. A new entry at No 35, it is run by the chef Thitid 'Ton' Tassanakajohn and inspired by his family's recipes as well as cookery books from the royal kitchens of King Rama V, who ruled Thailand from 1868 to 1910. Le Du, ranked No 30, already boasts a Michelin star and was previously named the best restaurant in Asia in 2023. It celebrates 'the extraordinary agricultural bounty of Thailand' in its extravagant tasting menus. Dishes include poached oysters with spicy green mango relish; and shrimp and pork balls with pickled radish, pork powder and a scoop of jasmine ice cream. Both Le Du and Nusara are run by Ton, placing him in the rare company of those such as Heston Blumenthal who have had two entries in a single year. Better known for its temples, shopping malls and colourful nightlife, Bangkok is now becoming a high-end food destination in its own right. 'This is a big achievement for Bangkok as a food city,' Ton said. 'I hope after this people will know Bangkok not only for our street food but our fine dining.. 'It is not only these six on this list. There are lots of other great chefs, restaurants and bars doing something very cool. It's a very exciting time in Bangkok.' The food at Sorn, ranked No 17, offers 'mind-bending' and 'explosive flavours with no compromise on chilli heat and spice', according to the list. It is inspired by the southern Thai cooking of the grandmother of Supaksorn 'Ice' Jongsiri, its chef patron. Bangkok's high-end scene has taken off in the past decade as internationally acclaimed chefs such as Alain Ducasse have opened branded establishments. Gaggan is the highest-ranked Bangkok establishment at No 6 on the list. It is part-meal and part-performance under the direction of its patron Gaggan Anand, a disciple of Ferran Adrià at the famous El Bulli in Catalonia. Emojis are used to represent each course of food and diners are encouraged to eat with their hands or even lick the plate. For Sebby Holmes, chef patron of Farang, a modern Thai restaurant in north London, the transformation in Bangkok's restaurant scene compares to London in the 1980s and 1990s. 'There is a load more money, a lot of chefs have trained and cooked abroad, and they have realised there is such demand for high-quality food,' he said. 'It has happened very fast, but they have been kind of catching up, so it makes sense that so many are getting acknowledged at the same time.' The best restaurant in Europe, according to this year's list, is Asador Etxebarri, in Atxondo, serving flame-grilled meat 'in a peaceful Basque village surrounded by mountains and lush greenery somewhere between Bilbao and San Sebastian'. London is represented by the double-Michelin starred Ikoyi and KOL, which specialises in Mexican-British fusion cuisine. And the top spot overall? That goes to Maido, in Lima, the Peruvian capital, thanks to a bold menu inspired by the 'ingredients and traditions from the vast Peruvian Amazon, with courses like the miniature jaune parcel of pork jowl and palm heart that nods to a rainforest staple, snacks of 'ham' made from sustainable paiche fish, and yucca served with Amazonian beans'.


Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Telegraph
Maiden voyage of £16k-a-ticket train cancelled
The maiden voyage of a sleeper train that cost £16,000 a ticket has been cancelled. The weekend tour to Cornwall was cut after the Britannic Explorer needed maintenance the day it was due to depart. Instead of making the journey from London Victoria to Penzance on Friday, the Belmond operated train was diverted for repairs near Southampton. It is understood some passengers paid more than £50,000 for a three-night stay in one of the train's three 'grand suites'. The urgent repairs mean that the July 11 journey to the Lake District has also been cancelled. The train has fine-dining cars, 18 sleeper-cabin suites and onboard spa treatments. Among its cabins are three grand suites and 15 standard suites. Its dining experience has been designed by Simon Rogan, the award-winning restaurateur. The company said passengers were offered a full refund 'including associated travel costs'. The cancellation came just a day after guests had celebrated the train's launch with a three-hour party hosted by Keira Knightley at London Euston station. Belmond, which also operates the Oriental Express through Singapore and Malaysia, says its lavish service will now depart London for mid-Wales on July 21. A company spokesman said: 'The adjustment to the schedule was due to final refinements being made to ensure the train operates at the highest possible standard. 'Our team is committed to delivering an exceptional experience.' In November 2024, Belmond announced it would debut the 'unapologetically British, effortlessly elegant' service in mid-2025. A spokesman said it would offer three-night journeys 'through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, The Lake District and Wales'. Hendrik Huebner, the general manager of the Britannic Explorer, said: 'It's a reimagining of what travel in Britain can be. 'We're creating moments of wonder between iconic stops – slow, soulful, sensory travel that's very much in tune with what luxury travellers are seeking now.' Speaking about the food on board Mr Rogan last November said he hoped every passenger 'not only enjoys the flavours but also feels a connection between the dishes and the journey, making their time on board truly memorable'. A trip on the Britannic Explorer in a double cabin starts from £11,000, including a three-night itinerary, excursions, meals, wine and other alcoholic beverages on board, rising to £16,000 for a suite and a double bed. At £16,000, the cost of an excursion on the Britannic Explorer is enough to fund a 75-day cruise for two around South America and the Caribbean. It is also significantly more expensive than the firm's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, where berths are priced from £3,885 per person for the two-day journey from Paris. Belmond had previously said cabins were already 70 per cent booked for this year, with the company highlighting one guest who has made reservations for all three Britannic Explorer itineraries back-to-back. There are still £8,500 tickets available for it's three-day journey to Cornwall on Sept 19. Belmond, which was acquired by French luxury goods giant LVMH for £2.34 billion in 2019, was contacted for comment.


The Sun
06-07-2025
- The Sun
The UK Victorian seaside town that is home to one of the top restaurants in the WORLD
OUT of millions of incredible restaurants in the world, one of the very best is right here in the UK. La Liste, is a global guide that ranks the world's best restaurants, pastry shops, and hotels, has revealed L'Enclume is one of the best at number one spot - tied with nine others from around the world. 5 You'll find the restaurant in Grange-over-Sands, a former Victorian seaside resort in Cumbria. Grange-over-Sands was originally a small fishing village before becoming a popular Victorian seaside resort. And while Grange-over-Sands is a coastal town and has a promenade, it does not have a traditional sandy beach. Instead, it's known for its extensive saltmarsh area that forms part of Morecambe Bay. But the town can still be popular during the summer with its long promenade as well as the countryside manor, Holker Hall and Gardens. And according to La Liste, Grange-over-Sands is a must for foodies. L'Enclume made it to the very top of their list, ranking as one of the best 1,000 restaurants in the world. It came tied in first place with another eight restaurants from around the world, like Switzerland, France and Japan - all of which got a score of 99.5 per cent out of 100. It's on the site of a 13th century blacksmith in a beautiful pale stone building. The restaurant serves a 20-course tasting menu which has developed from the use of wild herbs and flowers, and costs £265. Underrated towns you need to visit 5 Across the bay in Morecambe, a huge attraction is set to open in 2028, after being forced to delay its initial 2026 opening date. The town is set to open its very own Eden Project with a "global garden" overlooking the bay. Other images of the site reveal walkways linking treehouses together, as well as other wooden structures to explore. Once it's completed, the new Eden Project will be home to a "hyper-real forest" with large installations and immersive theatre. 5 The plans include a "Bay Glade" with a well-being landscape, plus a Natural Observatory for research and education. There will also be an exhibition area and meeting point for guests named the Bay Hall as well as children's play areas, restaurants, cafes and a gift shop. And the tiny Victorian seaside town with award-winning holiday resort, incredible sunsets and one of the UK's best parks. 5