The ultimate spring travel guide

As the days grow longer and brighter, there’s no finer time to dream of your next escape. Here’s a list of uplifting activities close to home and further afield to inspire your next trip.

What better way to see the capital than from the water? And Uber Boat by Thames Clippers offers the smoothest ride in town. Connecting 24 piers across the city every 10 to 20 minutes, this modern River Bus service is the most civilised way to sightsee, without fretting about traffic. Glide under Tower Bridge, past Westminster and along to Greenwich, taking it all in through panoramic windows, with a drink in hand from the onboard café.

One-day and two-day ‘Hop-on, Hop-off’ tickets make it easy to turn a simple journey into an adventure – with museums, restaurants, and riverside gems just moments from every stop. Onboard comedy nights add a fun twist, while the upcoming Orbit Clipper – the UK’s first electric cross-river ferry – looks ahead to a cleaner, greener future.

On Crete’s golden coast, where Agii Apostoloi beach kisses the sparkling Aegean, Atlantica Kalliston Resort offers a serene sanctuary for couples seeking sun, stillness and style. Recently refreshed, this adults-only retreat combines contemporary elegance with traditional warmth. It’s a place where lazy days by the pool flow into golden evenings over candlelit dinners.

Rejuvenate in the tranquil spa, stroll barefoot on soft sands, or head to nearby Chania to lose yourself in shady alleys, gazing at harbour lights from late-night tavernas. Every moment here is designed for deep relaxation and shared wonder. Whether you’re celebrating or just craving some escape, this is Greece at its most romantic.

Managed by SWOT Hospitality, Cora Hotel & Spa offers the sort of escape you won’t forget in a hurry, where the forest meets the Med on the edge of the Halkidiki region. Perched on a peaceful hillside just above the Aegean, this elegant retreat welcomes guests aged 12 and over to experience Greece at its most grown-up – and unspoilt.

Spend mornings at the private beach, afternoons in the infinity pool and golden hours dining out at any of three restaurants, offering everything from Greek favourites to sushi in the sunshine. The Daylight spa overlooks the vastness of the sea and offers signature treatments with olive oil-inspired therapies, detox stations and fitness sessions – think yoga, DJ pool parties and even a club for teens. Whether hiking through pine forests or sailing into the blue, it’s easy to reconnect with everything that matters.

Rhodes’ southeast coast, where the Aegean shimmers and the light feels positively divine, is all about slowing down. And much-loved local brand H Hotels Collection offers two distinctly luxurious ways to unwind. Mayia Exclusive Resort & Spa is a premium all-inclusive haven – think swim-up suites, spacious rooms and dining with horizon-views tailor-made for those special moments.

A few bays along, Boutique 5 Hotel & Spa is a quieter kind of indulgence – only 44 adults-only rooms with uninterrupted sea views and a spa designed to awaken the senses. Whether you’re celebrating something big, or simply in search of stillness, these five-star escapes blend warm Greek hospitality with cool, quiet-luxury sophistication.

Save up to 15 per cent with code EVST2025 at hhotels.gr. Limited number of bookings, T&Cs apply.

Craving a getaway that brings you closer to nature without sacrificing on style? Nestled into the jungle above Manuel Antonio on Costa Rica’s dazzling coastline, Tulemar is a private 33-acre resort where monkeys swing past your balcony, scarlet macaws flash through the canopy, and sloths doze mere metres from your door. Choose from 50 unique designer villas, from romantic bamboo hideaways with plunge pools to spacious family residences and luxury, palatial homes, all with easy access to Tulemar’s unbeatable beach, pools, concierge service and The Sloth Institute’s onsite tours.

Whether you’re travelling solo, honeymooning or planning a multi-generational trip of a lifetime, every visit comes with wild beauty and exceptional service as standard. It’s not a hotel – it’s an ecosystem, where you’ll grow memories that will last a lifetime.

When booking online at tulemar.com, select ‘Sterling’ in the ‘Heard About’ section to receive 10 per cent off. Reservation must be confirmed by 31 December 2025 for any stay dates. Discount applies to new reservations only.

For those seeking seclusion, soul and sunlit simplicity, this is the ultimate Maldivian getaway. Discover your castaway escape at fushifaru.com.

Whether you’re exploring Siena and Florence nearby, sipping Brunello under the stars or simply recharging in the gardens, this romantic corner is the perfect place to rediscover balance. Book now at castelmonastero.com.

This is a setting where memories are made – sun-drenched, salt-kissed and a joy you’ll cherish forever. See for yourself at atlanticahotels.com.

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