It’s dinner time at the chalet-hotel Au Coin Du Feu. There’s a log fire roaring in the central stone hearth and the first portion of our nightly three-course meal has been devoured with gusto between chatter of today’s skiing conditions and generous glugs of wine.

London is an incredible city, but there are certain things you should not attempt while visiting. If you do any of the following, you may end up miserable, cold, yelled at or just plain disappointed. Enjoy!

A cruise that immerses you in the world of Agatha Christie—the woman who for many is still the undisputed ‘queen of crime’—follows the crime-writer’s visit to Tenerife in the late 1920s. It is one of the themed cruises the travel trade offers, tested by travel writer and Christie fan Allis Moss:

The friendliness and professionalism of our VIP Ski chalet hosts were put to the test when we got stuck in Friday night rush hour traffic in Geneva – meaning that we turned up at Chalet Club Pierre in Meribel two hours after dinner should have been dished up and at precisely the time they should have been heading off home.

Close your eyes and imagine a perfect Christmas scene. If it features pine trees, log fires and a smattering of snow then Norway is the perfect festive getaway for you.

Take a trip to Newbury and you’ll find plenty of hidden attractions in the town and the surrounding west Berkshire countryside.

Emma Bartholomew checks out the first four-star boutique eco-hotel to open in Serre Che, which was the trail blazer for an upmarket trend.

Waking up to a panoramic view over the lawns in South Lodge Hotel is an experience to savour. A night or two in this tranquil countryside estate will wash the chaos of London out of your hair.

Cheltenham is a charming Regency spa town in the heart of Gloucestershire’s rolling hills.

A weekend in Plymouth is a chance to reconnect with the sea and a perfect antidote to the rat race of London life. Dating back to the Bronze Age, it is the site where the Pilgrim Fathers departed from in 1620 and boasts a strong naval history, which means there is also plenty to see and learn.

Using the Tube in central London can be confusing, cramped and expensive. Here are six tips for getting around the capital’s heart quickly and with minimal stress.

Hampered by building delays, soaring costs and rows over peeling paint, Bath’s Thermae Spa was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

British Columbia, or BC as it’s known locally, is the westernmost of Canada’s 10 provinces and home to 4.5million Canadians, making it the country’s third-most populated province behind Ontario and Quebec.

Ladbrokes Casino sent Zoah Hedges-Stocks to Monaco, where after a few setbacks she discovered the principality has more to offer than just yachts and racing.

Looking out over the endless sea and spotless pebble beach, listening to the waves brushing against the shore, you could not feel further away from the hustle and bustle of London.

A retreat in England‘s garden can be just the ticket, says Jon Dean

This city-state has a world-class hotel in Raffles, but its blend of antiquity and futuristic designs proves a potent cocktail for Jon Dean

Just a stone’s throw from bustling Belfast is the enchanting Culloden estate, one of the most luxurious retreats to grace the shores of Northern Ireland.

A city apartment in Edinburgh offers a relaxing and attractive alternative to London’s hectic urban sprawl

Walking into our hotel room on the Lancaster London’s 18th floor was one of life’s jaw-dropping ‘wow’ moments.

UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, in northern Vietnam, is an alluring and breathtaking spectacle, says Jon Dean

York is a city steeped in history like few others, and it makes no bones about it.

Prices are a fraction of the Alps so a ski holiday needn’t break the bank, but Slovakia still hits the heights, says Emma Bartholomew

Warm winters, views and music make the Portuguese capital one of the best city breaks around