For anyone looking to maximise their time on the slopes this winter, short queues at passport control and quick transfer times are key.
Cue Italian boutique airline SkyAlps, which has increased its London Gatwick to Bolzano route to three times a week. The airport, just outside the South Tyrolean capital, which is known as the gateway to the Dolomites, is less than an hour’s drive from some of the region’s top ski resorts (it has a short runway, making it impossible for regular-sized jets to land).
Bolzano also features in Audley Travel’s expanded lesser-visited Dolomites offering, which includes a 10-day tailormade self-drive around the Sella Massif, with visits to craft breweries and a cheese workshop, and stays in Val Gardena and Alta Badia.
The latter is home to the much-loved, family-run Rosa Alpina, which will reopen after refurbishment as an Aman property this summer.
Further south, in Val Rendena’s Madonna di Campiglio, Casa Cook is launching its first Alpine escape in June, with earthy interiors and a restaurant menu curated by three-time Michelin-star chef winner Jacob Jan Boerma.
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Dawn Chorus: Heathrow gives its VIP terminal a facelift and King Charles’s Land Rover Defender comes up for saleA Land Rover Defender 90 ‘supplied new in 2010 for the sole use of King Charles’ — with ‘minor wear to the driver’s seat’ — is due to be auctioned off towards the end of the month.
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Falcon Farmhouse: A dreamy hilltop retreat with fun on tapOverlooking a beautiful Staffordshire valley, Falcon Farmhouse is a country retreat that mixes relaxation and fun in equal measure. Toby Keel paid a visit.
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On the far side of the HimalayasOne writer goes in search of superfood apricots, fairy meadows and some of Nature's most dramatic landscapes in Pakistan's far north.
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Game, set, match: 12 of the world’s most beautiful tennis courtsFrom Italy to Indonesia, when it comes to hotel amenities, a picturesque tennis court will always trump a 24-hour gym. So, before you book your next holiday, take a look at our pick of the 12 best.
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The Country Life guide to Somerset: What to do, where to stay and how to eatSomerset is rich in natural beauty and history, but it is its wealth of small-scale food and drink producers, farmers and makers that really set it apart from the competition. Find out how to make the most of it all with our indispensable guide.
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On your marks, get set, go: The booming business of sports tourismRising numbers of travellers want to participate in or watch some form of sweat-inducing activity. From VIP Formula 1 tickets to golf underneath the Northern Lights, here's how to join them.
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Where to go in 2025A new year always brings a bumper crop of hotels to look forward to and the rest of 2025 is no exception. Here are the five we are looking forward to most.
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From Bond to billions: How Andermatt is becoming one of the most talked about ski resorts in the AlpsOriginally a sleepy town used by the Swiss army, the resort of Andermatt is growing into a must-visit for the discerning skier.
