How to beat jet lag

Mother Nature throws some mighty curve balls – and jet lag is one of the nastiest biorhythm hurdles. While some frequent fliers thrive on the executive experience of taking frequent international flights, others bemoan the exhaustion and confusion that comes with constantly changing time zones. Meanwhile, there’s nothing worse than wasting your precious vacation time because you’re too knackered to leave the hotel room.

There are a number of ways to combat and to try and overcome jet lag, including pressure point techniques and medication, but most travellers agree that natural methods are the most effective way to adjust to your new time zone quickly. The key is to plan ahead for your arrival and to make compromises with – rather than try and dictate – your body’s natural rhythms.

Read more...

Caribbean - Take it easy

Escape the wet spring weather and warm up at one of our five favourite spas in the land of sugar and spice and all things nice – the Caribbean. Words Anna Gizowska

Swap wellies and rain for sun, sea and tropical treatments, guaranteed to restore your spirits and reawaken your senses for spring.

Whether it’s a ‘Secrets’ massage in Bermuda, an aloe vera and rum rub in Aruba, a spice scrub in Jamaica, a Ménage-a-Spa in St Lucia or yoga stretches in Antigua – one thing’s for sure – damp days will be a thousand miles away and so will you.

Read more...

France - Paris in the spring

Artists, designers and the effortlessly hip make their home in the neighbourhood of North Marias. Susi Cheshire finds out why. Pictures Paul Cooper

Paris’ hippest neighbourhood is the North Marais, the place to soak up some real Parisian culture and indulge in a spot of chic shopping. Home to artists, foodies, artisans, art galleries, young designers and literary types, it sits comfortably between the Musée Picasso, the Cirque d’Hiver at Filles du Calvaire metro station, a couple of quaint churches and the Rue de Bretagne food market.

The hub of this cartwheel formation of streets is where Rue de Turenne, Rue Vieille du Temple and Rue de Bretagne meet. Steeped in history, the former marshland (Marais means marsh) lay just outside the 1180 city wall. Home to the Knights Templars and country aristocrats who desired a town mansion before they lost everything in la Révolution, Le Marais became the favoured spot for artisans who created their workshops in the former mansion houses. Thanks to a preservation order, many mansions have now been restored into small museums and the area still retains its creative character.

Read more...

Zambia - Smoke on the water

How much excitement can one man cram into two days in Africa’s self-proclaimed Adventure Capital? Steve Davey finds out

Mosi-o-tunyi has competition. The “smoke that thunders” is being overshadowed by the smoke that drifts over from Zimbabwe, as Mugabe’s henchmen burn squatter camps in the town of Victoria Falls, just across the border. It is an object lesson as to why Livingstone is booming. The troubles in Zimbabwe have virtually wiped out its tourist industry, and it seems that everything has decamped to Zambia.

Read more...