Travel Special (March 10, 2019)

THE MAIL ON SUNDAY | March 10 • 2019 I recently met Oli Broom, founder of The Slow Cyclist (theslowcyclist.co.uk) , which takes small groups on luxury guided cycling holidays. ‘It’s all about slowing down,’ he told me, ‘looking up and enjoying the journey.’ He’s right on the money about how we now want to spend our holidays. And if there’s a trend worth embracing it’s slow travel. Even saying it sounds relaxing. After all who likes to rush on holiday? My own go-slow starts the night before if I’m facing a ridiculously early flight. I refuse to start my holiday with a jolt, to shiver, bleary-eyed, on to a plane and prefer to check into the reassuringly clean Travelodge at Gatwick for a comfortable sleep. Slow travel isn’t an age thing either – Millennials are taking to cruise to see the world at their own pace, as Steve Turner reports, while Kirsty Lang revisits her memories of backpacking through Peru by taking in the gorgeous scenery it has to offer by luxury vintage train. Take a meander through Marrakech for a long weekend with writer Alice Smellie and raise a glass with Graham Boynton as he stops to sup on the finest wines in Adelaide. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy the slow read. My top ski tip: Planning to hit the slopes? Do check out Snow+Rock’s in-store customski-boot fitting. It’s free and you’ll pick up plenty of expert advice on brands for your budget. I was more than grateful to end up with supportive, comfy boots I could wear for ski – and apres ski. One to watch: The pictures I took at night of San Luis in Merano (sanluis- hotel.com ) persuaded me to join Instagram, so keen was I to share its sheer beauty with friends and family. But it was here at dawn with not another soul in sight that I swam from the indoor pool through to the steaming outdoor pool surrounded by the snow and the peaks behind the Tyrolean forest – too perfect a moment to share. disney delight: The theme park adults will love vintage oz: Australia’s wineries pass the taste test GREEK TREAT: Glory of the Athenian Riviera EDITOR Sarah Hartley ART DIRECTOR Zoe Attwell SUB EDITOR Gary Edwards PICTURE EDITOR Clare Rand CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Neil Simpson CONTRIBUTORS Steve Turner, Kirsty Lang, Kate Silverton, Nigel Planer, Graham Boynton, Alice Smellie, Angela Epstein, James Mannion, Olly Smith Marvellous mauritius: A paradise that’s ideal for kids Cover photo: Alpineguide/Alamy. Inside: Disney/Matt Stroshane/ Chloe Rice, Eric Mangin, Getty Images, Peyton Lea Productions, Shutterstock. 13 14 8-9 10 EDITOR’S LETTER morocco rocks: A magical weekend in Marrakech 21