As dawn breaks above the Croatian port of Stari Grad, a slender crescent moon slices through the sky. A dozen of us gather on the top deck of the yacht Salve di Mare for a solemn ceremony. The nine Australians on board have invited the sole American passenger, our Croatian guide and me to join them for a commemoration of Anzac Day. Against a chorus of birdsong, Ellen – a teacher from Sydney – recites For the Fallen: "At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them." Chelsea, a paramedic from Tasmania, gives us each a poppy she picked from the roadside yesterday. Then the church bells toll, signalling the start of another blessed day for those of us fortunate enough to be drifting through the peaceful Adriatic in April 2025. In our wake: a succession of cities, islands and swim stops beneath blue skies. Ahead, the prospect of a final dinner tonight on the waterfront in Split, where the voyage began last Saturday. Unlike most cruises, passengers can stay aboard for an extra day at the end. Salve di Mare will tie up beside Diocletian's palace – built as the retirement home for a Roman emperor around the turn of the fourth century and today the vibrant heart of the Croatian city. Conflict seems a distant nightmare. |
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Stari dawn: the harbour at Stari Grad on the Croatian island of Hvar at daybreak |
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| Little Palm Resort in the Florida Keys has played host to presidents, actors and music stars. Read more. |
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| From classic bouillon restaurants to a street food market, this is how to eat well in the French capital. Read more. |
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| Check into the City of Angeles for private balconies, high-end spas and A-lister favourites. Read more. |
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Exploring the Mediterranean in late spring and early summer can prove most rewarding. The Sail Croatia boat I am on, Salve di Mare, has room for 40 – yet this week the payload is just 11. I have never been on a private yacht, but this experience is surely just as good. Once tips for the excellent crew of nine are handed over this evening, I will have paid close to £2,000. But the experience and the camaraderie has been priceless. A year from now, perhaps you might try a voyage like this. Regrettably, I have been reporting on people prevented from going on April holidays this week. P&O Cruises cancelled a voyage departing Southampton on Easter Monday with just 24 hours' notice; besides a refund, the only compensation is a voucher for 20 per cent of the cost for use on a future cruise. And easyJet has wrecked yet another family holiday because its ground staff do not understand the post-Brexit passport rules. I hope no one has to use this guide on how to handle such a stressful experience. May is looking appealing for early summer adventures in the Mediterranean. This morning Tui is selling a week's holiday on the Greek island of Kefalonia, departing from Gatwick on 13 May, for just £196 per person. As a package, that includes flights with baggage, transfers and a room at Helena's Studios in the south of the island. Two days later, Jet2 Holidays could take you from Bournemouth to Ibiza for a week for only £224. And a round-trip from Manchester to Venice (pictured below) on 14 May for a week costs £38 on Ryanair; remember to budget for the daytripper fee. Make the most of these fortunate days. As a sign in Latin above the door of the castle in Stari Grad reminds us: Heu fugiunt fluxu non redeunte dies – "Alas, the days flow by like the waves and do not return." Earth Day podcast: how travellers' attitudes are changing |
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Each week, we'll invite you to vote in our exclusive Travel Week poll, where two exciting destinations go head-to-head. This Friday, it's a showdown between a walking holiday packed with challenging hikes and a biking adventure through stunning sights. Last week's results showed just how strong the wanderlust is – 74 per cent of readers chose far-flung escapes over a UK beach break. Be sure to check back next Friday to see which adventure comes out on top! |
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Thailand demands digital details |
From 1 May, travellers to Thailand must complete a Digital Arrival Card to clear passport control. Besides the usual personal details, you need to say where you will be staying initially – with demands to complete the Province, District and Sub-District of your accommodation. You must also list "countries/territories where you stayed within two weeks before arrival". UK passport holders travelling direct should select GBR for "Nationality/Citizenship" and "Country/Territory where you boarded". Once submitted, you should be sent a digital arrival card immediately. There is no charge. |
Heathrow-Gatwick connection |
Many passengers need to transfer between the UK's two busiest airports. The most direct option is on National Express, which has a standard fare of £29 for a 75-minute journey. National Rail quotes a ridiculous £49.30 for the one-stop journey by train, changing at Farringdon in central London. If you buy one ticket to Farringdon and a separate one to your airport destination, your fare almost halves. Better still, if you have some time to spare: take the train from Gatwick to East Croydon (£4.10) and the SL7 express bus (£1.75) to Heathrow, or vice-versa. The train portion takes 15 minutes, the bus around 1 hour 45 minutes. Heathrow shutdown on 21 March: what we know so far |
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Best of Slovenia in a short stay? |
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Your recommendation for how best to spend five nights in Slovenia in mid-May? |
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Slovenia in mid-May is ideal for a short break in terms of fine weather and few tourist crowds. While I have not fully explored the eastern region, some extremely worthwhile locations in the western half that will provide all you need for a five-night stay. Check in for three nights in Ljubljana: a dreamy central European capital with all the requisite history, architecture and good places to eat and drink within a concise area. On day three, make an early start for a daytrip southwest to Slovenia's thin sliver of Adriatic shoreline. Buses to the elegant port city of Piran take two hours. You will be rewarded by a setting that is visibly Venetian, and whose natural beauty is complemented by the elegance of the architecture. Walk along the shore to Portoroz, Slovenia's sole big beach resort: in mid-May you should be able to venture out into the Adriatic for a bracing swim. Hop on one of the frequent local buses to Koper, another Venetian outpost. The bus back to Ljubljana – and its excellent choice of bars and restaurants – takes only 80 minutes. On day four, take a bus to Nova Gorica on the Italian border, about two hours away. This city and its counterpart across the frontier, Gorizia, comprise one of the 2025 European capitals of culture (the other is Chemnitz in Germany). While Nova Gorica is largely a 1947 Yugoslav creation, Gorizia has many handsome buildings. The two meet at Europe Square. Take the mid-afternoon (2.35pm) train from Nova Gorica to Bled Jezero in the far northwest of Slovenia. The railway line was created in the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the two-hour trip reveals a spectacular slice of Slovenia. Bled Jezero station is on the opposite side of the lake from the main town, but you can easily take a local bus or taxi. Spend your last two nights enjoying this mesmerising location. When it's time to leave, you will be on the right side for Ljubljana airport – just 30 minutes away on one of the hourly buses direct to the terminal. |
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| Keep your mouth fresh while travelling – Oral-B's rose-gold electric toothbrush set has almost 80% off. |
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| Off to sunnier skies? Snag a 2-for-1 sunglasses deal at Meller before takeoff. |
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| Be the first to see big travel stories by following me on X/Twitter @SimonCalder. My direct messages are open – and I try to reply to as many as possible. |
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| Follow me on Instagram @Simon_Calder. Join me here live every weekend at 5.30pm British time as I answer your travel questions. |
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