The best cities in Europe to visit on your first trip

Your first trip to Europe means new experiences, new currencies and possibly new languages. These cities are the best for getting started.

What makes a city a great pick for your first time in Europe? Famous wonders of the world, great art museums and impeccable food are all table stakes. But there are a few other things worth considering before you decide on a spot.

Traveling to Europe for the first time is a big experience, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It will always be simpler to navigate a city that speaks the language you know, and many major European cities double as tourist hubs where English is common (though learning a handful of key phrases is always a good idea). These destinations are usually a bit easier to reach by air as well — you’re far more likely to get an affordable direct flight to Paris than Tallinn.

By Gabriel Morgan

Full story at Yahoo News

Top five coastal escapes in South Africa for a cosy winter getaway

When the mercury drops and that familiar winter bite settles in, most of us instinctively reach for our warmest jackets and woolly socks and start dreaming of a quiet coastal escape.

There is a particular kind of magic found at the seaside during these months.

The crowds have thinned, the air is crisp, and the ocean takes on a dramatic, moody energy that you just don’t get in December.

By Gerry Cupido

Full story at IOL

‘It feels as if I’m in a Richard Curtis film’: readers’ favourite romantic trips in Europe

The sunset at Sorrento.Photograph: Kess16/Alamy
(Photograph: Kess16/Alamy)

Winning tip: Out-of-body experience in Sorrento

We had our wedding reception at the Grand Hotel Royal in Sorrento, south of Naples. We danced to two guitarists playing Justin Bieber’s Despacito with our 50 guests singing and dancing along with us. We watched as the sun began to melt into the Mediterranean Sea from this time-capsule hotel balancing on the edge of a cliff. I floated out of my body and felt a rush of euphoria – perhaps it was the limoncello spritzers. We’ve returned many times and I get the same rush – the gelato, the pizza, the people, it feels as if I’m in a Richard Curtis film.

Charlotte Sahami

A cosy whisky bar amid the majesty of Skye

Skye’s dramatic landscape and stunning viewpoints make the perfect romantic getaway. It’s steeped in history and captivating walks, such as the otherworldly Fairy Pools and the isolated Neist Point. We stayed at the Cuillin Hills Hotel where there’s a cosy drawing room with a fireplace and a great whisky bar. The rooms are comfortable, stylish and each one has a super-king-sized bed. However, the highlight is the Michelin-recommended restaurant which offers exquisite food with expansive views out over Loch Portree and the pretty harbour.

Guardian readers

Full story at Yahoo News

Stop hiking boring trails: 4 Mzansi adventures for the ultimate adrenaline rush

A highly rated activity in South Africa is hiking.

Mzansi, boasting over 1,000 registered trails, is a globally recognised, world-class hiking destination. And it is favoured by locals and tourists alike.

While short day trips offer considerable mental, physical, and social benefits, in addition to scenic views, those seeking more challenging experiences often increase the difficulty by opting for more strenuous terrain for their adventures.

Full story at IOL

By Debashine Thangevelo

Visa Overstay Can Affect Nigerian Travellers, US Warns.

The United States (US) has warned that visa overstays by Nigerian travellers can deny future opportunities for other aspiring applicants. 

The United States embassy had earlier in February stated that compliance would help protect visa access for students and business travellers. 

In a reminder statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria advised that strengthening compliance helps protect visa access for students, business travellers, and families who travel responsibly.

Full story at TVC News NG

Why flights are more likely to be delayed at certain times of day

The later you fly, the more likely you are to get
 a little bit of extra time at your gate. (Getty)

Aviation experts weigh in on why the early bird doesn't just get the worm — it gets the on-time departure.

Nothing can throw a wrench in carefully laid travel plans quite like a flight delay. And, unfortunately, your chances of encountering one are better than ever. In 2025, 23.3% of U.S. flights — that’s over 1.8 million — were delayed more than 15 minutes or canceled altogether, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That’s the largest such percentage in eight years.

Frequent fliers know delays come with the territory, but just like you can pack a bag that’s more likely to get you through airport security faster, you can schedule a flight that’s more likely to leave on time. Here’s the scoop.

By Sandra Latham

Full story at Yahoo News

Can Europe avoid a summer of holiday flight and cross-Channel travel chaos?

Holiday flights to Europe have kept growing
despite long airport queues.Photograph:
 Carl Court/Getty Images
(Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images)

Holidaymakers have faced numerous stresses in recent years when planning and budgeting for the sacred summer holiday. Holiday flights to Europe have kept growing despite a pandemic, a cost of living crisis and long airport queues, but summer 2026 threatens to bring fresh anxieties.

Legacies of Brexit mean longer border checks for Britons and most non-EU nationals to get into much of Europe, and the US-Israel war on Iran has prompted fears that airlines may not have enough fuel for every scheduled flight.

Confusion still surrounds the exact status of the EU’s new entry-exit system (EES), which in theory should now be taking biometric data – fingerprints and photographs – from every applicable visitor, after the 10 April deadline for full implementation passed.

Full story at Yahoo News

By Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent