This Way To Paradise

Monaco barely covers one square mile, which means it’s one of the easiest places on the Riviera to see in a single day. With a little planning, you can wander the royal palace, admire the super-yachts, and still have time to enjoy dinner with a view. Here’s how to make the most of your time in Monaco. Kick Things Off At The Monte Carlo Casino The place to start is in Casino Square, where the morning light flatters the Belle Époque architecture and the crowds have yet to arrive. The Monte Carlo Casino, designed by Charles Garnier of Paris Opera fame, is worth seeing even if you don’t intend to…

The sun is about to drop into the sea, the bar on the sand is two deep with people holding drinks, and a man at the counter asks the woman beside him if she saw the dolphins earlier. On a beach holiday that kind of opening comes easily, because everyone is outside together at the same hour, with nothing urgent to do and no reason to hurry home. Byron Bay, Australia Byron Bay is a small town with a very large visitor count. The Byron Shire has about 37,800 residents, and the council’s economic strategy recorded 1.9 million visitors in 2024. Most of them pass through a few streets and…

There’s something magical about finding a beach that feels like your own little slice of paradise. No rows of umbrellas, no fighting for a spot in the sand, and no packed restaurants charging a fortune for the view. Just the sound of the waves, a warm breeze, and the freedom to do absolutely nothing. The good news? You don’t need a luxury resort or an unlimited travel budget to find it. Some of the most beautiful beach escapes are tucked away in smaller coastal towns, on lesser-known islands, or just beyond the destinations everyone else is visiting. The secret is knowing where to look and how to plan. 1. Look…

For some people, paradise means waking up steps from a beach and having nowhere to be until dinner. Or it might involve wandering around a new city and finally seeing a place you’ve had saved on your phone for years. When you start planning around what you actually enjoy, rather than what a perfect trip is supposed to look like, it becomes much easier to come home feeling like your time away was well spent. Decide what paradise means to you Before you choose a destination, think about the moments you’ve enjoyed most on previous trips. Perhaps you loved swimming before breakfast or having a good hotel to return to…