One size fits all in Australia

Australia accommodates everyone’s idea of a perfect holiday -from four-year-olds to grannies, reports Pippa Jacks

Spotlight on San Francisco

Ahead of the Golden Gate Bridge’s 75th birthday on May 27, San Francisco has never looked more golden writes Kaye Holland. Read her guide to the city with its head in the clouds, here

Consumer Focus

From the website:

“Consumer Focus is the statutory organisation campaigning for a fair deal for consumers in England, Wales, Scotland, and, for postal services, Northern Ireland.

Advice for individuals on energy and post is given by Consumer Direct (08454 04 05 06).”

Letter from France: April 2012

Whether you’re a novice or seasoned traveller, France will steal your heart. Each month, Frederic – our French correspondent – gives us the low-down on what to see and do across the channel

Online reviews: separating the wheat from the chaff

How can you tell if online reviews are true, before booking your next break?

Playing Trains in Your Hotel Room

Whilst the Washington Hotel in Tokyo, might appeal to some people I am not so sure that there may be marriages and families that couldn’t be thoroughly upset if they had to stay in this hotel. Why? Because the Washington has just installed a train set in one of its hotel rooms. You can bring your own engines or hire one from about £8. There is only one room at the moment and it is well booked out, but could this be the start of whole new range of features to entice us to stay in hotels?

Are Our Beaches Safe?

Last night the BBC’s Panorama programme looked at the quality of our water at beaches. At the beginning of the programme in tabloid scarey style it pointed out that 43% of beaches provided a chance of us catching gastro-enteritis.