Cindy-Lou Dale

England, in the pink: Gay weddings have hit the headlines in December 2005 when Sir Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, were among the first formally recognized same-sex unions in England. Same sex couples can now finally gain legal recognition of their relationship and officially celebrate tying the knot, surrounded by the people that matter to them. Further...

The Heritage of Bruges: It is difficult to sum up the magic of Brugge placid bottle-green canals with steeped-roofed medieval houses, market squares and slumbering parks in just a few words. The city’s impressive cultural and artistic heritage is famed throughout the world and has turned Brugge into one of Europe’s major tourist destinations. Its medieval streets, its winding canals and its green ramparts charm hundred of thousands of visitors each year. Further...

Hostellerie de Hamert, Holland: Asparagus is big in Arcen. It was first introduced to the district some fifty years ago by the Smits family who own and run the stylish Romantik Hostellerie de Hamert restaurant - legendary across Europe for its marvellous asparagus menu. During the short asparagus season, mid-April to end-June, Chef Harold Kok, allows his creativity to flow in the kitchen, producing the most ingenious asparagus based dishes. Further…

Hostellerie de Schuddebeurs, Holland: This character hotel offers 22 comfortable rooms and a Bridal-Suite which was once a Toll House. Four luxury bungalows have been converted into tasteful suites with terraces overlooking wild lush gardens. Throughout, the hotel oozes classic charm. The bar, which has a superb wine selection, and lounge area have a gentleman’s club feel about it with overstuffed leather chairs, a library, classic art, a maze of chandeliers and antiques. Further…

Hotel Recour, Belgium: Nostalgia seeps from the eight spacious rooms which have all been individually decorated in muted shades of Tuscan honey, vanilla, buttercup, and soft moss against rough brick walls in hues of cocoa and bark. Dark wooden beams support high ceilings whilst four poster beds, the colour of bitter chocolate, are adorned with ice-white linens. Further…

Romantik Hotel Bellevue, Germany: The spotless interior of this architectural gem is filled with priceless art nouveau antiques - from its original stained glass windows, to the gramophone standing atop a 1917 electric piano in the salon, to a guest board in the reception area. The ambience is so authentic you half expect a character from an Agatha Christie novel to appear at any moment. Further…

Hotel Eden Parc, Germany: Some people’s fascination with gourmet dining has been somewhat of a mystery to me. Let’s be honest – gourmet food is pretty much of a ‘sameness’ and only promises the hint of taste, a taste you can never quite place. However, my view was quickly dissolved when I sampled Eden Parc’s gourmet food. Let’s just say they were sufficiently dispelled to the point that I urge you to book a flight – yes, it is that good - and a table at the Cheval Blanc restaurant and experience Head Chefs’ Christoph Hauber and Thomas Schmidt’s creations. Further…

Bristol Hotel, Frankfurt, Germany: This contemporary theme is carried through to the 145 guest rooms, but brought up a notch by addding subtle caramel lighting, havanna and stone striped carpets and buttercup-coloured leather upholstered furnishings. But the designer detail falls short in the bathroom which, although still hip, lacks space and a bath. Further...

The IceHotel, Sweden: 200 kilometers into the Arctic Circle, lies the village of Jukkasjärvi, home to the Ice Hotel -- the world’s largest hotel made entirely of ice and snow. At the end of October, each year, around thirty local artists and builders start carving and constructing a hotel, ahead of the arrival of the first guests in mid-December. Further...

Hostellerie du Grunewald, Luxembourg: The dessert plate was an assortment of mouth-watering micro-portions of lime sorbet, banana ice-cream, rhubarb pie, crème brulette, strawberry flan, and chocolate moose. Again, staying on the right side of sweet and leaving one with a feeling of having indulged in pure unadulterated luxury. Further...

Austrian Gasthof: The concept of a non-smoking restaurant is foreign to most Europeans, so eating in the sumptuous hotel restaurant was out of the question. The head waiter suggested I find somewhere else to eat if cigarette smoke upset me. Further...

Uhu Villa, Budapest: The villa has been decorated with care, like the charming sitting rooms with beamed ceilings, in muted tones of Ferrari beige and raw cotton, with corridors in sand, and suites in clotted cream, and tastefully enhanced with antiques and old prints. Further...

Mexico - Chocolates, anyone?: Chocolate's aphrodisiac properties have given it a sexy reputation but the cacao bean has been used for centuries by ancient cultures for its healing properties. Now the Maya Spa is able to include this therapy in their other traditional Mayan treatments -- with some truly decadent options to lift the spirits and gives people a feeling of total indulgence without the guilt. Further...

Hoff of Holland, The Netherlands: I watched in quite bemusement as an elderly gentleman held up a slice of something to the light and solemnly inspected it, he then ceremoniously eased it into his mouth, sat back, closed his eyes and savored the moment. His captive audience waited for his reaction, open-mouthed. After a few moments he placed gathered fingers to his pursed lips and blew a kiss. Everyone at his tabled tucked in excitedly. Further...

Aaron House, Isle of Man, UK: Aaron House is a grand and sympathetically restored 12-bedroomed Victorian home, built in 1897, with truly splendid views across Chapel Bay. Owned and managed by the Berrie family, Aaron House was re-created in authentic Victorian flavors, complete with staff dressed in period costumes, bringing an authentic nineteenth century atmosphere into the home. Further...