Kirrily Schwarz

Stumbling against the wind, as the hood of my borrowed jacket flaps behind me like a ribbon, my near-frozen fingers fumble with my phone.

Some people say a holiday starts with the booking process. They love reading hotel reviews, selecting activities, researching restaurants and lovingly entering the details into a colour-coded spreadsheet. I say a holiday starts at the airport. I book trips because I want to go away, not because I want to chain myself to a desk and navigate a seemingly endless stream of trip-related websites, emails and calls.

Sometimes an off-the-shelf itinerary combining a dream destination with stress-free convenience is exactly what you need. Here's how to score the best package holiday deal at the right price.

Good Friday eve is traditionally one of the busiest days on the roads. We've quizzed the experts and have discovered the ultimate time to hit the road if you want to avoid traffic.

OPINION

Eight people have accused Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) of abandoning them on a tiny island in Africa after a private tour ran late and the group missed the embarkation cut-off time.