Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jump to content
Sign up to our newsletters
Independent
BulletinTrump latest
More
Best
TV

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Lucy Thackray image

Lucy Thackray

@Lucyinthesky22

Lucy Thackray is a freelance travel writer. As well as being a huge advocate for solo and independent travel, she's most interested in food and drink, spa and wellness, and hotel and airline innovations.

<p>Lefkada has mindblowingly beautiful beaches</p>
Greece

Best Greek island hopping routes for 2025

<p>Greece offers far more than its famed sun-drenched beaches and picturesque islands. </p>
Greece

The perfect Greece holiday destination for every type of traveller

<p>Here are the must-haves for summer holiday packing </p>
Inspiration

Your ultimate summer holiday packing list

<p>Picturesque corner of a quaint hill town in Italy</p>
Italy

How can I buy a €1 house in Italy?

<p>Seattle was found to be the world’s safest city for solo travellers in 2023</p>
USA

10 of the best under-the-radar US cities for solo female travellers

<p>The Manhattan skyline at sunset, New York City</p>
New York

How to do the perfect New York city break

<p>‘I had no frame of reference for childbirth other than Mumsnet stories and movies’</p>
Lifestyle

Where are all the positive birth stories?

<p>Miami South Beach, Florida</p>
Miami

A city guide to Miami, Florida: Best places to stay, eat and shop

<p>‘I’m not alone – plenty of couples in their thirties are shuffling life’s deck of cards and throwing out the traditional order’ </p>
Lifestyle

Are weddings on the way out? My fiance and I dodged it with no regrets

News & Advice

Couple horrified as Qantas moves their baby on to separate flight

<p>Hot sand on toes: the immaculate Monte Cogoni beach </p>
Sardinia

The low-key stretch of Sardinia where locals go to escape superyachts

<p>Friends to rivals: Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Eloise (Claudia Jessie) in ‘Bridgerton’</p>
Lifestyle

Why is a friendship breakdown so much worse than a romantic break-up?

<p>‘While I want to support sustainable fashion, I don’t think you made it clear that it would be six weeks plus before it arrived’ </p>
Lifestyle

I want to buy ethical fashion – but there’s one big problem

Lifestyle

I want to buy ethical fashion – but there’s one big problem

<p>‘While I want to support sustainable fashion, I don’t think you made it clear that it would be six weeks plus before it arrived’ </p>
<p>Valencia in Spain has been lauded as a green travel destination </p>
Inspiration

Why ‘best-of’ travel lists always get it wrong

<p>With WhatsApp messages playing a large part in the Covid inquiry, it’s important to know the boundaries between work and personal life </p>
Lifestyle

WhatsApp at work could ruin your career – is it worth it?

<p>Doing a team challenge is a great way to connect with new people</p>
Inspiration

Could group solo holidays help combat the loneliness epidemic?

<p>Rwanda is a true conservation success story, having more than doubled the gorilla population</p>
Rwanda

Hanging with baby gorillas at Rwanda’s annual newborn-naming ceremony

<p>Rwanda is a true conservation success story, having more than doubled the gorilla population</p>
Rwanda

Hanging with baby gorillas at Rwanda’s annual newborn-naming ceremony

<p>Hawaii’s wildfires created mixed messaging over the summer </p>
News & Advice

How soon is too soon to visit a tourist destination after a disaster?

<p>A snow covered barrel at Skaersogaard Vin, Denmark</p>
Europe

How Nordic wines became the latest trend for savvy travellers

<p>Milos is having a moment</p>
Greece

Why wild, beautiful Milos should be your next Greek island stop

<p>The garden at the Double Red Duke, Cotswolds</p>
England

England’s best foodie hotels and pubs

News & Advice

No, ultra heatwaves are not the latest travel trend to be celebrated

<p>Portrait’s opening is the final touch to a major three-year renovation of the gallery </p>
Food and Drink

National Portrait Gallery’s new restaurant is fabulous upgrade

<p>Expect busy brunches and on-trend places to stay in the Lower East Side </p>
USA

Where to eat, sleep and shop in the Lower East Side

<p>One of several swimming pools beside the ‘Villa’ rooms</p>
Tenerife

The Ritz-Carlton, Abama hotel review: Elegance, fitness and family fun

<p>Portrait’s opening is the final touch to a major three-year renovation of the gallery </p>
Food and Drink

National Portrait Gallery’s new restaurant is fabulous upgrade

<p>Expect busy brunches and on-trend places to stay in the Lower East Side </p>
USA

Where to eat, sleep and shop in the Lower East Side

<p>One of several swimming pools beside the ‘Villa’ rooms</p>
Tenerife

The Ritz-Carlton, Abama hotel review: Elegance, fitness and family fun

<p>Its perch at the edge of the Adriatic helps make Dubrovnik one of the most striking cities in the world</p>
Dubrovnik

The best things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia’s coastal crowd-pleaser

Dubrovnik

The best things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia’s coastal crowd-pleaser

<p>Its perch at the edge of the Adriatic helps make Dubrovnik one of the most striking cities in the world</p>
<p>Top places to stay include original seaside hotel The Brudenell </p>
Travel

How this Suffolk coastal town became the UK’s answer to the Hamptons

<p>The Greek island of Santorini </p>
Greece

The ultimate Greece travel guide

<p>Spring brings clouds but not crowds to Dubrovnik</p>
Croatia

Discovering the joys of off-season Croatia

<p>Shell pinks and striking art pep up the lobby</p>
London

Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush is the west London hotel for trendy travellers

<p>Shell pinks and striking art pep up the lobby</p>
London

Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush is the west London hotel for trendy travellers

<p>We know what they had – or we feel we do</p>
Voices

Why I can’t get over Taylor Swift’s latest breakup

<p>‘I grew up reaching for the almost-butter, the lighter version – the imposter’ </p>
Food and Drink

Real butter has become my small rebellion against diet culture

<p>Colourful murals on the side of Arlo Wynwood in Miami</p>
Miami

How to explore Wynwood, Miami’s coolest neighbourhood

<p>The main event: This place is all about its light, freshly-fried croquetas</p>
Food & Drink

Bar Kroketa, review: Deep-fried everything and lots of chemistry

<p>Zou Zou’s has ‘power lunch’ written all over it</p>
IndyEats

Eight of the best new eats in New York City

<p>Uni (sea urchin) served raw in its shell at Mayha</p>
Food and Drink

Mayha, London, review: An intimate omakase restaurant for Japan fans

<p>Emily turned her passion for buses into an epic adventure</p>
UK

Meet the Londoner who travelled all the way to Scotland by £2 bus

<p>The Delta flight landed back in Edinburgh shortly after take-off</p>
News & Advice

Passenger blasts Delta for ‘shambolic’ service after emergency landing

<p>Guests will sleep in the ‘Box of Honour’ within the opera house’s auditorium</p>
Paris

Phantom of the Opera ‘phans’ can stay overnight at Paris opera house

<p>All flights grounded on Valentine’s Day amid extreme weather</p>
News & Advice

Air New Zealand cancels all flights from Auckland Airport amid storms

<p>Time to reflect: train travel can be slow, but enchanting</p>
Rail Travel

Meet the slow travellers choosing trains and buses over planes

Rail Travel

Meet the slow travellers choosing trains and buses over planes

<p>Time to reflect: train travel can be slow, but enchanting</p>
<p>The incident was aboard a United Airlines flight</p>
News & Advice

United Airlines flight plummets 1,400ft in under a minute

<p>Beaulieu, Hampshire was named one of the top places to live</p>
UK

‘Unpronouncable’ village is one of best places to live in UK

<p>The Disney fan posted video of herself bursting into tears on walking into the theme park</p>
News & Advice

‘Like a religion’: Viral video reignites debate over ‘Disney adults’

<p>Jennifer Lopeze on Jimmel Kimmel last month </p>
News & Advice

You can now go on a cruise curated by Jennifer Lopez

<p>Jennifer Lopeze on Jimmel Kimmel last month </p>
News & Advice

You can now go on a cruise curated by Jennifer Lopez

<p>The incident happened on 10 January </p>
News & Advice

‘This is it, we’re going down’: Man describes terrifying Qatar plummet

<p>Several customers have gone viral for sharing bills of over €400 for a few items</p>
Greece

Tripadvisor issues alert over restaurant that charged €800 for seafood

<p>Know your temple etiquette: if you don’t know, ask</p>
News & Advice

Don’t ask to swap seats but it’s fine to recline: New travel etiquette

<p>Naomi called out the Queensland hotel for outfit shaming her</p>
News & Advice

OnlyFans influencer slams beach hotel for telling her to cover up

<p>This is the one for spacious, country-club-style luxury</p>
Morocco

Le Selman hotel review: A palatial hideaway outside stylish Marrakech

<p>Members of the Syrian civil defence search for survivors under the rubble following an earthquake </p>
Turkey

Are Turkey flights and holidays cancelled after 7.8 earthquake?

<p>A Coulson 737 Fireliner in action</p>
News & Advice

Pilots miraculously walk away unharmed after plane crash in Australia

<p>Incident happened before a 4pm Jet2 flight</p>
News & Advice

Man jailed for attacking airport staff while drunk

<p>The flight was operated by Russian carrier Azur Air</p>
News & Advice

Russian plane catches fire during take-off in Thailand

<p>The finish line for the experiment was the EU Parliament building in Brussels</p>
Europe

Plane vs train: Travel experts race from London to Brussels

News & Advice

Couple leaves baby at airport check-in to avoid paying more for flight

News & Advice

Couple leaves baby at airport check-in to avoid paying more for flight

<p>The Indian passenger was travelling with American Airlines </p>
News & Advice

Cancer patient deplaned after ‘repeatedly asking for help with bag’

<p>The sceney rooftop at El Fenn buzzes day and night</p>
Morocco

Introducing El Fenn, a riad reimagined for the glitterati

<p>Wife was left with two year old in economy cabin</p>
News & Advice

Man books wife and toddler economy class – while he flies business

<p>There’s a host of new ways to plan, book and search for trips</p>
Inspiration

Eight new travel apps and websites changing the way we book holidays

<p>There’s a host of new ways to plan, book and search for trips</p>
Inspiration

Eight new travel apps and websites changing the way we book holidays

<p>The airline said it had simply reminded colleagues of safety rules</p>
News & Advice

British Airways denies ‘banning’ pilots and crew from social media

<p>Airlines were granted an amnesty on slots in June 2022</p>
News & Advice

Airlines must ‘use or lose’ flight slots as UK airport amnesty ends

<p>Seth Rogen in his LA home with studio</p>
News & Advice

Seth Rogen fans can make pottery with him during unique Airbnb stay

<p>Las Vegas minibar prices proved steep</p>
News & Advice

Las Vegas tourist shocked by $31 bottle of water in hotel minibar

<p>The incident happened on a Cebu Pacific plane in Davao, Philippines</p>
News & Advice

Woman kicked off Philippines flight for making bomb joke

<p>The plane was met by police shortly after landing at Gatwick</p>
News & Advice

British Airways flight attendant arrested for ‘being drunk on plane’

<p>Berber-style lounge tents are great for watching the sunset</p>
Morocco

Welcome to Caravan Agafay, the glam new desert camp outside Marrakech

<p>The airport baggage handler poses in front of the first haul of bags</p>
News & Advice

Video shows what 100 bags look like packed in a plane’s cargo hold

<p>The Ortakoy Mosque in Istanbul</p>
News & Advice

US Embassy issues warning about terrorist attacks in Turkey

<p>The Emirates flight turned around and diverted to Dubai</p>
News & Advice

Emirates passengers stuck on 13-hour flight to nowhere

<p>Ms Crumpton was bound for Auckland, New Zealand</p>
News & Advice

UK grandmother ‘devastated’ after being denied boarding to New Zealand

<p>Innes Fitzgerald competing in the U20 women’s 4,000m in Turin, Italy</p>
News & Advice

UK’s ‘Greta Thunberg of sport’ refuses to fly to compete in Australia

<p>Allison’s group laughs hysterically as they’re served the lone chicken nugget</p>
News & Advice

Guests served ‘singular chicken nugget’ on ‘five-star dinner cruise’

<p>To fly or not to fly? UK air travellers are poorly informed, says CAA</p>
News & Advice

UK must be clearer about carbon cost of flights, says aviation body

<p>The Delta crew member sat in the aisle to hold the passenger’s hand</p>
News & Advice

Flight attendant goes viral for soothing woman with fear of flying

<p>Ms Richardson began filming after she felt ‘disrespected’ by a crew member</p>
News & Advice

Sha’Carri Richardson shares video as she’s removed from flight

<p>To fly or not to fly? UK air travellers are poorly informed, says CAA</p>
News & Advice

UK must be clearer about carbon cost of flights, says aviation body

<p>The Delta crew member sat in the aisle to hold the passenger’s hand</p>
News & Advice

Flight attendant goes viral for soothing woman with fear of flying

<p>Ms Richardson began filming after she felt ‘disrespected’ by a crew member</p>
News & Advice

Sha’Carri Richardson shares video as she’s removed from flight

<p>King Charles arrives in Manchester</p>
News & Advice

King Charles travels Scotland-Manchester on £25,000-a-journey train

<p>Machu Picchu typically sees 1.5 million visitors per year</p>
News & Advice

Tourists evacuated from Machu Picchu amid violent protests

<p>The TikTok user was not impressed with a fellow passenger’s request</p>
News & Advice

Woman applauded for defending passenger asked to swap seats on flight

<p>Shimmering chain mail waves hang from the ceiling</p>
Food and Drink

Shiro, review: Japanese minimalism lands in glossy Broadgate Circle

<p>The new ‘Private Jet Villa’ is being readied for guests</p>
Bali

Boeing 737 plane reborn as £5,920-a-night ‘private jet villa’ in Bali

<p>Mr Allen enjoyed the full crew - and snacks - of a Virgin Australia flight</p>
News & Advice

Traveller enjoys ‘private jet’ experience as only passenger on plane

<p>Passengers sat for two hours as the plane circled close to Sydney</p>
News & Advice

Qantas Fiji flight makes U-turn after take-off in Sydney

<p>A reduced Eurostar service will run on Thursday and Friday</p>
News & Advice

Eurostar cancels dozens of trains due to France general strike

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in