John Bills

Society may have revised what post-pandemic work looks like, but post-work drinks? That’s a staple that won’t go away anytime soon. Leave it to Chicago’s best cocktail bars and restaurants to offer enticing happy hour drinks and food pairings, from yuquita fries and lavender-infused vodka cocktails to oysters and martinis. Whether you’ve been hard-pressed to get a reservation at a popular restaurant, want to kick back with coworkers and a few pitchers of sangria, or impress a date with your board game skills, the best happy hours in Chicago offer plenty of entertainment—4pm karaoke, anyone?—and atmosphere to spice up any day of the week. 

You can never have enough love in your life, especially when the world around us seems more chaotic than ever. Luckily for lovers worldwide, the planet is packed with romantic places that will simultaneously take your breath away and steal your heart, filling the lungs with love and excitement in equal measure. We live in an incredible corner of the universe, that cannot be denied. From idyllic island paradises to charming cities and vibrant villages, we’ve scoured the globe in search of the most romantic places in the world. The final selection covers the classics while introducing a couple of places you might not be aware of: secret spots for you and yours to plan the rest of eternity together. RECOMMENDED: The 27 most brilliantly colourful places in the world

The most romantic time of the year can be a little difficult for some. Heartbreak is a very real thing, and it can sometimes feel impossible to shake. One failsafe remedy is to go travelling. Setting off on a solo journey can often blow away the cobwebs and frame the world in a new, brighter light. Luckily for us all, the world is filled with incredible destinations waiting to mend broken hearts of all kind. Our pick of the best solo travel destinations in the world covers everything from Caribbean charmers to the old cities of Europe, with loads of other kinds of adventure in between. No matter what you’re into, you’ll find plenty of it here. What better way to fix the pain of lost love than by mulling over your next big holiday? RECOMMENDED: The 27 most brilliantly colourful places in the world

  Portmeirion is unique, there’s no doubting the way. Celebrated architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis dreamt up this magnificent marriage of Italian style and Welsh charm back in 1925, but it took years to put together. Good things come to those who wait, and the end result is one of the most beautiful spots in Wales, one of the most romantic places in the UK and a tourist village unlike any other. Portmeirion is a must-see destination and then some. These are the best things to do in Portmeirion, although it must be stressed that just looking at the beauty of it all comes first.   

Cardiff is a lively city. That is especially true on big sporting days when it can feel as though the entire Welsh nation comes out in force to cheer on the team in red. Luckily for visitors to the capital, the Welsh nation happens to be tremendously friendly, and Cardiff is a great microcosm of this. It is also a gorgeous city. That never hurts. The best things to do in Cardiff cover every category, be it innovative restaurants to the best museums in Wales. If you’re looking to squeeze all of this into a day then check out our handy guide to the perfect day in the capital, and then set about exploring the best of the rest that Wales has to offer. You’re in for a serious treat, butty.

It is the most romantic time of the year. Valentine’s Day may be greeted with a certain level of cynicism by some portions of the population, but the past couple of years will surely have blown away some of that. After all, you can never have enough joy in your life, and what is more joyful than exploring the most romantic corners of the UK? It sure beats whatever is happening in the news. Get out into all the beautiful countryside, charming towns and incredible coastline that the UK has to offer.  There is something inherently romantic about this country. Maybe it’s all the history, the poetry, the love songs – or maybe it’s simply the gorgeous places in which all of this comes together. But there’s no point worrying about where it comes from. Planning a loved-up weekend getaway in the UK? Head out and explore one of these thoroughly romantic holiday destinations. RECOMMENDED: The 33 best things to do in the UK

The best restaurants in Cardiff are here to fill up that tummy and put a smile on that face. How could they fail? Some of the best chefs in the United Kingdom have found their way to the Welsh capital with innovation the name of the game, leading to a roster of restaurants that are the rival of any other going. Eating in Cardiff has become one of the best things to do here, the perfect end to the perfect day in the capital. Everything from fine dining to homely chomping awaits, so get planning a trip to Cardiff and don’t forget the appetite. 

Teletrabalho obrigatório. Escolas encerradas. E nós a pensar em viagens. Claro – vale tudo para não desanimar. E em 2022 não vão faltar razões para dar a volta ao mundo. Aberturas de museus impressionantes, exposições campeãs de likes nas redes sociais, peças de teatro imersivas, festivais de música e até um parque temático de Game of Thrones: todas são óptimas desculpas para apanhar um avião e conhecer uma nova cidade ou revisitar um sítio onde fomos felizes. Seleccionámos 22 destinos e coisas para descobrir em 2022, um género de bucket list do ano novo, em tom de esperança no que aí vem. Recomendado: Precisa de ajuda para cumprir as suas resoluções de ano novo? Aqui vai  

The last time we made this list was in the heady days of January 2020. Remember them? There’d been rumblings of a virus originating in a wet market in Wuhan, but life was pretty much normal in most parts of the world. We did our thing. We made plans. We looked forward to a whole load of new cultural stuff happening around the world that year. Except basically none of it did. Music, art, theatre: all involve gathering loads of people together in often crowded spaces. Not good during the Panny D. Big openings were cancelled. Festival season was a write-off. We even stopped writing about going out altogether and rebranded as something called Time In. Throughout it all, our planners looked depressingly empty. But now, happily, we live in a world where vaccines have allowed things to return to some semblance of normality. And while we skipped a 2021 edition of this definitive global events and openings calendar, we’re pretty confident that almost all of the amazing things you’ll find below will happen next year. So, Omi C permitting (someone had to start calling it that), here are the 22 best new things to do in the world in 2022, from massive new museums to huge gigs, theatre shows and art exhibitions you won’t want to miss. RECOMMENDED: The 16 best city breaks in Europe for 2022

A wander down Leith Walk is an absolute must when in Edinburgh, but this isn’t your everyday stroll. The main artery connecting the city’s famous Leith neighbourhood to the very centre of the city, the street itself is a conveyor belt of bars, pubs, restaurants and historic buildings that offer a charming picture of the Scottish capital in a nutshell – although by ‘nutshell’ we obviously mean ‘historic thoroughfare’. People have been sauntering back and forth in these parts since the times of King James II, with plenty of controversy and excitement over the centuries. What does the future hold for Leith Walk? Predicting such things is never wise, but the present looks pretty exciting. Make a beeline for these can’t miss spots and you’ll be in for quite the adventure. RECOMMENDED: the best things to do in Edinburgh

The best beaches in the UK? Okay, there’s always going to be an element of bias to these things, but the parts of Wales where sand meets sea are up there with the best this part of the world has to offer. This country has 1,680 miles of coastline to play with and it more than makes hay, with gorgeous beaches waiting from Anglesey to the Gower. Does it get any better than lazing by the sea? Look no further than our pick of the best beaches in Wales.

The cream of the crop, the best of the best, the ultimate bucket list. Putting together such a list is far from easy but it also happens to be a joyful task. What’s not to love about a pint-sized country that holds beautiful nature, curious history, innovative culture and all the rest within its borders? Wales is special in every possible way, and these 11 destinations represent the nation at its most glittering. Wales itself is the best place to visit, and these are the best places to visit in Wales.