Travel

Europe, Asia and the Americas all have late-spring and early-autumn sweet spots. Here are favourites where the weather holds but the queues disappear.

The exact clothes, toiletries and tech that survive two weeks in one bag, tested across cold cities, warm beaches and one unplanned business meeting.

Not every European capital has priced out the average traveller. A shortlist of cities where good food, good coffee and decent stays still cost reasonable money.

Some islands take a full day to reach. These are the ones where the extra travel genuinely pays off in scenery, food and a pace your phone cannot disturb.