International hotels

• Living the real Emily in Paris dream at the city's gorgeous new hotel La Fantaisie (and beyond)

   

  The unveiling of a fabulously OTT new hotel in Paris gave us the perfect reason to jump on the Eurostar and head across to France for a quick Parisian minibreak. Here's where we stayed, ate and drank during our stay. 

• Travel notes: Ballynahinch Castle is the perfect country bolthole on the west coast of Ireland

   

  Take a break from the craziness of city life by heading to the country estate of Ballynahinch Castle on the west coast of Ireland. Go wild swimming in the lake, enjoy a pint of Guinness in the pub and try the much-vaunted restaurant by an award-winning Irish chef.

• Checking into METT Marbella - a luxury new beachfront hangout on the Costa del Sol

   

  Right on the beach between Marbella and Estepona, you'll find the METT Marbella - a five-star hotel where everyone is having fun in the sun. We checked in to see if the food and hospitality lived up to the luxe look and feel.

• Test Driving La Zambra - an eighties celeb hangout in Mijas gets a 5 star makeover

   

  Barely a 20-minute drive from Malaga airport is La Zambra. The resort where The Rolling Stones once holidayed has been given a proper 21st Century makeover (with excellent Andalusian-inspired food). We flew over for a look. 

• 48 hours in Grenada: where to eat, drink and stay in the Spanish tapas capital

  

  One of Andalucia's best-known cities for its history and architecture, Granada is also the city of the tapa where every drink gets you a free dish. We spent a happy 48 hours wandering the streets and finding the best places to eat and drink.

• Test Driving The Morrison Room at Carton House - fine dining surrounded by Irish history

  

  We head to Carton House hotel in Ireland to see what The Dorchester's ex-head chef is cooking up in the extremely impressive surroundings of The Morrison Room. 

• 48 hours in Malaga: where to eat, drink and stay in the Andalusian coastal city

  

  Use our handy two-day itinerary to make the most of a mini-break in this always-sunny Andalusian city.

• Travel notes: dining with Greek chefs abroad at Elix, a Mar-Bella Collection hotel on the Ionian coast

  

  Luxury Greek hotel Elix welcomed back a Greek chef who made his name in London this summer. We joined ex-Kiln chef Nick Molyviatis for three days of feasting by the Ionian sea.

• Travel notes: Nordelaia is a perfect Piedmont haven for foodies

  

  This stylish new boutique hotel in the hills of Piedmont sets great store by its food and drink offering. We predict it's going to become a massive hit with London's food-obsessed travellers

• Travel notes: Richard Corrigan's Virginia Park Lodge is the perfect Irish retreat

  

  Richard Corrigan's Virginia Park Lodge estate has been a labour of love for the London-based chef. We took a two-day trip to check out the delights of the 18th-century hunting lodge turned 21st-century country retreat.

• Checking into Castlemartyr resort in Cork - a five star foodie stay

  

  Barely an hour's flight from London you'll find this five star Irish resort hotel complete with stunning new restaurant and plenty to keep you busy for a short break. 

• Lobster buffets and poolside treats - Hot Dinners checks into Jardin del Sol in Mallorca

  

  Looking for a sunshine break that promises Londoners total relaxation? This Mallorcan hideaway fits the bill...

• Pasta making and wine tasting - Hot Dinners travels to Tuscany

  

  We head to the Rennaisance Tuscany Il Ciocco for a quick Autumn break. Barely a two hour flight from London, and you could be learning how to make ravioli, enjoying biodynamic wine at the vineyard which makes it or just lolling by the pool. Yes, it's fair to say we liked Tuscany quite a lot...

• Test Driving Culler de Pau - a restaurant on the edge of Galicia where location is everything

  

  Here on the very edge of Galicia - out on the O Grove peninsula, a Spanish chef is wowing diners with ultra local dishes given a very modernist treatment.

• Checking into the InterContinental Lyon - Hotel Dieu - a piece of Lyonnais history gets the luxe hotel makeover

  There's been somewhere for weary travellers to rest their heads on this site in Lyon since the 12th century, but the latest makeover is altogether more five star than before.