The Spanish capital has grown up and become one of Europe's leading live music destinations, says Anthony Ham.

  From California to upstate New York, a new generation of 'boutique motels' is shaking off its downbeat image and attracting a cool new clientele. Charles Gandee checks out five of the best.

  The only thing city boy Thomas Quinnhad ever killed was a wasp. Could he really bring himself to shoot a deer on a stalking trip in the Highlands?

  Want to live out your Lawrence of Arabia fantasies but can only spare a couple of days off work? Tom Robbinstravels to Oman for a weekend in the Empty Quarter - 250,000 square miles of nothing but dunes.

  Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, a pretty 18th-century coaching inn in Durham and an all-night kebab shop in London - eating out has never been sexier say Joe Warwickand Rebecca Seal.

  Airbus staked everything on the world's largest airliner. Now at last it'sready for its maiden flight.

  ... the most exciting way to see Everest?

  Harry Connick Jr, musician

  Ed Gillespie boards a cargo ship in Melbourne on the latest leg of his round-the-world trip, and finds that while carbon emissions are low, the same cannot be said of nicotine levels.

  After years of neglect, our seaside resorts are finally starting to get the love and attention they deserve. Jasper Gerardlooks at how the British coast got cool again.

  Tom Hallof Lonely Planet answers your questions about worldwide travel.

  To baldly go where no guest has gone before