Take me there: Maastricht
Why go?
OK, so it’s not Rio, but Maastricht knows how to throw a carnival party, albeit with brass bands and giant puppets instead of samba and sequins. Even if you visit outside the raucous pre-Lenten street celebrations (15-17 February) there’s plenty to enjoy. Maastricht University attracts an international mix of students and the choice of cool places to stay and eat, arthouse cinemas and alternative shops makes this one of Europe’s most underrated destinations.
What to do
Start your explorations in one of the city’s two handsome squares: het Vrijthof, overlooked by the imposing Sint-Servaas Basilica, or the Markt, where you’ll find the town hall and Maastricht’s biggest food and flower market. Once you’ve seen the main sights – the old-town fortifications, Bonnefantenmuseum with its paintings by Brueghel and Rubens and the Sint-Servaasbrug bridge – wander into the Wyck neighbourhood, a perfect spot for people-watching (try Café Zondag on Wycker Brugstraat 42) and browsing in the second-hand and artisan shops. Then visit the Centre Céramique (centreceramique.nl) a cultural space with a creative programme of exhibitions and theatre, or the Lumière Cinema (lumiere.nl), which shows arthouse films.
Where to stay
Boutique Hotel Grote Gracht opened last year in a quiet street off Vrijthof square. The style is low-key elegance with French antiques. Doubles from £65 (boutiquehotelsintjacob.nl).
Where to eat
The restaurant at the Marres contemporary arts centre serves a menu of Mediterranean and Asian-inspired dishes. In the summer you can eat outside or stroll in the lovely gardens (marres.org/en/kitchen).
Insider tip
Raoul Spronken, who offers running and sightseeing tours (maastrichtrunning tours.nl), recommends hiring a bike at the station and cycling along the river to Restaurant Sofa (sofamaastricht.nl). “It’s a great place for lunch and the route takes you past the Bonnefantenmuseum into the modern Céramique quarter.”
Give me a break
Home: romantic Cornish break
Treat your loved one to a romantic break at the St Moritz hotel in north Cornwall during February and you’ll each receive a pair of Rockfish wellington boots (celebrity fans include Kate Moss), breakfast in bed, and a chilled bottle of champagne and chocolate truffles in your room on arrival. A one-night break, including a three-course dinner for two, costs from £239 (stmoritzhotel.co.uk).
Away: Turkish villas at ‘tester’ rates
Agree to give feedback on one of Exclusive Escapes’s latest villas in Turkey for 2015 and you get to stay for “tester rates” – approximately 50% less than the 2016 brochure prices. Valid for travel from May to October, offers apply to bookings made by April. A week at Waterside villa, near Göcek, with glass roof and pool costs from £1,100pp based on two sharing, including flights (exclusiveescapes.co.uk).
