Britain's obsession with driving makes car journey times even longer Britain's continuing obsession with driving has helped make journey times on our most congested road even longer.

Holidaymakers turn to eastern Europe as euro prices surge Hundreds of thousands of families are abandoning the Costa del Sol and other traditional holiday destinations for eastern Europe and north Africa to escape the punitive euro exchange rate.

Twenty tips: Travelling in a car with children As schools break up, and suitcases are loaded into boots, Tim Jepson chooses the best ways to keep children happy in the back of the car.

Venice with children If you want to whet young appetites rather than give them cultural indigestion, your visit to La Serenissima needs careful organisation. Pamela Goodman draws up a 10-point plan.

Prussia by water: Boating in northern Germany No one expects a laidback Prussia, but that's exactly what Cassandra Jardine and her family encountered on a week-long boating holiday north of Berlin.

Travel news in brief The week's travel news includes a warning that other countries may punish tourists in retaliation for a new Home Office plan. That could be a problem since thousands of Britons plan to escape the rainy summer.

Developers 'privatising' the Kerala coast Hotel developers in southern India have been accused of seizing coastal land that was hit by the tsunami of 2004.

Leading airlines cut flights Ryanair and BA are among a number of airlines to have responded to spiralling oil prices by cutting services.

Top three cheapest places to hire a car Rental arithmetic puts Dubai at the top of the car-hire league.

Mother Teresa wins Nelson Mandela icon vote Readers have named their most Mandela-like figures in our South Africa flights competition.

Summer saver guide: low-cost driving Our Savvy Traveller offers advice on keeping the holidays bills down. This week: how to save money when you hit the road.

Irish golf special: Great South-West courses Charles Starmer-Smith battles the water hazards of Killarney and Doonbeg, takes aim at a castle in Lahinch, and finds himself at the mercy of the South-West Irish winds at Ballybunion.

Irish golf special: Lessons from Dave Pelz Nick Trend chips and putts at Dave Pelz's first school outside the US, at Killeen Castle, north of Dublin in Ireland.

Irish golf special: Northern Ireland courses In search of the perfect round, Nick Trend hits the fairways at some of the best clubs in Northern Ireland.

Touring England with toddlers: day three Ben and Dinah Hatch tour Stratford-upon-Avon with their children, as their youngest toddler speaks his first word and Ben fails to fulfil his Shakespearean dreams.

Gill Charlton: On the case Each week our resident expert solves your travel conundrums. This week: a follow-up on Indian visas, the downside to checking in online, and UK travel insurance.

Brits go camping as cost of living hits household budgets British families are turning their backs on holidays abroad in favour of camping trips at home as the rising cost of living continues to put a strain on household budgets.

Ryanair cuts passenger numbers by 900,000 to reduce costs Low cost airline Ryanair has been forced to cut passenger numbers by almost a million this winter as the knock-on effects of rising fuel prices take hold.

The Big Picture competition: round 13 In this latest round of the Big Picture competition, where we invite you to submit your best travel photos, Benjamin Rothwell of Cheadle Hulme wins our prize for his shot capturing a group of holy men in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Highfield Hotel, Cumbria: Room service Patty Burt and her husband travel to the Lake District in Keswick, Cumbria for a dinner, bed and breakfast where they are quite taken by the room - and the number of staff with ponytails.

Holiday health: The flying doctor's casebook What will you bring back from holiday? Nothing but a few souvenirs and a healthy glow if you follow the advice of Dr Richard Dawood.

French Riviera: The region's best beaches In the first of a new series, Paul Wade chooses his three favourite beaches in the South of France.

Michael Urie's heaven and hell Actor Michael Urie talks to Lorraine McBride about disappointed Ugly Betty fans, a disastrous family trip to the Grand Canyon, and why Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas has the best atmosphere of any hotel.

The Vincent, Southport: North-West England New and refurbished places to stay are helping to reshape the image of North-West resorts. Nigel Tisdall checks into The Vincent in Southport.

Number 43, Arnside, Cumbria New and refurbished places to stay are helping to reshape the image of North-West resorts. Nigel Tisdall checks into the Number 43, Arnside in Cumbria.

Midland Hotel, Morecambe: North-West New and refurbished places to stay are helping to reshape the image of North-West resorts. Nigel Tisdall checks into the Midland Hotel in Morecambe.

Barbara Cassani's heaven on Earth The Zambezi river leads Businesswoman Barbara Cassani to an unforgetable holiday in Zambia.

Boden beachwear: Good buy guide Georgia Mann profiles Boden, who make the beachwear of choice for holidaying Middle Englanders from Cornwall to Norfolk.

Under canvas: Camping near Uffington In a moment of weakness, Clover Stroud agreed to go camping every weekend this summer in the UK with her young children. This week, they pitch their tent close to the famous White Horse on the chalk downs near Uffington.

Perugia, Umbria: The perfect break Umbria's hilltop capital, Perugia, is home to Italy's coolest jazz festival and its favourite confectionery. Natasha Edwards tucks in.