Travel has a habit of surprising us. The places we travel furthest to see often leave us wanting more, while the ones closest to home can take years to appreciate. Sometimes the destination changes us. Sometimes it simply changes the way we see what's been there all along. That balance runs throughout this month's Home and Away edition: 20+ Sensational Saudi Escapes.
We begin at home, although perhaps not the version most people expect. In The Great Saudi Escape (p. 30), Olivia Bateman takes us through a Kingdom of misty highlands, forgotten caravan routes, and coastlines that deserve far more attention than they receive. Staycation Kingdom (p. 18) showcases some of Saudi Arabia's finest resorts, making a compelling case for staying put. From railway stations reborn as hotels to overwater villas and desert sanctuaries, there is no shortage of reasons to rethink what a holiday at home can look like.
Naturally, there comes a point in every summer when someone suggests Europe. Our European coastal guide (p. 24) narrows the options to five destinations, each worth the flight for very different reasons. Whether you're after lively harbours or quieter corners of the coast, you'll find plenty to like here. Summer is too short for mediocre views and avoidable restaurant bookings, so we've gladly done the legwork for you.
Elsewhere, Osama Jaberti travels to Ethiopia expecting one experience, only to find another (p. 76). From the organised bustle of Merkato to the calm of Wenchi Crater Lake and Bishoftu, every stop challenges his assumptions. Mohammed Alruwais finds a different kind of escape at Miraval The Red Sea (p. 48). The spa, the suites, and the sea views are all memorable, but what lingers longest is something less tangible: the chance to disconnect.
Wherever this summer takes you, whether close to home or further afield, I hope you return with a story worth telling.
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