Ally Wybrew

UK-based travel and entertainment editor and journalist

House & Garden •

The best hotels in Malta

An unassuming spit of land in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, Malta (and its sister islands Gozo and Comino) is a destination which has it all: ancient history, striking architecture, boundless natural beauty and an exhaustive array of accommodation – not to mention serious sunshine and ocean views for days. As adaptable as it is appealing, these three islands are a generous host for all kinds of bliss-filled getaways: whether it’s lounging by the pool before hitting vibey bars, hiking rugg
House & Garden •

The best things to do in Malta

When it comes to immersive cultural breaks, Europe has a surfeit of options. But few of its cultural meccas can offer quite the seductive mix of deep-rooted history, uniquely flavoured cuisine and unfaltering sunshine as Malta. This tiny, 36 kilometre2 island (and its tinier confederates of Gozo and Comino) in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea is beautiful and beguiling, and the stuff of Greek myths to boot: some historians theorise it’s Thrinacia, the island where sun god Helios kept his favo
Time Out •

The 10 best things to do in Valletta, Malta

Malta wears its Catholicism proudly, with every town and village featuring at least one ornate place of worship – and St John’s Co-Cathedral, slap bang in the middle of Malta, is the country’s crown jewel. Outside, muted Mannerist-style architecture belies an almost overwhelmingly elaborate Baroque interior. Within, nine chapels, a crypt hiding Grand Masters’ tombs, marble headstones denoting famous knights and endless artworks are just the beginning of the building’s many offerings.

Time Out t
Citizen Femme •

Treehouse Retreats In The UK - Stay

Country estates, with expansive manicured grounds and multi-generational activities, have always held a certain allure for Brits – particularly in the summertime. But Cowdray Treehouses are charming in winter, too.

Grand, UK stately homes have long been a seductive summer staycation. Now some of these historic piles are beginning to offer more evergreen attractions, with facilities that lend themselves to the UK’s colder months.

In spring 2023, Cowdray Park in West Sussex launched Treehouse Re
Euronews.com •

Street races, superbowl and a Sphere: What’s on in 2024 in Las Vegas

With its first Formula 1 street race kicking off this month and a Super Bowl on the horizon, Las Vegas is rebranding itself as more than a gambling and pop concert destination, but a sporting hub for global fans.

When a city calls itself the ‘entertainment capital of the world’, visitors’ expectations are understandably high. And in Las Vegas, those expectations are usually met.

Millions of people (approximately 2.9 million in 2019) flock to the desert city for its lavish hotels, A-list entert
Culture Trip •

Tick off Texas with these Three Essential...

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip Looking for an expert's perspective? Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map. An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua. A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also
The Club - British Airways •

What’s the best way to get to Heathrow airport?

What’s the best way to get to Heathrow airport? Heading to London’s busiest airport? Bewildered by the multitude of travel options available to whisk you there from the city centre? Ally Wybrew road tests the pros and cons of each route Fares are calculated on one adult single journey from London’s Zone 1 to Heathrow Terminal 5 taken in September 2023

Travel time: 15 minutes

Price: from £5.50, though usually £25. Full price list here

Departs from: London Paddington Station Pros: This high-spe
DIVE Magazine •

Ten weird and wonderful diving certifications to take this Halloween

Thought taking your trimix course was thrilling? Why not experience a real challenge this spooky season by learning how to survive a zombie apocalypse, master magic or become a CSI diver…

Looking for fun things to do this Hallowe’en? Perhaps it’s time to swat up and branch out with these eccentric PADI specialities, which are set to liven up your diving repertoire.

All these courses count towards the PADI Master Scuba Diver certification, so if you’re looking to earn PADI’s top recreational di
Euronews.com •

Arriving in style: The hotels welcoming guests differently

There’s nothing quite like making a grand entrance, and these luxury properties know it.

While many five-star hotels wow visitors with luxurious lobbies decked out in opulent furnishings and obscure artworks, some don’t wait for guests to walk through the door to make their first impression.

From heady helicopter flights to mountainside funiculars, these are the James Bond-worthy arrival options for some of the world’s most decadent hotels.

By hybrid catamaran and classic funicular to the Bür
Skyscanner's Travel Blog •

Which summer movie will inspire your next holiday?

After inspiration for your next escape? Look no further than the big screen. This season’s films are packed with set-jetting destinations to inspire your next cinematic getaway.

1. Become an action hero in Abu Dhabi

As seen in: Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One

Release date: out now

Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible movies might be one of the most generous franchises ever when it comes to transporting audiences around the world. The previous six films have seen the stuntman-actor cav
Euronews.com •

Do we still need TVs in hotel rooms? These properties don’t think so

With more ways to consume content than ever, the future of the hotel TV is at risk. These hoteliers think so, and it’s about more than cutting costs.

Most of us would agree that in 2023, finding a TV in your hotel room is a pretty safe assumption. Whether it’s a one-star motel or a five-star resort, a flat-screen is all but guaranteed.

But are things changing? With the rise of streaming services and an increasing variety of mobile devices from which users can watch whatever they want, wherever
Culture Trip •

The best scuba diving sites in the Red Seas...

A three-hour drive south of Hurghada – home of plush resorts, plentiful restaurants and a vivacious nightlife – lies Marsa Alam. A sprawling section of Western Egypt lining the Red Sea, the region is less about luxury hotels and heady nightlife, and more about boutique abodes and eco-conscious dive centres. It’s the perfect location for scuba fanatics to enjoy some of the region’s most beautiful underwater attractions, while also leaving a softer carbon footprint than elsewhere. When it comes to
Skyscanner's Travel Blog •

Become a mermaid at these fin-friendly hotels

Even before the release of Disney’s animated The Little Mermaid, swimming under the sea has been compelling to many of us landlubbers.

With the release of a new, live action remake this year, all eyes are on those colourful nymphs. Now, hotels across the world are giving guests the chance to transform into their very own siren of the sea. Fancy a go? Here are four hotels where you can embrace your inner-Ariel and indulge in a truly great mermaid experience.

The Grecian coastline might just be
Skyscanner's Travel Blog •

Seven alternative outdoor destinations to visit this summer

Heading into the great outdoors is often associated with enjoying some serious alone time, but the world’s most beautiful natural spots often attract the crowds.

That’s why we’ve been looking for underrated alternative destinations that are less well-known, so you can enjoy the best nature has to offer in near seclusion. We’ve collated our data to find some of summer’s most searched-for destinations, then scoured average prices for July and August travel to find equally unforgettable – and chea
Women's Health •

'I learnt how to swim like a mermaid wearing a monofin.. and it's harder than it looks'

As I sink to the bottom of the kidney bean-shaped hotel pool, scabbling to grab the end of my yellow monofin while Moves Like Jaggerfades into the bubbly background, I realise that ‘becoming a mermaid’ is a tad more involved than donning a tail and posing evocatively on a photogenic rock.

Amy Froise, my infinitely patient instructor, chuckles as I clumsily try not to sink while practising my cramp release. This involved puttng my legs straight out at 90 degrees from my hip and grabbing the end
The Club - British Airways •

BA - The Club - The King and us: a royal history

In just under three weeks’ time, the UK will be unfurling the bunting for the coronation of its first king in 71 years, Charles III. And while his mother’s lifelong partnership with us may be well documented, aviation smarts aren’t lost on this monarch, either. The Club looks back at the former pilot’s relationship with his flag-carrying airline of choice...


For those flying during the coronation celebrations next month, the event will be streamed on board alongside a specially designed coron
Citizen Femme •

Is Antarctica Worth It? - Inspire Me

The mythical Seventh Continent is over 4,500 miles away from the nearest landmass, averages -30 degrees Celsius and has no beaches or hotels. Is the Great White Continent really worth your time, effort and expense? Ally Wybrew finds out.

AW: To say getting to the South Pole from the UK is a mission is an understatement. From London, it took five entire days (including a stop over in Buenos Aires) before I stepped foot on the Antarctic Peninsula. Jet lag and motion sickness combined to make it t
Luxury Lifestyle Magazine - Luxury Lifestyle Magazine •

Best things to do in Malta’s magnificent Mdina: The essential luxury guide to the ‘Silent City’

Valletta might be the jewel in Malta’s well-walled crown, but the capital isn’t the only of the country’s pretty cities to boast luxurious accommodation, high-end gastronomy and to-die-for views. The ‘Silent City’ (and former capital) Mdina, is Malta’s other walled city, and though smaller, is arguably more perfectly formed, with (mostly) car-free, honey-coloured streets, mediaeval history and a pleasingly exclusive feel.

LLM travel writer Ally Wybrew takes a look at this Mediterranean gem’s be
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Entertainment

Picturehouses •

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes | Picturehouse Recommends

Released in 2012, The Hunger Games rewrote the fantasy film rule book, minted Jennifer Lawrence as a bona fide movie star, and kickstarted a series that went on to generate nearly $3bn at the box office.

Now, more than 10 years since the dystopian trilogy whipped audiences into a frenzy of fandom, "tributes" get to dive back into Suzanne Collins' dark but captivating world, courtesy of this much- anticipated prequel.

Set 64 years before Katniss took her sister's place in the games, The Ballad
Picturehouses •

Haunted Mansion | Picturehouse Recommends

Since the rollicking success of the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise , Disney has searched for cinematic tales inspired by its own theme park rides that can deliver the same level of thrills as their real-life counterparts.

Following on from The Country Bears, Tomorrowland and Jungle Cruise, Justin Simien's Haunted Mansion is set to recreate the heady highs of another classic Disney ride – this time with the emphasis on spooky spectacle.

The Haunted Mansion ride opened in Disneyland in 1969
Picturehouses •

What's Love Got To Do With It? | Picturehouse Recommends

Following the success of Ticket To Paradise, the big-screen rom-com revival continues apace with legendary Working Title producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner (Four Weddings And A Funeral, Billy Elliot, Pride & Prejudice and much, much more) bringing us What's Love Got To Do With It? Directed by icon of Indian cinema, Shekhar Kapur, What's Love... is a cross-cultural, heart-warming, star-studded romp designed to delight, move and inform. It is a sensory feast reminiscent of Love Actually and Brid

Dune actor Chang Chen’s travel stories | High Life Magazine

What was your first trip abroad?

My first trip abroad was to Japan for work – I went to the Tokyo Film Festival when I was 15 years old. Because Japan and Taiwan are very close geographically, my family and I would also go there quite often for holidays. It’s a country that’s always changing and evolving so there’s so much to see every time we go. We’ve travelled to all the big, popular cities but have also explored the lesser-known parts of the countryside over the years. The place that impres
Picturehouse Recommends •

Don't Worry Darling | Picturehouse Recommends

You'd be hard-pressed to find two "buzzier" names in Hollywood than Florence Pugh and Harry Styles right now. Other than Olivia Wilde herself, perhaps, who not only co-stars in Don't Worry Darling but is also back behind the camera after 2019's much-loved coming-of-age comedy Booksmart, which turned her into one of the hottest directing talents of today.

Wilde's sophomore feature-length release has her reuniting once again with Booksmart scribe Katie Silberman (Isn't It Romantic, Set It Up), pr
Curzon Journal •

5 Domestic Psychological Thrillers to Watch Before Don’t Worry Darling

Olivia Wilde’s much-anticipated Don’t Worry Darling (2022) promises to shake up the suburban nightmare subgenre this week with an unsettling drama of domestic bliss that’s not entirely as it seems. With an all-star line-up – including one stadium-filling popstar, Harry Styles, in his first lead role – a trailer stuffed with enough Fifties outfits to have us all running to vintage stores and plenty of festival buzz, it’s set to be quite the movie moment of 2023. Ahead of Don’t Worry Darling’s arr
whattowatch.com •

Where does the show Alba take place? Is Alba any good?

Alba has become the most-watched non-English TV show on Netflix, but what’s Alba about, who’s in it and, crucially, is it any good?

For the uninitiated, Alba is a Spanish-language drama that has climbed high up on the Netflix charts. This dark, tense series revolves around the titular woman, Alba, a woman who discovers she's been the victim of a terrible crime when she wakes up on a beach without any memory of the previous night.

Here's what you need to know about Alba.

Alba tells the story o
whattowatch.com •

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: release date, plot, cast, trailer and everything we know

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds sees Paramount again adding to their expansive Star Trek universe.

Other franchises, to name a few, include Star Trek: Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks and Prodigy.

Following the success of Star Trek: Discovery season 2, and the popularity among Trekkies of a certain Captain Pike (though we suspect actor Anson Mount’s jawline has more to do with it), the Star Trek studio finally gave in to fan demand and green lit this latest spin off.

So, with strange new worlds o
whattowatch.com •

The Flash: release date, plot, cast and everything we know about the movie

For a film about a superfast superhero, the road to release for The Flash has been frustratingly slow. First given the green light way back in 2004 but only scheduled for its big-screen release in 2023, the fastest man alive's first DC Extended Universe (DCEU) solo outing is hoping to add another win to the Marvel rival's patchy box office past.

Based on the titular long-running comic book character, it’s The Flash's most popular variant, Barry Allen, who’s fronting this flick. As with anything
whattowatch.com •

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One): release date, cast, plot, trailer and everything we know

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) is on the way.

As the release of the latest installment in Sony’s animated Spider-Man franchise – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) — looms large, it’s fair to say superhero fatigue remains a myth.

With Spidey’s MCU counterpart Tom Holland helping Spider-Man: No Way Home break box office records, and no less than 10 superhero movie releases due in 2022, demand and anticipation are high.

What’s more, it doesn’t feel like four years si
Curzon Journal •

Curzon - 5 Underseen Robert Pattinson Films to Watch Before The Batman

In the decade since The Twilight Saga wrapped up, Robert Pattinson has been working hard to establish himself as more than just a sparkling vampire with an oh-so-pretty face, and has made a name for himself in independent film thanks to his collaborations with Claire Denis, James Gray and the Safdie brothers, among others. Now, as R Patz and his stellar jawline return to franchise filmmaking with The Batman, there’s no better time to revisit some of the small-scale, unconventional and unfortunat
High Life online •

Actor Nick Offerman remembers his favourite travel experiences | High Life Magazine

The American actor, author and skilled woodworker opens up about kabuki bonfires, having a whisky named after him and Tasmania’s most ‘bonkers’ art museum…

Who are you and where you are right now?

My name is Nick Offerman and I am in Los Angeles, sitting on top of a hill looking out across the mountains.

When was your first trip abroad?

Gosh, I know it well, strangely. I am from Illinois, right in the middle of America, and the first commercial flight I took was so I could tour a kabuki sho
High Life online •

Outlander actress Caitriona Balfe reveals her favourite travel memories | High Life Magazine

What’s been your favourite travel experience for work?

One that’s really memorable is when I went to India on a photoshoot. We did this whirlwind trip within four or five days that started in Goa, and then we ended up driving at night to a place called Hampi, which is a Unesco site and is absolutely stunning. We did everything from staying in a really western place in Goa to a very budget place in Hampi, and then ended up in a luxurious resort along the coast for the last couple of nights. It w
High Life online •

Star Trek: Discovery star Shazad Latif talks travel | High Life Magazine

What do you miss most when you’re away?

The first thing I did when I got to Australia was buy a bag of tea. I had to do a two-week quarantine when I got here so I bought lots of tea bags. I love tea. I’m an Assam kinda guy. That aside, I’d say a long autumn walk is what I miss. Going for long walks, stopping off at a pub, watching canal boats. I do love London. It’s such a great city. We have good parks.

Have you ever accepted a role because of where it’s shooting?

No, I’m not big enough yet
High Life online •

Five Oscar-winning destinations | High Life Magazine

Arguably the movie that brought wuxia (a film sub-genre about ancient Chinese martial arts) to the West, Ang Lee’s highly choreographed masterwork made the most of China’s vast and varied topography. Shot in part at the world’s largest film studio in Hengdian, much footage was also captured on location, including the film’s most iconic scene: a mid-air sword fight between Jen Yu (Ziyi Zhang) and Li Mu Bai (Yun-Fat Chow), which took place among the towering grasses of Mukeng Bamboo Forest in east
Curzon Journal •

Curzon - The Seven Best Bond Theme Songs Of All Time

No film franchise is more synonymous with chart-topping tie-ins than James Bond, and this month, with Daniel Craig hitting screens as the superslick superspy for the final time to the dulcet tones of Billie Eilish’s title song No Time To Die, we reflect on some of the franchise’s most successful singles. Featuring the likes of Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey and Adele, these are the seven best Bond songs from across the franchise’s 58-year history.

Even those who have never seen a Bond film will
The Club - British Airways •

BA - The Club - Plane spotting: British Airways in the movies

The first four minutes of Ken Annakin’s Paper Tiger could be mistaken for a well-executed Boeing ad. With sunset-backed take-offs, hazy runway long shots and above-the-cloud views of the iconic 747 – all accompanied by a sweeping score by Roy Budd (Get Carter, Who Dares Wins) – it’s enough to stoke a tear or two. It’s also a suitably grandiose start to a film bearing the heft of 1970s mega-stars David Niven and Toshirô Mifune, even if the movie itself didn’t quite live up to critics’ expectation
Curzon Journal •

Curzon - True Crime Movies to Watch Before House of Gucci

Killing sprees and homicides, money laundering and theft... real-life misdemeanours are always tantalising on the big screen. Ahead of this month’s House of Gucci, starring Lady Gaga as a fashion-mogul murderess, we take a look at some of the best crime movies based on true stories.

All the money in the world (2017)

Renowned for its last-minute leading-man swap – with Christopher Plummer taking over Kevin Spacey’s role – Ridley Scott’s retelling of billionaire penny-pincher John Paul Getty’s r
High Life online •

Dune director Denis Villeneuve's favourite filming locations | High Life Magazine

He may shy away from being labelled an auteur, but when Denis Villeneuve makes a movie, it’s hard to look at the screen and not know it’s his. The Oscar-nominated Canadian filmmaker is known for his challenging stories and distinctive visual flair, the latter established in no small part by his deft choice of filming locations. Ahead of his latest release – the star-studded epic sci-fi Dune – we take a look through his back catalogue and celebrate the places behind the plots...

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