Kate Weir

2 weeks ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

It seems impossible to visit Florence and feel ‘meh’ about the city. A pitstop that largely contributed to the ‘grand’ in the Grand Tour, the wellspring of the Renaissance and a trove of art and architecture so enamouring it paralysed French writer Stendhal with its beauty (his namesake psychological phenomenon is also known as ‘Florence syndrome’) — it tends to make visitors fall head over heels.

3 weeks ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

With travellers seeking out more authentic, immersive experiences, it seems that more and more are opting to take only photos and memories back home with them. Perhaps it’s due to dwindling baggage allowances, but there are still some souvenirs worth holding the space for: those that speak of hours of crafting and care, those keeping local artisans in business, those that are true, built-for-life heirloom pieces. Some even — rather than being made en masse — crafted by your very own hands.

1 month ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

Porto might be Portugal’s second city (after Lisbon), but it makes for a first-rate weekend break. Its high-frequency topography is lined with lavishly Azulejo-tiled buildings, gets you woozy on white-to-tawny ports, rings with mournful Fado songs and spills over into the Douro Valley wine region. The best hotels in Porto reflect its characterful nature; our pick of spa hotels, family apartments and beachside hideaways offer an intro to the city as smooth as its signature drink.

1 month ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

Saving the world looks different these days. It’s galloping out into Chile’s sierras on horseback with a gaucho, laying down tracks with indie darlings in a secret recording studio in Cabo, diving into bioluminescent waters in Cambodia, and many more thrilling pursuits beyond sorting rubbish into bins. How do you do your bit? By booking a B Corp hotel.

1 month ago | mrandmrssmith.com | Kate Weir

By London standards, Clerkenwell is relatively low-key. It’s lighter on postcard sights and leaves hipster swagger to Shoreditch next door, and people actually live around its serene Georgian garden squares (a word of warning: you’ll never be more tempted to buy a townhouse). But its laidback feel masks centuries of political dynamism, dining revolutions and historic intrigue, which you can discover without those pesky tourist hordes.