Helen Coffey
The Independent
United Kingdom
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Past articles by Helen:
San Francisco Airport hires cat named Duke to calm travellers
Duke Ellington Morris has joined the airport’s ‘Wag Brigade’ to calm anxious travellers → Read More
Why Hauts-de-France is having a foodie moment
This oft-overlooked part of northern France has been named European Region of Gastronomy for 2023. Helen Coffey eats her way through some of its tastiest towns → Read More
Training for a marathon a decade after my last one taught me a crucial lesson
I may be older, softer and more perpetually exhausted, but I now know that I’m mentally stronger than twenty-something Helen ever was → Read More
Alaska Airlines passenger says she was kicked off flight for having a mimosa
Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A woman is “livid” after she claims… → Read More
My exhausting, anxious and liberating quest to make new friends in my new town
In 2022, The Independent’s travel editor Helen Coffey moved to Folkestone in Kent after years spent pining for the sea while living in London. There was one problem – she didn’t know a soul → Read More
Best cheap hotels in London 2023: Budget breaks in the Big Smoke, from Central London to Stratford
From central London to Soho and beyond, these top cheap London hotels prove you can visit the UK capital in 2023 without burning through your city-break budget → Read More
Five cultural European city break destinations you might not have considered
Branch off the beaten track with our pick of the best under-the-radar cities with cultural clout → Read More
Swapping plane for train and tartiflette for vegan raclette on the ‘world’s most sustainable ski trip’
Travelling by rail and swerving the fondue, Helen Coffey investigates whether it’s possible to keep your carbon footprint low on a snowsports holiday to the Swiss Alps → Read More
10 new rail projects that could revolutionise travelling across Europe by train
Planned Paris-Milan-Venice and Amsterdam-Brussels-Barcelona sleeper trains could be a game-changer for Brits → Read More
Sustainable skiing: a low-impact, high-fun train trip to Andermatt
Transforming from a military base to a luxe snowsports hotspot, Andermatt has had quite the glow-up; Helen Coffey checks out how this Swiss resort is balancing tourism growth with staying green → Read More
‘Introducing Sussex Class’: Air New Zealand makes dig at Harry and Meghan after Spare claim
Prince’s book claimed the airline flies from Mexico to the UK → Read More
Why Amsterdam is still the perfect city break destination (even with daily nasal swabs)
Now that the Netherlands has loosened its harsh quarantine rules, the Dutch capital makes for as exceptional a weekend away as ever, finds Helen Coffey → Read More
Why Spain by boat is the most civilised way to travel
Good food, wine and a comfortable place to lay your head – just think of the Portsmouth-Santander ferry as a sea-faring hotel, says Helen Coffey → Read More
How to spend the perfect long weekend in Bruges this Christmas
Wrap up warm and hit the cobbled streets of Belgium’s most photogenic city this winter, advises Helen Coffey → Read More
How to find the perfect balance of cool and kitsch on a Vienna city break this Christmas
Swap plane for sleeper train, mix festive markets with cutting-edge dining, and combine chic galleries with camp choirs for best-of-both trips, recommends Helen Coffey → Read More
One’s a classic, one’s a festive turkey: should you watch Spirited or Falling for Christmas?
Apple+ and Netflix have both entered the yuletide arena, but who gets it right? Making a film that will enter the festive canon isn’t impossible – but it takes more than a celeb appearance and some fake snow, writes Helen Coffey → Read More
Why you should pick Antwerp for your next arty city break
After 11 years and a €100m refurbishment, Antwerp’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts has finally reopened its doors – but there’s plenty more culture to soak up in this Belgian big hitter, finds Helen Coffey → Read More
The train blame game continues – and it’s travellers who suffer
If it’s hard for me to keep track of which industrial transport dispute is going on at any given moment, I can only imagine how confusing it must be for the average commuter, writes Helen Coffey → Read More
Portugal travel rules: What are the latest restrictions for holidaymakers?
Here are the current entry rules for British tourists → Read More
From pintxos crawls to twilight swims – a travel editor shares her favourite sundown memories
From evening swims in the Balearics to strolls and sundown beers around San Sebastian, travel editor Helen Coffey picks her best-loved sunset moments → Read More