Travel readers invited to share tips from wild Scotland to Europe’s ski villages

A travel tips series is inviting readers to share favourite journeys and experiences across the UK and Europe, with several calls for recommendations offering a £200 Coolstays break for the best submission. The requests range from escapes in the wilds of Scotland to relaxed European ski resorts, conservation-focused tourism projects and seasonal breaks with autumn sun.

Recent reader-led themes include small ski resorts in Europe, autumn escapes, European wellbeing breaks, holidays in Germany, UK autumn days out, mountain trips, foodie experiences, smaller European city breaks, unsung islands and UK holidays. The emphasis is on personal discoveries that help other travellers avoid crowds, find memorable local experiences or explore lesser-known destinations.

Examples highlighted in the series include cosy Alpine villages, queue-free skiing, a candlelit spa followed by an ice-cold plunge, Germany explored on a €63 monthly rail pass, and culinary finds such as Bled cake in Slovenia, sardines in Portugal and seafood soup in Spain. Readers are also being asked for tips on eerie sites and ghostly tours as Halloween approaches.

The format centres on practical, first-hand advice rather than broad destination guides. Contributors are encouraged to recommend places, routes, activities or projects they know well, with enough detail to help others plan a similar trip. The subjects move with the season, from autumn colour and off-season warmth to Halloween-themed visits and winter sports.

Several of the open requests focus on more responsible or lower-impact travel choices. One asks for tourism projects that support conservation initiatives, while others favour uncrowded ski areas, smaller cities and lesser-known islands as alternatives to busier destinations. The series also highlights local food, rail travel, walking, mountain scenery and wellness experiences as reasons to explore beyond headline attractions.

The competition element is attached to selected calls for tips, with the best entry receiving £200 towards a Coolstays break. Readers are asked to share concise recommendations based on their own holidays or travel moments, whether that is a Scottish wilderness escape, a German rail trip, a European food discovery or a relaxed resort that has kept its character.

Together, the prompts build a broad collection of reader-sourced travel ideas across Britain and Europe. The focus remains on useful discoveries: places with atmosphere, good value, strong local identity or a quieter feel, aimed at helping other travellers choose breaks that are personal, seasonal and less obvious.