Getting off the beaten track. Or path, if you’re American. It’s at once the holy grail of travel, the kernel of truth at the core, and simultaneously a phrase of disdain or a cliché as overused as a hand sanitizer pump in an infectious disease ward (side note, I used to work as doctor.)

But how do you get off the beaten track? And then how do you get back on?!

London, you sweet, pretty, gritty city, you. With your thousands of years of history, your up to the minute design, your art, your celebrities, your Harry Potter Platform 9 ¾, and your life-saving discoveries, you. Here’s how to unlock your secrets within 3 days.

Kalamata, you beauty, you. You’re not all about the olives. But they are some of the world’s best. With the towering green Taygetos mountain range, long seafront expanse and atmospheric old streets, it’s a wonder more people don’t know about you

It’s not sexy, but it is important.

It’s annoying to change (think expensive and time consuming) but the costs are a bit too high to justify “winging it” if you’re just starting out.

For a taste of rural Greek life to sooth the soul, head through the olive groves, up the hill, and overlook the Gulf of Messinia.

Mastering long haul flightsWhether it’s your first long haul flight or you’ve notched up more hours in the giant metallic cigar than you have in a real bed, everyone loves some good long haul flight tips. Over a decade of professional travel, I’ve accumulated plenty and yet I’m always keen to hear more. Why? Because a […]

With no fewer than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the claim as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and more, it’s no surprise that Tuscany remains one of the most popular places to visit in Italy, if not the world.

And yet.

An encounter with an artist who works on “overwhelm” reveals some fundamental truths on creativity, constraints and the commercial concept of selling out.

Athens is an unusual city. With its eye-watering place in world history, the olive-soaked Mediterranean air breezing through and the Acropolis shining on a hilltop, Athens should be an easy city to fall in love with.

Yet alongside the romance, Athens packs in skyscrapers, traffic jams, urban grit and edgy street art.

And a visit there is all the better for it.

I fly a lot. I mean, a lot. Here’s my review of British Airways Business Class, or as they call it, Club World.

Menorca threw several surprises my way when I visited. Wild flowers, for one, with fields flush with poppies, violets and periwinkles all dancing like hippies in the sun. There were bronze age settlements for another, and olive oil-soaked cheese, cured lovingly by hand and made from milk gathered freshly that morning.

It’s no exaggeration to describe Malaysian Borneo as a paradise for anyone who loves nature, soft sand and incredible sunsets. But it might surprise you to learn that it’s easier to get to than it sounds. Often overlooked in favour of sister state Sarawak, Sabah mixes up bright cities, lemongrass, turquoise water and eco-reserves like nowhere else on earth.

Best spas in the worldThe Best Spas in the World, 2019A combination of good fortune, hard work and a devilishly tricky spine have led me to seek out spa treatments all around the world. But what is it that makes a good spa great? What makes it one of the best in the world? Quick Navigation The […]

Whether or not you have checked luggage when you fly, what you pack in your carry on can make all the difference to how well your trip goes. Not only to the flight itself but also to the start of the trip should the airline lose your luggage. Here’s our inside guide to carry on essentials and what to bring in your hand luggage.

The cloud forests of Ecuador are not awash with colour. Instead, they pick a single one and run with it.

Green isn’t just green here, it’s gob smacking, gut punching, grandstanding green, a green that explodes with greedy, reckless abandon.

The cloud forest column runs virtually along the whole country. At 2000 metres above sea level, its steep slopes and subtropical valleys teem with wildlife.

And you can visit. Here’s how, with cloud forest facts and a plan to get you to Ecuador.

Five symbols squeeze together, like children trying to fit into one photograph.

NO8DO, NO8DO, NO8DO.

It’s written on unfurling flags and…

A weekend in Paris provides enough to time to grab a sugar-dusted, zinc-topped, art-soaked two day itinerary yet still leave wishing for more. For first timers and repeat offenders, here’s our inside guide to the perfect weekend in Paris.

How to work out where to stay in London without giving yourself a migraine or giving up on your dream to, well, afford to do anything else in life. Born and bred in London and now a professional traveller, here’s my guide on finding the best place for you.

Sharjah. It may only be 20 minutes from Dubai but it’s an Emirate with a character of its own. Traditional souks, mosques and rising ,sweeping, scarlet desert dunes, of course.

But also: world-class art installations, archaeological remains and a bid for a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the works.

Travel quotes bring out the best and the worst in us. Some we’ve grown blind to. Others whisper to that part of our soul that looks to the stars and dreams of more. Beyond just looking pretty on Instagram or Pinterest, travel quotes tap into our shared human history. Our literature. Our thoughts. Our outlooks. Our worlds.

So here’s a list of the best, most inspiring travel quotes I’ve found after a decade on the road, gathering words and pictures.

Lech Zürs am Arlberg is a small place that attracts big names to its ski slopes. The Jordanian Royal Family. Formerly, Princess Diana. But summer in Lech is often overlooked. New flavours, traditional herb walks and innovative art installations spice up these hiking routes in Austria. Locals call it “the door to pure nature.”

Each time I visit Sydney, I feel a little thrill. Dressed in my favourite colours, white and a shimmering sea-blue green, she overflows with things to do. Many are lifetime highlights, like seeing the Sydney Opera House, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and even kayaking across Sydney Harbour itself (and learning to surf on Bondi.)

  Why Reading Trends Are Changing – And Why It MattersTwo surprising things happened the other day. The first took place at our book club, a thinly veiled excuse to eat tapas and drink wine once a month while discussing the perilous state of world affairs and explore other subjects that perhaps our other halves would wish […]

From historic houses to wilderness, magnificent gardens, James Joyce and even a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, Dublin has plenty of thoroughly good day trips hiding among the cockles in her Molly Malone basket.

Although I hate the word, I love the concept. A babymoon offers a wonderful chance for you and your partner to spend some restful time together before the whirlwind of parenthood begins.

Away from everyday trials and tribulations, you can relax, enjoy yourselves and indulge in dreamy conversations about how (you think) you’ll parent before reality kicks in ;-)

In Antsiranana, or Diego Suarez, in the north of the island, the main street has houses painted yellow and cars in green. Open-doored cafes beneath peeling paint balconies serve local Three Horses Beer and Coca-Cola, the odd television pinned to the wall.

As one of the most popular cities in the world, Hong Kong has her share of tourist traps. Yet she also combines the quirky and authentic like nowhere else on earth.

Compact and picturesque in charcoal grey and deep-sea blue, the island of Nantucket once hosted the astronauts of their time: the whaling captains who inspired Moby Dick.

They ruled the marine world, trading in risk, adventure and wealth. And then something happened.

Canyoning. Turning a noun into a sport and a canyon into a playground. Some places call it canyoneering but the premise is the same. Here’s what to wear canyoning and what to bring with you. Updated 2019.

Why do people travel?Why do we travel? Why do you? People have travelled since records began. But why?Why do you travel?What is it about the human race that makes us want to travel?I’m often asked about why I travel or what my favourite country is, but although those questions sound straightforward, they’re not.Why do we […]

When friends first ask about what they should see and do in Seville, I start with the traditional list. After that, though, we get down to spilling my true secrets. My tips and tricks for soaking up the seduction of Spain’s hottest city and living like a local in the heart of Andalusia.