Tried and Tested Gifts for Travellers Find the perfect present for someone who travels a lot, someone about to go travelling and someone who travels for work. After years on the road, in each of these situations, here’s what I’d recommend Quick Navigation Present Ideas for People Who Love TravelThe Hotelgift CardA Pretty, Practical Travel […]

This is a terrible photo. It’s taken with a point-and-shoot about as old as shoulder pads and legwarmers. It has splashes from water and glare from the sun (just in case you hadn’t noticed.) It’s also one of my favourite photos…

Geneva, Switzerland. My first thoughts leaped to watches, chocolates and human rights – and my first half hour in the city certainly backed up that list.

Kamakura. It’s one of those words I’d never heard until I went to Yokote in north Japan.

Snow was falling as I arrived in the city, 260 miles from Tokyo. Softly at first, like…

Please find our collection of the best toddler travel toys for airplanes (and aeroplanes) below. Toddler Travel Toys for AirplanesWith the right preparation, travelling with a toddler can be great fun. Or at the very least, simply part of everyday business. We’ve written a complete guide to flying with a toddler over here which includes tips […]

Papas arrugadasWhat is typical Tenerife food? Forget jokes about Full English Breakfasts and fish and chips for a pound, the real cuisine in Tenerife stretches back over centuries.Your Guide to Food in Tenerife ​The Top 10 Foods to Try in Tenerife​ GofioBarraquitoRopa VIejaPuchero Roast Chestnuts  Almogrote Papas Arrugadas Tenerife Honey Tenerife Wine Mojo   The food in Tenerife blends together influences […]

In the beginning, there was…

A dragon. Well, at least a dragon king from the sea. I’m not quite sure what the difference is but since there’s a dragon involved (and a king – my name!) I’m not going to ask questions, I’m just going to get on with the story.

In the beginning, there was a dragon king who lived in the sea.

There’s no doubt about it: Seville is one of Spain’s most exciting cities, a place with intoxicating heat, history, architecture and food. From cosy hotspots in the centre of town to fortress-like luxury in the hills. Here are the best places to stay in Seville after years spent living there (and reviewing hotels for a living.)

Fika. So said the letters, so said my host. It was not yet four in the afternoon and I began to brace myself.

The word fika, I decided, had all the hallmarks of a potent local spirit, the sort that could stand in for paint stripper on an identity parade and would give you a headache as soon as look at you…

Known for its sunny package holidays, the subtropical island of Tenerife hides its unusual things to do in plain sight. Unusual Things to do in Tenerife With two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and food, landscape and culture aplenty, Tenerife offers so much more than simply lying on the beach. And hardly […]

When it comes to putting together a list of the best travel movies, which should make the cut? Should it include movies like Eat, Pray, Love or Into the Wild where the protagonist is largely, well, travelling as a traveller? Or should it include movies that focus on a sense of place first and foremost, […]

  When I first started looking for things to do in Harrogate, it was out of a dull sense of duty: I had to go there for work. But then I uncovered a world of intrigue, relaxation and reinvention in this pretty Yorkshire town. Introducing Harrogate Harrogate hit the headlines in the 19th century with […]

Let’s face it, the Dead Sea has a depressing name. It also fizzes the synapses by sounding too much like Red Sea.
Red Sea, Dead Sea. Red Sea. Dead Sea.

It’s an astonishing feeling to sip morning tea high above the treetops. To see them swaying, sunlight splintering through, to feel with them, swaying slightly, unable to see their base.

The treetop cabin at Redwood Valley seems different to how I’d imagined: not perilous and poky but refreshing and full of the promise of adventure. A steep path leads here, rather than a ladder, the banks of earth thrusting upwards to lift visitors up, up, up and into the forest.

And what a forest it is.

This Kenya Wildlife Safari inspired creators of Disney’s the Lion King and you can see the real Pride Rock. And it’s not reserved for celebrities, anyone can travel there. There’s a video at the end so if you’re a fan of moving pictures, hop straight down there to enjoy! Cheers – Abi Wildlife Safari in Kenya: The Lion […]

And so, at last, I am in Berlin. After more than a thousand miles by train, through some of the darkest moments in European history, some well known, others not, I find myself with a plastic fork in one hand and a fluffy orange sausage in the other.

Have Japan’s Okinawa Islands found the secret to a long and healthy life?

Striped lighthouses, whaling ports, white churches and the fledgling days of modern America right up to the space race and beyond.Give Massachusetts two weeks on the open road and she will give you a salty-aired, wide-eyed look at America, with a serving of clam chowder on the side.After this road trip from Boston, America may […]

Wales is an unfairly overlooked travel destination, even for those who live there. An invitation to a beautiful new hotel in Llanelli spurred me on to discover more about this rich, historic, unexplored coast.

Venice has a tempestuous love affair with the world. Millions of adoring fans visit La Serenissima each year, lured by the sirens of the Adriatic. Perhaps I’ve spent too much time squashed on the London Underground, but…

Florida’s overlooked Gulf Coast sweeps from live oaks and manatees to white sand and art routes. But it was the variety of things to do in Sarasota that made me rethink fly-drive travel in general. Instead of driving from A to B and on to C, stop for a while in Sarasota. Keep the car […]

Usually, I manage to find something beautiful, something that moves me wherever I go. But last night, in Petra, that didn’t happen.

The Osprey Transporter 120 promises to be the adventure-proof wheelie (in other words the adventure option for those who like their adventure with creature comforts.) Here we put it to the test. First, a bit about bags. Then read on for the full Osprey Transporter review. A Rolling Transporter I’m going to be honest with […]

What should you do once you’ve seen the classics? With Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and

The Best Places to Travel in 2019 Well, look at me, getting all organised and publishing this list in November instead of waiting until January rolls around! Turns out that leopards can really change their spots after all! If there’s one question I get asked a lot at this time of year, it’s the one […]

An Important Point in Utah I was dozing in the front seat, the scenery slicking from arid Nevada to salt ‘n’ violet Utah on the journey from Mustang Monument back to Salt Lake City. The early morning sun seemed breathless, as though struggling to keep up with the pace of our speed and my friends […]

Ah, beautiful Graz. A city that’s worth falling in love with for so many reasons, but it’s the Graz restaurants that will have you falling hard and fast.

Even though I knew that Caribbean Islands each have a different character, I was still surprised by the number of unique things to do in Aruba when I got there. Finding Unique Things to do in Aruba Aruba has great beaches, of course. When it comes to dazzling blue water and all-inclusive resorts, it has […]

Despite the stillness of the water, there’s no sound of silence. Insects skim across the reeds with a soft buzz and woodpeckers…

The Grand Central Hotel Belfast is back on the scene, reopening after a £53m refurbishment. So what’s it like? And how does the rest of Belfast look as part of a relaxing weekend away?