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.
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.
From dreamy soft-sand beaches to intriguing wildlife, twisty-branched baobab and flickering palms, nature tops the list of things to do in Madagascar. But there’s more. So much more.Let me show you.
Food and Travel. Two words that go together better than horse and cart. Ying and yang. Fish and chips. Beavis and, erm, Butthead?
OK. Hands up. I’m not a proper foodie.
For years, I never said I wrote about food and travel because I didn’t feel “foodie” enough.
A number of things are wrong. To begin with, I’m standing in a field surrounded by darkness, my mind pulling the duvet covers back over its head and mumbling into its pillow. Second, I’m…
The snowy peak of Mt Fuji. The flashing lights of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Quiet temples, secluded gardens, geisha and blaring pachinko arcade games. The highlights of Japan include her traditions and customs as much as her places to visit and things to do.
It’s a thorny question but an important one. Where are the best ethical travel destinations? And what is ethical tourism? The results are in.
The question of how to save endangered animals is one that cannot wait. Yet unlike many aspects of sustainable tourism, this is a problem with a pleasant solution.
Yes, really.
Swirling desert sands, raspberry ripple rock, ancient ruins, a thriving capital and some fantastic food. Welcome to Jordan.
I’ve driven through snowy mountains, desert sands, congested capitals and remote plains in more than 40 countries, often alone, and I’ve made almost every mistake you can think of. Luckily, you don’t have to do the same.
Learn from me, and plan the perfect driving holiday – anywhere in the world.
The Nuremberg sausage or bratwurstUnderstanding the Nuremberg SausageThe city of Nuremberg may have an international reputation for some of the worst events on earth. But the Nuremberg sausage shows another side of the city. Whether called bratwurst of a Nurnberger, here’s the inside info on 700 years of sausage making history. Oh, and it tastes […]
The hills are alive with the sound of cheese! The Kasestrasse translates to cheese road but it’s actually a vast trail of tradition, culture and innovation. A great route for foodies and off the beaten track experience in West Austria.
A cow wanders past the spices beneath glowing fluorescent sabres.
I follow it through the shadows into the light. It stops, blocked by a staircase that overflows with tangerine petals, then turns as though lost in thought on a Sunday afternoon, and returns to the land of darting hands and looped jasmine.
It’s not the equivalent of yesterday’s soggy, soy-soaked bran, mashed into an unappealing travel package. It’s the best, if not the only, way for us to continue to enjoy travelling and living on this planet. My recent trip to the UNESCO HQ in Paris to talk about sustainable tourism left me with plenty of ideas I want to share with you.
Allow me to explain…
As the oldest oak forest in England and an area of natural beauty, the Forest of Dean has plenty of things to do. Find a slice of rural luxury here.
Your guide to Chiavenna Italy, including what to see in Chiavenna, where to stay and eat, day trips, local delicacies and lots more helpful tips.
Everything you need to know about shopping in Seville, including where to buy authentic Seville souvenirs
To the soundtrack of thunderous monsoon rain, I learned these easy Malaysian recipes at the Mango Garden Restaurant in Borneo.
The best things to do in Germany – travel ideas and itineraries Germany attracts repeat visitors through an intoxicating mix of sweet gingerbread and beer. Sizzling sausages (some protected by law,) fairytale castles and snow-laden chalets with glühwein on tap take the chill off the history of the Berlin Wall and the shadows from the well documented […]
Get back to nature and the salty, sandy, rocky coast of West Wales with a luxury camping experience in Felin Geri.
It snaked towards us slowly. A scarlet, silted, rust-red, blood-red, iron-tinged flow. The water seeped around the edges of my boots, my footprints swallowed up within seconds.
It visibly stained my soles.
Up ahead, I saw two men walking, the two men who were travelling with me. But no other soul was there.
From dreaming about a trip, planning a trip, writing up a trip and reviewing trips for work, it’s hard to find a day when I’m not zig-zagging across various travel websites.
I’m also honoured to be a regular contributor to The Independent’s 50 Best Travel Websites feature since 2013 as well.
During the winter, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Lapland, a stunning, snowy extravaganza that shimmers with the oomph of the human spirit. Lapland itself spans Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. It reflects the long held traditions of the Sami more than modern map making convention.