Holiday Gifts

As a young child I was always tremendously excited when it was time for my father to return from one of his business trips abroad. Naturally I was pleased to see him again but my enthusiasm for his return mainly centred on the fact that he always came back bearing gifts! I was usually treated to a beautiful doll in the national dress of wherever he had been and was very proud of my growing collection. It was a firm tradition in our house that travellers made the time to buy gifts and so when I first set out on my own I felt obliged to continue the habit. Continue reading →

The Little Thrill Seeker

I must have been a nightmare for my parents. Ok I did my homework, worked hard at school, largely went to bed when I was told and I was always polite but I also had a sense of adventure which ran me into plenty of trouble. Little wonder that the adult me has the travel bug and the thrill seeking urge. The signs were there from the start and my fun and games wreaked havoc with the family home. Continue reading →

Help on Hand for Parents Travelling With Small Children

Life with small children is difficult at the best of times but can only get harder when travelling is involved. You only have to watch parents at airports or in the car hire offices to realise the hoops they have to jump through and the volume of equipment that they must carry with them. I always wince when I see these families stumbling along with screaming kids and I don’t want to imagine what their views are of paying to put luggage in the hold. Continue reading →

Travelling Light

I have a pathological hatred of queuing and so whenever I find myself unreasonably held up I inevitably start looking for something on which to focus my attention. In supermarkets this is usually the contents of other people’s trolleys and at airports it tends to be other travellers’ luggage. This is actually a matter of some interest as it is truly incredible just how much many people see fit to take away with them. Continue reading →

My Favourite Hotels

I recently read an article about what hotel guests love and hate about the establishments they stay in. It started me thinking about the hotels I have visited and I realised that it generally wasn’t the most expensive or prestigious properties that had impressed me the most. I understand that the higher prices of the more expensive hotels may have raised my expectations and caused me to be more critical but even considering this fact my best memories are largely of some cheaper stays. Continue reading →

Breaking Down Abroad

If you are hiring a car whilst away or even taking your own vehicle on the trip then do make sure that you have arranged insurance that includes roadside assistance and recovery as things can and do go wrong. It is tempting to think that breaking down is a long shot but long journeys and difficult terrain can make issues with the car more likely than ever. I travel abroad two or three times a year and have had enough problems to last a lifetime. In a remote area even a simple thing like a puncture can be big trouble. Continue reading →

New Zealand for the Non-Adventurous

Abel Tasman National Park by Nils van der Burg via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

New Zealand has become known as the place to go if you’re looking for an extreme, adrenaline packed thrill. From sky-diving, bungee-jumping and ice-climbing, to surfing, canyon-swinging and white water rafting, New Zealand really has it all to offer!

Now I know what you’re thinking.. these activities aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and you’d be right. So beyond extreme sports, what does New Zealand have to offer?

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Is Pompeii Crumbling?

The Roman city of Pompeii was buried during an eruption of Vesuvius in AD79 and remained hidden until excavations began in the 19h century. Now some two thirds of the ancient city has been revealed but there are fears that the combined effect of a high number of tourists visiting, the wet weather and poor maintenance are causing Pompeii to crumble. Continue reading →

Sending Myself to a Concentration Camp

Sometimes the inspiration for a holiday can come in the most unusual ways. I ended up booking a trip on impulse after watching a TV programme about dentistry in Poland! The broadcast did unveil the interesting possibility of having my teeth treated abroad but that wasn’t the reason for my desire to travel. Continue reading →

The Goats, the Dog and the Beverley Hillbillie

Last year a hike in the Julian Alps of Slovenia resulted in the most bizarre interlude at a small croft in the mountains. I had taken a lengthy and steep hike up to a beautiful lake and was making my way down again when I encountered the most extraordinary individual. The whole episode began when I saw a gorgeous ginger cat perched on a post outside of the small farm. Continue reading →