Category Archives: Destinations

Motorhome Madness

motorhome

Whilst many people deem caravans to be uncool, motorhomes seem to pass muster on the street cred front. Nonetheless motorhome ownership in the UK is still relatively limited probably because few people have sufficient space at their homes to keep such a vehicle and because fuel costs have been high in recent years. They aren’t cheap either! If you can’t afford your own motorhome then you can always rent one and I would thoroughly recommend that you do because travelling with your holiday home behind you is an absolute joy! Continue reading →

The Waldorf Astoria Hotel New York

I am not usually a great fan of staying hotels, preferring instead the freedom and space afforded by self-catering accommodation. However, for short breaks a hotel is often the only option. If I do have to stay in a hotel I usually defer to a cheap one as I have so often found that the additional expense of a luxury hotel has not been justified by my experience of staying at the establishment concerned. A few years ago I found myself having to choose a hotel for a stay in New York but on that occasion I was very much determined to go the luxury route. Continue reading →

The Best Place to Shop?

Personally I would never choose a holiday destination for the shopping opportunities there, neither would I travel specifically to shop. However, I do enjoy the occasional bout of retail therapy but only if what is on offer is materially different to what I can find on the high street at home. I often laugh when I read articles about great shopping destinations as having visited many of the perennial favourites like New York, I know only too well that you won’t find anything different there at all. Continue reading →

Destinations for Diamond Lovers

Few people can resist the allure of a beautiful diamond and these wonderful gems are, after all, a girl’s best friend. Diamonds are fascinating natural wonders but sadly it isn’t possible to visit working mines to see the stones being recovered. There are, however, some great destinations for diamond lovers to visit and here are my tops picks. Continue reading →

Strange British Customs

When travelling abroad as well as exploring new ground and learning about other cultures I always find it fascinating to hear how other people view Great Britain. It never ceases to amaze me what features of my homeland attract the most interest and what a bizarre vision of life over here some people have. This is particularly true of Americans, many of whom seem to believe that we all live in chocolate box cottages, travel everywhere in red buses and always go to work in bowler hats. Continue reading →

New Horizons

I always thought of myself as an adventurous traveller willing to explore the places that others wouldn’t consider but after reading an article in the Independent today I feel rather deflated. Perhaps I am more influenced by current trends than I had previously thought as it turns out that some of the destinations on my hit list are in fact tipped to be hotspots this year. Continue reading →

The Culinary Delights of the Sorrentine Peninsula

peninsula

One of the many delights of international travel for me is sampling the food and drink on offer in new destinations. Each country and region has something special and unique to sample and I always revel in the search for local p is always an important element of any trip. I have never visited a new region without finding some wonderful things but I doubt if I will ever stumble across anywhere with so many culinary treats as the Sorrentine Peninsula. Continue reading →

The Most Disappointing Tourist Attraction

I realise that if you are a frequent traveller it is all too easy to underestimate the attractions of your own country and to take many things for granted. Familiarity can certainly breed contempt and so I am always careful to try to appreciate what Britain has to offer and always attempt to experience every destination through the eyes of a visitor who is unfamiliar with our history, architecture and countryside. Despite this there is one supremely famous and revered place that I simply cannot get excited about – Stonehenge. Continue reading →

A Night of Magic

You shouldn’t decide whether you like magic shows or not until you have seen a big production in Las Vegas. I have always loved magicians and so I inevitably head for one of the shows and I have found that even cynics enjoy the experience. We all know there is no such thing as magic and sometimes we even know how the trick is done but the top performers are so skilled that it is their execution of the art that is so fascinating. Continue reading →

Death Valley in a Day

I still smile when I think of my first visit to Death Valley. Just the name was enough to intimidate me and I was well aware of the place’s reputation for extreme temperatures and all the dangers they bring. With visions of an early death from dehydration in the desert I set off from Las Vegas with the aim of seeing Death Valley in a day. It was an ambitious plan to say the least as the valley covers some 3000 square miles but with little traffic on the roads a tour of the highlights appeared possible. Continue reading →