Of course, if I were to give you now a list of the countries which offer the best value for international travellers, that list would soon be out of date. Somewhere that was a great deal a year ago might not be these days. One of the main reasons is the way that...
When they are considering renting out a room, suite or apartment on Airbnb, Homeaway et al, one of the first questions new hosts ask is ‘how much should I charge for my accommodation?’ The standard answer – which I disagree with – is to look at...
I hope it doesn’t seem strange to you that one of the most popular foodie experiences in England is that of learning how to create Indian dishes. Because for many years now, Indian food has been the most popular cuisine in the UK. (Did you know that Queen...
What do you think? Which country is the most popular tourist destination in the world? Well, it’s not the United States although many people think that’s the answer to this question. In fact, the USA is in second place. But in first place — is...
Eddie and Clarrie Grundy are considering renting out rooms in their house using an online service such as Airbnb. Eddie has had to persuade Clarrie to do this as she will be the one who has to make the beds, clean and cook the breakfast. Clarrie has also been...
In February 2017, Airbnb released the video you see below. It was shown during the Superbowl and the text reads: “We believe no matter who you are, where you’re from, who you love or who you worship, we all belong. The world is more beautiful the more you...
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for history buffs, aviation fans and those who are interested in the history of the Second World War. At time of writing, there are only eight of these iconic WW2 Spitfires TR9s still in existence and yes, you can experience a...
If you’re a new host on Airbnb, it’s a good idea to make the most of the ‘new host boost’ that you’ll get when you first add your listing to the site. WHAT IS THE AIRBNB NEW HOST BOOST? Airbnb wants to encourage you to keep hosting with...
If you rent out a room or apartment on Airbnb or a similar service, I imagine that one of your biggest headaches is cleaning. I recently purchased the answer to my cleaning problems. Its the Dyson V6 cord-free vacuum. I never imagined that I’d get excited about...
Deep down, we all know which lifestyle choices are good for us. And many of us will admit that we know full well that we’re not living the healthiest life we can. We know that we should be eating better, getting more exercise – but the trouble is that life...
Bourton-on-the-Water is a village in Southern England – under a hundred miles from central London. Although the place is merely a village, there are several good reasons to visit but the one that excites me the most is the Dragonfly Maze, created by artist (and...
It’s a wonderful feeling. You’ve prepared your apartment or room in your home and made it ready for Airbnb guests. You’ve taken some lovely photographs of the place and uploaded them to your listing page. You’ve spent ages writing about your...
Are you considering renting out your spare room or other accommodation? Are you thinking about using Airbnb to advertise your rental? If so, then you’ve probably seen the videos that the company produces in order to show hosts what fun they can have entertaining...
Travel down a narrow lane from the village of Bantham in South Devon and you’ll find yourself at Bantham Beach – popular with surfers and families. This secluded beach is the home of the Gastrobus – and the food, music and events it offers. The...
You’ve heard of glamping, but what about champing? Well, before we get into the whys and wherefore, let me ask you a question. Wouldn’t you like to stay in an historic, beautiful and tranquil building in the south of England? Your own private (large)...
Two of the joys of travel? Food and people. Many years ago I ran a discussion forum online and in one thread we were discussing our favourite travel memories. For so many of us, those special memories involved eating wonderful meals with new friends. When this was...
If you’re just starting out as an Airbnb host or if you’re an experienced host looking for the best products for your bathroom, then we’d like to introduce you to our favourite bathroom goods. Your bathroom is an important part of your guests’...
Have you heard about Jetsetter? It’s a completely free-to-join online travel club that offers its members some incredible deals on hotel accommodation throughout the world. Every day, new deals are added to the site offering great prices on various fabulous...
So often I hear the same complaint from new Airbnb hosts. It always goes something like this – ‘help! I started renting out a room on Airbnb a couple of months ago and everything was going great. Now I find that I have no bookings and am getting no...
Do you love animals? Would you like to stay – free – in accommodations all over the world? Then it’s a great idea to check out Trusted Housesitters. This service specialises in introducing home & pet owners to people who will look after their...
In the heart of California’s wine country lies a vineyard. Dario Sattui is the owner – he’s a fourth generation vintner and he is responsible for the creation of the castle, Castello di Amorosa. And he still doesn’t know to this day exactly...
It’s just a few steps from the beach. The building has been meticulously renovated to the highest quality. The luxuriously furnished apartments have expansive views of the ocean. It’s located on an island on one of the most beautiful coasts in Europe....
You might not be old enough to remember what air travel was like in the 1960s and 70s. But I’m assured that it was very different. In those days, flying was still classed as something of a luxury and a definite event. Some people refer to it as ‘the golden...
Only a few months ago I wrote an article about Airbnb hosting. It’s something that I love doing and I’ve been in the hospitality industry for many years. But in recent months, I’ve noticed that many new hosts are simply unprepared for the realities...
Which mode of transport allows you to make the most of your vacation? It’s debatable, of course. I like to travel by train because well, I’m lazy. But for those who are a little more active than I seem to be these days, it’s great news that Intrepid...
Everyone has a holioday that truly stands out in their minds. For me, it happened many years ago – more years than I’d like to admit. It was a wonderful road trip through Europe (mostly Spain) and into Morocco. It was an excellent opportunity to explore...
You’ve probably heard of Bear Grylls as his TV survival programmes have been shown all over the world. But did you know that he runs a school that teaches people all about survival skills? There are two courses and both take place in the glory of the Scottish...
So, what exactly is zorbing? Well, let me tell you that I’ve started writing about half a dozen introductory sentences to explain it — and deleted them all. That’s because ‘rolling down a hill in a big plastic bubble’ just doesn’t...
I have to tell you that I really don’t enjoy long haul flights. I’ve flown often between the USA and Europe and the only experience that was good was when I was upgraded (I forget why) from cattle-class to business class at no extra charge. It was...
I’ve lived for many years in a boating community and I know just how expensive yachts can be to run and maintain. For this reason, many people may think that a private yacht charter would be beyond the means of most of us. With Antlos, that’s not the case....
Some years ago, if I was asked to describe Blackpool kindly, the best word I would be able to come up with would have been kitsch. Blackpool is a seaside town in the North of England that became a popular northern holiday-making destination in the mid-nineteenth...
The massive cruise ship, the AIDAprima, was built in 2015 and launched the following year. It’s a spectacular vessel. It was created to attract younger travellers to the cruising life and has so many fabulous features. It truly is a floating city. It boasts...
There are many reasons why you might need to rent office or conference spaces when you’re travelling – even if your trip is for pleasure. And if you’re a working road-warrior, then the need is very likely to arise. Thanks to what we are now calling...
It was announced in October 2016 that President Obama is determined to ease the restrictions for travellers to Cuba before his period in the White House draws to a close. This applies to certain trade issues too. From the travellers’ point of view, it was...
Yes, you can drive one of the world’s most luxurious and powerful cars (and to me, the most beautiful) at a prestigious British racing circuit. This is a great opportunity for any keen driver or motorsport enthusiast. Your adventure includes full briefing from...
Have you noticed that so many people today are choosing to arrange their business travel with Airbnb rather than the more traditional hotels? It makes such good sense. When you select one of Airbnb’s ‘business travel ready’ properties, you can be...
We’ve known for a long time that Amazon Prime is a great service but now that the company has added even more to its offerings, it became even better. Now, if you’re a Prime member then you can add thousands of free books, magazines and publications to the...
Yes, let’s be sensible about the ‘dangers’ of the Zika virus in Florida. Every day, I get several email alerts and newsletters about the travel industry and at the moment, they are almost all telling me stories of doom and gloom in Florida. If I paid...
Hereford is a rural cathedral city which is to the west of London – about one hundred and thirty miles from the centre – and located near the Welsh border. It’s an ancient city and a truly interesting place to visit but for couples, there’s an...
The International Movie Database lists Shawshank Redemption as the number one most popular film. Other lists disagree but just about everyone I knew simply loves the movie. This is why I was delighted to discover The Shawshank Trail – a driving tour where you...
The Freebird Club is often referred to as ‘Airbnb for seniors’ and at first, I wasn’t quite sure that I liked that. And that’s mainly because the service caters to those over 50 and I don’t consider being aged fifty as being senior. But...
Google is the latest organisation to leap onto the bandwagon of travel apps. And why not? Recent studies have shown that travel is a booming industry and let’s face it, if you use their other services such as Gmail or Google Maps, it’s likely that they...
Have you read Murder on the Orient Express? Or seen the movie? Here’s your chance to solve your own murder mystery aboard the famous and historic Orient Express! You’ll be transported to 1933 as the train takes you through the English countryside during...
In a very clever marketing move, Audi has partnered with Airbnb to provide the ultimate driving and accommodation experience.It was announced in September 2016 that guests could rent a fabulous Mid Century Modern styled home in Scotty’s Junction in the Nevada...
The photograph above shows Turnip Rock at sunrise. Set in Lake Huron, the rock is near Port Austin at the tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. These women in Vietnam are mending fishing nets. Fishing is essential to the local economy in their area – the Bac...
It’s no secret that I love to travel by train and if you’re on a trip through France, did you know about the low-cost service offered by Ouigo? It’s an excellent budget option that leaves you with more money to spend on wonderful French cheese and...
You’ve no doubt read the many articles that exist on the internet proclaiming to the world that you can get rich renting out your spare bedroom, your basement or your camping trailer on Airbnb. Have you considered doing this? It’s true that it’s a...
One of the many joys of travelling – for me – is the chance to discover and enjoy a wide variety of cuisines. Some of my favourite memories are food-related and with most of them, I can remember exactly what I ate – when, where and in what company....
Have you ever thought of converting your own van for travel? Imagine the freedom; the luxury of going where you want, exactly when you want – safety contained in your own tiny home. Today more and more people are being attracted by this kind of travel and...
If you’re visiting Paris then it’s an excellent idea to check out the services offered to you by the Paris Pass. You’ll discover ways to save money on visits to attractions, bargain transport within the city, make tours much kinder on your wallet...
