LATEST ARTICLES
Hosts: Less is More
Hosts, I know that you want to make your rentals as cosy as possible. And I realise that you want to make your guests feel right at home. But that doesn't always mean that you're making life easy for yourself.An important maxim to remember when you're furnishing your...
Yes, You Can Speak French
There are many reasons given as to why Americans don't like to travel abroad. We know that the excuses such as 'why go anywhere when we have everything here' is nonsense. And today, fares to the rest of the world are comparitively cheap so it can't really be that...
Lombard Street, San Francisco
Lombard Street in San Francisco is one of those strange American sights that are so beloved of tourists. And it's hardly surprising as it's known as 'the most crooked street in the world'. You can see in the photographs and videos below just how much it twists and...
Rab: Royal Rumpy Pumpy
Royal scandals tend to be a thing of the past these days but in the UK in the 1930s there was plenty of royal scandal to keep everyone entertained. The British papers tried hard to rise above these matters but the foreign press had a field day with the new king,...
Joe Cocker Meadow, Dresden, Germany
It seems unbelievable to us today. It was June 2, 1988. Joe Cocker gave a concert in Dresden, Germany. That doesn't sound too unusual, does it? A musician playing a public concert? But it was unusual when you realise that at that time, Germany was still a year away...
What is Oscypek?
Most countries in Europe take their native cheeses very seriously indeed. Countries such as Italy, France and Great Britain are a delight for the cheese-lover. But have you heard of oscypek? This cheese is made exclusively in Poland from sheep's milk. And it's...
The Ghost Town of Goussainville-Vieux Pays
If you're flying to Paris and are just about to land at the airport, the chances are that you'll be flying over the ghost village of Goussainville-Vieux Pays . When you're read the story that led to this village being abandoned, you'll be sure to shiver if you fly...
Sunrock Hostel, Corfu. Stay For Free
I love the Greek islands (and Corfu in particular) and I'm all in favour of staying in quirky hostels to experience great fun and also as a budget measure. Sunrock on Corfu is a great example of a backpackers' hostel in a great location. Did you know that they have a...
Brighton, UK: The Royal Pavillion
England abounds with eccentrics - people and buildings. And the Royal Pavillion at Brighton is so much a part of English culture that it's only when I take a step back, and see it as a foreigner would, that I realise just how bizarre it is. Let's face it, many people,...
Icelandic Phallological Museum
So you happen to be in Iceland, in Reykjavik. And you see that there's a museum ahead - it's the Icelandic Phallological Museum. Do you go in? Actually, I suspect that the real question here is who thought about having a willy collection in the first place. And who...
Packing Light: Pack & Stack
Packing light has so many advantages. In the video below you'll see a method of packing a carry on bag - a method that I'd call 'the pack & stack'. This method, which is fully explained and demonstrated in the video, is quick and easy to do. If you select a...
Treetops Lodge, Kenya
Even if it didn't have important historic associations, Treetops would still be a fascinating place to stay because of its location - - 100 miles from Nairobi in the Aberdare National Park. The hotel is the ideal place to view Africa's magnificent wildlife in its...
Pont-en-Royans, France
There are many incredibly picturesque villages in France and Pont-en-Royans is an excellent example. You can see from the photographs how the brightly-coloured houses cling to the craggy cliff sides with the river running peacefully below. As you can see from the map...
Save Money, Save the Planet: No Housekeeping
Isn't it great that the hospitality industry realised just how expensive - in terms of money and the environment - the old habit of daily housekeeping at hotels could be? For several years now, notices in hotel bathrooms have informed us that fresh towels are not...
Jaco Pastorius: Fort Lauderdale
Not all visitors to Fort Lauderdale make their way up Dixie Highway. Those who do are often paying homage to one of the greatest bass players ever - Jaco Pastorius. Before we go any further, let's listen to him in action. This is from 1978. Jaco wasn't born here in...
Helga’s Folly, Sri Lanka
'If expecting a regular hotel experience, best look elsewhere. Thank you'. So says the website of Helga's Folly in Sri Lanka, right on the homepage. Very true. Helga's Folly is such an unusual place that I doubt that I could ever find the words to describe it so I am...
The Reichenbach Falls
Probably the most well-known waterfall in the world, Reichenbach Falls has a fictional hero to thank for its fame. For it is here that Conan Doyle's detective, Sherlock Holmes, had his 'fatal' battle with his arch enemy, Professor Moriarty. It was here, in Conan...
More Seniors Using Airbnb
Many Airbnb hosts have noticed the recent increase in older guests. There was a time, let's say during Airbnb's first few years, that the majority of guests were in a younger age bracket and - quite often - the more techy type. : But in 2018 when the company...
The Fake House at Leinster Gardens, London
Baywater is a lovely area of London with elegant terraces featuring delightful architecture. But next time you're in London, it's worth visiting Leinster Gardens because two of the houses there are not what they first appear to be. Numbers 23 and 24 are simply...
The Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town
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