When you think of the country Ireland, the color green may instantly comes to mind, as do its green patchwork and grassy hillsides. Officially known as the Republic of Ireland and nicknamed the Emerald Isle, its magical scenery attracts visitors from around the globe to gaze at the jaw-dropping landscapes and to delight in the taste of its signature drink, Guinness. A trip to Ireland is truly an inspiration.
The Ring of Kerry
Known as …
I arrived in Brussels with a half empty suitcase, a few dozen Euros and a mission: to scour the Belgian capital for the best chocolate money could buy and to fill my suitcase with the rich, creamy fruits of my labor.
With dozens of shops, workshops, tastings and an even an entire museum devoted to chocolate, however, Brussels can be a bit overwhelming— even for serious chocoholics. As it does with most things, the city …
If a $5 fee is a good way to slow overtourism and protect the fragile ecosystem, then shouldn’t $10 work even better?
That’s the question in Venice, which has announced it will bring back last summer’s tourist tax—and double it to boot—for 2025.
Venice in 2024 introduced a €5 charge for visitors on 29 high-traffic peak-season dates, in an attempt to curb the crowds that sometimes overran its famous, but delicate, canals. The tourism office …
Foula is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the UK, situated 20 miles west of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Its isolated location, amidst rugged seas and dramatic cliffs, paints a beautiful yet challenging picture of life removed from pace and place. Foula’s history is as fascinating as its geographical features. The island’s name is thought to derive from the Old Norse “Fuglaey,” meaning “bird island.” Its abundant seabird populations and Norse heritage …
Amsterdam’s cityscape, with its narrow houses tilting at various angles like rows of dominoes frozen mid-fall, at times looks like a scene from a Dr. Suess story. These leaning buildings, far from being architectural mistakes, represent centuries of adaptation to the unique challenges posed by building a city on swampland.
The foundation of Amsterdam’s architectural character lies, quite literally, in its unusual geology. The city was built on a swampy delta, where the River Amstel …
File under “One more thing your travel advisor will be telling you about next time you visit the UK.”
Beginning January 8, travelers to the United Kingdom from non-European nations, including the United States and Canada, will need to take an extra step as the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system rolls out.
Whether just passing through a UK airport or planning a stay of six months or less—for tourism, family visits, business meetings, …
Think of it this way…Endless charming towns, historic landmarks and the beauty of Europe’s waterways rolling by as you sip wine on a sunny deck. That’s what I knew I was signing up for when I was invited on a 15-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest with Avalon Waterways. But many people who haven’t river cruised before often wonder about the perfect itinerary length. Is two weeks too long?
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Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England, hosts a mystical and otherworldly forest. Wistman’s Wood, one of Britain’s highest-altitude oak woodlands, is what remains of the ancient wildwood that once covered much of Dartmoor’s landscape thousands of years ago. The woodland occupies a steep-sided valley near Two Bridges, situated at an elevation of approximately 380-410 meters above sea level. The name “Wistman’s” is believed to derive from the Saxon word “wisht,” meaning eerie, uncanny, or haunted …
Perched dramatically on a mountainside in Italy’s Liguria region, the medieval village of Triora, known as the “Salem of Italy,” has embraced a haunting history of dramatic, infamous witch trials. The town’s strategic position at 780 meters above sea level made it a crucial defensive outpost during medieval times. The village’s name derives from “Tria Ora,” meaning three mouths, referring to the three gates that once protected this fortress town. Its robust walls and commanding …
Hidden in the forests of Romania’s Bucovina region, just two kilometers from the famous Putna Monastery, lies a rather remarkable home built by an Orthodox Christian Monk – the hermitage cave of Daniel the Hesychast (Daniil Sihastru). This sanctuary, Daniel the Hesychast carved from a massive rock formation with 15th-century tools and his bare hands, and in doing so, became one of Romania’s most venerated spiritual figures.
Daniel the Hesychast (1400-1482) was a Romanian Orthodox …
The former home and setting of two novels by Jane Austen, Bath has been a sought-after location for centuries. A spa resort set up by the Romans in 43 AD, it sits just south of the Cotswolds in England. Here, the architecture is charming and delicate all at once. Everywhere the traveler looks are examples of a culture-rich city – while having spas and thermal baths readily available is an undeniable plus.
The Romans used …
Southwest England has some of the most iconic shores in the United Kingdom and nearby coastal countries. The craggy coasts are mystical, with rocky cliffs often obscured by fog. This area juts from the mainland into the Lizard Peninsula, where the ceremonial county of Cornwall sits. Recognized as one of the Celtic areas of the UK, Cornwall has kept a distinct identity from the lands next door for the traveler to discover. With prehistoric and …
Since 2015, I have hosted nearly a dozen trips on hotel barges. These are narrow, custom-built vessels that putter along the French canals generally for six nights/seven days. Because the barges are confined to dimensions that will allow the transit of multiple locks, many measuring less than 20 feet wide, staterooms are smallish but adequate…
Heading out to see autumn’s arrival on the landscape is not a popular pastime in Catalonia, Spain, despite the fact that there is plenty to see on the trees come November. During the fall, seasonal tourism has more to do with searching out delectable mushrooms in northern forests and hunting than admiring the way the leaves turn. Low season in northern Catalonia, autumn is an ideal time to find a deal on hotels, avoid crowds, …
