In Shanghai recently, I discovered the true meaning of speed. And no, it wasn't the rate at which xiao long bao disappeared from my plate or money was coaxed from my Expo-fueled wallet. It happened when I came face to face with an old love: Trains…

Continue

We are delighted to announce our final two experts for TBU11 in Manchester next March.… Continue

It hardly needs to be said that Prague is absolutely beautiful. Once you’ve wandered under the astounding mix of colorful facades that line the city’s winding Old Town alleyways – their soft yellows and

pastel pinks and blues glowing gently – you can almost never feel the same way about any European city again.

But Prague…

Continue

Brrr!! It’s been cold, rainy and oh-so-blustery today. I’m huddled under three quilts with a heating pad in my lap to keep me nice and toasty as the storm rages.



On such a night it pleases me no end to go back through my photo albums, looking at pictures of warm, sunny places with dear friends. So today I’m going to do just that, and drag you along on a stroll through the back streets of Cozumel, Mexico.



As much as I love stunning monuments and historical buildings like the… Continue

Here's why you seriously need to consider travel insurance.......................



I am proof of two things today, as I sit here with my black eye and 25 stitches. First, we all need travel insurance. Don’t even let it cross

your mind that you don’t. I am living proof that we all do. Secondly,

the people we meet in our travels are often as caring and concerned for

us as the friends and loved ones we leave at home. I am living proof of

that too.… Continue

Continue

If you're visiting Manchester, I recommend downloading Creative Tourist's Cultural Guide to Manchester iPhone app. It contains lots of info on cultural events in Manchester, as well as tips for things to see and do, including walking tours. Oh, and it's free! :-)

Hi Everyone Continue

It’s that spooky time of year again when the world goes just a little bit cold, black cats jump out from dark alleyways and you never know what kinds of ghastly creatures you’ll meet

just around the corner.

Let’s face it, the UK does Halloween well. It's got the dreary weather, the creepy moors and, of course, plenty of fog and mist. London has seen its share of dastardly…

Continue

Oxford Road is one of Manchester's main throughfares. It starts at St. Peter's Square in the heart of the city and runs very much like a straight line into the city's southern suburbs. Dubbed 'the Corridor', Oxford Road is home to Manchester's two universities, the BBC offices, various… Continue

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting Paris for the first time. Paris is one of those cities that seems, to me, to be an essential for any real traveler’s experience, but I had never made the time go to, so this was to be a fantastic anniversary weekend.

To make it super special, I didn’t want to get just any old hotel room,…

Continue

i am so ecstatic to be back in europe. this is my first time living in continental europe, and it feels so freaking good! don’t get me wrong, living in the US has its advantages (readily offered ice water, coffee refills, cheap rent), and so does china (cheap food, cheap beer, cheap everything).

but europe… ah, europe.

over the past couple of days, i have spent a bit of time in thought,…

Continue

I had been working at a Dutch bank for ten years when it was taken over. Months passed before it became clear to me that I needed a break. I was exhausted and I felt jaded. Many aspects of my life had gone into auto-pilot mode and I was just there for the ride. I was tired of it. I wanted to renew my zest for life, reignite my passions and start to really enjoy the things and people I love. I left the bank in the summer of 2008 and embarked on a five-month journey around the world; a journey… Continue

It’s dawn, and on a lake as flat as a mirror, the mist swirls and rises. It's so quiet you can almost hear the last of the night's stars winking out, or the sun's first light tickling the trees. Maybe a fish splashes somewhere, or a loon's haunting call wafts across the water.…

Continue

Continue

The Villa Trotta in southern Italy is a place of beauty, respite and peace. When my friends and I stayed there last spring, one of my favorite things about it was how quickly it felt like home. A good 15-30 minute drive from the nearest town, it became our own private world.



We did our washing and hung it out to dry like proper Italians.

We washed dishes looking out of this window.…

Continue

We are pleased to announce the travel bloggers conference #TBU11



Continue