Japan Etiquette Guide for Visitors

Japanese etiquette

For me, Japan conjures up images of geishas wearing kimonos, cherry blossom lined streets, giggling schoolgirls… But something else springs to mind – the politest people on the planet. Etiquette is huge in Japan, with behaviour and body language seeming to be even more important than what you say. There seems to be a never-ending list[…]

One night in Cambridge

2016 Travel Highlights: Cambridge

Last weekend, Tim and I had a lovely couple of days away in Cambridge. It’s a city I’ve been meaning to visit for ages, but have just never got around to it. Desperate to fill the gap between our holidays in Copenhagen and Sri Lanka, March was the perfect time to finally go. With just[…]

Learning Spanish in Spain: International House Valencia Review

Espanole Valencia

If my 7 year old self knew that I would be willingly spending my holiday at school, I don’t think I’d believe it. In fact, I’m hard pressed to believe it now. But it’s true. At 27 years old, I spent a week’s holiday (my birthday week no less) at school. And I loved it.[…]

The rise of the minimoon

Romantic bed in Marrakech

With Valentines Day out the way for another year, my Facebook feed is full of loved up couples planning their weddings. If they’re anything like me, it won’t be the wedding they’re looking forward to. It’ll be the honeymoon! But… Imagine the scene. You’ve already spent a small fortune on the biggest day of your life and[…]

My last impressions of Cuba

Havana Cuba

After spending two weeks in Cuba, I had formed some pretty mixed opinions. First stepping foot in Havana, I absolutely loved the place, but Maria la Gorda saw me having second thoughts. But what impression did I leave with? What had my time in Cuba taught me about the country that I didn’t already know?[…]

Cuba Libre: Viñales – Maria la Gorda – Soroa – Havana

Guanhacabibes beach

In my last post of our Cuban tour, we had just returned to our homestay in Viñales after a very heavy night out at an outdoor salsa bar. The next instalment of our G Adventures trip sees us depart the lush greenery of the west, throw up on a bus, get eaten alive on the coast,[…]

Cuba Libre: Havana – Viñales

Pinar del Rio

Our G Adventure: Cuba Libre After a few days adjusting to Cuban life in Havana, it was time to start our G Adventures tour – Cuba Libre. We had chosen to do an organised tour because we knew there was a lot to see in Cuba, but we genuinely had no idea where to start.[…]

How to spend NYE in NYC

New Year's Eve in New York

It’s been five years since I spent New Year’s Eve in New York. Since then, nothing has even come close to matching it. I’ve also been back to New York at other times of the year, but NYE in the Big Apple has to be the best. If you’re planning a visit (or even if[…]

The best places for Winter sun

Winter sun

Winter is, without a doubt, my least favourite time of year. In the UK, we are ‘treated’ to rain, short dark days and long cold nights. It’s enough to seriously affect the mood of Brits. In fact, between 3 and 6% of people in the UK are thought to have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) –[…]