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Posted on24 July 2018

Lake Constance: one lake, four countries, one continent

Lake Constance Meersburg. Photo credit: IBT Achim Mende Lake Constance is where Austria, Germany and Switzerland meet, mingle and bedazzle. From Swiss sophistication to Bavarian feasts, it’s a bewitching Alpine playground. I’m here for the ferry-hopping and country-crossing, sampling a succession of European greatest hits but without turning it into a slog, Tour de France-style.

A blue train on a large aqueduct bridge surrounded by trees

Posted on9 March 2018

6 epic rail journeys around the world

in All blogs, Europe travel inspiration, Travel guides, Worldwide travel inspiration

Train travel always evokes a sense of grandeur and romanticism that just seems to be missing from a flight. If you want a trip where the journey is as much a part of your experience as the destination, a train could be the perfect way to cover plenty of ground at the same time as

Posted on19 January 2018

6 reasons for visiting Valletta, Malta

in All blogs, Europe travel inspiration, Travel guides

Back in the 1950s a young newly wed and her naval officer husband moved to the Island of Malta and immediately fell in love with the place. They settled in a quiet suburb of the capital Valletta and stayed for nearly three years. In 2015 that same couple returned for a few days to the

volcanic landscape in Fuerteventura, with desert and fields in the foreground and a blue sky in the background

Posted on20 December 2017

An adventure in Fuerteventura

in All blogs, Europe travel inspiration, Travel guides

As I left the plane a fellow passenger said that I would either love or hate my forthcoming walking experience on the island of Fuerteventura. My curiosity was heightened. I had read the descriptions of the walks in the programme and they seemed pretty ordinary. I was soon to discover there is nothing ordinary about

Posted on20 July 2017

Chocolate cities of Europe

in All blogs, Europe travel inspiration, Travel guides, UK travel inspiration

Any time is a good time to contemplate taking a chocolate themed city break. You don’t have to wait for events like National Chocolate Week or Valentines Day. As a travel writer, I have discovered several chocolate cities worth heading to for a chocolate fix. The following are European cities worth visiting for their chocolate or chocolate

Image of ancient painting in Lascaux Cave

Posted on28 April 2017

Where to visit ancient cave paintings in the South of France

in All blogs, Europe travel inspiration, Travel guides

17,000 years ago, some of our ancestors ventured deep into caves in the South of France and created ancient cave paintings, huge works of art on the rock faces, depicting arresting scenes of active predatory mammals. Fast forward to 1940, and a teenage boy and his dog set out to roam the French countryside looking

Posted on21 April 2017

European battlefields to visit

in All blogs, Europe travel inspiration, Travel guides

There a number of reasons for wanting to visit European battlefields. A desire to see where a father, grandfather or great-grandfather fought, a passion for military and regimental history or simply an interest in seeing where the battles that changed history took place. I have focused on a few 20th century battlefields in Europe that

Posted on24 March 2016

The best no fly cruises from the UK

in All blogs, Cruise holidays, Travel guides, UK travel inspiration

Delayed flights. Luggage allowances. Shuttle buses. Jostling for a seat. Getting through customs. The airport can be one of the most stressful parts of a holiday, meaning that you return home frazzled rather than relaxed. With a no fly cruise you can completely avoid the airport, being ferried to and from the sun in style

Posted on17 March 2016

Cycling holidays for over 50s

in All blogs, Travel guides, UK travel inspiration, Worldwide travel inspiration

Cycling has been growing in popularity in the UK over the last decade or so. This is thanks largely to the British cycling team’s efforts in the Olympic Games and the individual successes in races such as the Tour de France by the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish. Of course, there

Posted on27 January 2016

Holiday tips for the recently retired

in All blogs, Travel tips

Travelling overseas is often a major part of many people’s retirement plans. However, there are a few things that retirees should bear in mind next time they travel. If you have recently retired, or are just about to, travel is probably high on the list of things that you plan to do in order to

Posted on15 January 2016

The French ski resort La Plagne is ideal for senior skiers

in All blogs, Europe travel inspiration, Travel guides, Winter sports

If you are looking for a resort with a range of wide and gentle slopes then La Plagne is the place for you. This famous French resort is popular with skiers of all ages and ability, but it is particularly well regarded by those of us who are in our more senior years. Situated within

Posted on24 July 2015

The best Greek islands for the over 50s

in All blogs, Europe travel inspiration, Travel guides

Greece is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, with millions of tourists flocking to its islands in particular. While it has attracted some bad press lately, it’s still a brilliant place to spend a week or two – especially for more mature travellers. The islands offer people a diverse choice of

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