Europe
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Where to eat in Riga: The Ultimate Foodie Guide to Latvia’s Capital
Fine Dining Experiences Riga, Latvia’s capital, is a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Between its art nouveau architecture and cobbled old town lanes lies a vibrant food scene that fuses Nordic precision with Baltic soul. Whether you’re seeking a Michelin-starred dinner, a romantic café, or hearty market fare, hopefully this guide will…
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Day Trip from Riga to Sigulda & Turaida: Castles, Bobsleigh & Nature
Just an hour away from Riga, the picturesque town of Sigulda and the nearby Turaida Museum Reserve offer a perfect mix of history, culture, and natural beauty. Often called the “Switzerland of Latvia,” Sigulda is nestled in the Gauja River Valley, with rolling hills, lush forests, and breathtaking river views. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or thrill-seeker, a…
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Why Riga Should Be Your Next Weekend City Break
I’ve recently returned from a long weekend in Riga, Latvia and absolutely enjoyed every minute of my time there. With its old town charm, art nouveau architecture and unique local experiences — from daily live music at Concerto Piccolo to a canal boat trip aboard the charming Darling, there’s something for everyone. Getting Into Riga from…
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How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Bergen, Norway
Bergen, Norway’s picturesque coastal city is the perfect destination for a weekend escape or short stopover while exploring the Norwegian fjords. Known for its colourful wooden houses, UNESCO-listed Bryggen wharf and gateway access to the fjords, Bergen offers the perfect mix of old world charm and nature. Whether you’re visiting for a few days or…
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Review: H15 Boutique Hotel, Warsaw
Hotel Review Location: H15 Boutique Hotel is located on one of the oldest streets in central Warsaw. The 19th century building has served as a grand private residence, a Soviet embassy, a headquarters for the Nazi party, and a prize possession of the People’s Republic of Poland. More recently this impressive building has been transformed…
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Riviera Travel Douro River Cruise Day 7 & 8
Day 7 Our week on board MS Riviera Rose was drawing to a close with just one full day left to enjoy the luxurious facilities on board. After another delicious breakfast served in the ship’s main restaurant we wandered up to the sun deck where we found some comfortable chairs shaded by a large parasol…
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Riviera Travel Douro River Cruise Day 5 & 6
Riviera Rose – Day 5: The ship set sail whilst we were having breakfast enabling us to take in the spectacular views from the restaurant windows. The engines on Riviera Rose are very quiet and if it wasn’t for the ever changing views one may not even realise that the boat was moving. Riviera Rose…
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Riviera Travel Douro River Cruise Days 3 & 4
Riviera Rose: Day 3: We enjoyed a leisurely start to the day, starting off with a delicious breakfast whilst taking in the breathtaking views of the Douro Valley as we sailed along the river. We passed through two more deep locks as well as sailing under a very low bridge so we watched with interest…
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Riviera Travel Douro River Cruise Day 2
We woke refreshed after a good night’s sleep on board the Riviera Rose and started off the day with a relaxing breakfast in the ship’s restaurant. It was just like staying in a luxurious, boutique hotel – barista made cappuccinos, a selection of fresh fruit, yoghurt and pastries, followed by our favourite Eggs Benedict. After…
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Riviera Travel Douro River Cruise: Day One
Day One We were so excited to be setting off on our first ever river cruise and after enjoying a relaxing overnight stay at the Gatwick Airport Sofitel we woke refreshed and then boarded the shuttle across to the south terminal to check in for our TAP flight over to Porto. Whilst waiting in the…
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Review: MS Riviera Rose
MS Riviera Rose is a luxurious ship that has been specifically designed to sail along the Douro River in Portugal. Newly launched in April 2025, the ship is 80 metres in length and can accommodate up to 114 guests in 57 cabins, including 4 balcony suites with a total of 38 crew. I was excited…
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Weekend in Warsaw – the perfect itinerary
With Warsaw being just over a two hour flight from the U.K. it makes for a perfect short break whatever the time of year. We opted to take an early morning flight from London Heathrow, arriving into Warsaw Chopin airport at 11.15 a.m. local time. Read on to find out the best things to see…
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Review: The Gomerino Hotel, Valletta, Malta
Hotel Review Malta is a small Mediterranean island that’s popular for its pristine beaches and guaranteed sunny weather between Easter and October. It’s also perfect for a winter break with temperatures averaging 18 degrees. In December, Malta transforms into a wonderland full of festive events, dazzling Christmas lights and plenty of seasonal cheer for all…
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The World of Volvo, Gothenburg
A treat lay in store for our last full day in Gothenburg as we had been invited to visit the newly opened World of Volvo exhibition centre located close to the Liseberg Amusement Park. We boarded a tram to the nearest stop at Liseberg Södra from where it was just a short walk to the…
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What to See and Do in Gothenburg: A Complete Travel Guide
After enjoying a delicious Scandinavian buffet breakfast at the Scandic Gothenburg Central we strolled along to the nearest tram stop to get us into the spirit of exploring a tram museum. Gothenburg Tram Museum is housed in an old tram depot not far from the city centre. We have a special affection for transport museums…
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How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Gothenburg, Sweden
With low cost flights on offer to Sweden’s second city, a city break to Gothenburg was very tempting and so on a recent Friday evening we boarded a flight from Manchester airport over to western Sweden. I’m a big fan of the Nordic region and after enjoying visits to Stockholm and Uppsala, I felt certain…
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Gibraltar – the perfect one day itinerary
The British overseas territory of Gibraltar is filled with historic sights, attractions and activities. At only 3 miles (5 km) long and 0.75 miles (1.2 km) wide it’s a tiny relic of the former British empire but there’s more than enough to keep a family entertained for several days. For those visiting just for the…
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Review: Villacana Villa, Cancelada, Spain
Accommodation Review Overview: Villacana is an idyllic development that has been designed in the style of a typical Andalusian “white town” or pueblo blanco. With its narrow flower adorned passageways and direct access to the beach it is one of the most sought after locations on the Costa del Sol. Villacana Villa Location: The Villa…
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Travel Guide: Naples Top Things to See and Do
Naples is a port city in the Campania region of southern Italy. With 4.4 million inhabitants it’s the third largest city in the country. Most visitors flying into Naples airport don’t stop off to explore the city but instead pick up hire cars and head south to explore the Amalfi coast. Despite the city previously…
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Christmas in Valletta, Malta: A Festive Travel Guide
Malta is a small Mediterranean island that’s popular for its pristine beaches and guaranteed sunny weather between Easter and October. You might not be aware though that in December, Malta transforms into a wonderland full of festive events, dazzling Christmas lights, and plenty of seasonal cheer. Getting there: Ryanair, EasyJet and Air Malta all offer…
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A day in Ventimiglia, Italy
From our base in Nice we planned a day trip to Ventimiglia, 8 km across the border in western Liguria, Italy. We took the 10:36 train from Nice Ville station (single tickets €8 for the 55 minute journey). As with our visit the previous day to Antibes we opted to buy single tickets as these…
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Best Things to Do in Bucharest on a Weekend Trip
After a good night’s sleep at the Mercure Bucharest City Centre we walked the short distance to the Romanian Athenaeum concert hall which stands on the edge of Revolution Square. This ornate domed, circular building is an architectural gem and is the city’s main classical music venue. As well as being able to purchase tickets for…
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How to Plan a Trip to Bucharest: Top Tips & Travel Guide
Day 1 On noticing that the low cost Hungarian airline Wizz Air had introduced flights from Leeds-Bradford airport to the Romanian capital of Bucharest, we were soon tapping away on our laptop to book flights. The day soon arrived for our 3 hour morning flight over to Bucharest which departed slightly later than scheduled. With…
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How to Spend a Day in Wrocław: Hydropolis and the Panorama Rotunda
The final day of our lovely visit to Wrocław had come around all too soon but with our flight home not scheduled until the evening, we had almost a full day to continue enjoying this wonderful city. After setting ourselves up for the day with a hearty buffet breakfast at the Ibis Styles Wrocław Centrum…