Northern Europe
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Le Moulin de Lourmarin, Provence Hotel Review
Lourmarin lies in the heart of the Luberon in rural Provence and is listed among the most beautiful villages in the whole of France. I recently had the pleasure to stay at Le Moulin, a converted 18th century olive oil mill transformed into a boutique hotel in the village centre. Location: Le Moulin is located…
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Chateau La Coste: The Ultimate Day Trip from Aix-en-Provence
Chateau La Coste comprises an arts centre, sculpture trail, vineyard, hotel and restaurants and is a delightful place to visit for a leisurely lunch followed by a stroll through the vast estate. Getting there: Château La Coste is located within a 20 minute drive of Aix-en-Provence and 45 minutes from Marseille, making it a perfect…
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Exploring the east coast of Finland Part 2: Strömfors, Hamina and Kotka
The east coast of Finland lies within a 90 minute drive from Helsinki and makes for an ideal side trip from the capital and a chance to explore more of beautiful Finland either for a day trip or a short break. Once you arrive in the region the distance between towns and key sights is…
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Exploring the east coast of Finland: Strömfors and Loviisa
The east coast of Finland lies within a 90 minute drive from Helsinki and makes for an ideal side trip from the capital and a chance to explore more of beautiful Finland either for a day trip or a short break. Once you arrive in the region the distance between towns and key sights is…
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How to spend 48 hours in Turku, Finland
Short Break in Turku Most first-time visitors to Finland naturally head first to the nation’s capital, Helsinki, which is undeniably beautiful but if time allows, and especially for returning visitors, I’d highly recommend a short break in Turku. Located in the southwest of Finland, Turku is the country’s oldest city and is noted for its…
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Tallink Shuttle MyStar Helsinki-Tallinn Review
On our recent visit to Helsinki we arranged a trip on the flagship Tallink MyStar. As ferries depart up to seven times a day we opted to take the popular 10.30 a.m. service. MyStar entered operational service in December 2022 and has since been sailing on Tallink’s Gulf of Finland route between its homeport of…
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H15 Boutique Hotel, Warsaw Review
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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Martin’s Dream Hotel, Mons, Belgium Review
Hotel Review Martin’s Dream Hotel is located in a 19th century Neo-Gothic building that was the home of the Sisters of the Belgian Abbey before being converted into a church. Now a four star hotel, it retains many of the building’s original features which add to its charm. Location: The hotel is located in the…
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Aix-en-Provence: the ultimate travel guide
Aix-en-Provence is situated between the Rhone River and the foothills of the Southern Alps and the Mediterranean Sea. With over 2,000 years of history, the elegant old town is delightful boasting Provencal charm, historic sandstone buildings, narrow, car free streets and beautiful squares adorned by fountains. With over 250 gracing the city, fountains have become the emblem…
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Exploring Luberon: A Guide to the Most Beautiful Villages and Vineyards
Continuing my series of posts documenting my recent visit to the Luberon. Day 2 Morning drive to the hilltop village of Gordes I knew that Gordes was a hilltop village but nothing prepared me for my first enchanting view, it was so beautiful with its medieval stone cottages clinging on to the hillside. The centre…
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Exploring The Luberon, Provence
The Luberon is a natural park in Provence, with the Luberon mountain running its length and separating the north and south of the region. After reading ‘A Year in Provence’ by Peter Mayle many years ago I’d long wanted to explore this idyllic part of the south of France and in April this year I…
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Visiting The Blue Lagoon Near Reykjavik: Tips, Tickets & What to Expect
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland. Bathing there is considered to have regenerative qualities because the water is rich in silica and sulphur. The lagoon is surrounded by a stunning volcanic landscape offering beautiful views while soaking in the milky blue waters. The beneficial powers of…
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Weekend in Reykjavik Part Two: More Must-See Attractions and Experiences
On waking we decided to take a walk through the city after enjoying the hotel’s delicious continental breakfast. We were visiting in January when it doesn’t come light until around 10.30 a.m. but with numerous buildings illuminated, our twilight stroll actually turned out to be rather nice. Reykjavik City Hall The first building we came…
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A Weekend in Reykjavik: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Day One We had booked an early morning BA flight from London Heathrow over to Reykjavik taking just under three hours. With Iceland being in the same time zone as the U.K. it was still only 10.30 a.m. when we touched down into a snowy Keflavik airport. Getting into Reykjavik from the airport The airport…
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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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How to spend a layover at Helsinki Airport
With time on your hands at the airport why not check out my suggestions of attractions to visit nearby. One can easily be reached on foot while the other two can be visited by public transport or by taking a taxi from the airport. Finland’s capital Helsinki is beautiful but it’s also interesting to discover…
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Motel One, Hamburg Airport Review
Hotel Review Motel One is a design hotel chain, founded in Germany and to be found throughout Europe with one hotel in New York City. Don’t let the name ‘motel’ put you off as the chain is far removed from the motel concept offering affordable, stylish hotel accommodation. Location: Motel One Hamburg Airport is situated…
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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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Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Review
Hotel Review Location: Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is linked via a covered walkway to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and with the city centre being only 20 minutes away by train, the hotel is ideally located for a city break or overnight layover. Arrival and check in: After arriving into Schiphol Airport on board a KLM flight…
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Exploring Fazer Experience: The Ultimate Chocolate Tour in Vantaa, Finland
The Fazer Experience Founded in 1891, Fazer is one of the most famous Finnish food companies, producing chocolate, cakes and confectionery since 1894. Whenever I visit Finland I always return home with a selection of their delicious chocolates so it was a perfect opportunity for me to learn more about the company and to sample…
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Exploring Pellinge Marina: A Hidden Gem Near Porvoo, Finland
Resort Review Pellinge Marina is located on the idyllic island of Pellinge in the Porvoo archipelago of eastern Finland. The historic fishing farm has been transformed into a luxurious resort with the dark wooden cluster of buildings forming the marina complex blending in beautifully with the natural environment. Getting there: The resort is accessible both…
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RUNO Hotel, Porvoo, Finland Review
Hotel Review Whilst visiting the Finnish capital of Helsinki it’s also a perfect opportunity to spend a couple of days exploring Porvoo. Located 50 km east of Helsinki, it’s Finland’s second oldest city and its best preserved. The small city is noted for its old wooden town, charming cobblestone streets and ochre painted riverside warehouses. …
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