Northern Europe
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Scandic Helsinki Hub, Finland Review
Hotel Review Location: Scandic Helsinki Hub is a recently opened hotel housed in an impressive former 1920’s print works overlooking Old Church Park, Helsinki. The hotel enjoys a city centre location close to metro and tram routes and is just a short walk from the tree lined Esplanade with its designer shops and stylish cafes. …
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Original Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden, Finland Review
Location: Hotel Tapiola Garden is a four star hotel located in the garden city of Tapiola and is only 15 minutes by metro or car from the centre of Helsinki. We arrived by public transport from Helsinki International Airport which was very easy as trains run at 10 minute intervals into Helsinki central railway station…
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How to Spend One Day in Cannes, France
From our base in Nice it was easy to visit Cannes by public transport as it’s possible to travel there either by bus or train. We chose to take the train (final destination Marseilles) departing from Nice Ville central station (single tickets € 7.20). Do try to sit on the left hand side of the…
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Best Things to Do in Menton in One Day
There are just so many beautiful places that are easily accessible by public transport from Nice that we were able to select a different destination each day. Our plan for the day was to visit Menton, the pearl of France which lies close to the Italian border. It’s possible to reach the town by either…
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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 Antibes in One Day
A day in Antibes was our plan so we took a tram to Nice Ville railway station where we paused briefly to admire its beautiful façade before buying tickets from a machine on the station concourse. As there was no difference in price between purchasing singles or returns we opted for singles so we didn’t…
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How to Spend a Day Exploring Èze, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
After breakfast in our aparthotel we caught Bus 82 to the village of Eze which was included in our 7 day travel card, otherwise a €1.50 single fare. The journey took just 25 minutes and on leaving the bus it was then just a few minutes walk up to the village centre which dates back…
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Visiting Monaco in a Day from Nice: What to see and do
The principality of Monaco lies 8 miles (13 km) from Nice, with Monte Carlo often being referred to as a playground for the rich and famous. However, Monaco is an affordable place to visit for a day as it is easily accessible from Nice by public transport. The ultimate way to arrive is by helicopter…
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Exploring Nice, France: Top Things to Do on the Côte d’Azur
It had been thirteen years since our last visit to Nice so we were long overdue a return trip. Our week long stay back in 2010 was memorable in more ways than one as it coincided with the Icelandic ash cloud grounding all flights resulting in a prolonged stay of an additional seven nights. Returning…
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Espoo, Finland Winter Travel Guide: The Perfect Nordic Getaway
Espoo lies close to Helsinki in southern Finland and despite not being as well known as the capital city, it is a lovely place to spend a few days. The city boundary covers the attractive centres of Tapiola and Matinkylä and the beautiful Nuuksio National Park. Getting there: Arrive into Helsinki Vantaa Airport (flights from…
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Hotel Matts, Matinkylä, Espoo, Finland Review
Hotel Review Location: Hotel Matts is a luxurious 4 star hotel which has been open in Matinkylä, Espoo since early 2021. The hotel has a metro and bus station just outside the door enabling guests easy access to travel around the scenic Espoo coastal area and into the centre of Helsinki in under 20 minutes.…
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Why Helsinki Is the Ultimate Winter City Break
Finland’s capital Helsinki is beautiful all year round and although it attracts more visitors during the summer months, winter breaks to this Nordic city are an absolute delight. Below are my suggestions for making the most of this winter wonderland. Market Square (Kauppatori) Start with a walk around the market square and admire the harbour…
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Tallink-Silja Line Day Cruise Helsinki – Stockholm Review
Whilst staying in Helsinki recently we planned a two day Roundtrip Cruise to Stockholm. Cruise ferries depart daily at 4.45 p.m. and arrive in Stockholm the next morning enabling visitors to spend a day in the Swedish capital before returning to the ferry for the return voyage. Embarkation Tallink-Silja Line have two identical cruise ferries…
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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…
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Top Highlights of Wrocław: Must-See Sights & Attractions
Our day started with a walk around the city’s medieval main square (Rynek). We’d already been enchanted by its beauty during our evening visits to the city’s festive Christmas market and now it was time to admire it in daylight. This square was laid out by the city planners in 1241 and it remains one…
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Best Things to See, Do, and Eat in Wrocław: Ultimate Travel Guide
Our morning began with a 20 minute tram ride from outside the main railway station (Wrocław Glówny) to the National Museum, (Trams 5 and 11). The museum is home to one of the largest art collections in the country. It’s better value to purchase a combined ticket with the Radowice Panorama, 25zl (£4.74) which is valid…
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Top Museums to Visit in Wrocław, Poland
After a good night’s sleep in our comfortable bed at the Ibis Styles Wroclaw Centrum, we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant. Continuing with the Alice in Wonderland theme, upturned wooden tables hang from the ceiling and furnishings include a checkerboard floor and playing card motifs on the walls. We discovered a plentiful…
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Wrocław, Poland: The Perfect European City Break Destination
Poland has become one of my most visited countries, I enjoy spending time there so much. After selecting Poznan for a festive break last year, this time we decided to head to Poland’s fourth largest city Wrocław. It’s located on the Oder River in the Lower Silesian region of the south west of the country.…
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Hotel Simoncini Luxembourg Review
Location: Hotel Simoncini is located in the centre of the historic old town just around the corner from the Golden Lady monument in Constitution Square and the Notre Dame Cathedral. We took Bus 16 from the airport, with a journey time of only 15 minutes to Hamilius, followed by a five minute walk to the…
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Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, Helsinki Airport Review
Hotel Review Location: The Clarion Hotel is the newest of the airside hotels at Helsinki Airport, Finland. It’s located a 20 minute walk from the terminal in the tranquil Aviapolis district, an area largely home to aviation offices and the Finnish Aviation Museum. The hotel is 30 minutes by train from Helsinki city centre (trains I…
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How to Spend 48 Hours in Ghent: Top Things to Do, See & Eat
Ghent is Belgium’s fourth largest city and one of the country’s most beautiful. It’s easy to reach from the UK without the need for flying as we took the Eurostar service from London St. Pancras to Brussels. The journey takes only two hours with regular onward connections to Flanders cities on Belgian Railways. Trams 1…
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Top Things to Do in Mechelen, Belgium in Just 2 Days
Mechelen is one of Flanders art cities and a hidden gem located midway between Brussels and Antwerp. We travelled there by train from Leuven, taking just 30 minutes, with Brussels even closer at 15 minutes for easy onward connections to Eurostar or flights from Brussels airport. The perfect two day itinerary Day 1: We’d arranged…
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What to Do in Leuven in 48 Hours: Best Sights, Food & Tips
The Flemish region of Belgium lies to the north of the country nestled between the Netherlands and France. Most visitors head to Bruges or Ghent but Leuven is equally beautiful and less crowded than its more famous neighbours. The city is home to one of Europe’s oldest universities (KU Leuven) with many of its historic…
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Park Plaza Vondelpark, Amsterdam Review
Hotel Review Location: The Park Plaza hotel is located on a tree lined quiet street in the upscale Oud-Zuid district of Amsterdam, just steps away from the beautiful Vondelpark. Tram 2 serves the hotel making it easy to get around as it takes just 20 minutes to Central Station passing many of the city’s attractions…
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