Northern Europe
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Lapland Hotels Saaga, Ylläs, Lapland, Finland Review
Hotel Review Location: Lapland Hotels, Saaga is a year round resort hotel situated 175 km north of the arctic circle in Ylläs, Lapland. The Ylläs area comprises the two villages of Äkaslompolo on the northern side of Ylläs fell and Ylläsjarvi to the south which are connected by a scenic road. Although it sounds remote,…
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Hotel Levi Panorama, Levi, Lapland, Finland Review
Hotel Review Location: Hotel Levi Panorama is a luxurious resort hotel located on the slopes of Levi Fell, 110 miles north of the arctic circle in Lapland, Finland. Getting to Levi is quite easy as there are daily connecting flights from Helsinki international airport to Kittilä with Finnair (journey time 1 hour 20 minutes). Levi…
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Top Things to See in Gdansk: Shipyards and Amber Museum
We started off the final day of our weekend in Gdansk with a short tram ride to the European Solidarity Centre which was constructed alongside the historic shipyards. It is free to enter the building but tickets are required for the permanent exhibition 30zl (£5.55). The exhibition begins with the widespread strikes of August 1980 following…
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Exploring Poland’s Tri-City: Oliwa, Sopot & Gdynia Highlights
It was a bright, sunny morning just perfect for our planned trip to the neighbouring towns of Oliwa, Sopot and Gdynia. As they are located close together it’s very easy to combine a visit to all three by taking the SKM train from Gdansk Glowny station. Our Gdansk Cards included the use of transport in the…
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Must-Visit Attractions in Gdansk, Poland
Our day began with a visit to the National Maritime Museum along the historic riverside. A combined entrance ticket 35zl (£6.50) can be purchased to include the museum ship Soldek moored alongside. Entrance is also included in the Gdańsk Card. The museum located in three restored old granaries is devoted to Gdańsk’s role as a Baltic seaport…
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How to Spend the Perfect Gdansk City Break
It was another early morning start for our journey to London Stansted airport for our 8.25 a.m. Ryanair flight to the Polish city of Gdansk. We managed to catch up on some sleep during the flight and it seemed no time at all until we were touching down into Lech Walęsa airport at 11.30 a.m.…
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Summer in Ylläs, Finnish Lapland: Best Things to Do Under the Midnight Sun
I was recently invited to visit two of Finnish Lapland’s top summer destinations, both of which are high above the arctic circle. I’ve just published an article on Levi and now I am turning my attention to the equally beautiful village of Ylläs located one hour away by car. Getting there: I flew with Finnair…
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Why Levi is the Perfect Summer Destination in Finnish Lapland
Lapland is well known as a winter destination and famed for its ski tracks, viewing the Northern Lights and of course for the magical experience of visiting Father Christmas in his snowy cabin. However, did you know that Levi is an absolutely beautiful place to visit during the summertime when the sun never sets and…
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Zaanse Schans Windmills, Amsterdam
Located 15 km north of Amsterdam in a picturesque setting you will discover a wonderful historic village on the banks of the River Zaan. The area is delightful with its row of windmills, craft workshops and excellent museums. The site is free to visit, however most of the museums charge an individual entrance fee so…
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Vesting Hotel, Naarden, The Netherlands Review
Hotel Review Location: Naarden is a UNESCO World Heritage star shaped fortress which was built to protect the city from attack and is one of the best preserved medieval fortified towns in Europe. This unique town is approximately 30 minutes from Amsterdam by car and by train 25 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station to Naarden-Bussum. From…
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48 Hours in Warsaw: A Perfect Weekend Itinerary
With cheap air fares, Warsaw is perfect for an inexpensive weekend break. The Polish capital has much to offer with its picturesque old town, historical landmarks, museums and parks yet is often overlooked in favour of Krakow. Getting there: We took an early morning flight with Ryanair from Leeds-Bradford airport, arriving into Warsaw Modlin 35…
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Exploring Muiderslot Castle and the Singer Laren Museum, The Netherlands
We’d slept like logs in our comfortable bed at the Vesting Hotel, Naarden and what a treat there was in store for us down in the restaurant. Rather than a buffet, guests are served their own breakfast platters complete with freshly baked bread and pastries. The boiled eggs were deliciously soft, the cappuccinos brewed to perfection…
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Explore Amsterdam’s Must-See Sights and Discover Naarden Fortress in the Afternoon
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast in the Park Plaza Vondelpark’s restaurant, we checked out of the hotel leaving our luggage to collect later. We’d decided on a morning’s sightseeing and felt we couldn’t visit Amsterdam without taking a canal cruise. We therefore took a tram to Westermarkt, close to Anne Frank’s House on the Prinsengracht canal…
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Zuiderzee Open Air Museum & Volendam, The Netherlands
After a delicious breakfast in the Park Plaza Vondelpark’s restaurant we set off bright and early to visit some interesting places outside of the city. After taking Tram line 2 to Central Station we caught a train to Enkhuizen one hour away. Standard single fares are €13.20 each but by purchasing online tickets we saved €1…
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A Guide to Keukenhof Gardens and Vondelpark in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of my favourite European cities, famous for its canals and tulips and somewhere I always enjoy visiting. The city centre is absolutely gorgeous with its scenic canals, quaint architecture and world renowned museums but did you know that there are lots of idyllic places to visit further afield that are easily accessible…
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Exploring History: Nuremberg Rally Grounds, Courtroom 600 & Afternoon in Fürth
Nuremberg’s history is complex with its symbols of power from the days of the Holy Roman Empire in Germany to its dark Third Reich history as the ‘City of the Nazi Party Rallies’. On our final morning in the city we took a tram to to the south east of the city to view the…
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Explore Nuremberg’s Castle and Old Town: Best Spots to See on Foot
A leisurely breakfast in the stylish restaurant of Nuremberg’s Leonardo Royal Hotel was a perfect way to start the day tucking into a varied buffet selection followed by omelettes freshly made to order. After downing two cappuccinos we were ready for the day ahead and utilised our Nuremberg Cards by taking the metro, followed by a tram…
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Top Highlights for a Weekend in Nuremberg
Nuremberg is the second largest city in Bavaria, southern Germany. It’s a city famous for its Imperial castle, half timbered houses and cobblestone squares, and somewhere I’d long wanted to visit. One Friday evening a few weeks ago my wish finally came true as we took a Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Nuremberg’s Albrecht…
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Strandhill Lodge and Suites, Co. Sligo Review
Hotel Review Location: Strandhill Lodge and Suites is located in the small seaside resort of Strandhill, five miles west of Sligo Town, Ireland. The town is a popular place to visit when touring the Wild Atlantic Way and is renowned for being a surfer’s paradise. Arrival and check-in: The accommodation is located on a quiet…
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Yeats Country Hotel, Rosses Point, Co. Sligo Review
Hotel Review Location: Yeats Country Hotel is located in the village of Rosses Point on the edge of Sligo Bay. The hotel overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is just 4 miles (7km) from the county town of Sligo. Arrival and check-in: The hotel commands an impressive location on an unspoilt headland with a large car…
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The Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town Review
Hotel Review Location: The Abbey Hotel is located in the charming small town of Donegal in north west Ireland on Donegal Bay. It overlooks the pedestrianised Diamond (main square) surrounded by attractive small shops, cafes and pubs. The hotel is also ideally positioned for guests arriving by public transport as Bus Eireann operate regular services to the…
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A Guide to Poznań Old Town: History, Highlights & Hidden Corners
It was our final day in Poznan and at last the sun had decided to put in an appearance, enhancing the beauty of the tall and colourful former merchant’s houses surrounding the Old Town Square. Many of these buildings were reconstructed following heavy damage during the Second World War and are exact replicas of the…
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A Day in Poznań: Visit the Palm House and Lake Malta Ski Slope
It had been snowing throughout the night leaving a glistening white blanket covering everything as we ventured outdoors. After walking down to Wroclawska we caught Tram 5 to Park Wilsona so that we could visit the Palm House. This park is located in the Lazarz district and dates back to 1834 when the city’s first…
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Festive Fun in Poznań: Christmas Market and Must-See Museums
After a hearty breakfast in our hotel we took Tram 3 to Citadel Park in the Kmieca district, just north of the city centre. There had been a light sprinkling of snow overnight which had given the park a winter wonderland like appearance. The park sits on Winiary Hill covering 89 hectares and was a…
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