Belfast and the Titanic will forever be linked together in history. It was in Belfast that the RMS Titanic would be designed, built, tested, and launched out to sea. In 1912, she was the world’s largest and most luxurious ship. However, it would be the ship’s tragic sinking on her maiden voyage, rather than her construction, that would make the Titanic famous around the world. Although the world’s most famous ship may lie at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, you can still find close links to the ship in Belfast today. You can visit the Titanic Belfast, which is a large visitor attraction that tells the story of the RMS Titanic from her design and construction to the sinking and its aftermath. It is located next to where the Titanic was built and is the largest attraction in the world dedicated to the story of the Titanic. It has… Read the rest
Historic Route 66 Motels & Hotels: Where to Stay along Route 66
Historic Route 66 runs from Chicago to Santa Monica and is a popular driving route for those wanting to explore a diverse stretch of America. The route is particularly known for its historic motels, neon signs, scenic vistas, and vintage diners. If you are planning to road trip across this fabled highway, you may be wanting to spend the night at some of the historic Route 66 motels and hotels. We know from our readers that it can be time-consuming and difficult to find and choose historic Route 66 motels along the route. So we’ve done it for you, providing a list of over 50 historic Route 66 motels and hotels along the route with information and booking details for each one. We’ve also created a Route 66 motels map with all the recommended lodging options to make it easier to plan your trip. We focus on historical lodging options… Read the rest
Gifts for Travelers – Travel Gifts Made in the USA
Wondering what gift to buy that traveler in your life? Today we wanted to highlight some great gift ideas for travelers in a gift guide that focus only on products made in the United States of America. Many people want to shop local and support local businesses. As an American, I wanted to do an article focused on travel products made in the USA. I love supporting and highlighting American businesses, particularly small businesses, that make their products in the U.S. In this post, we’ll highlight a number of American companies that make products that could be ideal gifts for travelers. These include a wide range of products, including travel accessories, luggage, clothing, National Parks passes, travel-inspired jewelry, pet travel products, water bottles, home decor, and travel journals. We include American made products that should suit just about any travel lover on your list, from the budget backpacker to the… Read the rest
Plum Guide Review: A New Alternative to Airbnb?
Plum Guide is a relatively new vacation rental website that offers a curated selection of vacation homes and apartments that can be booked online. The company launched in 2016 and is based in London. Plum Guide currently lists over 12,000 holiday homes on its website, with properties located in a number of popular destinations worldwide. We often stay in vacation rentals when we travel, especially if we’re staying for more than a couple of nights in the same place. There are lots of benefits to staying in a vacation rental versus a traditional hotel. A vacation rental can offer more privacy, more social distancing, the option to cook your own meals, laundry facilities, private outdoor space, and the ability to stay in a more local neighborhood. We’ve used a lot of websites to book vacation homes around the world, so we were excited to try a new one. We had… Read the rest
7 Travel Tips for Bath Lovers
If you prefer taking a bath rather than a shower, then you may enjoy these travel tips for bath lovers! I personally really love the experience of slipping into a bath while traveling. Soaking in a bath can be a fantastic experience after an exhausting day of sightseeing or hiking. It can also give you a chance to enjoy a pampering spa experience without the cost of a day at the spa. You may also be looking for accommodation with a bathtub for more practical reasons. For example, families may prefer hotels with bathtubs to be able to bathe young children. Others may seek a bathtub due to medical needs or mobility issues. I personally like to read books in the bath and find it really relaxing. But I also like baths because I find they are better for my dry skin and allow me to add eczema treatments to… Read the rest
Isle of Raasay Travel Guide: Top Things to do on Raasay
The Isle of Raasay is an island off the west coast of Scotland which is part of the Inner Hebrides. Although overshadowed by its much larger and more popular neighbor, the Isle of Skye, it is a great island to visit for hiking, cycling, kayaking, birdwatching, and getting away from the world. There are no big tourist attractions on the island, but the island offers a number of scenic walks, outdoor activities, and historical ruins. There is even a whisky distillery you can visit and tour on this little island! We’ve visited Raasay twice so far and have fallen in love with it. We first visited Raasay as a day trip from Skye in winter and really enjoyed our visit. So we had to come back in the Spring to spend more time on the island. We definitely recommend spending at least one night on the island to make the… Read the rest
Best Vacation Rental Websites: Where & How to Book Online
We’ve put together a list of some of the best vacation rental websites where you can book your dream holiday home, cabin, apartment, cottage, or villa. If you are looking for a self-catering stay for your next trip, we have you covered. Vacation rentals are a great option for travelers who want to have the conveniences of home at their travel destination. They offer more privacy than a hotel or bed-and-breakfast and can often be a less expensive lodging option, particularly for families and larger groups. Vacation rentals often offer travelers the option to cook their own food and do their own laundry, which can also help travelers save money. Vacation rentals come in all kinds of forms and can work for almost any budget and travel style, from budget backpackers looking for a bargain to family travelers looking for a good value stay to luxury travelers looking for 5-star… Read the rest
Guide to Attending the Château-d’Oex International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Switzerland
The Festival International de Ballons, or International Hot Air Balloon Festival, is the largest hot air ballooning event in Switzerland. It is held every year in the village of Château-d’Oex. The festival is known for its picturesque location in a valley of the Swiss Alps. The Festival International de Ballons is held each January over 9 days and features the daily launch of dozens of hot air balloons. The festival also includes air shows, flying competitions, mini balloon demonstrations, and a big night glow event. In addition to the balloon events, the festival also offers on-site family-friendly workshops, helicopter rides, balloon flights, exhibitors, and other entertainment. There are two unique features of this hot air ballooning festival. First, it is one of the few hot air balloon festivals that takes place during the winter. Second, it is one of the only festivals where you can see hot air balloons fly… Read the rest
Guide to the Best Travel Tripods 2021
Travel tripods are an essential tool for many travelers who want to improve their photography. A travel tripod can make it easier to capture better travel photos and allows for more creativity and advanced photography options. So we wanted to share our guide to the best travel tripods out there on the market today. As professional photographers, we travel nearly everywhere with a tripod for our photography, and we regard a travel tripod as a must-have item for any keen photographer—amateur or professional. Travel tripods come in a variety of sizes, materials, and shapes to fit just about any travel budget and style. From super compact mini tripods that can fit into a purse or day bag to heavy-duty professional travel tripods. We’ll help you find the best tripod for your next trip! Whether you are completely new to the idea of using a tripod or are a long-time tripod… Read the rest
2 Weeks in Turkey: The Perfect Turkey Itinerary
If you are planning a trip to Turkey, our 2 week Turkey itinerary will help you plan the perfect trip. Turkey is a large country, but if you have 14 days in Turkey you have time to explore many of the country’s most famous highlights. Our suggested 2 week Turkey itinerary includes visits to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Fethiye, Pamukkale, Kuşadası, Ephesus, Troy, Çanakkale, Gallipoli, and Ankara. You’ll have time to explore Turkey’s most cosmopolitan cities, marvel at its ancient archaeological sites, relax on its beaches, shop at its traditional bazaars, visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and enjoy its scenic landscapes. The detailed day-by-day itinerary covers some of the most famous and iconic places in Turkey as well as some lesser known spots. Each day we provide a range of suggestions for what you might want to do to suit just about any person’s travel style, budget, and tastes. Activity… Read the rest
Coronavirus & Travel Resources
We don’t normally write about current events and had no intention of writing about COVID-19, or the coronavirus, on our blogs. But the coronavirus has taken over the news and is greatly impacting travel around the world. It is also causing a lot of fear, confusion, and chaos. Laurence and I are receiving daily emails and social media messages from readers about the coronavirus asking us for our advice. We are not experts about the coronavirus. We can’t tell you the risk of traveling to any specific destination or give you specific advice on your travel plans in regard to the coronavirus. Ultimately, all decisions about travel need to be made by you and your travel companions. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation, scaremongering, and unreliable information out there about the coronavirus. This worries us as some people are making decisions based on inaccurate or unreliable information. So we… Read the rest
11 Ways to Get from London to Paris (& Vice Versa)
London and Paris are two of the most iconic cities in Europe, rich in history, culture, and attractions. Many visitors to Europe want to visit both capital cities and need to figure out how to travel from London to Paris. Did you realize that these two capital cities are only 214 miles (344 km) apart? And thanks to the creation of the Channel Tunnel (the Chunnel) it’s incredibly easy to get back and forth between them. It is easy to combine visits to London and Paris into the same trip, due to their proximity. If you would like to plan a visit to both cities, you might be wondering what is the best way to get from London, England to Paris France? To help answer that question, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to get from London to Paris (or from Paris to London). We’re going to list… Read the rest
24 Best Travel Scarves for Women
A scarf is a perfect travel accessory because of its versatility. A scarf can be worn to keep you warm, protect you from the sun, or cover you for modesty. It can also make a fashion statement and help dress up an outfit. Scarves also travel well. Most scarves are lightweight enough to easily fit into your luggage, purse, or backpack without taking up too much room. I don’t wear a scarf every day, but I always have at least one in my suitcase when traveling. In the winter, I use them to keep warm and stay cozy. In warm climates, I use them for keeping sun off my neck and shoulders and for adding a bit of flair to my wardrobe. A travel scarf can also be used as a blanket on a long haul flight, as a shawl on a chilly beach, or as a head covering at… Read the rest
Importance of Visitor Donations to Free Entry Museums
I love museums and recently was saddened to hear about the closure of a local museum. I became interested in learning more about how museums operate and how they are funded. Today museums are an important part of many people’s travel experiences. They have become some of the most popular and most visited places in the world’s leading cities. Big museums like the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London, The Met in New York City, and the Uffizi in Rome receive millions of visitors a year. Museums are cultural institutions that preserve and promote culture through their collections, foster learning and research, and provide educational opportunities. Museums are also economic drivers (e.g., job creation, increasing tourism, taxes) and visiting them may even promote wellness and help us live longer! Museums, especially those that accept public money, are expected to make their collections as publically accessible to as many… Read the rest
Guide to Visiting Highclere Castle: The Real Downton Abbey
Highclere Castle is best known as the real-life Downton Abbey, as it was where Downton Abbey was filmed. Many people visit to see the fictional home of the Crawley family and their servants. However, Highclere Castle, the family seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, has a rich history of its own that rivals the fictional stories of the TV series. The current Earl’s family has been living on the estate since 1679. The Carnarvon family has been involved in the founding of Canada, the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, scandalous affairs, and sordid court cases. Royalty, politicians, famous writers, and film stars have stayed at Highclere Castle. The great thing is that you can visit Highclere Castle to see it for yourself as it is open to the public during certain times of the year. The main three things to do at Highclere Castle are to tour the… Read the rest