After our winter Iceland trip, we have put together a useful guide to driving in Iceland in winter. Iceland is a wonderful country for a road trip, but winter road conditions and closures can make it a stressful experience for those who are not prepared. We cover everything you need to know before you go, how to be prepared for driving in Iceland in winter, and what to do in the event of an emergency. We’ll tell you what road conditions are like in Iceland in winter, what kind of car to rent, rental car insurance options, the best areas of Iceland to visit (and avoid) in the winter, how to prepare for a winter Iceland road trip, and how to stay safe. We also provide a list of alternative travel solutions for those who decide they do not want to drive in Iceland during the winter but still want to… Read the rest
A Guide to Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in London
Did you know that you can find four UNESCO World Heritage sites in London? Although London is one of the world’s great modern capitals, it has a history stretching back to Roman times. London’s four UNESCO World Heritage sites are: Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey & St. Margaret’s Church, the Tower of London, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and Maritime Greenwich. Each of these sites has been determined by UNESCO to represent an “outstanding universal value”, and are all top visitor attractions in London. We’ve visited all these sites, and we’ll tell you about each of these London World Heritage sites and give tips on visiting each of them during your trip. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in London If you are wondering what exactly a World Heritage site is, it is a landmark or area that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has deemed to have cultural, historical,… Read the rest
A Guide to Celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh Scotland
After attending Edinburgh’s Hogmanay several times, we’ve finally decided to write a guide to celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh! Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year’s Eve and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival has become one of the largest New Year’s celebrations in the world. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a multi-day festival full of events that include a torchlight procession, live music concerts, family events, a massive street party, traditional dancing, fireworks, and even the opportunity to take a plunge in the ice Firth of Forth! If you are interested in celebrating the New Year in Edinburgh, we’ll tell you all you need to know to help you decide if you want to go and what you can do at the festival. We provide advice on planning ahead and finding accommodation, break down the Hogmanay events day by day, and give plenty of tips for making the most of your trip to celebrate Hogmanay… Read the rest
Churchill in London: A Guide to Winston Churchill Sites in London
Winston Churchill is one of the most well-known British figures of the 20th century, and today it is easy to find traces of Winston Churchill in London. Although Churchill traveled extensively, there is no city more central to his life than London. It was here that he went to school, sat at Parliament, married, lived with his family, served as Prime Minister, coordinated much of the war effort during World War 2, and died. Although Churchill is best known for his role as Britain’s fearless wartime leader during WWII, he was a well-rounded man who also served in the military, bred race horses, produced over 500 paintings, became an amateur bricklayer, won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and wrote love letters regularly to his wife. Today Winston Churchill remains as intriguing and divisive as he was in life, and London is the best place to learn more about this complex former… Read the rest
Visiting Iceland in Winter: Top 18 Winter Activities in Iceland
Visiting Iceland in winter can be a wonderful experience as there are fewer people, beautiful winter landscapes, and chances to see the Northern Lights! There are also a number of fun winter activities to do like skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and joining in on holiday celebrations. Although some attractions in Iceland close or become inaccessible during the winter, many of Iceland’s most famous spots are still easy to visit, including the Golden Circle, waterfalls, Blue Lagoon, glaciers, black sand beaches, museums, ice caves, and the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. This post focuses on the best things to do in Iceland during the winter, and we cover everything from heli-skiing to holiday celebrations to Northern Lights tours! We provide information on how to do them independently (when possible) for those who want to rent a car and drive themselves. We also provide information on how to book winter day tours… Read the rest
15 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Edinburgh Scotland
After spending many winters in Edinburgh, we are sharing our favorite ways to celebrate Christmas in Edinburgh Scotland. There are loads of things to do in Edinburgh during December, which include browsing traditional Christmas markets, ice skating, Christmas shopping, enjoying the holiday lights, riding the Star Flyer, and attending concerts. We cover all things associated with Christmas in Edinburgh from amusement rides to church services, and everything in between. Whether you are a visitor or a local, we give you advice to help you find the best shopping hotspots, Edinburgh Christmas markets, festive afternoon teas, Edinburgh Christmas events, Christmas meals, light displays, and Christmas decorations in Edinburgh. We also share a brief history of Christmas in Scotland and some of the common holiday traditions. So let’s delve into our guide to things to do in Edinburgh during Christmas! Note that our Christmas guide has been updated for Edinburgh Christmas 2023…. Read the rest
Visiting the Isle of Wight: Queen Victoria Trail
Queen Victoria had a significant impact on the Isle of Wight, and we have put together a guide to visiting the Queen Victoria related sites on the Isle of Wight. Queen Victoria first visited the Isle of Wight on a holiday with her mother in 1831 at the age of 12. She enjoyed her time on the Isle of Wight and kept returning, eventually purchasing an estate on the island in 1845. The Queen’s regular presence on the island helped put the Isle of Wight “on the map” as a Victorian holiday and wellness destination. She continues to intrigue travelers and her former residence Osborne House is now one of the most visited attractions on the island. Today there are a number of places you can visit that were connected to Queen Victoria or were popular Victorian era destinations, and these include castles, forts, scenic viewpoints, the oldest amusement park… Read the rest
Paris Perfume Workshop: How to Make Your Own Perfume in Paris
Did you know that you can create your own perfume in a Paris perfume workshop? You have several options where you can develop your own personal fragrance with personal guidance from a professional nose during a perfume creation class in Paris. Laurence and I attended the Fragonard perfume workshop in Paris on my birthday and we had a lot of fun learning, sniffing, and concocting during this hands-on perfume workshop. Fragonard offers guests the opportunity to book a workshop that allows them to develop their own eau de cologne with personal guidance from a professional. Workshop attendees learn about the history of perfume, smell the main ingredients for eau de cologne, devise their own perfume formula based on their personal preferences, and then mix and bottle their own perfume. Interested in attending a perfume workshop in Paris? We’ll share a bit of history of perfume making in France, how you can make… Read the rest
Travel Photography: Do I Need A Travel Tripod?
A travel tripod is an easy way to improve your travel photography. Almost everyone travels with a camera of some sort to capture vacation memories while they travel, whether it be a smartphone, a compact camera, or a professional DSLR camera. If you are wanting to capture better travel photos, you may want to consider buying a travel tripod. Adding a travel tripod to your photography gear arsenal can help you take better vacation photos without a lot of effort. Today Laurence, an award-winning professional travel photographer, is going to cover the basics of what a tripod does, how it can improve your photography, and what situations are best suited for a tripod. He’ll also provide recommendations of a range of travel tripods to suit any budget, discuss situations when you should and should not travel with a tripod, and provide practical tips on traveling with a tripod. What Does… Read the rest
Paris Pass Review: Is it Worth it?
If you are planning a trip to Paris and plan to visit a number of the city’s top attractions, you may be able to save money and time by purchasing the Paris Pass. The Paris Pass provides free admission into over 90 of the top attractions in Paris. Depending on the duration and version of Paris Pass you purchase this includes popular attractions like the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, Eiffel Tower and a Seine River cruise. It can also include a free Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour ticket, and can ensure you skip long ticket lines at some of the top museums and attractions to save you time on your trip. While the Paris Pass can be a great deal and save some travelers time and money, it will not be a good value for all travelers. We’ll help provide all the information you need to… Read the rest
Comprehensive North Coast 500 Road Trip Planning Guide
The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route along Scotland’s northern coast that begins and ends in the city of Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands. We’ve put together this comprehensive North Coast 500 guide to help you plan the perfect North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland. The NC500 route offers visitors the opportunity to see rugged landscapes, frolic on sandy beaches, spot wildlife, visit museums and heritage sites, stay in castles, sip whisky, sample the local produce, and get to know the people who live there. The route was designed to encourage more visitors to visit this sparsely populated region of Scotland and it has been very successful. Laurence and I have driven the full route several times and we have put together this guide to help others who are planning their own North Coast 500 road trip. We’ll explain the North Coast 500 route, what… Read the rest
Finding Churchill: Visiting the Top Winston Churchill Sites in England
We have put together a list of the top Winston Churchill sites in England and tips on visiting each of these places. As admirers of Winston Churchill ourselves, we know that many people want to visit places associated with Churchill during their travels in England. Best known for his powerful speeches and role in leading Britain victoriously through World War 2, Winston Churchill led a complex and extraordinary life that affected people from all over the world. He served in the military, spent over 50 years serving as a Member of Parliament with two terms as Prime Minister, won the Nobel Prize in Literature, and was even awarded the first honorary United States citizenship. There are thousands of buildings, sites, statues, memorials, plaques, and museum exhibits associated with Winston Churchill throughout England and the United Kingdom, but we’ve narrowed it down to the top 8 places we think were most significant to Winston… Read the rest
10 Things to do in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Scotland
There are many things to do in Loch Lomond, and it is a popular weekend destination for locals from Glasgow and Edinburgh in search of nature and outdoor activities. Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park was Scotland’s first national park, designated in 2002. The national park contains a diverse geography that includes 21 munros (Scottish mountains), two forest parks, 22 lochs, and over 50 designated special nature conservation sites that are home to a variety of wildlife. Loch Lomond itself is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain by surface area. Visitors can go cruising on a lake in a historic steamship, rent a canoe or kayak, spend a day visiting small villages, see Rob Roy’s gravestone, have fun at an aerial adventure park, or go climbing or biking. If you enjoy hiking, there are a number of short and moderate hiking paths to enjoy here, and a few of Scotland’s popular… Read the rest
London Itinerary: 6 Days in London
London is one of the world’s most famous capital cities and England’s largest city, offering an endless number of attractions, museums, historical buildings, and entertainment options. London can be an overwhelming city for many travelers, especially those visiting for the first time. We have visited London many times and Laurence used to live here. Based on our personal experiences, we’ve put together a recommended 6-day London itinerary that will help you see the highlights if you have at least 6 days in London. It includes all the major attractions (e.g., Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the National Gallery), but also includes several lesser-known sites and encourages you to explore several of London’s diverse neighborhoods including Westminster, Greenwich, Kensington, and Camden. We have personally visited all the sights and attractions in this itinerary and are happy to recommend them for your trip. We suggest using this itinerary as a starting point… Read the rest
North Coast 500 Hotels Guide: Where to Stay along the NC500
The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route along Scotland’s northern coast, offering drivers rugged landscapes, sandy beaches, wildlife, museums, castles, whisky distilleries, and so much more! If you are planning to road trip around this scenic area of the Scottish Highlands, you may be wanting to spend the night at some special North Coast 500 hotels. Castle hotels. Historic Georgian and Victorian mansions. Luxury guest houses. Old crofts and farmhouses. Romantic B&B’s. Sea and lochside cottages. All of these and more are possible, but it can be time-consuming to search and choose from the hundreds of properties along the route. So we’ve done it for you, providing a list of over 25 personally recommended North Coast 500 hotels that are well-rated, well-located, and/or offer something unique or special. Our list includes everything from 5-star luxury castles to cozy family-run B&Bs, with information, a review, and tips provided for… Read the rest