April 2025 - Page 2 of 2 - Planet Whitley

Tricots rayés, clownfish and giant lighthouse: An Amedee Island boat trip

In New Caledonia, Amedee Island is frequented by semi-aquatic sea snakes, but on a glass-bottomed boat trip there are plenty more surprises beneath the water To skip the story and book a full day trip to Amedee Island from Noumea, with a glass-bottomed boat tour,…

cruises, New Caledonia, Pacific Islands, wildlife

What happens when an airline breaks your suitcase

I got off the plane to discover my suitcase was damaged. What happened next was… weird. RIP suitcase Last Tuesday I arrived back at Birmingham Airport after a trip to Marrakesh with the family. Awaiting me was a sorry imitation of my suitcase. The logo…

air travel, consumer, luggage

Death Valley and Badwater Basin from Dante's View, California.

Why Dante’s View may be the best lookout in California

Dante’s View in Death Valley National Park offers a level of drama and starkness that nowhere else in California can match. Where is Dante’s View? Dante’s View is one of the highlights of Death Valley National Park in eastern California. This Death Valley lookout is…

California, Death Valley, Las Vegas, national parks, USA

The Shotover Jet on the Shotover River, Queenstown, New Zealand.

The best places to go jetboating in New Zealand

When choosing a destination for jetboating in New Zealand, look for river trips. Here’s why. New Zealand is not exactly short of things to do. One day you might kayak to the Maori rock carvings on Lake Taupo, the next seeing the albatross colony near…

adrenalin, cruises, New Zealand, North Island, Queenstown, South Island, Taupo

The view on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Why you should visit New Zealand in the spring

Autumn in the northern hemisphere is spring in New Zealand – and it’s the perfect time to visit. Why visit New Zealand in the northern hemisphere autumn? Mid-October to the end of November is when flights to New Zealand are traditionally cheapest. It also falls…

itinerary, New Zealand, North Island, South Island

Braving the souks of Marrakesh, with children

In Morocco, visiting the Marrakesh souks with children is challenging. But if done right, it gives the kids an experience that sticks in the memory. From Jemaa al-Fnaa to the souks “Are you going to do haggling, Daddy?” A visit to the souks of Marrakesh…

family travel, Marrakesh, Morocco, shopping

Exploring the natural side of Cape Town, South Africa

From the dassies on Table Mountain to the penguins of Boulders Beach, you’re never far from nature in Cape Town. Meeting dassies on Table Mountain From the top of Table Mountain on a blazing blue-sky day, Cape Town’s appeal is obvious. The views look over…

Cape Town, South Africa, wildlife

KwaMuhle museum review: Apartheid’s origins in Durban

The KwaMuhle museum in downtown Durban shows that Apartheid didn’t just magically come into being in 1948. Apartheid and the Durban System It takes a little while to register. Walking around Durban’s KwaMuhle museum initially starts off with headshaking and tutting at the injustices of…

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, museums, reviews, South Africa

Four great places to eat and drink in Prague

After repeated visits to Prague over the last two decades, I’ve learned that the best places to eat in the Czech capital aren’t always immediately obvious. Elsewhere on the site, I’ve written about where to drink in Prague away from the tourist traps. But for…

bars, Czechia, Prague, restaurants