David Whitley, Author at Planet Whitley

The best time to visit the DDR Museum in Berlin

Take advantage of the DDR Museum’s extended opening hours to avoid the crowds – visit first thing in the morning or go in the evening. To skip the explanation and secure your DDR Museum tickets, head here. What is the DDR Museum? The DDR Museum…

Berlin, Germany, museums

Why Singapore Zoo is probably the best zoo in the world

To skip the story and just buy skip-the-line Singapore Zoo tickets, head here. For tickets including a transfer, head here. In many ways, aside from the notable addition of booze, I pretty much like what I’ve liked since I was a child. I like going…

Singapore, wildlife, zoos

How to play the US state numberplate game

What is the US state numberplate game? The US state numberplate game is one of the silliest staples of any good American road trip. The premise is very simple – you have to see a car numberplate from as many US states as possible. However,…

driving, USA

Patients inside the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.

Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital: Getting there, tours & ticket prices

The delightfully strange Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is an underrated UAE attraction. The two hour tours are well worth taking. Inside the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital The doctor picks up his patient, puts a conical chamber over its head and releases the gas until it…

Abu Dhabi, birds, UAE, wildlife

Vieux Montreal’s Top Attractions: Pointe-A-Calliere Museum

The Pointe-A-Calliere museum tells the history of Montreal – and North America. Montreal likes to bill itself as having the best aspects of North America. It also claims to have the best aspects of Europe. In that respect, it’s not far wrong. Few cities in…

Canada, Montreal, museums, Quebec

A signature king room at the Auberge du Vieux Port in Vieux Montreal.

Explore the Best Hotels in Vieux Montreal

Vieux Montreal is Montreal’s historic heart – and there are plenty of gorgeous accommodation options there, too. Why stay in Vieux Montreal? The oldest part of Montreal lines up along the St Lawrence River, and acts as the tourist honeypot for the easily pleased. That’s…

accommodation, hotels, Montreal, reviews

The destination I adored that I never want to go back to

In 2012, what seems like a lifetime ago, I decided to go to Palau on a whim. At the time, I knew nothing about Palau, other than it was the most obscure country I could think of and there were relatively cheap flights available from…

Pacific Islands, Palau

A saltwater crocodile, as spotted on the Daintree River near Cairns, Queensland.

How worried should I be about crocodiles in Australia?

Short answer If you’re close to a crocodile in Australia, you should be very worried indeed. If you act sensibly within crocodile territory, there’s no need to fret. A saltwater crocodile, as spotted on the Daintree River near Cairns, Queensland. Photo by David Whitley. Long…

Australia, crocodiles, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, wildlife

Where to see bears in Arizona

Not all travellers to Arizona want to see bears. Hikers, in particular, would rather the bears stay well away. But for nature-lovers who want to admire Arizona’s bears from a safe distance, there are a few options. The best place to see bears in Arizona…

Arizona, bears, USA, wildlife

Driving across London Bridge in… Lake Havasu City, Arizona

London Bridge in Lake Havasu City Lake Havasu City in Arizona is home to an extremely strange tourist attraction – London Bridge. This is the bridge that crossed the River Thames in London between 1831 and 1967, arguably best seen on a sunset cocktail cruise.…

Arizona, Lake Havasu City, London, USA