Thoughts Archives

Türkiye vs Turkey: When do you start using a country’s new name?

Türkiye vs Turkey A couple of weeks ago, I watched an episode of the Apprentice. The two teams were selling team-building days in Cappadocia and Bodrum. The Turkish authorities – probably the tourist board – had obviously spent a considerable amount of money to make…

Why Rome is a brilliant city for solo travellers

Attraction-heavy Rome is an ideal destination for self-indulgent travel without the family. The treat of alone time You only start to realise how great travelling on your own can be when you rarely get to do it any more. It’s a similar vibe to when…

Why leaf-peeping is not just for old people

Discover the appeal of leaf peeping and why chasing autumnal colors is an essential, rewarding travel experience for all ages. What is leaf-peeping? Up until I actually tried it, I’d treated the concept of “leaf-peeping” with utter contempt. For the uninitiated, the general concept works…

Some random observations about driving in the US

Random, yet helpful, observations about driving in the US. Essential advice and insights for tourists planning a road trip across America. The following random thoughts were ones that sprung to mind as I drove from Boston to Chicago. They’re not entirely based on this trip…

Revisiting Chicago – and why the third visit to a city is often the best

Revisiting Chicago offers a new perspective. Explore why the third visit to a familiar city often proves to be the most rewarding experience. First time vs second time in Chicago The first time I visited Chicago, I was thoroughly bowled over. The skyline got me…

The old customs hut on the France-Switzerland border.

The day I decided to walk to France

There is an irresistible lure in crossing a border, purely because you can… Being entertained by maps From fairly early in my career as an annoying child, my parents realised the way to stop me screaming to go into every Little Chef we drove past…

Montreal is Canada’s best city: Here’s why…

Why is Montreal considered Canada's best city? Discover the city's unique, vibrant energy, and electric blend of French and North American culture. A free gig in Montreal Sidling down past cafés and restaurants that have abandoned their usual premises to sell their wares from temporary…

Kayaks lined up by the Muri Lagoon, Rarotonga.

Muri, Rarotonga: The perfect holiday town?

Is Muri the perfect holiday town? Discover how this Rarotonga spot, featuring the Muri Lagoon, has developed into a balanced and relaxed destination. How Muri has changed Muri doesn’t quite look or feel like it did. The key lure is still the same – the…

Why booking a family holiday is horrible – and how to improve it

The problem with booking a family holiday Last night, I booked a holiday. I remember a time when this used to be relatively simple – find the cheapest flight, pick out a decently-located, affordable hotel. But finding somewhere to stay as a solo traveller, or…

The two things Rome’s piazzas sadly lack

The famous squares of Rome There’s a certain romance to the grand piazzas of Rome. Bernini’s symmetry and classicism makes St Peter’s Square justifiably revered worldwide, the grand fountains of Piazza Navona provide a glorious focal point for the café terraces and elsewhere, restaurants spill…