Planet Whitley

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

How to get into the Van Gogh Museum when tickets are sold out

Van Gogh Museum tours — which include admission tickets — have availability when normal entry tickets have sold out. Here’s how to get inside Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum when there are no tickets left. Visiting Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam…

Amsterdam, art, museums, Netherlands

Exploring the fjords on a RIB from Fram.

Five lessons learned from a Norwegian fjords cruise

A Norwegian fjords cruise is a learning experience – with Norway full of surprises. The fjords are best seen in a small boat The lower to the water you are, the more spectacular the fjords appear to be. Head out on a RIB (Rigid Inflatable…

cruises, fjords, Norway, Scandinavia

8 Dubrovnik must-dos for first time visitors

Top Dubrovnik attractions include the city walls, Mount Srd and War Photo Limited. And great things to do in Dubrovnik include sea kayaking, taking the ferry to Lokrum and an Elafiti Islands cruise. Things to do in Dubrovnik for first time visitors There’s plenty to…

Croatia, Dubrovnik

Wat Rong Khun - the White Temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Wat Rong Khun – the weird white temple of Chiang Rai

Just south of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand, Buddha competes with Spiderman, Darth Vader and Harry Potter at the White Temple. White Temple day tours If you just want to book a tour to the White Temple, there are several day tours from Chiang Rai…

Chiang Rai, South East Asia, temples, Thailand

Penguins arriving at the Oamaru blue penguin colony, New Zealand.

Oamaru blue penguins, New Zealand: Review with ticket prices

In Oamaru on New Zealand’s South Island, the world’s smallest penguins are utterly adorable. Oamaru blue penguins ticket information Advance booking your tickets to see the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony is strongly advised. Bookings can be made here. Tickets to see the penguins in Oamaru…

New Zealand, Oamaru, penguins, South Island, wildlife

Amsterdam to Antwerp train: Ticket prices, time & day trips

Ticket prices on the Amsterdam to Antwerp train drop if you book a couple of weeks in advance. But there’s a speed vs price trade-off if planning a day trip. Planning a day trip to Antwerp from Amsterdam Antwerp in Belgium is a tremendously underrated…

Amsterdam, Antwerp, Belgium, Netherlands, public transport, trains, transport

Trying not to be sick on the Stewart Island ferry, New Zealand

The Stewart Island ferry across the Foveaux Strait from Bluff in New Zealand is a test of even the most iron stomach. A test of seasickness The forewarning had been ample. Before stepping on the catamaran, I knew that if one boat trip was going…

ferries, New Zealand, South Island, Stewart Island, transport

Exploring Rarotonga on a half day bike tour

Rarotonga in the Cook Islands may be small, but it packs in plenty of surprises – as a half day bike tour around the island shows. Cycling around Rarotonga The circular road around Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is largely flat, making it easy going…

Cook Islands, cycling, Pacific Islands, Rarotonga, tours

The cheeky way to get the cheapest London Eye tickets

Getting the cheapest London Eye tickets, in summary: Book at least a day in advance. Go for a late afternoon/ early evening slot. Book via a third party for other times of the day. What is the London Eye? The London Eye is one of…

big wheels, England, London, UK

The birthplace of the oil industry in Pennsylvania

In north-east Pennsylvania, discover the origins of a multi-billion dollar industry that fuels the world. The smell of Bradford, Pennsylvania The sudden stench makes me start fretting. It’s not a natural smell – it’s a “there’s something wrong with the car” smell. Has something started…

Pennsylvania, USA

Planet Whitley

What happens when an airline breaks your suitcase

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

Why Rome is a brilliant city for solo travellers

Why leaf-peeping is not just for old people

Some random observations about driving in the US

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

The day I decided to walk to France

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

Muri, Rarotonga: The perfect holiday town?

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