Planet Whitley

Aboard the TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Soft adventure in Queenstown: Tiki Trail, Skyline Luge & Lake Wakatipu cruises and ticket prices

Given that the plan was to enjoy Queenstown without indulging in extreme sports, the Tiki Trail isn’t half setting the heart racing. From the centre of Queenstown, the trail is an hour-long, uphill slog through the woodland. It would, of course, be a lot easier…

adrenalin, cruises, New Zealand, Queenstown, South Island, walks

9 reasons to visit Nottingham

The National Justice Museum, City of Caves, Robin Hood walking tours and England’s oldest pub are among the reasons to consider Nottingham for a city break. The National Justice Museum – tales of crime and punishment The National Justice Museum is inside an old courthouse…

East Midlands, England, Nottingham, UK

10 things that Spain does better than anywhere else

Spain might well be my favourite country on earth to visit, and that’s partly because it does so many things better than elsewhere. Here are just ten of them. Tapas Small plate dining has conquered the globe, but in Spain, tapas often still consists of…

Spain

Kangaroos at Anglesea Golf Course on Victoria's Great Ocean Road.

Anglesea Golf Course kangaroo tours and Great Ocean Road wildlife guide: Ticket prices and parking

The Great Ocean Road is famous for its coastal views, but it’s also one of the best routes in Australia for seeing native wildlife. From kangaroos and koalas to seals and glowworms, here’s where to find them – starting with the most surprising golf course…

Australia, Great Ocean Road, kayaking, Victoria, wildlife

St Lawrence's Church in Eyam, Derbyshire.

The Eyam Plague Village and Museum: History, stories and walking trails

Discovering the Eyam Plague Village and Eyam Museum At the border of the Derbyshire villages of Eyam and Stoney Middleton lies a weathered old stone. Inside it are six holes, just large enough to fit coins inside. Back in 1665, that’s just what would have…

Derbyshire, East Midlands, England, Peak District, UK

Piet Blom's Cube Houses in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

10 overlooked cities within an hour of hugely popular neighbours

Sometimes you don’t have to venture too far from one of the world’s great tourist magnets to find something less lauded, but equally compelling in a rather different way. Take these ten unjustly under the radar destinations, for example… Playa Del Carmen Big ticket neighbour:…

Catalonia, Compiegne, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, France, Germany, Girona, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Padua, Pretoria, Rotterdam, South Africa, South Island, Veneto, Vicenza, Wanaka

The memorial to Augustin Trébuchon at the Glade of the Armistice in Compiègne, France.

Visiting the Glade of the Armistice: History, museum highlights, and how to get there

The story of Augustin Trébuchon The small memorial garden outside is dedicated to Augustin Trébuchon. It’s not a familiar name. He was no great general or war leader, like Marechal Foch, whose statue stands proudly over the bigger, more primped section of the forest clearing.…

Compiegne, France, World War I, World War II

The Pina Colada was invented in Puerto Rico.

Birthplaces of booze: Where famous cocktails were created

Thirsty travellers can make a pilgrimage to the places where much-loved cocktails were created, such as… The Singapore Sling – Raffles, Singapore Few cocktails have as strong a geographical connection with their birthplace as the Singapore Sling. In 1915, Ngiam Tong Boon was working at…

Belgium, Brussels, California, drinks, England, Florenc, Florence, France, Italy, London, Paris, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Tuscany, UK, USA, Veneto, Venice

Six ways to improve your visit to Madrid

The capital of Spain is an unmistakably exciting city to hang out in. But these six tips should make your visit even better. Why visit Madrid? The Spanish capital presents an odd mix of grand Habsburg architecture, top drawer cultural institutions and free-wheeling fun. Grand…

city guides, Madrid, Spain

The Vinohrady Theatre in Prague, Czechia.

Exploring Vinohrady: Prague’s most elegant neighbourhood

Vinohrady is one of Prague’s most elegant districts — leafy, affluent and full of confident architectural flourish. But beneath the grandeur, it’s also home to independent food spots and creative businesses that keep the area vibrant rather than complacent. A butcher’s that became a local…

Czechia, neighbourhoods, Prague