Travel advice, ideas & expert tips

Asia for beginners: why Singapore offers the perfect introduction

Singapore is often described as “Asia for beginners”, thanks to its accessibility, cleanliness and family-friendly attractions. But beyond the modern cityscape lies a fascinating cultural mix that reflects influences from across the region. A modern city with global influences Singapore is a clean, unthreatening modern…

An interactive map at the Singapore City Gallery.

Personal recommendations for a short break in Singapore

Feast on world-class hawker and Peranakan cuisine, explore the charming Katong area, and discover WWII history at the Battle Box on your Singapore break. Why visit Singapore Singapore is arguably the greatest food city on earth, and a time-honoured stopover on routes between Australia and…

The Thian Hock Keng Temple in Singapore's Chinatown.

Singapore’s Chinese heritage: migration, myth and modern Chinatown

The Chinatown Heritage Centre, Haw Par Villa and Thian Hock Keng Temple reveal the struggles and successes of Chinese migrants in Singapore. Singapore’s Chinatown Heritage Centre It’s the words of Loh Ah Kwai that stick in the head for weeks later. “When we first came…

The Eden Project, near St Austell, Cornwall.

The attraction price problem that will kill British family holidays

Letting people visit as many times as they like for the cost of one admission has become a burden, rather than a bonus. A budget British holiday I spent the last two weeks of the school holidays driving around England with my family. We were…

Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park, California.

Zabriskie Point: a practical visitor guide to the Death Valley photo hotspot

Visit Zabriskie Point in Death Valley for sunrise or sunset views of golden badlands. This 2026 guide covers parking, fees, the easy walk, and top tips. This guide was updated in March 2026 to confirm pass prices. If there's one spot in Death Valley, California,…

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah.

Delicate Arch, Utah: Practical guide with walks & park entry fees

Hike the challenging Delicate Arch trail in Arches National Park, Utah. Get practical tips on parking, permits, and the best times for sunrise or sunset. This guide was updated in October 2026. You've seen it on Utah licence plates, postcards, and countless Instagram feeds —…

The Cage of Death at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin, Northern Territory.

Cage of Death in Darwin: Swimming with a saltwater crocodile (with prices)

Dive into the Cage of Death in Darwin for a thrilling, face-to-face encounter with a massive saltwater crocodile at Crocosaurus Cove. Get ticket tips with this guide, which was updated in October 2026 to reflect increased ticket prices. Meeting Chopper the crocodile Chopper’s dental hygiene…

Kangaroo rock at Nourlangie in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory.

Kakadu rock art and the Aboriginal stories of the Top End

The ancient galleries of Kakadu National Park reveal tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal culture, belief and storytelling layered into stone. The lightning man and Aboriginal mythology There are more lightning strikes here than anywhere else on the planet, and the being responsible for…

The ruins at Victoria Settlement at Port Essington, Northern Territory.

The Victoria Settlement: Australia’s lost city in the Top End

The haunting ruins of Victoria Settlement at Port Essington reveal Britain’s failed northern colony in the Top End, abandoned after just 11 years of hardship. Remote location of the Victoria Settlement The ruins line up as if designed to please the eye. Built out of…

The Yanga Woolshed in Yanga National Park, New South Wales.

Yanga National Park: pastoral past meets natural future

Explore Yanga National Park, where historic woolsheds and homesteads from Australia's pastoral past meet flourishing wetlands and river red gum forests. Exploring the silent woolshed The walk through the pens is considerably less terrifying than it would be for the sheep, and considerably quieter than…