Planet Whitley

In-flight health: How to look after yourself on a plane

Flying is convenient but poses health risks like dehydration, fatigue, and deep vein thrombosis; preventative measures can mitigate these issues.

air travel, health

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…

borders, France, Switzerland

Córdoba’s Mezquita: The strangest building in the world?

A mosque converted into a cathedral, the Mezquita in Córdoba, Spain, is a mesmerising field of archways. Entering Córdoba’s Mezquita The grand patio of Córdoba’s Mezquita is a vision of all that is lovely about Andalucia. The centuries-old walls surround orange trees bearing fruit, and…

Andalucia, cathedrals, Cordoba, mosques, Spain

The steps out of Vidgelmir, Iceland's lava cave.

Inside Vidgelmir – Iceland’s giant lava cave

In Iceland, tours head inside a giant tunnel cave carved out after a volcanic explosion. Darkness inside Vidgelmir “If you can see your hands in front of you, then I have bad news,” says the guide. “You are crazy.” We’re about 500 metres inside Vidgelmir,…

caves, Iceland, volcanoes

Madrid to Córdoba by train: Can you visit the Mezquita on a day trip?

Madrid to Córdoba train tickets cost from €16.50 – but day tours to Córdoba by train, including a visit to the Mezquita, may be a better option. High speed trains to Córdoba, Spain High speed rail has opened up amazing possibilities in Spain – especially…

Andalucia, Cordoba, Madrid, Spain, trains, transport

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

Christchurch to Oamaru drive: The best things to do on the way

The itinerary from Christchurch to Oamaru spans 300km, highlighting key stops like the International Antarctic Centre, Lake House at Ashburton, and Te Ana Maori Rock Art Centre. Visitors can enjoy Oamaru's Victorian Precinct and conclude by watching the Blue Penguin Colony at sunset.

Christchurch, driving, New Zealand, Oamaru, South Island

Pubs and poems | Edinburgh literary pub tour review

The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour combines beers in historic Edinburgh pubs with stories about Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Poetry in the Beehive Inn, Grassmarket In the upstairs room of the Beehive Inn on Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, a gathered crowd sits utterly…

Edinburgh, literature, Scotland, tours, UK

7 best things to do in Las Vegas for 7-year-old children

The best Las Vegas attractions for seven-year-old children include the Blue Man Group, Electric Playhouse and the Shark Reef Aquarium. Family holiday in Las Vegas I recently returned from a family holiday to Las Vegas. It was a bit of gamble – after all, Las…

family travel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

5 great Prague attractions for solo travellers

Prague is a great city break destination for couples and groups – but solo travellers can enjoy the Czech capital, too. If you’re going to Prague on your own, here are five great things to do in Prague for single travellers. For more Prague activities…

Czechia, Prague, solo travel

The Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp, Belgium.

Discovering Antwerp’s Red Star Line Museum: A Migration History

The Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp tells the tale of one of history’s greatest migrations. Walking through Antwerp’s Diamond District Just out of Antwerp’s magnificently OTT, cathedral-esque Centraal Station, the Diamond District starts. The majority of the world’s sparklers are traded here, but the…

Antwerp, Belgium, museums

Planet Whitley

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

The two things Rome’s piazzas sadly lack

In-flight health: How to look after yourself on a plane

The day I decided to walk to France

Córdoba’s Mezquita: The strangest building in the world?

Inside Vidgelmir – Iceland’s giant lava cave

Madrid to Córdoba by train: Can you visit the Mezquita on a day trip?

Christchurch to Oamaru drive: The best things to do on the way

Pubs and poems | Edinburgh literary pub tour review

7 best things to do in Las Vegas for 7-year-old children

5 great Prague attractions for solo travellers

Discovering Antwerp’s Red Star Line Museum: A Migration History