Beyond stupid in Naples yet strangely safe It was 3 a.m. and I was wandering the streets of Naples, lost, alone, under the influence of alcohol and with little choice but to check my location on my iPhone. I was breaking every rule on my travel safety list and a few besides. I was stupid … Read more
Last weekend I spent a night in a prison cell. Fortunately, I walked free the following day without any (criminal) record of my stay. How? I booked a night at Clink78 in London. Clink78: History If you’re not familiar with Clink78, it is a hostel and hotel in London near Kings Cross train station that … Read more
I’m not much of a planner these days but last weekend has been marked in my diary for months – a much-needed catch up with my old college room-mate, co-conspirator and long-term friend. Of course, we see each other when we can but between her adorable children (note to the eldest: you should be a … Read more
UPDATE: I returned to Florence, armed with another Firenze Card and I’ve updated this post accordingly: I’ve updated the comparison prices and I’ve updated the details on how easy it is to get into each sight. I haven’t, however, deleted the old information so you can see the difference in the card in two years – … Read more
It’s very easy to stand in the heart of Italy’s most famous Renaissance city and wonder where to start your exploration and the idea of picking the best sights in Florence can be as daunting as the sightseeing itself. Having just visited for the third time, here’s my suggested top 20. For those who have … Read more
If you’re planning a trip to Tuscany, then you should visit Lucca. A small city that sits just north of Pisa (and is incredibly easy to reach by train), Lucca lacks the crowds that throng the leaning tower, the coach and cruise loads that plague Florence, and offers an all-round gentler pace for enjoying Tuscan … Read more
Want to know the best places to drink gin in London? Read on… If you’ve been paying attention to the spirit world in the past couple of years, you won’t have been able to miss the fact that gin is having a revival, and nowhere more so than in London. Sure, Grey Goose is doing … Read more
It seems a little premature, but as I saw blossom sprouting on the trees this weekend I couldn’t help but feel that spring is in the air and if, like me, that prompts thoughts of travel, perhaps for a short break, I have just the place in mind: Montsoreau in France’s beautiful Val d’Loire (Loire … Read more
Last night I boarded the Grimaldi Barcelona to Rome ferry which leaves from the port at the end of La Rambla in Barcelona heading to Civitavecchia, a place about 45 minutes outside Rome. When I say ferry, really I mean a small crusie (think I’ve picked up the last leg of a holiday cruise which, … Read more