Travelling in high-season can be a bitch. I should know, I foolishly planted myself in Italy for the entire month of July last year and endless queues and searches for beds ensued. Prices were high, street space was low. There. Were. People. Everywhere. So, it seemed logical (in my tiny mind) to test the converse … Read more
What does travel insurance cover? It’s a good question that many people don’t ask; a fact that’s surprising when you think about the cost and importance of buying travel insurance. As a former-lawyer, I’ll guide you through what is covered by travel insurance, what is not covered, what level of cover is typically good enough and … Read more
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, Hawaii is expensive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit on a budget. Whether you’re backpacking Hawaii, trying to achieve a dream honeymoon without taking out your first mortgage or you’re a family on a budget, you may be surprised to know that you can sleep for … Read more
The day after my hike up Diamond Head I decided to visit Pearl Harbor. History was never my favourite subject at school. My teenage thoughts were more focused on finding the next acid rave (hey, it was the 90s). But I did remember Pearl Harbor. How could I not? The surprise Japanese attack on the … Read more
I don’t know what was more painful – the shot in the ass or the $500 bill. Either way is was not my anticipated introduction to Hawaii. As I mentioned in my overview of Hawaii, I spent three months exploring the main four islands: Oahu, Big Island, Kauai and Maui, and what will follow is … Read more
Venice is sinking, there is little doubt about it. Which is why it was higher up my travel list than the likes of Naples or Florence when I visited Italy. But even without the clock potentially ticking on the future of the city, Venice has long been one of the country’s top tourist attractions. Appropriately named the … Read more
I vividly remember sitting in the empty shell of my house after the removal men had taken away all but my last possessions. The only items that remained were my bed, which would be collected the next day, and a spare-room full of stuff I’d explicitly told the men not to touch on … Read more
My trip to Florence was fundamentally flawed. It was July and on a whim I’d decided to re-route my ticket from Asia to spend a month in Italy. And, as habit would have it, I didn’t have a single plan to my name. For a style of travel that is theoretically carefree, it can come … Read more
“How do you get to Urbino?” It was a good question that came from a good friend when I declared I was off to explore a new part of Italy (new to me, I’m pretty sure Urbino has been on the Italian map for quite some time). I can plan a trip to Rome with my … Read more
I love eating. On a good day, I can manage six meals – and I’m not talking about six small meals, either. In fact, if I could drop everything and eat professionally, I happily would…I’d perhaps need to work on my cutlery ability because, despite more than 30 years of practice with knives, forks and … Read more