Greece Island Hopping Holiday in Style
From backpacking to barefoot luxury, Maria Boyle retraces her first Greece island hopping trip in the Cyclades, this time with her family in tow. One of the best summers in…
Green Inspiration at the Biohotel Rupertus Leogang
Mark Bibby Jackson stays at the Biohotel Rupertus Leogang, Austria and emerges totally reinvigorated. “To us organic is not a trend or a buzzword, rather it is a way of…
154 City Pack by GRAMS28: Functional Luxury in a Bag
Mark Bibby Jackson casts his backpack to one side and tries out the 154 City Pack by GRAMS28, which the designers claim combines luxury with functionality. In truth I have…
Feasting on Crime at the Rudding Park Hotel Harrogate
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise stay at the Rudding Park Hotel and Spa on their visit to Harrogate for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. Charles Dickens thought it…
Local Tourism in the Saalfelden Leogang, Austria
The Saalfelden Leogang is noted for its cycling, but non-cyclist Mark Bibby Jackson explores the sustainable, local tourism opportunities in this amazingly green part of Austria. Climate change is a…
Salzburg City Break: All Roads Lead to Mozart
Mark Bibby Jackson takes the train from London to Austria, for a Salzburg city break in birthplace of a certain composer. Even if you wanted to, I think it would…
Sri Lanka Safari, Festivals and Galle
Mark Bibby goes on a Sri Lanka safari, watches the most amazing festival and travels to the most beautiful city of Galle, before concluding his trip in Colombo. Serendipity. The…
6 Unmissable Global Festivals in October
From two of the most important festivals in the Indian calendar, to sausage festivals in Lincoln and Weimar, October is a month full of fun. Here is our selection of…
A Tour of Comuna 13 Medellin Colombia
On his visit to the Colombian city, Mike East takes a tour of Comuna 13 Medellin (la comuna 13 Medellin), and discovers it to be a wonderful example of community-based…
Things To Do in Medellin Colombia
On his trip to Colombia, Mike East experiences the wonderful things to do in Medellin, a city reborn from its troublesome past. Located in the Western Andes, Medellin Colombia enjoys…
Bog Walking In Estonia and the European City of Culture
Robert Spellman goes bog walking in Estonia and visits Tartu, European Capital of Culture in 2024, and Narva on the Russian border. Never had I heard the word “bog” uttered…
Le Phebus Hotel & Spa Provence Review
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise check in to Le Phebus Hotel & Spa in Provence France, a land of culture and beauty. To arrive in the heart of the…
Sri Lanka Train Ride, Tea Plantations and the Pekoe Trail
Mark Bibby Jackson goes on an amazing Sri Lanka train ride, visits former capital Kandy, tea plantations and hikes along the Pekoe Trail. I first fell in love with train…
Inhabit Hotel on Southwick Street for a Mindful Break
So many of London’s hotels tend to be big, showy, and audacious, with an extra helping of elitism added on for good measure, but where do you rest your head…
Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla and Elephant Safari in Sri Lanka
In the first of a series of articles covering his trip to Sri Lanka, Mark Bibby Jackson goes on an elephant safari, sees the wonderful cave paintings at Dambulla and…
7 UK Festivals in September 2023
To music on a Holy Island to Derby’s biggest street festival, read Travel Begins at 40’s round-up of the best UK festivals in September 2023. UK Music Festivals in September…
Drinking Cocktails in London with 40 Elephants
Mark Bibby Jackson tries out cocktails in London at the 40 Elephants, in the Great Scotland Yard Hotel Westminster, one of the best cocktail bars in London. In my early…
Eco Glamping with Unique hideaways
Travel Begins at 40 looks at Unique hideaways a company that provides eco glamping escapes in the UK, from staying in a treehouse to a converted wagon or yurt. The…
Greek Chic on a Corfu Holiday
Maria Boyle enjoys a week of culture, food and relaxation on her Corfu holiday with her two girls. Located north-west of mainland Greece, surrounded by the Ionian Sea, Corfu’s lush…
A Mini Break at Askham in the Glorious Lake District
Marion Ainge steams across Ullswater and savours a sumptuous afternoon tea while staying in Askham in the Lake District. The sunlight sparkles on the water as the historic Western Belle…
Cookery Course at Mrs Portly’s Kitchen
Roger Hermiston takes a cookery course from Linda Duffin of Mrs Portly’s Kitchen in Brockford, Suffolk. It seems that there’s a word for it – but I’ll wager you’ve never…
Going Solo on a Yorkshire Walk from Harrogate
Mark Bibby Jackson goes on an escorted Yorkshire walk organised by Solos Holidays, visiting Ripon Cathedral, Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks. There is no more appropriate setting for the Theakston…
WOMAD 2023 Review : Sitting and Dancing
From Peru to Ghana, intermingling the UK’s multicultural beat, this year’s world music festival certainly lived up to its billing. Read Robert Spellman’s WOMAD 2023 review. “What acts are you…
Celebrating the Local at the InterContinental Cartagena de Indias
Mike East stays at the InterContinental Cartagena de Indias Hotel, Bocagrande Colombia and is impressed by the hotel’s celebration of the local. The Intercontinental Hotel InterContinental Cartagena de Indias is…
