Ultimate River Cruise Guide for First Timers
Unlike ocean voyages, which often focus on the ship just as much as the destination, river cruises are all about appreciating the entire journey at a more relaxed pace. If…
From Le Touquet With Love: L’Hotel Barrière Le Westminster
Mark Bibby Jackson checks into L’Hotel Barrière Le Westminster Le Touquet and falls in love with this Anglo-French gem on the Opal Coast. For the past hundred years there has…
Riding the Storm in Pas-de-Calais France
Mark Bibby Jackson ignores weather warnings to travel to Pas-de-Calais France during Storm Darragh with his mother. Does he live to tell the tale? The plan is to visit the…
9 Festivals in February 2025 Around the World
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best festivals in February 2025 across the Globe, from Mongolia to Easter Island, so wherever you are you just can’t help celebrating the…
Day-Trip from Bratislava Slovakia
Mark Bibby Jackson goes on a day-trip from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, into the surrounding countryside. There are times when I realise I never would have cut it as…
Esoteric Worldwide Festivals for 2025
As we enter the new year, Mark Bibby Jackson provides a guide to worldwide festivals for 2025. From voodoo in West Africa to miraculous lords and Hampshire watercress, here is…
48 Hours in Bratislava Slovakia in Winter
Mark Bibby Jackson spends 48 hours in Bratislava Slovakia to see why this underrated European capital is a winter wonderland. My previous visit to the Bratislava Slovakia was in 1994…
NH Wien Belvedere Hotel Vienna Review
On his way from Carinthia Austria to Bratislava in Slovakia, Mark spends a night in Vienna, to review the NH Wien Belvedere hotel, next to the famous Belvedere Palace. A…
Celebrating Christmas in Carinthia Austria
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Klagenfurt in Carinthia Austria to be re-inspired by the magic of Christmas. Sometimes in the uber-commercialised world we live, it’s easy to forget the magic…
Montigo Resorts Somerset at Charlton House Review
Mark Bibby Jackson stays at the Montigo Resorts Somerset at Charlton House, a beautiful Georgian country house that has been given a fresh spice of life. Sometimes I find myself…
Taking the Train for a Festive Manchester City Break
Mark Bibby Jackson takes the train from London Euston for a Manchester city break and sample the city’s festive offerings including its Christmas Markets. It’s been a long time since…
Releasing the Bebok in a Transformed Katowice Poland
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Katowice Poland, a city transformed from its industrial past, with a bright cultural future, where he meets bison and bebok. Two trends have piqued my interest…
Drinking in The Best Pubs in Shrewsbury Shropshire
Discover the best pubs in Shrewsbury town centre from historic inns and real ale pubs to dog-friendly options and pubs with accommodation. Shrewsbury, with its winding river Severn and medieval…
Discover 10 Things to Do in Shrewsbury from the Culture to Pubs
Nestled in the heart of Shropshire, Shrewsbury is a medieval English market town that oozes history and charm. With almost 800 listed buildings, medieval streets full of timber buildings and…
7 Things to Do in Katowice Poland for a Unique Adventure
Katowice, the capital of the Silesian region in Poland, is an exciting city blending rich industrial heritage with modern cultural flair. Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover, or…
Seal Watching at Winterton Beach Norfolk
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a short break in Norfolk where he makes friends with some seals in total isolation on Winterton Beach. When people ask me what’s the favourite place…
Christmas Markets in Europe and the UK
From the original December market to the city that created stollen, the source of mulled wine and the first Christmas tree, let Travel Begins at 40 guide you through some…
Day Trip to Gozo through History
During his stay travelling through Malta, Mark Bibby Jackson takes the short ferry ride for a day trip to Gozo to discover an island full of history. Day-trip to Gozo:…
Travelling through Malta Like a Local
Malta has never been a place high on my non-existent travel bucket list. I was put off it by tales of a family holiday there to which I was excluded…
7 Unmissable Global Festivals in November
From the Day of the Dead to Christmas markets and Thanksgiving, November is a month that celebrates the emergence of winter. Here is our selection of the best festivals in…
Discovering Savonlinna and Lake Saimaa Finland’s Lake District
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Finland’s Lake District to visit Lake Saimaa and the Savonlinna Opera Festival It is on our return journey that Captain Mikael allows me to take…
Exploring Green Graz Austria
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Graz Austria, a green city with a visionary view for our future. It was on a visit to Iași in Romania a few years ago that…
Road Trip through Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a road trip through Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway on the trail of Rabbie Burns and meets a couple of US Presidents along the way. “Auld Ayr…
A Walk through Pittsburgh : a Surprising, Green City
The previous few days had challenged my pre-formed opinion of the Rust Belt. Buffalo and Cleveland were both interesting and lively cities with plenty of architectural gems and lots of…
