Tasting the Colombia Coffee Region
After visiting Bogota graffiti art and beautiful Villa de Leyva, Mark Bibby Jackson continues his South American travels to the Colombia coffee region and Valle del Cocora, the land of…
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After visiting Bogota graffiti art and beautiful Villa de Leyva, Mark Bibby Jackson continues his South American travels to the Colombia coffee region and Valle del Cocora, the land of…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise take the shortest of journeys to stay at the nearby Rectory Manor Hotel, Suffolk. We reckon we’re familiar with all – or nearly all –…
Travel journalist Marion Ainge enjoys a Shirley Valentine moment in Faja dos Padres, the perfect spot to enjoy your Madeira holidays. It’s a Shirley Valentine moment. From a cliff top…
We like quirky things in the UK. And what is more quirky than a festival? From Morris dancing, to bog snorkelling and even pledging you’ve never quarrelled with your spouse…
23 October marks the anniversary of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, which brought an end to decades of conflict in Cambodia. The Paris Peace Agreements Day is a public holiday…
After returning from a recent visit to the Kingdom, Mark Bibby Jackson explains why you really should visit Cambodia now. Cambodia is a country that I love. I first came…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the state of Chihuahua Mexico in search of dogs instead he falls in love with the amazing Copper Canyon, goes on a spectacular train ride and…
James Clark takes a Penzance staycation with Aspects Holidays and discovers there is so much to enjoy in the Cornish seaside town. It was not the quickest journey by rail…
Neil Hennessy-Vass visits the Holburne Museum Bath to see The Tudors: Passion, Power & Politics, a special collection of paintings that gives insight into a rich period of history. The…
Mark Bibby Jackson stays at The Bristol hotel on the Harbourside, discovering the plethora of things to do in Bristol whether by day or night. Somehow I have never visited…
Hazel Holloway visits Tuscany in Italy to take in the highlights of Pisa and Florence in a whirlwind four days and even manages to make it to the beach. I…
Mexico is a wonderful place to visit, and how better to explore the North American country that on tailor made Yucatan holidays. Hordes of people fly into Cancún from North…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise pay a visit to the UK capital to stay at Brown’s hotel, and pop into a Late Constable exhibition at the Royal Academy. Emperors, kings…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise visit Lucknam Park Equestrian Centre for some equine therapy and make some four-legged friends. It’s halfway through our Equine Connect course at Lucknam Park Equestrian…
After visiting The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards in Antwerp, Mark Bibby Jackson stops off at the delightful and intimate city of Mechelen in Flanders. Sandwiched between the twin Flemish…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise go on a Wales Road trip staying at a plethora of wonderful paces and exploring the history and cuisine of the Principality. To Wales in…
Mark Bibby Jackson spends a night in Chelsea’s Mantis Draycott Hotel, an elegant boutique hotel with a homely feel and a great London location. Entering the Mantis Draycott Hotel is…
On his visit to Staffordshire, Mark Bibby Jackson takes a ride on the Churnet Valley Railway, pops in on a Spitfire and visits the original Royal Oak at Boscobel House…
Mark Bibby Jackson is fortunate enough to take the steam train up Mount Rigi on the oldest mountain railway in Europe, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2021. The sound of…
Neil Hennessy-Vass visits the Holburne Museum Bath for a brilliant romp through medieval mythology and obsession. Along from the Bath Abbey, just over the famous Pulteney Bridge is the perfectly…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise use the Marylebone Hotel London to examine the surrounding area including The Wallace Collection and the oldest existing bookshop. Is it mar-li-bone or mar-li-bun? Or…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise use the Marylebone Hotel London to examine the surrounding area including The Wallace Collection and the oldest existing bookshop. Is it mar-li-bone or mar-li-bun? Or…
October 15 officially marks the commemoration day of King Father Sihanouk Norodom and is celebrated with a ceremony at the Royal Palace Phnom Penh…
Norodom Sihamoni’s Coronation Day on 29 October marks the day that the current King of Cambodia officially took to the throne. It is celebrated…
For many an appreciation of the culture of the country or community that you visit on your holidays is a major part of the travelling experience, especially for the more mature traveller.
Whether you are taking a short city break to Amsterdam or Paris, or going on a longer trip to a distant and exciting land, your experience is enriched by an appreciation of the local culture.
Ideally, time your trip to coincide with a major festival. At Travel Begins at 40 we have a whole section devoted to some of the most colourful and spectacular festivals from around the world. So whether it is the whirling dervishes of Konya, Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, the Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia or Benin’s Voodoo Festival that tickles your cultural fancy, let us guide your way.
Visiting an unfamiliar country can lead to a bit of a cultural shock, but don’t let this put you off making that special journey. Often it is when we leave our comfort zone that we reap most rewards.
Not that we always have to travel that far to have a rich and rewarding cultural experience. Hull is the current city of culture in the UK, and a trip there can be a surprisingly rewarding experience. Enjoy it.