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Axel Hotel Berlin

After the success of Barcelona and Buenos Aires, Axel Hotel, the world’s first hetero-friendly hotel chain opened the third location in the heart of the gay district of Berlin, a niche upmarket intimate hotel serving mostly gay clientele, and definitely one of the most unique hotel experiences I’ve had. Dark and stylish, floor to ceiling […]

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Berlin Dark Days

A visit to Berlin Germany (Feb 2013). Winter being the background and theme to this visit, the dark days of Berlin and its past. It was hard to escape the dark sky and cold air of what otherwise could be an exciting city to visit. The capital city and the heart of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan […]

Tegel Airport: from gate to taxi in less than 60 seconds

The quickest exit ever, from the plane to entering my booked airport transfer in less than 60 seconds. Über efficient! As soon as I landed I was notified my driver and car were waiting via an email, along with the driver’s name and contact number, but it wasn’t long after we arrived at the gate […]

Travel Trends: 100 Most Visited Cities

Figures released from Euromonitor International Top City Destinations Ranking, covering 100 of the world’s leading and most dynamic cities in terms of international tourist arrivals have just been released for 2011. Report shows emerging city destinations located in Asia Pacific saw an increase due to a strong economic environment. While many cities remained in the […]

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Seoul • South Korea

The capital of South Korea. Ancient traditions and cutting-edge digital technology, Seoul is home to endless street food vendors and vast nightlife districts. This travel destination, long popular among Asians, is still relatively unknown in the West and frequently passed over by Westerners for nearby Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing, and Hong Kong. However, the traveller who […]

PJ Hotel

Travelling with two friends and having to fit three in a room can be challenging when it comes to searching for a hotel, often it means two have to share a bed while one is lucky enough to have their own. With PJ Hotel they had arrangements and rooms which are perfectly suited for sharing, […]

VIP Lounge Pisa Airport

Access to a lounge before a flight can always enhance the experience of travel, however, the VIP Lounge Pisa airport isn’t anything worth returning to, the decor dated, it reminded me of someone’s living room from sometime in the 1970s’. The seats were narrow and uncomfortable, something you wouldn’t want to spend much time on. […]

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Pisa • Italy

Pisa is the capital city of the Province of Pisa in Tuscany Italy. Known worldwide for its leaning tower, it also has more than 20 other historic churches, palaces and various bridges across the River Arno. The city is also home of the University of Pisa, which has a history going back to the 12th […]

Nh Cavalieri Hotel

Steps from the main railway station and only 1km from Pisa airport, Nh Cavalieri Hotel is a short walk to the old town centre and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This four-star hotel isn’t exactly in the best area of town, but it is convenient. However, the four-star rating is exaggerated as it fails to deliver. Though […]

Happy Nations – World Happiness Report

As if the United Nations didn’t have more pressing matters to deal with, in April 2012 they commissioned the World Happiness Report, which reviews the state of happiness in the world today. The report reflects a new worldwide demand for more attention to happiness and absence of misery as criteria for government policy. These are […]

What makes San Francisco?

An outdoor museum of Victorian architecture and streetcars (or trams) of yesteryear from cities around America and as far as Milan (Italy), used as modern-day surface transport, along with electric buses, a green alternative to gas and diesel of today – this is San Francisco! What appears to be a time warp of memorability and […]

First Cabin Tokyo Haneda

An alternative option instead of staying at a hotel, First Cabin is a capsule-style private room located in Terminal 1 of Tokyo Haneda Airport, perfect for early morning flights, but also available for hire for a few hours, or day use, if you have a long wait for a connecting flight. I opted for the First […]

Major religions in Japan – what to do when visiting shrines

The two main religions in Japan are Shinto, the native religion based around nature and multiple gods, and Buddhism, imported from India through Korea and China. Shintoism The native religion of Japan is Shinto, and the word ‘Shinto’ means ‘way of the gods’. There are many kami (gods) and they often take the form of […]

Hotel Century Southern Tower

The main feature of staying at Hotel Century Southern Tower is that all 375 guest rooms are located from the 22nd to 35th floor, and offers fabulous views of the skyline of Tokyo. A double room was a good size, possibly the biggest room I had in all of Japan, with high standards, this was […]

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Nikko • Japan

Nikkō, literally “sunlight” or “sunshine”, is a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. A popular destination for Japanese and international tourists. The Japanese saying “Never say ‘kekko‘ until you’ve seen Nikko“, kekko meaning beautiful, magnificent. Attractions include the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nikkō Tōshō-gū) and that of his grandson Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), […]

Staying in a Japanese Guest House or Ryokan

Staying in a ryokan, a Japanese inn is one of the best ways to connect with Japan and the rich culture. Each ryokan is unique and is generally family-owned and operated. This means that the service you receive will be different from inn to inn. When you arrive at the ryokan you may be asked […]