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Nicknamed “The Green Island”, São Miguel Island is the largest and most populous of the Azores Islands archipelago belonging to Portugal. Settled in 1439, São Miguel is 64 km from east to west, and between 8 and 14 km wide. Nicknamed the “Green Island” (Ilha Verde), it is largely covered with fields and meadows in the lowlands. The […]

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Achada – Sao Miguel Island – Azores

Achada, from the Portuguese for “flat-land”, is a civil parish in the municipality Nordeste on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. The area is known as Achada, once referred to as Achada Grande, was originally populated in the first half of the 16th century. Its name was derived from the Portuguese phrase terra […]

SoCa Restaurant

International dining is becoming more commonplace, just because you are in Spain doesn’t mean you have to stay with tradition, despite Chinese, Indian or Arab food being available, each country still has it’s own variation on the theme. Southern California food is the choice as I prepare to dine at SoCa Restaurant and Bar in Sitges. I’ve passed […]

Hotel Platjador

On the seafront, metres away from the town centre is the three-star Hotel Platjador. Even if you are not staying here, the rooftop bar is open day and night and has excellent rooftop views of the surrounding area while enjoying a sparkling glass of Cava in the open air. While the small waves roll onto the beach […]

Hotel Galeon Pavillon

I’ve stayed at the Hotel Galeon Pavillon on several occasions over the years, returning to improvement after improvement. It has really come a long way from the no-frills hotel it used to be. As standard, all rooms have been updated with a stylish design and comfy beds, a mini-fridge to put bottled water or anything you choose, […]

First Class Lounge, Heathrow T5

Exclusive to British Airways, the first-class lounge, Galleries, Heathrow terminal 5. Champaign bar is one of many options available for the fast track passenger, including a dedicated wine bar, spirits bar, snacks, coffee and tea, breakfast buffet and even food made to order. It may be only 10 am but the joy for finishing breakfast […]

London Bike Hire

Launched on 30 July 2010, the Barclays Cycle Hire soon became a great success on London roads. Like anything British, there were bumps in the beginning, but now almost a year on, the scheme continues to prove popular. I enrolled for an annual membership, allowing me to take as many 30 minute journeys for free. […]

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Brighton • England UK

A seaside town in South-East England in the County of Sussex, Brighton is a popular destination for city breaks from London. It offers much to see and do at all hours, the seafront is always in use from sunbathers in the day to clubbers at night. The arrival of the railway in 1841 brought Brighton within […]

Ash Clouds & Travel Insurance

Iceland volcano Eyjafjallajökull eruptions disrupt flights in Europe because of ash clouds. Scotland and Scandinavia have some 250 flights cancelled. In 2010 the volcano ash grounded most of northern Europe for more than a week, causing chaos among passengers and airlines, costing billions. I was lucky to have flight bans lifted the day I was […]

Ribera de Triana Hotel

Set in Seville’s famous Triana district, Ribera de Triana Hotel overlooks the River Guadalquivir and has a rooftop pool with impressive city views. It offers a free gym, a spa and air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. The bright, spacious rooms at the Ribera de Triana feature high-quality bed linens, satellite TV and a minibar. Some […]

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Feria de Seville

The fair, Feria de Seville, dates back to 1847 when originally it was a livestock fair. It runs for six days. Each day the fiesta begins with the parade of carriages and riders. For the duration of the fair, the fairgrounds are covered in rows of casetas, individually decorated marquee tents that belong to prominent […]

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Stockholm • Sweden

Stockholm is made up of 14 islands connected by some 50 bridges on Lake Mälaren, which flows into the Baltic Sea and passes an archipelago with some 24,000 islands and islets. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways and another 30% is made up of parks and green spaces, making it […]

Hilton Stockholm Slussen Hotel

Within walking distance to Stockholm’s main tourist attractions including the Old Town, the royal castle and Djurgårdens Park’s museums and zoo, the Hilton Stockholm Slussen hotel is the perfect location for relaxation, shopping and cultural attractions in Stockholm, and is 100% non-smoking. Start the day with breakfast in the Panorama Restaurant, sip cocktails at Eken […]

RHO Hotel

Rho Hotel is situated on the edge of Dam Square, 1,039 yards from Amsterdam Central Railway Station. It offers free Wi-Fi and the lobby is an impressive Art Deco-style former theatre. All of the rooms at Rho Hotel include satellite TV and a refrigerator. They also each have a private bathroom with a shower. Breakfast […]

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Seville • Spain

Seville is more than 2,000 years old and has a distinct personality, a large and well-preserved historical centre with strong medieval, renaissance and baroque heritage and heavy influences from Arabic culture, which can be seen in the most famous monuments and places. I have a love affair with Seville, it is just one of those […]

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