Escape for winter sun,  budget classy style

Escape for winter sun, budget classy style

The darkest, shortest days, are over, so are the end-of-the year festivities for us Europeans, and yet there is another three-odd months of cold and darkness to look forward to. A winter sun trip is the answer But our bank accounts might look a bit 

Eastern German Christmas Markets – the best and most underrated Christmas Markets of Germany

Eastern German Christmas Markets – the best and most underrated Christmas Markets of Germany

Hallo! Proud Eastern German here, and now the festive time is nearing, let’s take a look at Eastern German Christmas Markets.  Time to do a post about the most common travel reason to Germany in the cold ‘n dark season: Christmas Markets! Indeed, hardly anyone 

Hotel Review: M-Hotel St. Petersburg, Russia – the perfect mid-range sightseeing hotel

Hotel Review: M-Hotel St. Petersburg, Russia – the perfect mid-range sightseeing hotel

Update 26. February 2022 +++ Do not travel On 24 February, Russian troops invaded Ukraine and started an unprovoked war. I therefore advise you not to visit Russia while this war is going on. With further sanctions against Russia looming, you may be unable to 

Hotel Review: Continental Hotel Tanger

Hotel Review: Continental Hotel Tanger

I am just using this Continental Hotel Tanger review to unapologetically dump some salivatory vintage Moroccan interior pictures on you.  These I recently noticed in some folder and thought “oooh I would love to return there”.  But of course, like most sensible people here, I 

Hotel Review: Nomads Hotel Petra, Jordan

Hotel Review: Nomads Hotel Petra, Jordan

This January, when COVID-19 had been heard of but not experienced, I went to Jordan for a week. I was looking for winter sun but got my first snow of the winter. Despite the loess than favourable weather,  I fulfilled a long-held dream by visiting 

Hotel Review: Kerme Ottoman Palace Akyaka

Hotel Review: Kerme Ottoman Palace Akyaka

Between the large resorts of Bodrum and Marmaris lies a small village-like resort deep in a protected bay that really is not on the radar of most international tourists: Akyaka. It is yet another “Slow City” on Turkey’s Aegean Coast and a beautiful stop for 

Review: Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko, Aegina: a small hotel with charme and history

Review: Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko, Aegina: a small hotel with charme and history

Want to soak up the sun and enjoy a city but only got a few days? Go to Aegina, and stay at the Hotel Aeginitiko Archontiko. You could do worse than fly to Athens, take a bus to Piraeus, and be in Aegina and on 

Hotel Review: Cumbali Konak Alacati

Hotel Review: Cumbali Konak Alacati

Where can you spend a few relaxed days on the Turkish Coast? The Cumbali Konak Alacati has the answer. Why I’m publishing this now – a bit of current affairs I’ve been to Turkey three times now, and while I am no expert,  I  loved 

Hotel Review:  Hotel Niles Istanbul

Hotel Review: Hotel Niles Istanbul

When Turkey opens its borders again to tourists, I will go on a city trip to Istanbul again. And I’ll probably revisit the lovely Hotel Niles Istanbul. What can I say? I love Istanbul, and I love the Turkish people. While I don’t agree with 

Review: Pera Palace Hotel , Istanbul

Review: Pera Palace Hotel , Istanbul

It took several weeks of umm-ing and ahh-ing  to finally  steer away from our usual accommodation budget and to book  the Pera Palace Hotel. As much as holidays sometimes means to stretch out on huge comfy beds with the whitest, softest linen and sleeping in 

Staying in ultra budget F1 Hotel: What is it like?

Staying in ultra budget F1 Hotel: What is it like?

When you are looking just for a good nights sleep, when you have transportation to catch early in the morning, and you’re not interested in nightlife or sunset-watching, where do you prefer to stay? Enter the ultra budget F1 Hotel Blagnac. We had an early 

Hotel Review: Boutique Hotel Minzifa, Bukhara

Hotel Review: Boutique Hotel Minzifa, Bukhara

Bukhara is perhaps the place with the widest choice of charming small hotels in Uzbekistan, and perhaps Central Asia. So, on my trip to Samarkand and Bukhara, it made sense to push out the boat a bit and book a characterful traditional small hotel.  I 

Hotel Review: Antica Samarkand, Uzbekistan –  a cosy unique guesthouse

Hotel Review: Antica Samarkand, Uzbekistan – a cosy unique guesthouse

Samarkand is a large city and it is harder to find charming accommodation close to the major sights. The Antica Samarkand is a welcome exception.  Samarkand hotels are typically large, business-orientated and geared towards tour groups. But if you are looking for somewhere individual on 

Hotel Rahmon, Samarkand: A model of hospitality

Hotel Rahmon, Samarkand: A model of hospitality

On my recent flying visit to the Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, my first contact with the locals was in this guesthouse I had just booked quickly in order to crash somewhere upon arrival. I had already booked some fancier hotels in Bukhara 

Hotel Review: Hotel Reina Cristina, Algeciras

Hotel Review: Hotel Reina Cristina, Algeciras

“What on earth are you doing in Algeciras?” you might ask. This port city is mostly known as a passing through place en route to Morocco and the Spanish Enclaves, but not as a tourist sight on its own. What makes it a great place