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The 2024 underrated &
overrated list (seven items)
Traveller, 14 December 2024
"You probably know the excitement, even if you
don’t realise what has provoked it. It’s the
feeling of discovery, the realisation that this
place you’re visiting is giving you so much more
than you expected. What you’re experiencing is an
underrated attraction, an underrated hotel, an
underrated meal, an underrated destination. There
are few things better in the travel world than
realising you’re getting the best of a place few
other people know about..."
Contributing seven items to this annual
list of overrated and underrated travel
experiences.
[Read
the Destinations section of the list
here] (my item is St
Gallen, Switzerland)
[Read
the Flying section of the list here] (my item is about
Wi-fi on planes)
[Read
the Transport
section of the
list here] (my
items are
about LA's
public
transport and
New Zealand's
trains) |

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I see a silhouette
Traveller, 19 October 2024
"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? I’m
strolling along the shore of Lake Geneva in the
Swiss resort town of Montreux, admiring the placid
waters, when I see a silhouette of a man next to
the path. It’s a statue with arm upraised, the sun
behind it. As my eyes adjust to the glare I see to
my surprise that it’s none other than Freddie
Mercury, much-loved flamboyant front man of
British band Queen. But what on earth is it doing
here?"
Paying tribute to a great musician via
a walking tour in Montreux, Switzerland.
[Read
the full article here]
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Just the ticket: The best new
rail journeys around the world
Traveller, 7 September 2024
"Europe’s renewed affair with long-distance train
routes continues apace, and this time the
destinations being linked are popular big cities:
Paris and Berlin. It was in December last year
that the French and German capitals were
connected, with great acclaim, by sleeper train
for the first time in nine years. The next step
will be the start of direct high-speed daytime
services between the two cities..."
Describing ten upcoming developments in
rail travel across Europe, North America,
Asia and Australia.
[Read
the full article here]
|

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Traveller Awards (three items)
Traveller, 25 August 2024
"Several European countries operate high-speed
trains, but there’s something about Trenitalia’s
Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) trains that make them a
cut above. Start with the company’s scarlet
pointy-nosed trains, which scream “fast” – or more
precisely, “veloce”. Next in its favour are the
friendly onboard staff who, in true Italian
fashion, are kitted out in the most stylish
uniforms this side of the Dolomites. The food
packs given out in business class contain good
pastries along with other snacks, and the onboard
coffee is fantastico..."
Contributing three items to these
annual awards, covering Italian fast trains;
the Excelsior Hotel in Dubrovnik, Croatia;
and the Musée des Confluences in Lyon,
France.
[Read
the Frecciarossa trains item here]
[Read
the Dubrovnik and Lyon items here] |

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Swiss roll
Traveller, 17 August 2024
"Riddle me this: when is an express not an
express? I’m pondering this question while gazing
at pretty Swiss pastoral scenes with cows in green
meadows, framed by mountains. I’m travelling
westward from Interlaken aboard the GoldenPass
Express, a train which takes about three
hours and 15 minutes to travel the 130 kilometres
to Montreux – an average speed of 40 kilometres an
hour. And seated as I am in Prestige Class, I have
no great desire for the trip to end..."
Riding aboard several lesser-known
scenic trains across Switzerland.
[Read
the full article here]
|

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When Peggy met Venice
Sunday Life, 30 June 2024
"La Serenissima is notoriously a victim of
over-tourism, its daily visitors often
outnumbering its residents. But there are other
ways to sample the city’s pleasures than simply
crowding into its most famous locations, so I’m
heading for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a
modern art museum. It does overlook the Grand
Canal, but I’m approaching from a less-obvious
direction, alighting at the Zattere ferry landing
and walking along quiet footpaths past narrow
canals. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, when I
reach it, is a subtle delight..."
Admiring modern art and learning the
story of a great collector in Venice, Italy.
[Read the
full article here]
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War stories
Traveller, 15 June 2024
"The woman is smiling at the camera with a rifle
slung over her shoulder, and the world is at her
feet. But there is so much trouble yet to come. In
Plaça de Catalunya, a broad square in central
Barcelona, this photo held by tour guide Nick
Lloyd is a portal to a different time. It shows
the same square back in 1936, and at its centre is
Marina Ginesta, a young socialist reporter. A
military uprising has just been quashed, but the
Spanish Civil War is about to begin..."
Learning about the Spanish Civil War on
a memorable walking tour in Barcelona, Spain.
[Read the full
article here]
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Spectacular scenery is just a
part of these five new stylish rail journeys
Traveller, 26 May 2024
"What happened to the fabulously luxurious
carriages of the Orient Express? It was a
mystery worthy of Agatha Christie, who set her
most famous book aboard this train, which linked
Paris to Istanbul between 1883 and 1977. So,
French historian Arthur Mettetal began his hunt.
Though some were in museums and others were part
of the revived Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express
luxury train, he discovered a number of original
carriages on an obscure siding in eastern Poland,
and a new version of the Orient Express
was born..."
Describing the highlights of five new
or improved trains, operating in Italy,
Australia, Norway, Japan, and Laos.
[Read the full
article here]
|

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Parting is such sweet sorrow
Traveller, 27 April 2024
"In the first week of the New Year I picked up a
brand-new passport. Almost ten years had passed in
the company of my old one, and it was time to
renew. But as I delighted in the crisp,
unblemished potential of my new passport, I felt
an unexpected fondness for its slightly worn
predecessor. We’d been through a lot together over
the previous decade, and the assortment of stamps
spread through its pages recalled the most
memorable border crossings..."
Discussing the fond memories prompted
by an expired passport, of travels in
Ukraine, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa,
Liechtenstein, and Fiji.
[Read the full
article here]
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Want to taste top-notch tapas?
This is the Spanish city to visit
Explore, 25 April 2024
"By gathering in the upscale district of Chamberi
(once an encampment for Napoleon's armies), we've
managed to avoid Madrid's busy tourist zone in
favour of a local neighbourhood where it'd be
counter-productive to water down the sangria or
serve low-quality ham. Therefore, on this Madrid
Tapas Crawl - more of a leisurely stroll - we'll
be getting the best. We'll also be taking part in
one of the great rituals of the Spanish capital,
according to our guide: sampling a range of
classic tapas over the course of the evening..."
Tasting excellent food on the streets
of Madrid, via a tapas walking our.
[Read
the full
article here] |
 
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Fact meets Game of Thrones
fantasy on this walking tour in Croatia
Explore, 3 March 2024
"The result is a delightful maze, dotted with
restaurants and accommodation. And oozing with
history, which Toni is well placed to navigate.
The former teacher with a master's degree in
history leads people through the winding paths of
the old town, explaining its complicated back
story. As our group wanders its beautiful
laneways, he pieces together its historical jigsaw
- from Roman times, through rule by Venice and the
Austro-Hungarian Empire, to today's
tourist-friendly city on Croatia's Adriatic
coast..."
Learning about the complex history of
Split, Croatia, on an engaging walking our.
[Read
the full
article here] |

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On the right track: History on
wheels as 'hoods revealed
Explore, 5 February 2024
"'Please be careful of the pebble-stone paving,'
says our guide Nuno, as we wait to board a
bright-yellow tram. Welcome to Lisbon. If there's
anything more symbolic of the Portuguese capital
than its crazy paving and its compact
timber-framed trams, I can't imagine what it is.
No, wait, it's the decorative tiles on the walls
of its buildings, which I'll be seeing plenty of
today. For I'm joining the Beyond the Tram No. 28
tour, which uses those trams as a delivery vehicle
to the historic Graca district..."
Investigating heritage neighbourhoods
of Lisbon, Portugal, via tram and on foot.
[Read
the full
article here] |

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Truly star-struk
Traveller, 3 February 2024
"While we wait – my taste buds tingling in
anticipation – Karmela runs me through the basics
of štrukli via a handy diagram depicting its
preparation. Just jotting that down makes me
hungry, even more so as I’m surrounded by štrukli
admirers in the attractive surrounds of the
restaurant’s courtyard, with its picturesque stone
wall and shady trees. Though to tell the truth, my
fellow diners are rebels of a sort – as La Štruk
daringly ventures beyond classic štrukli to
produce modern variants containing ingredients
such as walnut, honey, apple, roasted capsicum,
and even (gasp) truffle paste..."
Exploring delightful food and drink on
a walking tour in Zagreb, Croatia.
[Read
the full
article here]
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Rate expectations (five items)
Traveller, 16 December 2023
"Forget taxis and Ubers – who wants to be stuck in
traffic when there’s a fascinating city outside,
waiting to be experienced? In a destination with
an underground railway/Metro system, join the
locals zipping around below ground. You’ll be a
fly on the wall, catching snippets of
conversations and being part of urban life as your
travelling companions head to work, home and
entertainment. You’ll also save money and cut
carbon emissions at the same time..."
Contributing five instances about
Europe to an article about overrated and
underrated travel experiences (including
three about rail travel).
[Read
the full
article here]
|

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I never expected this at
breakfast in Barcelona
Escape, 10 December 2023
"On the table are plates of pork trotter terrine
with beans, and sobrasada sausage from Menorca
served with fried eggs and honey. It’s not my
usual breakfast – most often a bowl of cereal –
but this is not my usual turf. I’m in Barcelona,
Spain, and our group is dining at La Pubilla. It’s
a simple restaurant that’s been open since 1912,
and showcases everyday Barcelona cuisine often
overlooked by tourists. Not that everything is
unfamiliar on this Made in Catalonia food tour..."
Joining an extensive food walking tour
in a traditional neighbourhood of Barcelona,
Spain.
[Read
the full
article here] |

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Best moments in travel 2023
(four items)
Traveller, 19 November 2023
"Great British novelist PG Wodehouse once
described 'a look of furtive shame, the shifty
hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is
about to speak French.' That moment has arrived as
I sit in Bistrot Jutard, slightly short of breath
after a hilly climb from a Metro station in the
non-touristy Croix-Rousse district of Lyon. But my
linguistically mangled order is successful, and my
waiter shortly delivers an impressive croque-monsieur
au jambon ŕ la truffe. Sometimes a meal
doesn't have to be elaborate to be perfect..."
Describing four perfect moments:
including three in Europe (regarding food in
Lisbon and Lyon, and a fast train in Italy).
[Read the Europe items here] |

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Six of Southern Europe’s most
charming hotels
Traveller, 27 October 2023
"Situated next to an impressive scenic lookout,
Miradouro de Săo Pedro de Alcântara, and a
funicular railway which leads to attractions
around Restauradores Square, The Lumiares is a
great base for sightseeing in the famously hilly
Portuguese capital. Its apartment-style rooms are
elegantly decorated in a clean modern style with a
dash of colour. A spa offers a range of
treatments, and the rooftop restaurant with its
open-air terrace is a delightful space at which to
dine..."
Describing the delights of six fine
hotels in Portugal, Spain, France, Croatia
and Serbia.
[Read
the full
article here] |

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Drive into the past of this
vanished European nation
Traveller, 13 October 2023
"With Marija at the wheel, the Yugo takes us to
the Hotel Jugoslavija, a massive structure which
opened in 1969. It’s hard to believe, but this
weathered grey hulk was once extraordinarily
stylish. Close to the executive buildings, it
attracted international business and governmental
guests and thus was a hotbed of intrigue. 'This
place was full of spies,' Marija says, and there
is indeed something of a Bond film about the
interior..."
Discovering relics from the former
Yugoslavia on a Yugo car tour of Belgrade,
Serbia.
[Read
the full
article here] |

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In the home of Juliet, I gave
out free advice on people’s love lives
Traveller, 23 September 2023
"You could feel the legend of Casa di Giulietta
doesn’t have much to stand on, but entry to the
house is inexpensive and there are exhibits worth
seeing over its multiple levels: including
costumes and the bed from Zeffirelli’s 1968 Romeo
and Juliet movie. In one of the rooms I
discover a letterbox crammed with letters asking
advice of Juliet – and that’s a reminder of my
next stop. For I have a temporary job to fill, as
her secretary..."
Replying to the letters of the lovelorn
at the Juliet Club in Verona, Italy.
[Read
the full
article here] |

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This French city is a meeting
place for food cultures
Traveller, 25 August 2023
"It’s a chilly day with a threat of precipitation,
but tour guide Yan Rollot is one of those
glass-half-full blokes who has a positive take on
any situation. 'If you want to drink good wine,
pray for rain,' he says, before gesturing at
Lyon’s beautiful Old Town. Its cobblestoned narrow
streets stretch out from our tour group’s meeting
place in Place du Change. The cheerful Yan is
reaching way back before that, however, pointing
out the area’s Roman occupiers were interested in
the area’s wine-making potential and the two major
rivers which join in the city, making it an
excellent transport hub..."
Sampling the diverse food and drink
available in the Old Town of Lyon, France.
[Read
the full
article here] |

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Continental drift
Traveller, 13 August 2023
"It’s my last night in Lisbon, and I’m immersed in
that most Portuguese of musical styles: fado. On a
small stage in a back room are two male guitarists
with soulful looks and a woman with a fine voice,
performing songs whose tones speak of melancholy,
loss, and longing. Which seems appropriate, as I’d
longed for a return to European travel through the
pandemic. And tomorrow I’ll be boarding the first
of twenty trains which will bear me all the way to
distant Serbia..."
Travelling by rail via a Eurail pass, across
Southern Europe from
Portugal to Serbia.
[Read
the full
article here]
|

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Ditch the checked bag: How to
pack for a holiday bringing only carry-on
Traveller, 11 May 2023
"Lean in close, for I’m going make a confession:
I, too, used to check luggage into an aircraft’s
hold. Phew, that’s a weight off. But it was a long
time ago, almost in the previous century. I
remember clearly the last time I checked in a
suitcase for a long-haul flight, and the lightbulb
moment when I realised it had been a mistake.
Standing on a steep hill leading up from a bus
stop in the Italian city of Siena in 2001, wearing
a backpack while carrying a suitcase on a hot
humid day, I thought 'There must be a better way
than this.' And so there was..."
Explaining my system of light packing,
with reference to travel experiences in
Italy and Japan.
[Read the
full article here] |

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It's elementary, Meiringen
The Senior, March 2023
"When Dr Watson journeyed to Switzerland's
Reichenbach Falls in the company of Sherlock
Holmes, he was in a grim mood. But fair enough: he
and Holmes were on the run from Professor
Moriarty, their determined arch-enemy. As I'm not
being pursued by a vengeful villain, however, I'm
in the right state of mind to enjoy the scenery.
It's a beautiful sunny day and I'm taking the
funicular railway to the top of those same
falls..."
Following in the footsteps of Sherlock
Holmes in Meiringen, Switzerland.
[Read
the full
article here]
|

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The James Bond Brunch in
Switzerland will Thrill 007 Fans
Escape, 6 October 2021
"It’s taken me four cable cars via Mürren and Birg
to reach the revolving restaurant, Piz Gloria, at
2970m above sea level. On a clear day from the
summit, there’s a view of numerous mountains
including the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Today,
however, I’m immersed in a whited-out world of
swirling snow. No matter, because I’m really here
to see Bond World, the permanent exhibition
devoted to the making of OHMSS. First,
however, it’s time for a late breakfast in the
revolving restaurant; or more precisely, the James
Bond Brunch..."
Ascending to an exhibition devoted to
Agent 007, in the lofty mountains of
Switzerland.
[Read the
full article here]
|

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The
Revival of the Sleeper Train
lonelyplanet.com, 4 January 2021
"So why has there been this sudden turnaround in
the fortunes of sleeper trains, and why should
travelers embrace the trend? One word (and it’s a
Swedish one): flygskam. Meaning 'flight
shame', it signifies an environmental movement
which has sprung up in the wake of the climate
change activism of Greta Thunberg and others.
Citing the high level of carbon emissions caused
by commercial flights, its proponents have vowed
to travel by surface means, and the sleeper train
is key..."
Detailing the revival of the night
train with sleeper accommodation, especially in
Europe.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Budget
Airlines and COVID-19: It's Time for
Cheap Air Fares to Die
Traveller, 26 October 2020
"Since travel shut down around March, I've been
gobsmacked to see people pay good money to either
take a joy flight to nowhere, or – even worse – to
dine on a plane that's not leaving the tarmac.
When I expressed this amazement on social media,
many agreed that flying was the absolute worst
part of travel, and the one good thing about
COVID-19 lockdown was not having to go near an
airport..."
Arguing for an end to cheap fares,
in order to combat climate change and overtourism
(with references to European attractions).
[Read the
full article here] |

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A Dream of Trains
The New Daily, 3 June 2020
"Locked down in my apartment in Melbourne’s CBD, I
dreamt of trains. For the past decade I’ve
increasingly written about rail travel, drawn more
and more into a love of trains. It doesn’t matter
what trains they are – luxury 'rail cruises' are
impressive, but so to me is a berth in a weathered
old-school sleeper car or a seat on any intercity
train..."
Discussing the delights of rail travel,
with examples - including
train journeys in Europe.
[Read the
full article here] |

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Destinations
Australians Can't Wait to Return to
Traveller, 29 March 2020
"Once we're all back in the air, the first place
I'll be heading to is the Balkans. I'd been set to
visit this region of Europe when the COVID-19
balloon went up, and reluctantly had to cancel
flights and other bookings. My wife and I were
heading to Athens first, with a Balkan Flexipass
from Rail Europe tucked into our passports. After
exploring the Greek capital, we intended to spend
six weeks travelling by train through Bulgaria,
Serbia, Montenegro and Romania (we're both keen on
a bit of vampire lore) before reaching Istanbul..."
Talking about rail travel through
the Balkans, among a group of writers discussing
post-COVID-19 travel.
[Read the
full article here] |

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Ex-industrial
Buildings Give Art and Culture a Home in
Zürich
Traveller, 26 February 2020
"I don't know who Frau Gerold is, but she knows
how to throw a garden party. Frau Gerold's Garden
in the Zürich West district of Switzerland's
largest city is a very cool space, an urban oasis
lined by bars and shops. In the open area next to
the shops are shrubs, trees and garden seating,
filled with locals having a beer on this sunny
day. If you have a vision of Zürich as an uptight,
over-regulated place, the laid-back charm of
Zürich West will knock that on the head..."
Investigating a former industrial
district of Zürich, Switzerland, now a home to
bars and art.
[Read the
full article here] |

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The
Best Travel Experiences for 2020
(including a section on rail travel by
me)
Traveller, 2 January 2020
"A few years ago it seemed that night trains were
on the way out, even in their European heartland:
German operator Deutsche Bahn abandoned all its
sleeper routes, citing increased costs and the
efficiency of daylight high-speed trains. But the
tide has turned, with Austrian Federal Railways
reporting great success with its increased
Nightjet services across Europe meeting rising
demand from environmentally-conscious
travellers..."
Detailing my tips about rail
travel, including rail experiences in Europe.
[Read the
full article here] |

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Fondue
on Wheels in Zürich's Party Town
Traveller, 4 December 2019
"'We're a party town!' says Stefanos as he drives
our tour vehicle through the narrow streets of
Zürich's Old Town, and I have no reason to doubt
him. We are, after all, in a tuk-tuk, a vehicle
I'm more used to riding in Bangkok. That
incongruity suggests a sense of fun, as does the
fact that we're on our way to pick up a serve of
fondue. Eating molten cheese and bread with a
pointy utensil while bumping along the
cobblestones of Switzerland's largest city? No
problem..."
Sampling fondue aboard a tuk-tuk
and in a local restaurant in Zürich, Switzerland.
[Read the
full article here] |

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An
Australian Cafe in Paris
Traveller, 18 November 2019
"Miraculously the rain clears and the pale stone
exterior of the church gleams in sunlight, aloof
from the tourist circus at the foot of its steps.
Walking beneath the eastern flank of the church
along rue Lamarck, I get to where I am heading:
Hardware Societe Paris, the local branch of a
popular Melbourne CBD cafe. I've long been
fascinated by the spread of Australian-style cafes
around the world, and I'm curious to see how this
example fits into its Parisian milieu..."
Visiting a branch of a popular
Melbourne cafe in Paris, France.
[Read the
full article here] |

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A
Tiny Museum That Holds Royalty's Prized
and Strange Possessions
Traveller, 27 September 2019
"There's a saying in Australia: 'This is going
straight to the pool room!' Lifted from the
popular film The Castle, it's heard when
someone is presented with an extremely special
item. For The Castle's main character,
Darryl Kerrigan, his pride of place was the pool
room; for the princes of Liechtenstein, it's the
Treasure Chamber. This tiny museum in the capital
Vaduz is the repository for gifts to the royal
family from kings and emperors as well as
interesting knick-knacks donated by local
collectors..."
Admiring exhibits held within the
Treasure Chamber in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.
[Read the
full article here] |

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Six
of the Best Swiss Chocolate Experiences
Traveller, 16 September 2019
"Switzerland is synonymous with fine-quality
chocolate, but how did it gain that reputation?
All is revealed at the Swiss Chocolate Adventure
within the Museum of Transport in Lucerne. The
visitor is seated in a bean-shaped vehicle that
slides through a kaleidoscopic series of exhibits
demonstrating the entire chocolate-making process,
from growing to processing to eating, using clever
audiovisual effects..."
Investigating chocolate-related
experiences across Switzerland, including the
Chocolate Train from Montreux.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Travelling
the Glacier Express in Excellence Class
Traveller, 13 September 2019
"Someone might be having a less-than-excellent day
somewhere in Switzerland, but it isn't me. Sipping
a glass of Laurent Perrier as I roll out of St
Moritz aboard the Glacier Express, I am
officially enjoying a day of excellence. For I'm
not slumming it in first class or even (shudder)
second class – I'm in the brand-new Excellence
Class carriage aboard the famous train which takes
eight hours to cover 291 kilometres between St
Moritz and Zermatt..."
Enjoying a new luxury experience
aboard the Glacier Express train in
Switzerland.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Best
Way to See Liechtenstein
Traveller, 12 September 2019
"When Liechtenstein's 300th anniversary
approached, locals' thoughts turned to creating
something suitable for the occasion. As they
already had a castle, an impressive pile perched
above the capital Vaduz, they settled on something
more modest and democratic – a walking trail that
would take in the entire country, from one end to
the other. And here I am at the start of the
Liechtenstein Trail, officially launched in May to
mark the principality's founding in 1719..."
Exploring a new walking route that
winds through the tiny nation of Liechtenstein.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Travelling
Europe by Train is Easier than Flying
Executive Style, 10 September 2019
"It's chilly in Zürich's main train station at
7am, but it has all the atmosphere I desire at the
beginning of a European train trip. The main
concourse sits beneath a grand hall of arched
windows, and there's an air of purpose as the
people around me head to their trains. After an
assignment in Switzerland I need to get to London,
and it occurred to me that rail travel might be a
viable alternative to flying..."
Travelling business class aboard
trains from Zürich, Switzerland, via Paris to
London, UK.
|

|
Hot
Food List 2019
Traveller, 10 August 2019
"To eat like a king in Liechtenstein, you can
start by drinking like a prince. The Hofkellerei
des Fursten von Liechtenstein, otherwise known as
the Princely Winery, has a scenic location
above grapevines in the sleepy capital, Vaduz.
Tastings and cellar tours are available, or you
can simply enjoy the wine with a meal at the
winery's bistro, or at its fine-dining
restaurant Torkel with mountain views..."
Detailing three food-related
experiences in Liechtenstein, Japan and South
Korea (among those of various writers).
[Read the
full article here] |

|
As HBO's Chernobyl Premieres,
What Travellers Need to Know
lonelyplanet.com, 6 May 2019
"From 6 May 2019 a joint HBO/Sky television series
will bring those grim events to life again in
Chernobyl. This dramatic re-creation is sure to
spark interest in the region of Ukraine where the
disaster took place. Though it may come as a
surprise, it’s possible to visit and walk through
the eerie ruins of Chernobyl and its surrounds, as
part of an authorised tour into the 30 kilometre
exclusion zone around the former reactor
complex..."
Explaining how to visit Chernobyl,
Ukraine, on a guided tour.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Ten Australian Cafes
Around the World
Traveller, 18 October 2018
"The owners of Melbourne's popular Hardware
Société have opened a branch in the City of
Lights. Its already European-inspired menu
translates well to a Parisien oeuvre, and the
Montmartre location can't be topped. Rendezvous
here for the likes of croquetas crevette et petit
pois (prawn and pea croquettes) or salmon
millefeuille, and coffee from Melbourne's Padre
roasters..."
Detailing Aussie-style cafes in
locations around the globe, including France and
Germany.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
What it's Like to
Stay at the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Traveller, 2 July 2018
"As I bend over the abandoned doll, the reading on
my dosimeter begins to tick upward. At a certain
level, this portable radiation detector will
squeal. It's hard not to feel uneasy at the rising
numbers on its face. For this is Chernobyl. Or to
be precise, the 30-kilometre-wide Chernobyl
Exclusion Zone around the reactor that exploded in
1986, spewing radioactive material into the air to
become the world's worst nuclear disaster..."
Exploring the ruins of Chernobyl
via an overnight tour from Kiev, Ukraine.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Poland to Ukraine by
Sleeper Train
Traveller, 7 June 2018
"According to old movies, there were two types of
European long-distance train. One was the sexy,
luxurious sleeper such as the Orient Express,
carrying exiled duchesses to elegant cities like
Paris. The other was a shabby train packed with
foreign agents and shady smugglers, hoping to slip
unnoticed past the Iron Curtain. You might think
that age of exoticism and intrigue on the rails is
gone; replaced by shiny high-speed trains with
bland open carriages, zipping across unmonitored
borders. But you'd be wrong..."
Riding overnight on a train between
Poland and Lviv, Ukraine; then on to Kiev.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Christmas Here is
Terrifying
Traveller, 14 November 2017
"St Nicholas is the wise old gent who rewards the
well-behaved, while bad children have to deal with
the Krampus. He's a figure that would definitely
make you think twice about pulling your sister's
hair. With a red face, horns and a sharp-toothed
leer, the Krampus is a memorable part of Christmas
in Salzburg and the surrounding region. I'm
getting a close-up look at this sinister figure at
Salzburg's dedicated Christmas Museum..."
Meeting Santa's demonic offsider
and exploring festive culture in Salzburg, Austria.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Masoch Café: A
Cocktail Bar Dedicated to Masochism
Traveller, 1 August 2017
"Leopold von Sacher-who? Stay with me. He may not
be a household name, but you'll know the concept
he gave his name to: masochism. Born in Lviv in
1836, as an adult he developed a taste for being
sexually dominated by women, and wrote about it.
Sacher-Masoch also argued against anti-Semitism
and promoted women's rights. But it's for
masochism he's remembered, and the Masoch Café
aims to honour this legacy..."
Visiting an unconventional cafe in
Lviv, Ukraine.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Lviv's Coffee Secrets
www.lonelyplanet.com, 10 May 2017
"Lviv is rightly proud of its beautiful
architecture and its role as a hub of Ukrainian
culture. Just over a century ago, however, it lay
within the boundaries of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire and its famous coffee-house tradition – a
coffee scene Lviv helped found. That caffeinated
obsession lives on, with distinctive local cafes
creating a brew of quality and novelty..."
Exploring the rich coffee-house culture
of this city in western Ukraine.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
The
Real Westeros (and Beyond)
The Sunday Age
7 May 2017
"The spectacular settings in Game of Thrones are
shot at locations across two continents. Seek
these out on your next overseas quest...." (This was
originally a text box as part of a longer
article in print.)
Listing European filming locations of
scenes in the popular fantasy TV series Game
of Thrones.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
A Walk
Through Kyiv's Soviet Past
www.lonelyplanet.com, 20 April 2017
"Ukraine has been a proudly independent
nation since 1991, but for decades before that
it formed part of the Soviet Union. Many
elements of that era – and of the Russian
empire before it – remain in the heart of
Kyiv, intertwined with remembrances of the
city’s medieval glory. It’s a fascinating
array of clues from the past, within strolling
distance..."
Enjoying a walking tour of USSR-era
landmarks in the capital city of Ukraine.
[Read
the full article
here] |

|
Masters
on the Menu
Traveller
(The Age & Sydney Morning
Herald),
4 February 2017
"I'm standing in front of The Tower of Babel,
a crazed wedding cake of a building. Constructed
of tapering layers, broken open on one side, this
ancient skyscraper dwarfs the port city lying
below it. Though this 1563 painting by Bruegel
may resemble a mighty structure from Game of
Thrones, it's outdone by the architecture
within which it hangs. For I'm viewing it within
the Kunsthistorisches (Art History) Museum,
Vienna's greatest repository of art..."
Dining within a great cultural
institution in Vienna, Austria.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
The
Alternative Destinations to Europe's Most
Crowded Tourist Cities
Traveller, 16 December 2016
"Many people in popular European cities rely on
tourism for their income, but it seems even these
places can hit a point at which the crowds become
a problem. What's to be done? Ration arrivals to
these cities, and place turnstiles at its parks
and most popular streets? I have another solution
in mind: go elsewhere. What if we... or at least
some of us... chose other European cities to
visit? Places that have charms of their own,
without being swamped by tourists?"
Proposing attractive alternatives to
the most crowded tourist cities of Europe.
Available
for republication (print and
Web).
Images available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Danish
Town is Bard to the Bone
Traveller (The Sun-Herald),
24 July
2016
"'Though this be madness, yet there is method
in't.' I have Hamlet on my mind as I stand
inside the train station at Helsingřr, north of
Copenhagen. As well I might, because this Danish
town is better known in English as Elsinore, the
setting for William Shakespeare's play. The
station's interior does indeed seem crazed. A huge
chandelier hangs from intricately carved roof
panels, above an ornately decorated staircase and
walls bearing coats of arms. And yet there is
method in it..."
Exploring the town and castle which
inspired Shakespeare in Helsingřr, Denmark.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
The
European Neighbourhood That Declared
Independence
Traveller, 6 July 2016
"There's more to Nina than meets the eye, and the
same could be said for Freetown Christiania. After
idealistic squatters moved into this abandoned
military base in 1971, it became infamous for the
open dealing of cannabis. There's still an air of
tension when entering Christiania's Green Light
District, on the aptly named Pusher Street. Here
photography is forbidden, and the dealers standing
by their stalls wear masks. The rest of
Christiania, however, is a different world..."
Exploring the counter-culture enclave
of Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
So
Far, So Noir
The Age, 25 June 2016
"'There are 16 months in Denmark – and five of
them are November,' says Christine, my guide on
this Nordic Noir tour of central Copenhagen. As
our small group huddles outside Vesterport train
station, her observation seems particularly apt.
This spring afternoon is as unwelcoming as a
late-autumn day, the sky spitting drizzle and an
icy wind swirling in every direction..."
Joining a tour devoted to 'Scandi
noir' television series The Killing and The
Bridge, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Entering
the Dragon's Lair
www.lonelyplanet.com, 22 June 2016
"A two-hour drive north of the Ukrainian capital
Kyiv lies the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, site of
the worst nuclear accident ever recorded. In the
aftermath of a reactor explosion in 1986, cities
and villages were abandoned. Decades on, tourists
can visit the zone to find an eerie landscape of
crumbling buildings being reclaimed by nature.
It’s a prime example of dark tourism..."
Joining an overnight tour to the
strange radioactive sights of Chernobyl,
Ukraine.
Not
available for republication.
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Going
Light
Paradise,
May-June 2016
"Are
you up for a travel challenge? Here it
is: could you travel anywhere in the
world, taking only cabin luggage with
you? It may sound impossible, but it
isn’t. For years, I’ve been honing my
approach to packing light, to the point
where I only ever take a single bag. The
upside? I zip through airports, often
bypassing the check-in desks entirely if
the airline offers mobile check-in. When
I leave the flight at the end of the
trip, I can walk straight out of the
airport..."
Explaining how to pack
light, including for a winter trip to
Europe.
Available for republication
(print and Web).
Images
available.
[Read
the full article here] |

|
Brussels'
Daggiest Day Out
The Sunday Age, 11 October 2015
"The Continent might have a worldwide reputation
for stylish, urbane design (where would we be
without the French word chic?), but
instead I'm headed for Belgium's daggiest
attraction. Spread across beautiful landscaped
gardens in the city's north are replicas of 350
famous buildings and monuments from across the
European Union, recreated at a scale of 1:25.
Thus, the model of London's clock tower that
houses Big Ben is four metres high, and the
replica Eiffel Tower is as tall as a three-storey
building..."
Exploring a collection of miniature
buildings in Brussels, Belgium.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Euro
Trash to Treasure
The Sunday Age, 23 August 2015
"As I step out of the Kettenbrückengasse U-Bahn
station, I have to sidestep a couple absorbed in
examining a pair of jeans they've just bought. The
denim doesn't look much chop to me, faded as it
is, with holes in both legs. But this could be the
motto of Vienna's Saturday flea market, southwest
of the historic Ringstrasse: 'Beauty is in the eye
of the beholder.' A strange eclectic jumble of
items that could be trash or treasure is at the
heart of the term 'flea market', and never was it
more apt than here..."
Examining the quirky merchandise of a
flea market in Vienna, Austria.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Many Worlds in One
Place
The Sun-Herald, 26 July 2015
"My new cartographic hero is Vincenzo Coronelli.
The work of this 17th century Venetian map-making
superstar is the first thing you see upon entering
Vienna's Globe Museum, a boutique institution
owned by Austria's National Library. First up is a
pair created by Coronelli in 1693. In those days
globes were made by hand, and always in twos – one
a terrestrial globe, the other a celestial globe
depicting the heavens. They functioned not only as
practical objects but as art..."
Admiring the collection of the world's only Globe
Museum, in Vienna, Austria.
Available
for republication (print only).
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Passport Stamps
Fading Away
Traveller, 3 June 2015
"Legalities aside, passport stamps are a romantic
reminder of your time on the road. Sometimes
they're prized because they look particularly
florid and exotic, other times because of the
memories they evoke. As the old-fashioned passport
stamp starts to fade away, replaced by electronic
entry procedures, they'll become even more
attractive as proof that you really were there..."
Considering the appeal of passport
stamps in an era when they're becoming rarer.
Available
for republication (print only).
[Read the
full article here] |

|
The
Hills Are a Bit Damp
The Age, 30 May 2015
"'The plan was for six weeks' location shooting,'
says David, our British guide on The Sound of
Music bus tour. 'The weather had different
ideas.' He's referring to the location filming of
the 50-year-old cinematic favourite, but he might
as well be talking about today's weather in
Salzburg. The hills are alive above the
picturesque Austrian city, but it's more with a
steady drizzle than music on this cold, wet day..."
Taking a bus tour dedicated to The
Sound of Music in Salzburg, Austria.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Field
of Destiny: Waterloo Battlefield
www.lonelyplanet.com, 20 May 2015
"In ABBA’s winning song at the Eurovision Song
Contest in 1974, the Swedish supergroup delivered
a history lesson to their listeners. It was at
Waterloo, the brightly-clad musicians informed the
audience, that Napoleon surrendered. Indeed it
was, after the great Battle of Waterloo which took
place on 18 June 1815. Two centuries later, the
custodians of the Waterloo battlefield are
preparing for a resurgence of interest in the
site..."
Exploring this famous battlefield in
Belgium on its 200th anniversary.
Not
available for republication.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Converts' Guide:
Long-Distance Train Travel
The Sun-Herald, 15 March 2015
"There are many types of long-distance trains,
from regularly scheduled services to those that
resemble luxury cruise liners. What they have in
common is ever-changing scenery. A train is a
unique mode of transport, akin to a small town on
wheels; always in contact with the world outside,
but also slightly separate. It's difficult to get
bored as the entire planet passes by your window:
people, farms, forests, dramatic landscapes, and
the normally hidden backyards of vibrant cities..."
Promoting the benefits of
long-distance rail travel, in one of a set of
travel essays; including trains travelling through
Europe.
Available
for republication (print only).
[Read the
full article here] |

|
To
Berlin by Rail
Get Up & Go,
Summer
2015
"Most
travellers arrive in London looking for
history, but it’s also there on your way
out. I’m sipping great coffee within the
cavernous interior of Caravan, a sleek
modern cafe on Granary Square at Kings
Cross. The huge brick building it’s
located in was once a storehouse for
grain brought in by rail and barge. With
that transport history, it seems the
right place from which to set off on a
grand rail journey to the Continent..."
Detailing
a rail journey from London to
Berlin, with stops at Brussels and
Cologne.
Available for republication
(print and Web).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Best
Literary Walking Tours
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2015,
October
2014
"There’s no better way to pay tribute to
your favourite author or characters than to
follow in their footsteps via these
entertaining tours..."
Listing ten distinctive literary walking
tours in locales across the world, including
the UK, USA, Sweden, Ireland, France,
Romania, China and Australia.
This
book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.
Not
available for republication.
[Read
the full article
here]
|

|
Pack It In: How to
Travel With Only Carry-on Luggage
Fairfax
Traveller, 7 August 2013
"My name's Tim, and I'm an obsessive light packer.
I only ever travel with a cabin luggage-sized
backpack, no matter where I go or how long I stay.
In 2011, for example, I spent eight weeks in
Europe. My only luggage? That trusty, unassuming
High Sierra backpack I bought in 2005. Travelling
like this isn't easy. Being self-limited to hand
luggage involves a high level of obsession and a
cultish devotion to the virtues of travelling
light..."
Explaining my light packing "Rule of
Three", with specific reference to travel in
Poland, the UK and Italy [Includes video
clip].
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Cheers!
Bathing in Czech Beer
NineMSN Travel, 12 July 2013
"Immersed
in the brown foamy liquid, I can smell
the faint aroma of what seems like wheat
beer. Or a light pilsner. Included in
the entry fee are two large steins of
the real stuff from the brewery above, a
cold full-strength brew which I sip
while soaking in the tub.
There’s beer inside and beer
outside, and I’m feeling fairly mellow
in the warm oily bath. The Czech
geniuses who designed this spa have
definitely figured out how to make
'wellness' seem appealing to blokes..."
Soaking in a bath full
of beer, in the city of Olomouc, Czech
Republic.
|

|
The
Tour with the Dragon Tattoo: Stieg
Larsson's Stockholm
NineMSN Travel, April 2013
"Plunging
into a well-groomed residential quarter,
we pass the beautiful St Catherine's
Church and admire the flash apartment
building bought into by Salander after
she fleeced a dodgy businessman of his
billions. Descending hillside steps to
the square in front of Slussen Metro
station, I feel the memorable scenes of
the Millennium novels have been
vividly filled out in my mind by the
colours, sounds and smells of Södermalm's
real-life streets..."
Following in the
footsteps of the characters from a crime
novel series set in
Stockholm, Sweden.
|

|
A World Full of
Cheap Thrills
The Age
& Sydney Morning Herald,
16 March
2013
"To be an Australian traveller is to be obsessed
by currency exchange rates, and certain cities
have a reputation among Aussies for their
crippling expense. But with the Aussie dollar's
dramatic rise, things must have changed. To test
this theory, I visited Lonely Planet's Melbourne
HQ to thumb through guidebooks used by travellers
ten years ago, comparing prices while factoring in
inflation. What I found should put a smile on
every Australian traveller's face..."
Exploring the effect of the Australian
dollar's rise on attractions in London, New
York, Tokyo and Reykjavik.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
World's Most
Expensive Cities Not So Bad
Fairfax
Traveller, 7 February 2013
"They were bitter, strong, smooth… and extremely
expensive at Ł18.50 each. In 2008, with the
Australian dollar buying 48 pence, that worked out
to $38.50 per cocktail. Ouch. I consoled myself
that I was doing much better than I would have
five years earlier when the dollar had been buying
only 35p; at that rate, each Vesper would have
cost $52.85. At the other extreme is the exchange
rate of today, currently hovering around 66p.
Assuming the cocktail cost the same in pounds,
that Vesper would now go for $28..."
Examining how the Australian dollar's
rise has made travel cheaper than ten years
ago in London, New York, Tokyo and
Reykjavik.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
An Intoxicating
Gallery Tour in Stockholm
The Sun-Herald, 20 January 2013
"It's in two minds about its subject. Nectar of
the gods or demon drink? That's very much up to
me, it seems. The museum's curators want me to
consider both angles, which seems fitting for a
country that nearly voted for Prohibition in 1922
and that maintains a government monopoly over
liquor stores. Fair enough. I'll, er, drink to
that approach, I think, as I enter beneath a
canopy of artificial trees, encountering the first
of the museum's smell-and-taste stations..."
Getting into the spirit of the Spirit
Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Czeching Out
The Sunday Age, 28 October 2012
"I'm looking Death in the eye, and Death is
looking back at me. Strangely, it doesn't seem as
creepy or disturbing as it should. I'm standing
beneath Jakubske Square, in the eastern Czech city
of Brno, gazing at a thick circular column of
human skulls and bones. They're brown with age and
rise all the way from the floor to the ceiling of
this cool, dimly lit chamber. Nearby are two
skeletons in caskets, with a wall of bones behind
them..."
Meeting death in a restored ossuary and
a monastic crypt in Brno, Czech Republic.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
We All Say Thank You for the
Music
Escape,
21 October 2012
(News
Ltd's Sunday travel section)
"In less time than it
takes to say, 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I
Do', I find myself signed up for the tour
and standing under the lone oak tree in
the courtyard of the Stockholm City Hall,
alongside other ABBA fans. We're in the
hands of guide Eva Palmqvist, who smiles
and flips up a photo of the pop-tastic
quartet at their youthful height, arms
splayed and dressed in denim, with the
dour brick bulk of the City Hall in the
background..."
Joining the ABBA City
Walk through the centre of Stockholm,
Sweden.
Available
for republication (print and Web).
Images
available.
[Read
the full article
here]
|

|
Oddest Food Museums
Lonely Planet's
Best in Travel 2013, October 2012
List of distinctive food museums in locales across
the world (including three in the USA, two in
Germany, two in Japan, one in Hungary, one in
Belgium, and one in South Korea).
This book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.
|

|
Circles of Hell: Inside the
World's Biggest IKEA Store
Fairfax Traveller, 26 September 2012
"A
question occurs: when Swedes visit the
biggest IKEA store in the world, do they
order the famous 'Swedish meatballs'? Or
is the dish simply 'meatballs'? I'm
travelling through the drab south-west
suburbs of Stockholm on a commuter
train, looking for answers to the hard
questions. I might not be Mikael
Blomkvist, the Millennium series'
detective hero who unravels mysteries
involving psychopaths and dirty money,
but I've read the first book, walked by
his fictional address and visited his
local cafe..."
Investigating the
interior of the world's biggest IKEA store,
in Stockholm, Sweden.
Available for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Hip Sips
The Sunday Age,
16 September 2012
"Below on the streets, I have a hint of a grittier
side to the island of Södermalm, divided by sluice
gates from Stockholm’s picturesque Old Town.
Södermalm was once a gritty working-class port and
residential district, and there’s a hint of that
among the concrete jumble around the Metro station
and nearby wharves. For the most part, however,
'Söder' has traced a familiar trajectory of
inner-city harbours, from down-at-heel poverty to
cutting-edge cool..."
Drinking at the cool cafe-bars of edgy Södermalm,
in Stockholm, Sweden.
Available for
republication (print only).
Images
available.
|

|
Angels at My Table
The Sunday Age, 22 April 2012
"I'm sitting in a cafe
named after an American city. It's
decorated in a florid, over-the-top
baroque style, all gilt-edged mirrors
and extravagant chandeliers. And I'm in
Budapest, the capital of Hungary. This
place is a mystery. A delightful,
impressively appointed mystery, but a
mystery nonetheless..."
Sampling the delights of 19th century
coffee houses in Budapest, Hungary.
|

|
Hungary's Hidden Treasures
Medical Observer, 12
August 2011
"Pécs is a city with
a history of conquest. In the 16th century
the city was snatched from the Kingdom of
Hungary by the invading Turkish Empire.
They built a mosque in the middle of the
square, which was duly transformed into a
church after the Turks were ousted.
Nowadays the Mosque Church is a museum,
but it’s also a symbol of the waves of
cultures which have washed through this
town."
Exploring the
attractions of sunny Pécs, in southwestern
Hungary.
|

|
Fangtastic! The World’s Best
Vampire-spotting Locations
www.lonelyplanet.com, 9 August 2011
Revealing several ways of encountering
vampires in places around the globe
(including locations in Romania, the UK,
France, the USA, Costa Rica and Indonesia).
Not available for
republication.
[Read
the
full article
here] |

|
A Good Soak
The Sunday Age, 1 May 2011
"I’m
soaking in hot water in the grand
Gellért Baths, and wondering whether my
skimpy kötény was
really a better choice of clothing than
the swimwear worn by most of my fellow
patrons. But when in Budapest, do as the
Hungarians do, I reason... and this
humble hired cotton apron is the
traditional costume in single-sex
sections of the country’s numerous
thermal baths."
Taking a dip in the
diverse thermal baths of Hungary.
Available for republication (print only).
Images
available. |

|
Sample Wine and Soak Up the
Past
Escape,
10 April 2011
(News
Ltd's Sunday travel section)
"It's not fun down
here in the dungeon, and the screaming
makes it worse. Not that anyone’s being
tortured, thankfully. Instead, a shrieking
group of schoolkids has joined our tour of
Eger Castle, the enormous medieval
fortress at the heart of Eger, a small
Hungarian city in wine-growing country
east of Budapest. The enthusiastic kids
seem immune to the claustrophobia I
experience as we head ever deeper..."
Enjoying the wine and
history of the town of Eger, Hungary.
Available
for republication (print and Web).
Images
available.
|

|
The Beauty of Bled
The Sunday Age, 20 March 2011
"I’m
standing in the light rain, holding an
umbrella above the head of an artist as
he paints a silhouette on the back of a
painting for my wife. What’s the
subject? Well, it’s a depiction of me
holding an umbrella over him, with my
wife Narrelle standing nearby.
Confused? So am I. But then I look up to
see the beautiful lake before us,
punctuated by an island topped with a
small elegant church - itself dwarfed by
a mighty castle on the sheer cliff above
it - and everything seems just fine."
Spending a day on the
shores of beautiful Lake Bled, Slovenia.
Available for republication (print only).
Images
available. |

|
Eastern Europe Exposed
NineMSN Travel, January 2011
"There's
a whole other Europe over there, with
the same things that Western Europe is
famous for - art treasures, fascinating
castles, great food and wine, and
character-packed villages. And there are
two big bonuses in the former communist
countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Firstly, they're cheaper to travel in
than the West. And secondly, they're
dotted with weird and fascinating
remnants left over from the 'reds under
the beds' era."
Revealing five
appealing and lesser-known attractions in
Central and Eastern Europe.
|

|
Cool
Calm Collective
EasyJet Traveller, January 2011
"It's
not every hostel room that features a
demolition hole as a window. But then
Hostel Celica is not the average
backpacker's bolthole. 'The bed is
shaped like a boat and one corner of the
room is open from when they tried to
demolish the building,' says Tomaž
Juvan, director of Ljubljana's most
cutting-edge hostel. 'The building
started as an Austro-Hungarian military
prison. In the end it was a political
prison; our ex-prime minister was once
held here.'"
Celebrating the
cutting-edge delights of Ljubljana, the
capital city of Slovenia.
|

|
In the Doll House
The Sunday Age, 26 December 2010
"I’m
standing two metres from the terrifying
figure of a vampire looming over a
defenceless white-clad maiden, blood
dripping from its fangs... when the
lights go out. It’s not just the vampire
I have to worry about in the sudden inky
blackness. Behind me is the infamous
Countess Bathory in a bath dripping with
virgins’ blood, and further on there’s a
gent with a guillotine."
Exploring the quirky
(and kinky) museums of Keszthely, Hungary.
Available for republication (print only).
Images
available. |

|
Best Vampire Spotting Locales
&
Top Ten Historical Re-enactments
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011, November 2010
Two
lists of distinctive travel experiences in
locales across the world (including one in
Romania, one in France, one in Belgium, and
one in Croatia).
This
book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.
Not
available for republication.
|

|
Forget Western Europe
www.lonelyplanet.com, 22 October 2010
"To say
that the tourist trail through Western
Europe is well-travelled is an
understatement. In fact it’s so
well-travelled it’s not a mere trail,
but a six lane highway with frequent
rest stops and peak hour traffic jams.
So what can you do if you want the
quintessential European experience
without the expense or the mob scene?
Easy – head east."
Describing Eastern
European equivalents to the great
attractions of the West.
Not available for
republication.
[Read the
full article here] |

|
Funny
Figures of Socialist Realism
The Age, 14 August 2010
"As I
walk around the grounds I begin to
realise that the statues have an
another, unexpected aspect. In a
nutshell, they’re funny. Though designed
to inspire fear, they also inspire
humour. In fact, with their absurdly
oversized limbs, stiff expressions and
ungainly depictions of movement, the
figures are nothing less than a po-faced
set of posers who are begging to have
the piss taken out of them."
A letter from
Budapest, Hungary, describing its
communist-era statuary.
Available for republication (print only).
Images
available. |

|
View from Vilnius
Medical Observer, 23
July 2010
"There’s a dumpling
on my plate the size of a miniature
football. In fact, it’s the shape of a
football - which is why it’s called a cepelinas (zeppelin), after the famous
airships. The pale, doughy exterior is
made of potato, and it’s wrapped around a
meat filling. On top is a sauce involving
sour cream and pork crackling. It may not
be the lightest meal I’ve ever ordered,
but it would clearly be an unforgivable
international snub not to try it."
Exploring the
beautiful streets within the capital of
Lithuania.
|

|
Hungary
chapter
Lonely
Planet: Discover Europe (ed. 1)
May
2010
"It's the beauty of
Budapest - both natural and constructed -
that makes it stand apart. Straddling a
gentle curve in the Danube, the city is
flanked by the Buda Hills on the west bank
and the beginnings of the Great Plain to
the east. Architecturally it is a gem,
with enough baroque, neoclassical,
eclectic and art nouveau elements to
satisfy anyone."
A
full-colour guide to this Central
European nation, with details of
including attractions, accommodation,
dining, nightlife, history and culture.
This
book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.
Not
available for republication.
|

|
Cable Car Has the World on a
String
Escape,
17 January 2010
(News
Ltd's Sunday travel section)
"Then a miracle
happens. The dense cloud starts to
dissipate under the sunlight's morning
warmth, splitting apart to reveal a stark
rocky peak way above us. Set within it is
the cable car station, an improbable
construction wedged into the rock, like
the lair of a James Bond villain. As we
reach it, I suddenly remember that there's
nothing beneath our feet for a very long
way, and then we gently ease into place,
2634m above sea level."
Ascending the mighty
High Tatra mountains in Slovakia.
Available
for republication (print and Web).
Images
available.
|

|
Europe's Red Remains
Backpacker Essentials,
November 2009
"A mention of the
Cold War will more likely prompt thoughts
of Californian indie band Cold War Kids
than the dark days of the Berlin Wall.
However, all is not lost. The Wall fell 20
years ago, but Central and Eastern Europe
are littered with remnants from the
strange, increasingly distant era of the
Iron Curtain. That’s the beauty of this
part of Europe..."
Detailing ten
memorable communist-era relics in Central
and Eastern Europe.
|

|
Hungary
chapter
Lonely
Planet: Europe on a Shoestring (ed. 6)
October
2009
"Not that urban
pleasures are neglected. Cosmopolitan
Budapest is packed with world-class
operas, monumental historical buildings,
and the mighty Danube River flowing
through its centre. Having established
itself as a state in the year 1000,
Hungary has a long history, a rich culture
and strong folk traditions that are well
worth exploring."
A
guide to this Central European nation
aimed at the budget traveller, including
attractions, accommodation, dining,
nightlife, history and culture.
This
book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.
Not
available for republication.
|

|
Hungary
chapter
Lonely
Planet: Central Europe (ed. 8)
September
2009
"Where else but
Hungary can you laze about in an open-air
thermal spa in midwinter, while snow
patches glisten around you? Following
that, it's de rigueur to head to a local
bar where a Romani band yelps while a
crazed crowd whacks its boot heels, as
commanded by Hungarian tradition. Or to go
clubbing in an ancient bathhouse, where
all dance waist-deep in the healing waters."
Outlines
the cultural and natural attractions of
this nation, along with details of
accommodation, entertainment and dining
options.
This
book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.
Not
available for republication.
|

|
Hungary
chapter
Lonely
Planet: Eastern Europe (ed. 10)
September
2009
"It's the beauty of
Budapest - both natural and manmade - that
makes it stand apart. Straddling a gentle
curve in the Danube, the city is flanked
by the Buda Hills on the west bank and the
beginnings of the Great Plain to the east.
Architecturally it is a gem, with enough
baroque, neoclassical, Eclectic and Art
Nouveau elements to satisfy anyone."
A
comprehensive guide to this Central
European nation, covering attractions,
accommodation, dining, nightlife,
history and culture.
This
book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.
Not
available for republication.
|

|
24
Hours in Vilnius
The Age & The Sydney
Morning Herald, 22 August 2009
"Given
this tumultuous history, it comes as a
surprise to discover how well the city's
historic centre has survived the passing
of empires. Its narrow, winding
cobblestone streets, tiled roofs and
baroque churches are a stereotype of
visitors' expectations of a small
European city.Vilnius is a shining
example of what Michael Palin has called
'New Europe'."
How to get the most
out of a day in the capital of Lithuania.
Available
for republication (print only).
Images
available.
[Read the full article
here]
|
 |
High and Mighty
Medical Observer, 24
April 2009
"There's an odd mood
of exhilaration in the air; I think, like
me, everyone is thinking how improbable
this all is, that human beings shouldn't
be this high up from the earth, and
certainly not sipping alcoholic beverages
while doing so. We’re all braced by the
strange mix of material comforts and an
underlying sense of danger. I want at the
same time to shout out 'Aren't we clever?'
and 'Aren't we crazy?'"
Scaling the peaks and
spas of the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia.
Available
for republication (print and Web).
Images
available.
|
 |
A Place Not to Take Yourself
Too Seriously
The Sunday Telegraph, 1
February 2009
"The Republic of
Uzupis has an honorary president, no
standing armed forces, and a commitment
only to art. When you learn its national
day is April 1, you can appreciate why the
Lithuanian government casts an indulgently
amused eye over Uzupis, seeing its
'independence' as a great tourist
attraction."
Exploring the
eccentric Užupis district of Vilnius,
Lithuania.
Available
for republication (print and Web).
Images
available.
|
 |
From Tattoos to Tanks
Sydney Morning Herald, 1
October 2005
"You couldn’t say the same for
the Criminal Museum of Vienna. This museum
incorporates the former Imperial Viennese
Police Museum, and exhibits the history of
crime and justice in the grand city. There
are weapons and uniforms, with a grisly
emphasis on notorious criminal figures of
the past."
Ranges through the
world's oddest museums, exhibiting
everything from sulphur to Spam.
Available
for republication (print only).
[Read
the full article here]
|
More
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I'm a
member of the Australian Society of Travel
Writers. This page contains examples
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location, with a link to the original article where
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