Ruin bars are all the rage in Budapest and have been around since the founding of Szimpla Kert, the mecca of all ruin bars, in 2002. These bars are built in Budapest’s old District VII neighborhood (the old Jewish quarter) in the ruins of abandoned buildings, stores, or lots. This neighborhood was left to decay…

Characterized by a dimension that’s mysterious …almost mystical, the cloud forests of Ecuador are a realm suspended somewhere in between heaven and earth. Situated high on the mountain slopes of the Andes, these exuberant jungles are superlative examples of the biodiversity of the continent. Sites where time feels momentarily suspended, this forest sheltering its best-kept…

What’s not to love about Tenerife? Year-round sunshine, stunning beaches, fresh seafood and local wines, are all aspects of the island that are well known. But what if I told you about a new luxury travel experience that’s come to the island’s shores, courtesy of Yacht Experience Tenerife? Imagine a light breeze, the feeling of…

From luxury train journeys through Italy’s picturesque golf courses and the British countryside to the thrilling Monaco Grand Prix experienced from a superyacht, the world of high-end travel continues to offer an array of unique experiences. This roundup of luxury travel news highlights new properties in the French Alps and Portugal, groundbreaking expeditions to the…

So, why the name – voco Hotel and Spa Winchester? voco loosely translates from the Latin for an invitation and a coming together. And no, that isn’t a typo. voco, doesn’t want a capital letter. It’s as as much a state of mind as a hotel.  A unique contemporary name, free of grammar protocols and…

In recent years, English sparkling wine is really starting to make its mark. In recent years, its production and reputation has soared, and it’s become an increasingly firm favourite on the global wine stage. Thanks to climate change, the southern regions of England — particularly the counties of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire — now offer…

Uganda is the source of the Nile, home to Africa’s highest mountain range, and has the highest concentration of primates in the world. It is a truly unique and incredible destination, especially for the some of the best wildlife encounters. It is particularly famous for its gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, some of the best birdlife…

Having returned from yet another incredible trip to Greece, I thought I’d share with you some of our favourite places to eat from our latest spell in the South Ionian. This is by no means exhaustive – after all, we had just two weeks and were only able to visit a handful of different islands…

Certain destinations seem like secrets the planet itself tries to conceal. The Galapagos Islands — remote, timeless, exotic — is such a destination. As if flung some 600 miles off the coast of mainland Ecuador, this legendary archipelago is not your typical vacation spot; it’s a portal into the distant past, an age when the…

Cruising north, back towards the Scandinavian lands of the midnight sun, we’re sailing from Tallinn towards the Swedish island of Gotland. Half-way through our Crystal Cruises‘ Baltic exploration of medieval cobbled alleys and contemporary eco-architecture, on seas once sailed by Vikings and then Czars, the Serenity has become more than our palatial retreat, it has…