Europe

One Night in Glasgow

It’s not enough time. A week would be needed to even begin to do justice to this, “the most perfect Victorian city in the World” as Sir John Betjeman described Glasgow. But it’s all we’ve got and the clock is ticking… […]

Great Britain

Thistle Hotel, Glasgow

The consummate city centre hotel right in the heart of Glasgow’s shopping centre in easy reach of bus and rail connections. Modern style, comfort and a breakfast that it’s worth flying to Scotland just to enjoy. […]

Travel Talk

What do locals think about tourists?

A thought struck me as I tootled along behind a visiting driver enjoying the scenery at under 40mph in a 60mph zone. Apart from when I lived in Manchester and Stockport, I’ve always lived in places that were popular tourist destinations. This has covered four different countries. […]

Equipment & Accessories

The Hiker’s Picnic

It doesn’t matter whether hiking in Spain or Portugal, Italy or Austria, the filling you’ll find in the picnic made by the hotel is likely to be the same … […]

Salt cod in Porto, Portugal
Food & drink

Creative cuisine is working class art

My favourite part of the hotel was the kitchen, a volatile place where big personalities added expletives and threats to an air filled with the aroma of uninventive dishes destined for the unadventurous palates of coach excursionists from England. […]

Travel Talk

Travel dreams or travel nightmares?

Travel is enlightening in many ways, mostly positive ones but not always; what were once romantic notions have been smashed to smithereens on the harsh rocks of reality; exotic dreams painted by travel industry marketeers laid bare by first hand experience. […]

Europe

Is food in Britain boring?

Food in Britain is boring. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard a variation of this statement in online travel discussions. When I hear the evidence generally provided to back it up, I tend to wonder about the travel habits of those who make it. […]

Travel Talk

When travel influencers and Tripadvisor collide

TA wouldn’t be the first to confuse a foundation of impressive social media numbers with quality. And they wouldn’t be the first to not seriously consider the implications of creating a social media platform which brings the writer into direct contact with the end user. […]