Sirmione is sometimes referred to as "The Pearl of Lake Garda", and while that may sound like something a tourism board has come up with to boost visitors, once you're actually there, you'll realise they weren't exaggerating. If you're planning a trip to Lake Garda, or you're on a day...

Italy's largest lake, Lake Garda, is well known for its gorgeous scenery, pretty lakeside towns, and a refreshing, relaxing pace of life. If you've visited the lake before, you'll have seen plenty of tourists from other parts of Italy, Austria or Germany - usually with a car that's bursting with...

Verona is easily one of my favourite cities in Italy. It's sometimes overlooked by its more famous neighbour of Venice, but it still pulls in about 3 million visitors every year. If you only have one day in Verona, the goal is to navigate the crowds, skip the tourist traps,...

One night in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, I was sitting in my hotel room, picking at a bag of pistachios and slowly getting tipsy on warm beer coursing through an almost empty stomach. I was tired, cranky, and honestly fuming that I hadn't had the foresight to plan some vegan travel hacks...

I grew up on a rainy island and moved to another, slightly less rainy island, so I know firsthand how long the winters can feel. Come Christmastime though, the short, dark days give way to sparkling fairy lights and bustling pubs. If you're looking for that sense of magic on...

If you've decided to swap the peak of the Shard for the peaks of the Dolomites, you've made an excellent choice. Getting from London to Bolzano is pretty easy, but it can seem a little complicated at first glance. I've lived in London since 2010, and over the years, I've...

I recently spent a weekend in Bolzano, and left feeling like I'd barely scratched the surface of this unique Italian city. It's a city of crisp mountain air with winding, cobbled streets straight out of a storybook, and views of the Dolomites everywhere you turn. The city has a rich...

When most people plan a trip to Italy, usually the big name cities make it onto the itinerary: Rome, Venice, Milan, Florence. And for good reason, each one is beautiful, with its own character, history and culture that makes it special. But let me introduce you to another option: Bolzano,...

In my earlier post, a guide to the JR Pass, I was pretty upfront with my opinion on "is the JR pass worth it?". But now I want to put my money where my mouth is and show you what the maths looked like for both of my trips to...

Japan is an incredible country, with so much to offer. From the bright lights of Tokyo, the serene temples of Kyoto, the late night convenience store runs, and the iconic Shinkansen that spirits you across the country with speed and efficiency that would make even Germany jealous. Seriously, for an...