Try looking for a guidebook on Puglia, the “heel” of Italy’s boot. The few resources you will find are mere footnotes in the context of the volumes written about Italy’s more frequented destinations. I think it’s because Puglia’s most extraordinary moments cannot be tightly scripted. Puglia is certainly not lacking in dramatic coastlines, fertile farmland, […]

Our tour guide points out the window toward a smooth-barked tree towering in the distance. “A ceiba tree, sacred to the ancient Mayans, was believed to be a bridge between the planes of existence: heaven, earth, and Xibalba, ‘place of fright’, where we are going today.” Actun Tunichil Muknal, or the the ATM caves, are […]

I’ve got a whole new angle on my travel and it’s very enlightening. Here’s what I learned looking up during my recent trip to southern Italy. • Even the most dignified statue looks really silly wearing a pigeon hat. • Church steeples embellished with skulls and crossbones do not have a very subtle marketing message. • I was […]

A whole bay of traditional dark wooden boats, all painted white. Was this someone’s idea of a joke? Were they drinking? This was the general sentiment overheard on the dock in Halong Bay while I waited to board my junk, the Halong Jasmine. A sister boat with both the Halong Violet and the Halong Ginger, each […]

Sure the Olympics are based around sport, but the great thing about them is that they also highlight all the other amazing attributes of a city. If high diving or long jumping don’t turn out to be your cup of tea, why not get artistic at one of the Tate galleries? London is lucky enough […]

We’ve all been there. You’re on vacation and walking by a local restaurant or food stall, and are either captivated or disgusted (or both) by what you see. Your brain says try it but your digestive system screams and runs away. What to do? Do you take that chance, knowing that in 12 hours you […]

Under the watchful eye and pursed lips of the head dada (traditional Moroccan female cook), I was sweating bullets and tripping over my own hands and feet, even when doing something as basic as peeling a carrot. Really. I thought the cooking class we had scheduled at Dar Les Cigognes was going to be a […]

Imagine taking the MOMA or the Tate Modern and hacking it to pieces with a giant axe, and then scattering the arty fragments in a huge, tropical, botanic garden in Brazil. Now you have some idea of what is in store for you at Inhotim. In a remote yet vast garden, in the state of […]

On my most recent jaunt through Cambodia, I had the pleasure of meeting up with a friend I made on my last trip. When I met Rure Rady, he was just finishing up guiding school and eager to start working in the tourism industry. He had a single tuk-tuk and a vision. We spent about […]

Both the staff and the decor on the Trufflepig Farm are a mashup of cultures and backgrounds. We sometimes feel like we can pick and choose where we really come from. Today we’re feeling quite British. We’re a bit of a melting pot (or a salad bowl if you want to get technical with the […]

When an email comes in offering you three free nights on a private island in the Maldives, you’d be forgiven for assuming it’s cruel spam. This is the real deal, though: volunteer on one of of three very cool projects and you’ll be repaid in luxury. Ever since our safari planner Greg returned from Soneva […]

Camden Town is an eclectic place with many facets, not just the market it’s famed for (though this too is worth a gander). A mishmash of influences (and lots of students) always turns up surprises—if you are willing to dig, there are treasures to be found among the tourist tat. The main high street is […]

Choosing where to eat (or what to do) in any major North American city can be daunting. Since sampling the local food is such a big part of the experience, how do you find the best culinary discoveries? Follow the Butter & Egg Road. Thanks to Ivy Ackerman and her (mostly) foodie-focused event collective, Butter & […]

There are many options to choose from when visiting the UK’s cultural and financial heart—from the terrific, small boutique choices to the larger, full-on luxury spa hotels. We have many favourites, but some of the closest to our hearts are the Firmdale hotels. Classy, quirky, chic and colourful, the Firmdale properties offer a comfortable and relaxed base […]

Honduras has had bad press of late for the gang violence in its inner cities. Yes, that is a reality in the country, but on a recent visit I found that Honduras is really made up of incredible ruins, amazing natural wonders, friendly folk and a stunning set of Caribbean islands. I had the pleasure […]

There’s something curiously memorable about the cash and grab picnic. You know the kind I mean. Visit the local market, buy whatever random ingredients catch your eye, and then find a place in a park to park it and pork out. Where: Cordes sur Ciel in Southwestern France. What: Le pique-nique. A wheel of bread large enough to […]