Carinthia’s Magical Christmas Markets in Austria’s stunning Lake District.
05/12/2024 .
Trip Reviews
Sweet Home Alabama
The Southern US state of Alabama can claim W.C. Handy, the father of the Blues, Hank Williams, the country music superstar, and Muscle Shoals Studios where some of the greatest soul music was recorded. Rupert Parker hits the road and lifts the lid on sweet home Alabama.
Read the full story here
Madeira Reinvented
Half way through a half day catamaran cruise and I’m having a silent moment. It’s not every day you get to see Atlantic dolphins in the wild, and right now, I’m not just seeing them, I’m surrounded by them. This is a somewhat different Madeira experience to one I was expecting, and if this is Madeira Reinvented then give me much more of the same please.
Read the full story here
Eurocamp Les Ecureuiles. Luxury mobile homes in the Loire.
After a reading a staggering statistic which showed the number of camping holiday nights booked in 2013 in Europe totalled over 360 million, with nearly half of those taken in static mobile homes, I admit I felt my view of outdoor leisure living needed a rethink. It was time to test out these impressive statistics, and after getting a family of four teamed up with Eurocamp, a provider of camping and mobile home holidays for over 34 years we tested out a week at Eurocamp Les Ecureuiles in Vendee.
Read the full story here
Foligno. Still undiscovered in Umbria
Early evening and the ancient Palazzo Candiotti in Folingno has a big smile on her face. It’s just like old times. A proper baroque banquet. The Festa d’Oro e di Vento no less, with 250 guests commemorating the 70th anniversary of the modern Quintana joust. I can almost feel this grand old dame sighing in contentment in her Sunday best. If I didn’t know better, I would think I’d been teleported back to the 17th century.
Read the full story here
Rio de Janeiro. There’s more to Rio than beach
“Rio de Janeiro is a magical place to be” many people told me. I remembered this as I crossed the road from the eminent Copacabana Palace Hotel and lay on the legendary shoreline, enjoying the sun and glancing up the hill towards the iconic outstretched figure of “Christ the Redeemer”.
Read the full story here
Samoens. The French Alps’ beautiful little secret
Mention the French Alps and a few famous names spring to mind; Chamonix, Val d’Isere and Courchevel perhaps, but there is one village tucked away in the Giffre Valley which has been a firm favourite with those in the know for many years, in both winter and summer. Yes, Samoens is the French Alps little secret.
Read the full story here
