Carinthia’s Magical Christmas Markets in Austria’s stunning Lake District.
05/12/2024 .
Trip Reviews
Ha Long Bay Cruise review
It’s almost midnight, and Ha Long Bay is ink-black and still. Her ancient limestone pillars have me surrounded. I can’t see them now, but I can feel them, watching me like silent sentinels. All I can hear is the boat creaking, singing its nautical lullaby as gentle waves lap at the wooded hull. This is beautiful. Perfect. Just how a Ha Long Bay cruise should be.
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Walking the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites
The immense cathedral-like spires of the Northern Dolomites are the perfect venue for tackling one of Europe’s classic long distance treks. Forget about luxury hotels, the only accommodation is in mountain huts, known as Rifugios and I’ll have to carry everything on my back. Walking the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites runs for around 140 km and my eight day walk will involve daily distances of between 9 and 16.5 km, with ascents of up to 900 m and descents of up to 1,300 m. Will I be tough enough?
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Ha Long Bay by Seaplane
“My background is flying sea planes in Canada but this one has so many bells and toys I couldn’t turn it down” says pilot Mike at the wheel of Hai Au Aviation’s impressive Cessna Grand Caravan Amphibian, as we make our way from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay by seaplane in north east Vietnam.
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Caravelle Saigon Hotel. The Perfect Stopover
Saigon Saigon the rooftop bar of the legendary Caravelle Saigon Hotel is buzzing with the early evening cocktail crowd, a far cry from its former life during the Vietnam war as the war correspondents’ briefing room. Back then, it was the hotel of choice for all the war media and today, the photos lining the walls are a reminder of those heady days. I’m here en-route to Australia and with ten hours to kill before my next flight, I’m enjoying a few hours hospitality at Caravelle Saigon Hotel the perfect Saigon stopover.
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Best four resorts in the Maldives
The Maldives gained their independence in 1965, over 50 years ago, but the first resort only opened in 1972. Now, with over 100 to choose from, Rupert Parker picks his best four resorts in the Maldives .
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Cathay Pacific First Class Review
“Would you like us to make up your bed now Mr. Mossack?” This was a request quite impossible to ignore after all, it was getting late and a few hours in a freshly made bed seemed a perfect way to arrive bright and ready in Hong Kong. Such is life in Cathay Pacific First Class Cabin when, in just the few minutes it took for me to slip into my cotton sleep suit, my lavish living suite had been transformed into a slumberland complete with mattress, duvet and pillows.
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