As well as being incredibly cool, Lisbon is also beautifully photogenic and totally Instagramable. The city is built on seven hills which means there are more than a few panoramic viewpoints. Ancient districts are packed with steep cobblestone streets, gorgeous Azulejo tiles and street art. Camera in hand, you’ll be drawn to the sleek lines …
Weekenders
Where is the best place to see the sunset in Paris? I've visited 5 beautiful sunset spots in Paris to find out where is best and to show you where you should watch the sunset in Paris! Have a magical time and remember, Paris is always a good idea. When you’re sauntering along the …
I’ve stayed in London hotels countless times and, if I’m honest, not many of those experiences were very memorable – well, not for the right reasons anyway! Hotels in London are usually small, cramped, bland and boring and even the worst ones will leave a little dent in your wallet. But there is one hotel …
Our latest contributor, Eppie Shepherd from Eppie.me.uk, recently took a cosy staycation at The Runnymede on Thames Hotel and Spa in Windsor. Here's how she got on... Sometimes you just need a break away; to relax, to explore and to recuperate. That’s exactly what I did on a recent trip to Windsor for a …
I arrived into Nîmes as the sun was going down. The golden light reflected off ancient Roman buildings, the warm air carried smells of dinners being served closeby, and the square I walked through to find my hotel was filled with strolling couples, laughing kids and a couple of older ladies laughing together on a …
Not many places do the whole “old meets new” vibe better than Edinburgh. There’s so much to love about this city: gothic glamour, friendly locals and all the major landmarks in walking distance. A thriving culture and arts scene explodes in August in time for the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the urban centre is punctuated …
Which type of weekend break do you prefer….? A short break at a beautiful Georgian country house hotel with enormous bedrooms, grand stair cases, pretty gardens and cosy living rooms to enjoy a cocktail or two? Or a city break in a vibrant and creative city with so much to see and do you’re spoilt …
One of my favourite things about travelling in Britain is discovering absolutely stunningly gorgeous places that make me question why I’d ever go abroad. I love travelling abroad, of course I do, I’m a travel blogger! But I also love travelling closer to home and finding incredible gems to share with you all. I’m always …
It may not be at the top of every traveller’s bucket list, but Timisoara is a city you’re going to be hearing about a lot more in coming years. Which of course means it’s best to book your flights now, while it’s still relatively undiscovered. Since being named the 2021 European Capital of Culture, the …
A weekend break to Timisoara is cheap. So cheap! And while I don’t think that cost alone should be a major influencer when it comes to choosing a city break destination, we’ve got to be honest here, it is going to affect your decision a little. I’ve estimated that if you visited Timisoara for a …
Porto was recently voted the best European destination for 2017 by travel experts from around the world. And having spent a weekend there last month it’s easy to see why. Porto is a delightful, small city filled with stunning architecture, a thriving foodie scene, beautiful bridges spanning the great Douro river and plenty of art …
The countdown began months ago. In fact, the date has been marked, in big bold Sharpie letters, on my house calendar, leaving no doubt as to what’s happening that Monday night: GAME OF THRONES. Season 7 begins on July 17, and it could not come quickly enough. What have we all been amusing ourselves with …
The thing I love about London is its hidden gems. Of course, you can’t visit this incredible city without visiting all the top attractions but once you’ve ticked off all those tourist sites you can start digging a little deeper to discover all the things that make London one of the best cities in the …
Last summer, Monica and I travelled to Southern France for four days. We travelled to France by train but then went our separate ways once we arrived in Paris so we could cover as much ground as possible. I had no idea we'd each see and do so much and we both has incredible trips. Last …
I love reading travel blogger's advice and guides to places when I'm planning a trip, so I thought I'd round-up some of the best based on Oxford; a UK city that you really, really need to visit. In my humble opinion the beautiful city of Oxford doesn’t really need any introductions. It has it all; …
Confession time: after I accepted this particular blog trip invitation, I actually had to look up Lithuania on a map to see where I was going. Turns out, it’s one of the Baltic states, nestled between Poland, Latvia, Belarus and the Russian province of Kaliningrad. Having previously visited both Riga in Latvia and Tallinn in …
The sun was blazing as I drove along the North Wales coast with my windows down and the radio blaring. I perched my elbow on the open window whenever I could, partly to catch some rays but also to feel the sea air and the warm breeze whipping past. I never normally do this. The …
Over the August bank holiday weekend we joined the masses and headed to North Wales for a camping adventure in the forest. It was George’s first camping trip and the lucky little guy had the most perfect weekend you could wish for! I’ve been camping many times in North Wales but I’ve never been lucky …
It's been a couple of weeks now since Game of Thrones left our TV screens for another season and left a gaping hole in our Monday evenings. What did we do on Mondays before GoT? I aimlessly flick through hundreds of channels in search of something half as captivating and dramatic as Game of Thrones …
My video and Living Room Tree House review from an incredible weekend staying in a tree house in Powys, Wales. This weekend I had the chance to make a childhood dream come true and stay in a real tree house! You may be picturing a rickety shack in the trees but Living Room tree …
A few weeks ago I went on a mini-break to the famous ski resort of Kitzbühel in Austria. Yes, you can totally go skiing in March/April time. Spring skiing is a thing, and I highly recommend it. One of the best things about the trip was staying in a town renowned for skiing, as one …
Last summer Elle and I travelled to Southern France. We visited charming little villages, vineyards, gorgeous countryside and amazing restaurants. We were amazed by how much there was to see and do in Southern France. We were expecting to find bright purple lavender fields, world-class wine, and classic French food, the kind you crave for weeks after returning …
Aldeburgh. This may be a new destination to many of you as this beautiful town on Suffolk’s long and picturesque coastline is somewhat of a hidden gem. But if you’re looking for a weekend break with long pebble beach, delicious seafood, intriguing landmarks, and a distinctive time-warped charm then Aldeburgh may be the place for …
I recently visited Feather Down Farms, luxury glamping tents for a gorgeous getaway that's close to nature...just not too close! Regular readers of The Travel Hack will already know how much I love a good glamping holiday. I love the side to camping where you’re close to nature, always outdoors and where you’re woken …
This week’s Weekender of the Week goes to Den Bosch. It’s probably somewhere that you haven’t heard of, let alone visited, which I think makes it all the more appealing! It’s a city in the south of the Netherlands, off the well-trodden tourist track. It’s super easy to get to and you can even double …
Cynics amongst you may believe that it simply isn't possible to travel for free in the UK using travel hacking methods (airline and hotel rewards). Usually this would be a fair assumption. After all, the British government absolutely stuffs us on our airline taxes (whilst our American brethren usually get away with a poxy $5.60 …
During the first weekend of September it was time to indulge in the weird and wonderful sights and sounds of Festival Number 6, a unique festival which descended on the picturesque village of Portmeirion in North Wales. Being pregnant and almost ready to pop, I very sadly decided to give the festival a miss this …
Most of us would like to travel more and the thing usually stopping us is the cost. Why does travel have to be so flipping expensive!? Well, actually, it doesn't... I've been scouring Skyscanner is search of flights and deals (please tell me I'm not the only one who does this for fun!) and I …
The city of York brings to mind all things British. Proper cups of warming tea, cakes at world-famous Betty’s Tea Rooms and quaint Tudor architecture are just a few of the quintessentially English things associated with this town. So would it surprise you to know that York’s origins are totally international? It was founded by …
Birmingham is arguably one of the most underrated cities in the UK. I visited for the first time this summer to stay at the brand new AC Hotel Birmingham with Marriott Rewards (more about that further down!). My first reaction to the city was, 'Why haven't I been here before!?' Birmingham is really cool and not …
This was our fifth and final foodie challenge with Huawei and took us to the shores of Wales on a sustainable lobster safari. Huawei had set us the challenge to seek out unusual food trends throughout the UK and to document it with the Huawei P9. Of course, we happily accepted such a delicious challenge! …
Searching for your next weekend getaway? Well, look no further! The Cotswolds has your name all over it. Besides the dreamy landscapes, the best thing about the Cotswolds is that there are so many lovely hotels that won’t break the bank. This area of natural beauty spans an impressive 800 square mile area through five …
How to get to Murcia It's easy to fly to Murcia either directly to Murcia airport, or Alicante which is about 30-45 minutes drive away. There are flights throughout the year to both airports including with budget airlines such as Ryanair and Monarch. Where to stay in Murcia Murcia city has loads of hotel options …
I couldn’t help but giggle as I sat on the Eurostar with a glass of champagne in one hand and over €3,800 in cash in the other. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have been selected for this ‘challenge’. In case you missed it, I …
Do you fancy staying in one the towers of a medieval town wall, facing the Menai Strait in Wales? Read on to find out about Monica’s weekender with The Landmark Trust at Bath Tower in Caernarfon’s fortified walls. One feeling I’m sure will never get old is the amazing feeling you get when you step …
The Landmark Trust is probably something you’ve vaguely heard of but don’t know a lot about. It wasn’t until I was invited to stay at a Landmark Trust property that I started looking into it and realised I’ve been seriously missing out. Why haven’t I stayed in a Landmark Trust property before!? Before I go …
Halloween approaches, my friends. But you don't need scary theme parks or plastic pumpkins to chill your spine - the UK is awash with grisly ghouls and spirited spectres to spook you to the blood-curdling core. Take a look at these creepy places to spend the Halloween weekend, and be afraid - be very afraid. The Castle Bone Chiller …
A bare bottom, a wink and a wolf whistle - that sums up Bristol for me! Call me sensationalist, but I think the Bristol of today is the city equivalent of sticking two fingers up at the world, flashing a bare bottom, and wolf whistling at a local builder. It’s not a description I would’ve …
Claire gives us the highlights and a perfect itinerary for a wintry weekend in Painswick, PAINSWICK, Gloucestershire – Her charms are often eclipsed by her more glamorous Cotswolds sisters, but thankfully Painswick (affectionately known as the Queen of the Cotswolds) is steadily coming into her own as a perfectly pretty weekend destination for a younger …
Last week I took one of the best ‘challenges’ I think I’ve ever been set as a travel blogger. I was challenged to take a 2-day trip to London to make the most of the city as part of GTR’s Hello Spring activity to get more people travelling on trains. They’re offering 2FOR1 on over …