Portugal
Unspoiled Lisbon
Unspoiled and understated Lisbon is adorned with tiles on the buildings and cobbles on the streets. She isn’t so much neglected as preserved and worthy of many a setting for films, especially those in black […]
Articles by Our Man On The Ground
Cruises
AmaWaterways Charms Of The Mekong
Discovering the delights of Vietnam and Cambodia As we walked through the village excited children followed in our wake, asking our names and offering theirs in return. Sitting in the shady doorways of small wooden […]
England
The Cookie Jar, Alnwick
The Cookie Jar is a classy 11-room boutique hotel less than a minute’s walk from the main entrance to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. Each of the bedrooms has a name that relates to the heritage […]
Cruises
Laos Mekong River Cruise
An adventurous cruise through South East Asia’s least-known country Each morning our captain set out a fresh offering to the gods on the bow of Champa Pandaw – flowers, fruit and a drink of juice […]
California
Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara
The list of loyal clientele at the Belmond El Encanto reads more like Hollywood royalty, than nouveau riche…Streisand and Gable, rather than Kardashian. The seven-acre property possesses a sense of grandeur dating back the golden […]
England
Middlethorpe Hall and Spa
On this trip I ventured into the wilds of Yorkshire and experienced a level of comfort rarely found at Middlethorpe Hall and Spa, a destination country house hotel that offers old school charm and an […]
California
Maple at Descanso Gardens
Something about dining beneath those towering timbers, that foliage that won’t quit, that soaring A-frame ceiling, it’s the makings of a meal within a meadow laden fantasy. The newly refreshed Maple at Descanso Gardens in […]
Asia
A Tour and A Tale of Two Koreas
The easiest way to visit the DMZ is through an organized tour. I’ve chosen VIP Tours, based in Seoul, because they’re locally owned. No one goes in or out without registering in advance and passports […]
Lifestyle
Jabra Active 65t: No Strings On Me
I opened an email a few weeks ago and instantly got cramp, not because I was sitting awkwardly, but because the London Marathon ballot had been drawn and I am one of the lucky participants. […]
Costa Rica
Beautiful Costa Rica
How do hummingbirds manage to stay in place? The answer is they hover in mid-air by flapping their wings at a rate of 50 to 80 beats per second. They also visit between 2000 and […]