Travelling Solo
I’m not sure what made me decide to do it, but one day I decided to quit my very stable and well-paid job, pack my bags and travel Asia on my own for four months. I wanted to see more of the world at my own pace, to my own agenda and write all about it. Within 6 weeks of making my decision, I was on a plane to Vietnam with nothing more than a guide book to South-East Asia, a new camera, a pad and pen and a vague idea of where I wanted to go.
Family Ski Breaks
It’s no secret that a ski holiday is a luxury these days, so to consider taking your family off to the slopes, you need to do your research to get the best deal. Read more 
The Magical Vineyards of Beaune, Burgundy
On my first night in Beaune, Burgundy I fell in love. I wasn’t expecting or looking for it, it just happened. Just like that. The waitress placed the plate of cheese on our table and I felt my stomach turn. I’d eaten my bodyweight in cheese the previous week during my barge trip and I truly believed I’d tasted every cheese known not only to Burgundy, but to man himself. As it turned out, I had not.
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Food and Wine Destinations – France, Italy and Basque Country
When I arrive in a village, town or city I seek out the best places to eat. I don’t need crisp, linen tablecloths, chandeliers or michelin stars. A good meal rarely needs such frills, it comes down to the chefs use of good ingredients, passion and love for food. Read more
Best Value Holiday Destinations
Choosing your holiday destination can reduce your holiday price dramatically, so it’s important to keep this in mind. Yes, you may find a great deal in a 5 star hotel, but keep in mind to eat and drink in the hotel will make a rather large dent in your holiday spending money. With times being tough, people are looking for more for their money, and with weather like this, they need to get a break in the sun. So I’ve put together a list of the best value for money destinations in Europe. Read more
Cruise Holidays
A cruise can be many things; large bulky ships with casinos and cabarets, making multiple stops in bustling ports; small luxurious barges chugging along inland waterways serving up gourmet meals and an experience of a lifetime, or families can take to the waters choosing their own pace and path through stunning natural landscapes, masters of their own ships. Read more
Cruising Through Burgundy
I’ve spent a lot of time near the medieval town of Carcassone, through which the Canal du Midi flows. I’ve often found myself on the banks of the canal watching the barges chug peacefully past, passengers sitting on the deck reading a book, snoozing in the shade or chattering merrily around the table enjoying a light lunch of cheese, meats, bread and wine. What a wonderful way to pass a week or two. Sailing slowly down the canal, stopping at pretty villages, reading, cycling the tow path or simply dangling your feet over the side, watching the world pass by. Read more
Island Breaks
It was in a small town in northern Cambodia I heard tales of a small cluster of islands straddling the Thai and Malaysian coastlines. The young adventurer spoke of the islands in a low whispers fearing too many people would go in search of the tropical oasis and destroy what was so beautiful about them, their isolation and relative anonymous nature. Read more
Religious Holidays and Pilgrimages – Lourdes, Fatima, Camino de Santiago & Medjugorje
While visiting Kerala in Southern India we were invited to witness a ceremony known as Theyyam, a ritual art form, elements of which date back thousands of years. We knew little of what we were going to see, except that this was a performance with spiritual significance. The ceremony had been going on for some 20 hours by the time we tumbled out of our little minibus at 4am. We huddled together in the darkness at the edge of a field listening to the eerie sound of beating drums and high-pitched chants wondering what we’d let ourselves into. We walked through the field, ducked through some trees and emerged into a clearing dominated by a small colourful temple, before which was a large crackling bonfire. Hundreds of people surrounded the fire, men beating drums, the crowd chanting, as five men dressed only with cloths around their waists stoked the fire. Read more
Destinations Made Famous By Movies
Films are like books for me, sometimes I want one to be deep and thought provoking, other times I need something light, to make me laugh, and at other moments, I simply want to escape into a fantastical world filled with adventure, if only for a few hours. Read more
Julianne Mooney 