Athens can lay claim to being the seat of democracy – it’s the birthplace of modern politics. Its cultural heritage is no less impressive – the philosophers of ancient Greece still hold sway over the world of rational thought. Then there’s the food – simple but oh so tasty. And… it’s also not an expensive city, it’s easy to get around and the locals are definitely friendly. For all those reasons, and more, I decided it was time revisit a city I’d not seen for around 40 years. What immediately became clear is that I should have come back sooner.…

Ateen-friendly weekend in Naples – our guide to entertaining a teenage boy in one of Italy’s more surprising cities! I normally travel alone – as much through choice as circumstances – but I recently offered to take my teenage nephew away for a few days. I wanted to expose him to a world of adventure: the European city break. His parents were suspiciously enthusiastic about my offer; the only question that remained to be answered was where we should go. After a little thought I selected Naples, the Italian city most commonly equated with rampant corruption, rubbish in the streets,…

Thinking about hiring a car for your Lanzarote holiday? Do it! As someone who recently explored this fascinating Canary Island by car, I can tell you it’s one of the best decisions you can make for your trip. Here’s why you should consider renting a vehicle during your stay. 1 – It’s surprisingly affordable One of the first things that struck me about car hire in Lanzarote was how remarkably cheap it is. With competitive rates from various rental companies, it’s an unexpectedly budget-friendly addition to your holiday that can actually save you money in the long run. 2 –…

Because of its location in the Mediterranean, Malta has a fascinating history that goes all the way back to the Paleolithic era, includes a period ruled by the (some would say, mysterious) Knights of St John, and has also been in the middle of pivotal modern wartime events. When I travel at Christmas, my destination criteria are roughly the same as most of my trips: good food and interesting history, and then one very important one: preferably mild weather. After some extensive research, Malta emerged as the front-runner that fit within my budget on my most recent Christmas trip. It’s…

The southern Adriatic coast of Italy offers lots of attractions – enough for a week’s stay, or longer, but also easily divisible into weekend-sized slices. This is principally due to the region’s railway network, which makes getting around both quick and easy. If you’re looking at South Italy holiday destinations then there’s a choice of places to stay: you’re really looking at basing yourself in either Bari or Brindisi. Both towns have their pluses and minuses; Brindisi has more to do but Bari is more central if you want to get about. In the end it might come down to…

Salerno hadn’t been on my list of ‘get away’ weekends, despite my love of all things Italian. And then easyJet added it to its selection of destinations. And with two clicks of the mouse I was off… on what turned out to be a really good three-day break. There’s nothing like finding a new destination and there’s nothing quite like Salerno, as I soon discovered. Salerno is an ancient city in Campania, southwest Italy, down along the coast from Amalfi. It’s a mix of modernity and history – part high class shopping, part unfeigned verismo. Its intermingling of ancient and…

There’s an abundance of things to do in Liverpool – way too much to pack into just one weekend break. We show you our 10 top Liverpool attractions, without a Beatle in sight… First, let’s get this clear – I love The Beatles. I’m an obsessive, in fact. But if you’re going to Liverpool on the trail of The Fab Four you won’t need my help. This blog is about the other things on offer; and what a lot there is to see and do… Liverpool, the second city of empire, has a maritime history beyond compare. It grew rich…

It might be a bit rough around the edges, but this seaside town has so much to offer visitors. Discover why to visit Weymouth! Weymouth is a well-established and highly regarded holiday destination on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. However, you might be forgiven for thinking you’d got off at the wrong station if you’re arriving by train. Frankly, the area around the terminus is a bit rough around the edges. But fear not, just a few streets away is a mighty stretch of golden sand and beach huts… backed by guest houses and pubs that all look they’re been transported in…

Why visit Varna, Bulgaria? Well that’s simple. Varna, on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast, has experienced more history than most cities. Its strategic importance as a port and its location at the crossroads of cultures has left multiple layers of times past etched into its surface. For example, the oldest gold treasure in the world was discovered in the Varna Necropolis and dates to 4,200 – 4,600 BC. Since then there have been migrations of Thracians, Celts, Romans, Greeks and Byzantines and visitors from Armenian, Syrian and Persian. The Crusaders passed through, too, and more recently there were Germans and Russians;…