Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Spend Wisely

Category image

Spend Wisely

Hi. Checking or check-in?

All companies, including airlines, just love to make money whenever and wherever they can.  They're creative, and look for any tie-ins that they can to squeeze that little extra out. The video, below, is a really good discussion of airlines selling miles to banks, generating most of their profit from frequent flyer programs rather than…

Read more

Wherefore art now?

This may sound trite, but art is art, isn't it?  Artists follow their muse to amaze / amuse / surprise us with what the human mind can conjure up.  We may not always "get it" but there never seems to be a shortage of those who create something compelling. Interestingly, there are also those who…

Read more

Guilt-free sea

You'll probably be asking what a cargo ship has to do with cruises.  Well, right now, not much.  But, watch this video to see what the smart boffins are doing now to help create a better world. Dubbed ‘the Tesla of the seas’ this fully-electrified, fully-autonomous cargo ship is already making waves. How does it work?…

Read more

Can you vouch for that?

As if the Covid-19 pandemic isn't confusing enough, you sometimes have to deal with in-progress trips that seem to be slow-progress or no-progress.  And you paid for them, already. When the coronavirus hit in 2020, many travelers had no choice but to cancel upcoming flights. Willis Orlando, senior product operations specialist at Scott’s Cheap Flights (affiliate friends…

Read more

Key West for Free / Less

Key West (Florida USA) is everything that they say it is.  Chilled. Hectic. Rich. Artistic.  And, most of all, sunny and warm.  Definitely worth a trip if you haven't been. But like most popular places, it isn't cheap.  So how can you have a good holiday without having to sell your children? Lonely Planet have some ideas…

Read more

Finally!

If you visit our site, you'll know that we are huge proponents of rail travel.  What's not to like?  High-speed, comfort and better for the environment. Most countries have highspeed rail options in place, and have had for many years.  But there has always been one rather glaring exception - the USA.  Train travel works there…

Read more

BRB!

We here at Matouring are of the opinion that our lovely readers are of the fun, adventurous and curious types.  You like the "new" and are always craving something different. With that in mind, here we'd like to tell you about our affilate friends BRB (Be Right Back) who feature a fun twist on travel:…

Read more

Be a better traveler

By default, just because you're reading this (and have visited our site,) we can assume that you're a smart, aware, thoughtful, curious and fun human being.  But, we always have room for improvement, it's safe to say.  The choices we make on the road can have a big impact on the people and places we encounter…

Read more

I’m afraid that is not possible

In certain markets, airlines compete directly with train operating companies. This is a common phenomenon in Europe, where countries like France and Germany have extensive high-speed rail networks. However, in some instances, airlines choose not to compete for various reasons. easyJet (an affiliate friend of ours)  is one such carrier, and Simple Flying recently learned why. And while…

Read more

Run away, run away . . . runway!

This article is not meant to be funny, but it is, in a way.  Monty Python would think so, anyway.  (And, to be sure, no-one was hurt.) ETF Airways, a startup charter airline from Croatia, is preparing a lawsuit against Bremen Airport (BRE) in Germany over the damages caused by a rabbit strike in August, as…

Read more

Show me the way

We've just hooked up with WeGoTrip, an innovative company who create audio guides for when you want to travel "do it yourself." It make so much sense, and can make touring so much more fun.  No noise in the background, no distractions, focused narrative, you can rewind and listen again, and you can use your…

Read more

Image: ANA PAULA LUSTOSA

Anthropological soup

Sometimes, you never know when you'll have an epiphany.  In this case, please form an orderly queue for the Brasilian surprise, Biatüwi. Located in Manaus, this unasuming eatery has burst into the limelight over this past year as the place to eat.  After much soul-searching, Clarinda Ramos (holding her breath) opened when enough friends, family…

Read more

Go, cat go!

Elvis Presley was a lot of things, but never boring. Whether it's his Army hip-shaking' days, to his Qaalude and banana sandwiches legend, The King will never disappear from the world stage. If you want to learn more, Peter Guralnick's two-volume work is currently considered the definitive Presley biography. His Last Train to Memphis: The Rise…

Read more

Just close your eyes – it’ll be fine

Sometimes when we stay at a hotel, we're miffed when it doesn't have our favourite brand of coffee, or the pillow is too stiff, or it took three minutes to have more towels delivered.  Sheesh! But, it could be worse . . much worse. Is this Britain’s WORST hotel? Inside filthy seaside spot with dirty kitchen &…

Read more

Valhalla Bell

If you're not a fanatic of Taco Bell (like we are) then please go about your business.  This article is for the believers. One of the prettiest Taco Bell's in the world is going viral on TikTok, as people marvel at the beachfront restaurant.  The fast-food chain's beachside location in Pacifica, California, has been a favorite of…

Read more

Even the building is McChic

Who doesn't love Paris?  The home of art, style, fashion, history and style. Especially the latter.  Paris is SO chic that even its McDonalds is skinny. Close to Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris, it is located in a timberframe building and extremely narrow. The interior of this restaurant is very special too. Decorations in the same…

Read more

Miles of tiles

Many specialist skills, those creating and molding incredible pieces over the decades, have long since disappeared into our overall void of mass-manufactured sameness.  But, fortunately, there are those who still carry the torch of the artisan.  Saied Hussain has been hand making tiles out of cement for over 50 years. He says he’s one of the…

Read more

Uh . . . coffee-flavoured coffee?

Nearly every expat or regular visitor can remember their first words in Spanish. They may not be the first you were taught, or learned from a self-teaching course pack, but the ones that most stuck in your head, or the first sentence you were able to pronounce without hesitating. But did you know that there's more…

Read more