Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Spend Wisely

HomeAll PostsSpend Wisely
Category image

Spend Wisely

Activity Adventure Central & South America Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller Wilderness World Culture

Chiribiquete

When people think of Colombia, it is usually of marvelous places such as Bogota, or Cartegena or Medellín - all genuinely wonderful destinations that you must put on your list. But, there is a relatively unknown part of Columbia that goes beyond into an almost magical realm:  Chiribiquete. Chiribiquete National Natural Park is the largest national…
2021-10-140Comments

Read more

Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Food and Drink Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Partytime Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

The reasons four the seasons

As the seasons pass, so does control of them.  In this case, we're talking about The Four Seasons hotel chain. Bill Gates (you, um,  know him from Windows and stuff) will take control of the Four Seasons hotel chain after his investment firm agreed to acquire a stake from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Kingdom…
2021-10-130Comments

Read more

Activity Adventure Do Something Different Europe History Life of Luxury Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Got Aeroflot?

To many, Russia is an alluring, slightly foreboding dream destination.  Perhaps too many films make the wrong impression of the country, but the pull to visit there is strong, and for good reason. One romantic option for travel in Russia is possibility of riding the historic and pricey Trans-Siberian Express from Venice to Moscow -…
2021-10-120Comments

Read more

Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Fun History Nature & the Environment Partytime Relaxation Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Bloom where you’re planted.

To many of us, this may come as a surprise, especially in this day and age of corporate efficiency. For decades, KLM Airlines have been creating miniature ceramic collectibles of Amsterdam canal houses, and they share them with loyal customers.  Each house is a miniature replica of an existing house, almost all of them in the…
2021-10-110Comments

Read more

Activity Adventure Asia Do Something Different Fun Mindfulness Mixed Categories Nature & the Environment Partytime Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely Switching The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Let’s eat here

After the world has been decimated by Covid-19, now that the fog is clearing somewhat, it's time to focus our thoughts on those businesses and their employees who have been so profoundly impacted.  In other words, when you can, buy local. Eating locally produced food on your travels may seem like small potatoes, but the…
2021-10-110Comments

Read more

Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Elizabethan manner

We here at Matouring love the UK.  One aspect of the land is the sheer amount and breadth of its history.  (We have plenty of articles here on our site which you can peruse and enjoy. But, just because its history stretches back thousands of years doesn't mean that it's mired in the past.  Hardly. …
2021-10-100Comments

Read more

Activity Adventure Asia Do Something Different Fun Health History Inspiration Partytime Relaxation Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

We thank-a Sri Lanka

At one point it seemed like the whole world was backpacking and trekking this tropical paradise in South Asia. Never one to miss out, we went to see for ourselves to bring you this guide to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is roughly the same size as Ireland and sits to the south-east of India. The island…
2021-10-090Comments

Read more

Activity Health Mindfulness Mixed Categories North America Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller

I don’t care

Everyone wants their chance to fly, but no-one wants to die doing it. Both United and American Airlines sell basic economy tickets which are non-changeable. If you get sick and do not fly you lose all value of your ticket. That's a huge incentive to fly sick. (Delta makes basic economy tickets changeable through December…
2021-10-090Comments

Read more

Adventure Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment North America Outdoors Partytime Relaxation Spend Wisely Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness

Don’t throw stones

Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, but they should throw caution to the wind — especially in this shiny glass palace that you'll find just outside of Joshua Tree National Park. Known as the Invisible House, the elongated 22-story “horizontal skyscraper” is like a shiny, dreamy mirage in the sand. This once-in-a-lifetime stay is one of the…
2021-10-010Comments

Read more

Activity Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Do Something Different Europe Fun History Lifestyle Partytime Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo

Ninety days is not enough

If you like Europe (we sure do) you may often find that when you visit for a long time, even ninety days (the current limit) might not be enough.  There's just too much to do. Of course, you can maximise the rules by staying within the ninety day limit, take a rest for a short…
2021-10-010Comments

Read more

Do Something Different Inspiration Lifestyle Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest Spend Wisely Sponsorship Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Don’t save it for a rainy day

It must be evident now that our planet's climate is changing, and not for the better. Are we culpable for this?  Likely yes, in many ways.  Can we do something about it?  Yes, but it appears that our governments (most of them) are in no hurry to address the problem - with lack of money…
2021-09-300Comments

Read more

Activity Adventure Do Something Different Mindfulness Rest of World Spend Wisely Sponsorship Sustainability The Thinking Traveller Volunteering World Culture

Make an impact

With almost no exceptions, many of us are able to help others - and so many of us do.  And, there are so many ways to do it. One organisation that we here at Matouring like is Novica.  Ostensibly supported by The National Geographic, Novica started with a dream to create a better world for…
2021-09-300Comments

Read more

Adventure Do Something Different History Inspiration Middle East Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Red sea speed

Egypt’s High Speed Railway Project Takes-off As we often talk about here (until we're blue in the face,) rail travel is the future.  In a world of diminishing resources and rising populations, the solutions that modern rail travel can bring for us all are too good to ignore.  That's why we're happy to see governments…
2021-09-290Comments

Read more

Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Health History Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

2000 islands

You'd better get busy . . . Where more than half the country is forest, saunas have a 4,000-year history, and the world’s largest choral festival happens every five years... Welcome to Estonia. Often underestimated as being a small Baltic country sandwiched between Scandinavia and Russia, Estonia is undoubtedly so much more than that. Read more…
2021-09-290Comments

Read more

Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun Life of Luxury Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Well, PARDON, madame

English wait staff are tiresomely polite. The French are radically rude. They’re the two stereotypes, anyway. What tourists don’t understand about ‘rude’ French waiters... They’re not being ‘rude’ – they’re being real… Is that the case?  Or is it that some patrons are annoying?  Or all of the above.  How should one handle situations…
2021-09-270Comments

Read more

Activity Europe For Women Only Fun LGBTQ Lifestyle North America Partytime Relaxation Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller

Ne’er BnB

A major European destination just banished Airbnb. Will others follow suit? AirBnB has had a somewhat chequered past when it comes to the neighbours.  Most renters are polite and responsible.  But it doesn't take too many incidents for the love to sour. A recent crackdown in Barcelona portends stronger laws against short-term rentals across the…
2021-09-250Comments

Read more

Europe For Women Only Health Inspiration Lifestyle Nature & the Environment Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller

Win or loos

Loo design has barely changed in 150 years – until now. Will people trade their privacy for the chance to find out exactly what is in their waste? For the past 10 years, Sonia Grego has been thinking about toilets – and more specifically what we deposit into them. “We are laser-focused on the analysis…
2021-09-250Comments

Read more

Adventure Do Something Different Europe Fun Nature & the Environment Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller

Sleeping around Europe

Germany’s green party has proposed an ambitious network of night trains across Europe, which could connect the UK with destinations including Barcelona, Paris, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The proposed network would see some 40 sleeper services operating across the continent, with routes extending as far as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Birmingham as well as London. Read more here courtesy of…
2021-09-240Comments

Read more