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The Thinking Traveller

Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Fun Health LGBTQ Life of Luxury Meditation Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness World Culture

Hey, bungalow thrill

"If looks could thrill it would have been us instead of him"  All the children sing. These looks will thrill - at Reserva Alecrim EcoSuite & Glamping in Portugal. The properties, the views, the surroundings, the location - wow!  And the bungalows look more like dwellings on the moon. Set by a lake in the Alentejo…
2021-07-180Comments

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Activity Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment North America Outdoors Relaxation Romance The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo

The Sylvia Path

We're not sure if Sylvia Plath ever stayed at Sylvia's Restaurant and Lounge in Vancouver, but we're sure she would have felt at home. The Sylvia Hotel is a designated heritage building - there aren't too many of those in Vancouver  - ideally located on English Bay, beside Stanley Park and just 5 minutes from…
2021-07-180Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Central & South America Do Something Different Europe North America Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller

Every breath you take, every move you make

Those with tin foil hats, look away now. People are people and, therefore, unpredictable.  Sometimes that's fine (and fun) but when it comes to wrangling millions of us at a time, that can be . . not fun. In the UK,  Transport for London is using aggregated and anonymised data from its wi-fi network to provide real-time…
2021-07-170Comments

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

H2Go!

Nature provides, if we respect her.  And respect is something that seems to be in short supply nowadays.  Automobiles still (mostly) run on 1900's technology, we still pump fuel out of the ground, which has untold repercussions. The worst thing is that we know better and have the technologies, and yet, we as humans, are…
2021-07-160Comments

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Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Do Something Different Relaxation Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual

Are we there yet?

Either by design, or by bad planning, or if you're simply a glutton for punishment, here is something to dread, or spend months preparing for. What are the world’s longest non-stop routes between July and December this year (2021)? The aviation world has changed greatly and we wanted to offer an updated list of these…
2021-07-160Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Nature & the Environment Outdoors Rest of World Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

The centre of the earth

India is a wonderful place full of wonderful people and lots of surprises.  Here's one. Jatayu Earth Center, also known as Jatayu Nature Park or Jatayu Rock, is a park and tourism centre at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district of Kerala. It stands at an altitude of 350m above the mean sea level. Jatayu Nature Park…
2021-07-150Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun History Life of Luxury Middle East Relaxation Romance The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Pardon me, madam, but your palace awaits

How often does one get the chance to sleep in the same halls as royalty?  Not often for most of us. But, you can at the Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski in Istanbul directly on the Bosphorus.  A former home to Ottoman royalty, you will find yourself bathed in history, glamourous surroundings, sumptous spas and world-class restaurants. And,…
2021-07-150Comments

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Activity Design and Art Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Partytime Relaxation Romance Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

The menace of Venice

Venice in peril.  If it's ancient foundations crumbling, and literal hoards of tourists aren't troubling enough, Venice is now being genuinely threatened by the gargantuan cruise ships that pull up to the ancient city. So much so, that UNESCO has put Venice on its endangered list unless Italy permanently banned cruise ships from docking in…
2021-07-140Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Inspiration Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest Spend Wisely Technology The Thinking Traveller

But, will we have enough extension cords?

Mother earth is heating up - dangerously - but so is the race to enable humans and animals to live in a world that will not burn to a crisp, like it seems now.  We have the brains and the technology, but our will needs a kick in the pants. Fortunately, more and more evidence…
2021-07-140Comments

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Activity Do Something Different Europe Health Inspiration Mindfulness Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller

Too little, too late?

Europeans - and we include the UK here - generally tend to be ahead of the curve when it comes to things like healthcare, social security, immigration  . . . and the environment. The UK has published its Transport Decarbonisation Plan.  The intent to decarbonise all modes of domestic transport by 2050. Is that too…
2021-07-140Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment North America Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual

You’re a space cadet

This sounds like fun, but, most importantly, has a very good intent at its heart. You can win two seats on one of the first Virgin Galactic flights to space.  Sir Richard Branson is putting his money and his spaceship where his mouth is. Here's what's you can look forward to: Make history as you…
2021-07-140Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Do Something Different Fun History Inspiration Lifestyle Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness World Culture

Tash Rabat. How about that?

Do you sometimes feel like you want to go away and stay away? Well, you'll be glad to know that, as always, we here at Matouring have solutions for you.  Near or far, we have solutions at our fingertips and are eager to share them with you. May we present  the Tash Rabat Caravanserai in…
2021-07-120Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Nature & the Environment Special Interest Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

How low can low go?

If you've spent any time reading about The Netherlands, you'll know that the geniuses there have done amazing things in order for the country to keep its head above water. And that hasn't been completely recent activity:  they've been at it for centuries, and they've learned a lot in the process. The video below goes…
2021-07-120Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Europe Fun Health LGBTQ Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Wilderness World Culture

The campings

Europeans love to camp.  There are literally thousands of them dotted around the continent.  Not only are they plentiful, they are usually in beautiful, if not stunning, locations and are a very cost effective way to holiday. You can enjoy all of the traditional ways of camping, including tents and resorts, but hiring a fuel-efficient…
2021-07-120Comments

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Activity Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury North America Partytime Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual

If you’re goin’ to San Francisco…

...be sure to visit SFO.  The airport itself is a wonderland, especially since the team there have lovingly and carefully  been saving artefacts, toys and more.   And you can see them.  There are dozens of exhibitions happening at SFO. The San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum provides unique opportunities…
2021-07-110Comments

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Activity Caribbean Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health Life of Luxury Oceania Pacific Partytime Relaxation The Thinking Traveller

Muster, we must

The Covid pandemic is pushing for an evolution of the muster (safety) drill procedures on cruise ships. To avoid gatherings of large passenger groups in confined spaces and maintain social distancing, the cruise lines are now reinventing the traditional process, using technology and other innovations. Get ready for:  Royal Caribbean’s Muster 2.0 Read more courtesy…
2021-07-110Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health LGBTQ Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Go where the air is free

The Covid pandemic has wreaked havoc almost everywhere in the world . . . and has taught us some important lessons along the way.  What we once took for granted has the possibility of slipping through our fingers - such as travel. But, with destinations slowly blossoming again for tourism , and travelers tentatively making…
2021-07-110Comments

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