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The Thinking Traveller

Adventure Do Something Different Europe Fun History Life of Luxury Partytime Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller

Ciao, Alitalia

Who doesn't love Italy?  We bet that only a few will raise their hands.  Italy, for tourists, seems to bring out all that's good in traveling. But, sadly, Italy's official airline, Alitalia has had its troubles in the past and up until now, and, as a result, will be shutting its doors for good. Happily,…
2021-07-210Comments

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Adventure Asia Do Something Different History Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

It wasn’t too long ago…

Sometimes, we don't realise how lucky we are. If you're not familiar with this story, prepare to be amazed.  Kowloon Walled City was an ungoverned and densely populated de jure Chinese enclave within the boundaries of Kowloon City, British Hong Kong. Originally a Chinese military fort, the walled city became an enclave after the New Territories were…
2021-07-210Comments

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Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Partytime Relaxation Romance The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Mama Prati

As if Rome isn't fun enough - may we present to you Mama Shelter, Roma.  Created by the owners of Club Med, Mama Shelter goes waaay beyond the normal.  Just a short walk from the Vatican, and just  250m from the Cipro Metro station,  everything is close and the nightlife is not far away. Treat…
2021-07-210Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Fun Health Inspiration LGBTQ Life of Luxury Partytime Relaxation Rest of World Technology The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo

I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that

The vast majority of Airbnb rentals go smoothly, but do you know what to do when they don’t? What happens if your host cancels your booking two days before you arrive, or the spacious bedroom shown in a listing turns out to be the size of a closet? Read more courtesy of SmarterTravel.com. As you…
2021-07-200Comments

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Activity Adventure Alternative Lifestyle Do Something Different Fun Nature & the Environment Outdoors Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness

They walk among us

Do you fully recognise that "they are among us?"  Do you fashion yourself as an extraterrestrial hunter?  Do you have the knowledge, desire and hardware to search for them? The US Pentagon says there’s no explanation for “unidentified aerial phenomenon” detected by pilots over the years. But scientists use tools such as the SETI Allen…
2021-07-200Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual Wilderness World Culture

First viewer will buy! Don’t wait!

The electric interwebs are full of articles and videos about failed attempts on a grand scale.  We know that there was thought and planning put into these - there had to be.  But, in the cases here, the dreams crumbled in a number of different ways.  Rather than ridcule, let's be glad that we're able to…
2021-07-190Comments

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

Breaking news: Ireland has more than two cities

Ireland is one of the more hip, inclusive, free and charming places in Europe.  When you meet an Irish human, you will inevitably strike up a natural and amiable conversation, no matter the situation.  The Irish - the same as the Australians - are simply like that. Everyone tends to gravitate to Dublin and Belfast…
2021-07-190Comments

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Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Fun Health History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Try not to drool

AirBnB, constant bad press notwithstanding, has created a wonderful new model on how to travel.  Almost everyone wins. VRBO, an Expedia company (and one of our valued affiliate friends,) have taken the model and successfully given AirBnB a run for their money:  in some recent months, they have marched past AirBnB in bookings. But, this…
2021-07-190Comments

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Adventure Asia Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Health History Life of Luxury Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Pacific Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Do good, feel good UNESCO style

This is a simple, but very important request.  For those of us who are fortunate enough to travel, this should almost be mandatory. UNESCO has created the Sustainable Tourism Pledge. The pledge takes an industry-first approach to environmental and cultural protection, requiring hotel operators to introduce firm measures to eliminate single-use plastics and promote local culture. The…
2021-07-180Comments

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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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