There are few things worse than spending lots of money on a flight or a hotel or a holiday or a car, only to find that the seller won't refund the money. As if it isn't bad enough that you've having to look at canceling or postponing your adventure.
But, there are ways of making it…
Well, here's a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma: Point Roberts, US of A. Dangling off the end of British Columbia, Canada sits Point Roberts, a part of the USA. Isolated from the rest of the US, it truly is a place of wonder and bemusement. Lovely beaches and forests, relaxing paths on…
Los Angeles is often painted as being a vain and vapid place. All looks and no substance. Bring your alibis. (We rather like the place.) But, to be honest, some of LA is, indeed hollow and in some places, shallow. Some of its buildings, in fact. And they hide an interesting and still relevant and…
Sydney is a hard act to follow, when it comes to being in the league of World's Best Cities. If you've been, you'll never forget it. If you haven't been, well what are you waiting for?
But, Sydney is not the only notable city in Oz. Meet Canberra – Purpose built as Australia’s capital city, Canberra…
In addition to its other many allures, Canada cannot escape the universal tagging of poutine. (In case you're not up to date, poutine is a sumptuous Canadian concoction made of french fries, gravy and cheese curds. It's addictive) Not that we Candians complain, but c'mon now, there is more to the country than just that.
For…
It never fails. Finally, we're able to travel again, but it doesn't always coincide with our bank balances. And, of course, the travel companies have sales galore, and yet we're still up the creek without a paddle. What to do? Well, like it or not, some travel companies feel our pain and look for ways…
Unlike other great cities of ancient fame such as Rome, Athens or Jerusalem, Sparta seems to have disappeared off the map. What remains of the legendary town? A name? An archaeological site? A historical memory?
That memory, if it exists at all, is often of a city-state with a mania for martial valour and athleticism, a…
France is a many-splendoured thing; the food, the wine, the scenery, the joie de vivre. No matter how many times you visit the country, you always find something new or unexpected.
And, anyone who loves winter sports knows that France has some of the best ski runs in the world. But, alas, things are changing
At the…
Why u? This is not your father's cruise ship. Designed as the first river cruise catering to a more trendy audience, U River Cruises features more experiential itineraries that allow passengers to connect with the cities the boats visit and the people who live there. The ships themselves look nothing like what you might expect: …
When you think of skiing, chances are probably good that Bansko doesn't come to mind first. And, now intrigued, you may even wonder what and where Bansko is.
Don't be hard on yourself, as Bansko is one of Europe's best kept secrets. If enjoying winter sports and saving money while doing so are on your list,…
Once a German city before World War Two and physically unrelated from the remainder of Russia, Kaliningrad is still an enigma to many mainland Russians and their European next-door neighbours. Still, how does a 50-year-old unfinished building inform the complicated history of the Kaliningrad and inspire the restoration of other nearby dilapidated crumbling buildings? Watch the video…
Who can resist the allure of Brasil? So diverse, and rich in adventure. A legacy of history that goes back hundreds of years. And a people who love life and aren't afraid to show it.
When most people think of Brasil, they think of Rio, and rightly so. But, if you're not most people, you might…
In case you've not yet been (and you should!) Sintra is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. Known for its spectacularly coloured buildings, it also has a long history with the legendary Knights Templar.
One of the most fascinating features of Sintra is it's so-called Inverted…
Oiran (花魁) is a word used to refer to the high-class prostitutes that worked in the Yoshiwara red-light district (Yoshiwara-Yukaku) during the Edo period. The Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri started in 2003 to preserve this piece of Edo history.
It takes place along a 500m or so stretch of road with members in full Edo period dress…
Surprise! This is actually a tour of the sumptuous Emirates Airbus A380, and will be worth every minute of your time.
These yachts of the airwaves were almost put out to pasture with the Covid-19 pandemic. With 400+ seats and breathtaking style and luxury, the A380 was almost anathema, when no-one was flying. The Boeing 747…
We humans may think of ourselves as very smart, but those who know that they don't know much at all are, honestly, the smartest. But, at least they try.
One enduring pursuit of knowledge about humanity's past is the drive and passion to understand the past. We can literally touch so many historical artifacts, and may…
We sometimes forget about Wikipedia. It's always there, constantly refreshing itself, bedazzling us with the world's collective knowledge - and it's free. (They operate on donations. We donate, do you?)
One of the marvelous aspects of Wikipedia is the depth and breadth of their offering. One of which is the annual "Wiki Loves Monuments" competion.
Every participating…
In our busy lives, we often have little time to explore the unusual, the arcane. It comes as no secret that he world is full of fascinating facts, stories and fables. Even more, there are "facts" .... and then there are facts. It's important to know the difference as you travel the earth.
Well, London's MapMen…
We here at Matouring love India and always look to make it shine here on the site.
Well, we're happy to say that we've added Vistara airlines as affiliate friends. Vistara is a joint venture of Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA)
Vistara has rapidly expanded its footprint, both in terms of network and…
As the world gets bigger, yet smaller, we all have an opportunity to grow, learn, experience and fall in love with places new. At Matouring, we promote this ethos and hope that you do, too. It can sometimes take you by surprise, or, simply surprise you. But, with eyes wide open, behind the veil, a…