Cider, the pride of Asturias, Spain

It's apple harvest time, and it's another crisp Saturday night on Calle Gascona (below right) in downtown Oviedo, an old university city that's the genteel, postcard-pretty capital of emerald-green Asturias in north Spain, with happy-faced students

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Holiday on ice at Norway's Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

The ice hotel phenomenon, born in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden in the 1990s, has been gradually picking up steam (as it were) in the northern hemisphere over the years, with hotels built each winter in a half-dozen countries. At the moment, the world's northe

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Denmark's Bornholm Island

Rugged cliffs plunge into the sea, to the north; a lush forest occupies the central areas and miles of white sandy beaches stretch to the south. That is the small Danish island – palette (588 sq.km), Bornholm, in a few words. The island might be sm

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A day on Lanzarote

I never really considered Lanzarote as a holiday destination. From seeing various advertisements, and hearsay, I’d formed the impression that it’s a tacky haunt for the package holiday sun-seeker, and not my thing at all.

But, a recent cruise stop c

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Strolling the Parks of Paris

Arguably more so than many other European cities, the high-profile, historic parks of the City of Light are unusually plentiful and famous - Tuileries...Luxembourg (right)...Bois de Vincennes... among hundreds of other lesser known ones. And not only

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Bolzano in South Tyrol a Different, Delicious Side of Italy

Not all that many people are fully aware that in a goodly chunk of the Italian Alps many people speak German as well as Italian. And that Teutonic flavor is evident in and around its gracious capital, Bolzano(known in German as Bozen, pop. 100,000),

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In Puglia, Italy, some amazing local tours focusing on food/cooking

When you join up with YL Tours, you're not just visiting Puglia as a tourist, you are participating as a local immersed in some of the many day-to-day pleasures of living in this region. YL stands for Ylenia, the wonderful Puglian lady who gracious

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5 top budget ski resorts in Europe

If budget is a concern, and let’s be honest, when you’re traveling with friends rather than family, then consider one of the less expensive destinations for your ski holiday this year. Well, you probably won’t bump into the Beckhams, but the snow is

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Copenhagen adventure: kayaking to its secret underwater statues

On our recent trip to Denmark, we spent a few days in Copenhagen.  We did a kayak tour of the canals where we discovered that the Little Mermaid statue has a boyfriend...

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Fattoria Moncucchetto, the Urban Winery of Lugano, Switzerland

Walking upward on steep cobbled lanes through the village of Lugano Switzerland still enshrouded by morning mists rising from Lago di Lugano is certainly one of life's finer ways to get a workout. If you're up for even more climbing (or a short cab

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The Risorgimento Resort in Lecce, Italy

Historic Lecce, Puglia's principal city, is a superb home base for immersing yourself in the Salento way of life. Lodging choices ranging from villas to farmhouse stays abound but for a classic in-town hotel, treat yourself to a stay at the sumptuou

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Fall is fab for cultural/nightlife scene in Madrid

Summer holidays may be a receding memory, but in Spain–and nowhere more than Iberia Airlines’ hometown Madrid–being back in the “real world” of work and bills to pay is still plenty sweet. It’s the season when local cultural events and the late-night

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See Spain? Yes, But Don't Forget the Other Senses!

We invite your to read this evocative post on our new travel blog Love2Fly!

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In Valencia, Spain, a traditional soft drink much healthier than soda: horchata

To most non-Spaniards, the historic city and region of Valencia is most famous for paella and oranges. There is, however, an incredible edible número tres you probably haven’t heard of.

Even though it’s popular throughout Spain, for whatever reason th

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'Secret' beaches of the Mediterranean

Sunbathing elbow-to-elbow with strangers does not exactly fit anyone’s criteria for a relaxing seaside holiday. But here’s the good news – there are still stretches of uncrowded and untrampled coastline along the azure waters of the Mediterranean. So

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Creating your own impressions of Vienna

If you visit Vienna for the first time and are keen to get under its skin you face a challenge: a mountain of 'must-sees' that over the centuries have cemented the rock solid stereotype of the enchanting city of music, cakes and emperors. Should you

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Hiking Samaria Gorge on the Greek island of Crete

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Off the beaten path in Cyprus: Avgas Gorge

Avgas Gorge, on the western coast of Cyprus, is a magnificent fissure in the limestone cliffs. It lies in an unfrequented part of the island where tourists rarely went.

At the time of my first visit, I lived in Yorkshire. So, my first sight invited c

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Off the beaten 'chemin' in Paris: Bastille area/Marché Aligre

Paris is famously full of world-famous sites we all know and love. But please also try to squeeze in at least a couple of great, very local experiences, as well, such as 11th/12th-arrondissement neighborhood surrounding the Place de la Bastille. Onc

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Sitges, Spain a gay classic for summertime play

Summer is here, and that means Sitges is in full swing for the season. Of the myriad little fishing-villages-turned-beach-resorts along Spain's Mediterranean coast, this is the one nearest and dearest to the heart of gay men and women across Europe a

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