Travel Lightbulb

As this is my first 'lightbulb' post of 2018, where I try to give you some travel inspiration, I had to think long and hard about where to feature as a travel destination that you might want to visit this year. I decided to do a bit of research to find out where the European Capital of Culture is in 2018, and then knew exactly where to suggest to you. Valletta is a stunning little city on the beautiful island of Malta. It is also the island's capital, and is known as 'a city built by gentlemen for gentleman' - but I can confirm that ladies will love it too! This fortress city rises steeply from two harbours, Marsamxett and Grand Harbour. Started in 1566, it it was completed in the astonishingly short time of just 15 years - quite remarkable given the whole city, with it's impressive forts and cathedral was built entirely by hand. There is a packed calendar of events throughout 2018 to celebrate their Capital of Culture status, but there i...

Bologna has a reputation of being the cultural capital of Italy, but the city has a lot more to offer alongside its wonderful food. It also has three interesting nicknames - la dotta - the educated; la grassa - the fat, and la rossa - the red. Founded in 1088, it's Europe's oldest university town - hence the first nickname - and thousands of students are drawn to the city for their student exchange programme. The university is famed for its medical school and the anatomical theatre can still be visited today! The fat nickname is probably easier for you to work out! Some of the traditional recipes from this region include the famous ragu tagliatelle, and mortadella - a large pork sausage which is typical of the city. There is even a theme park (Fico Eataly World) dedicated to food, and with so many wonderful restaurants, it's no surprise that it's hard not to put on weight when visiting Bologna! One thing you must visit are the food markets - they're ...

For years, Santiago has been thought of by many as a place to catch a connecting flight to somewhere else, but there's much more to Chile's capital city than that. It was founded in 1541 by the Spanish, and is home to 40 per cent of Chileans. There are plenty of things to see in the city, and the hub of it all is Plaza de Armas. The cathedral is in this square, and admission is free. If you love history, then the national history museum is worth a visit and if you're into dancing, then don't miss the live salsa shows! As you can see by the photo below, Santiago is surrounded by mountains - the Andes to the east, and the Chilean Coastal Rage to the west, which makes it one of the world's most spectacular cities. You shouldn't miss the view from Cerro San Cristobal. It also has a wonderful climate, with almost no rain between October and May. As I previously mentioned Santiago is a real travel hub, so this could be the perfect place from whi...

2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, when around 100,000 young people flocked to the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco in 1967. An underground alternative youth culture had been brewing in America and Europe for several year but for that summer, the focus was San Francisco. Many events have been planned to mark the occasion, but it's such a fantastic city you'll have plenty to discover even if you don't make it to those events. While anyone can find the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz, there are plenty of hidden gems to discover. Sutro Baths is one of those hidden gems. Designed by self-made millionaire Adolph Sutro in 1894, this used to be the world's largest indoor swimming pool. During high tide, the ocean could fill the pools in just an hour! The pools closed during the Great Depression, but the structure still exists as ruins in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The ornate Victorian homes in San Fran will blow you away. ...

I know plenty of people who love Italy with its stunning scenery and delicious food, but many of them have never ventured to Sicily, and that's the place I'm featuring on my blog today. Cefalù is a charming fishing town on the northern coast of Sicily, just a forty five minute drive from the island's capital, Palermo.  It's set against a dramatic backdrop of craggy mountains, and is the perfect size to wander round for a week or two and not get bored. If you're looking for the glamour of the Amalfi Coast, then this might not be for you, as it's wonderfully rustic. However if you fancy a change from that glamour, which almost always comes at a cost, then I can't recommend Cefalù highly enough. As well as having a fabulous beach (a great place to watch the fabulous sunsets); the town has lovely little winding medieval streets, a beautiful cathedral and some superb restaurants. The cathedral has some lovely little cafes around it and it's ...

I decided to feature Mérida because it's the American Capital of Culture in 2017, and while there are a series of large scale events taking place throughout the year, I didn't know too much about it, so decided to do some research! While it's not one of those undiscovered places, it's certainly not a tourist trap, so if you want to escape the crowds in places like Cancun, then this might be a part of Mexico you'll love. Mérida is the cultural capital of the Yucatán Peninsula, and ranks among the safest places in Mexico. The town is steeped in colonial history, and is a great place to start an adventure around the rest of the state. As well as taking in plenty of culture, the bonus is that the cost of food and hotels are very reasonable too.  Once you've had your fill of culture, then a day trip to the caves of the Yucatán is not to be missed. This peninsula is made of porous limestone, so there are no rivers or lakes above ground...instead they...

If you took a quick glance at the photo below you could be forgiven for thinking I'm featuring Rome on this post, but you'd be wrong! This is the Roman amphitheatre in Pula, which is at the southern tip of the Croatian province of Istria. It's the sixth largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire, and one of the best preserved in the world. The amphitheatre hosts events all summer, but that's not the only reason to visit this lively city. Pula combines the atmosphere of ancient Rome with the buzz of modern Croatia. The original Roman Forum (below) is a very popular meeting point, with plenty of cafes with outdoor tables where you can sit and enjoy the view.  There is also a working port in Pula, and they hold celebrations there every summer, and have been doing so since 2014. It's called 'Lighting Giants', and they illuminate the sea of cranes that line the port's shipyards. The port handles almost one million tons of cargo every year, but ...

If you've still not decided where to go this summer, why not head to Jackson Hole in Wyoming? Why Wyoming? Well there will be a total solar eclipse on August the 21st, and it's the first time in almost 40 years that it will be visible from the continental U.S.  Jackson Hole would be a great place to get a great view of the eclipse. It's a valley between the Teton mountain range, and the Gros Ventre range. Not only is the scenery in these low-lying valleys spectacular, but it's the perfect vantage point because of the lack of light pollution.  So what is there to do when the main event is over? There are great hiking trails in this area and the Yellowstone national parks, or you could head to Jackson itself - described by the tourist guides as both 'cowboy and cosmopolitan'.....sounds perfect!

Debrecen is Hungary's second-largest city, and in the heart of the country. Budget airlines now connect it to several countries, making it a great option for international visitors looking for something different.  Debrecen is full of wonderful markets. The flower market certainly awakens the senses, and the annual flower carnival which takes place in mid-August brightens up the city with incredible floral compositions.  The food market is also a wonderful place to wander round. Stallholders start at 6am, and ply their trade until early afternoon. Try the peppers stuffed with cabbage, ground meat and spices.  Top tip: A hot spring was discovered on the outskirts of the city in the late 1820s, and since then spa culture has been a hugely important part of life in Debrecen. Head north of the town centre to a complex of adventure baths. There are waterfalls; grottoes, and both indoor and outdoor pools with water flowing at steamy 34-38 degrees.  ...

The coastal town of Kotor is situated along one of the world's most beautiful bays on the Montenegro coast. It's an old Mediterranean port and with huge limestone cliffs, the town and its surrounding area form an impressive and very picturesque landscape. Kotor is a very atmospheric place. The town is a maze of museums; churches, and cafe filled squares and is a great place for people watching!  The daily market is well worth a visit. Locals come to stock up on fish, fresh vegetables ad local cheeses. It runs along the city walls, and is open every morning. The prosciutto and smoked cheese are worth buying.  Top tip: The bay of Kotor looks incredible from sea level, but is even more impressive from above. For the best view, head to the medieval citadel (the main entrance is near the river gate) to get your entrance ticket, and begin the ascent up the stone staircase. It takes you all the way up to the old walls to the Castle of St John, a fort dating ba...

Venice is a city with a reputation for being beautiful but expensive, so I'm going to give you a few tips to make it a bit more affordable. Some of the city's most stunning sights don't cost anything. Entry to the Basilica di San Marco is free of charge, and there are also free guided tours between April and October.  Wandering around the city costs nothing of course, and you can easily spend a lot of time wandering around the winding lanes lined with antique dealers and glass merchants - just make sure you take a map, it's easy to get lost!  Venice's bustling Rialto Market is where people have been shopping since 1097, and there's no better show in town! The produce is unloaded from barges which start arriving at dawn, and by 8am the vendors are bargaining with customers! It's best to arrive early, and you can buy wonderful ingredients here for a cheap and healthy picnic - another way to save money. A visit to Venice wouldn't be c...

I took a long time to decide where to feature for my first post of 2017. A new year, a new start....so how about a new destination for a city break, and one that's perfect for those who love their food and their culture. For some reason, Porto is still a bit under the radar when it comes to European destinations, which surprises me because it's both affordable and fun. It's Portugal's second-largest city behind Lisbon, known for it's beautiful bridges and the production of port wine, which is still stored in vast cellars that stretch along the Douro river.  The medieval Ribeira district is the oldest district of the city - a beautiful warren of narrow cobbled streets and plenty of wonderful family owned restaurants and bars. Top tip: If you're looking for a belly busting dish to try, the francesinha sandwich is a Porto institution.  It's a huge doorstep layered with pork, bacon, smoked sausage, beefsteak all topped off with a fried e...

This week I'm featuring the largest city in western Poland that was once described as "the holy blossom of Europe, a beautiful gem among cities". One of the reasons I chose Wroclaw is that it is the 2016 European Capital of Culture. The city is located on the Odra river; and with its 12 islands and more than 100 bridges, it almost looks like a city on water. This is Poland's fourth largest city, and has a lively cultural centre, which many major festivals taking place throughout the year.  Wroclaw is bursting at the seams with beautiful cafes, excellent restaurants, and plenty of things to do, and simply walking around a city that many have named the 'Venice of Poland' is a very pleasant way to spend the day. While cities like Vienna, Prague are perhaps more famous, Wroclaw holds its own with its not too distant neighbours, and it's easy to see why it's rapidly catching the attention of travellers.

Latvia is my featured destination today. I chose this destination because earlier this year, Latvians marked the 25th anniversary of a Soviet crackdown on pro-independence protesters. Twenty five years ago, they built barricades across the country to defend against Soviet attempts to quash the Baltic nation's quest for independence. It may have taken the country a huge part of that time to shrug off the chains of Communism, but it's a beautiful place and is starting to shine. Riga, pictured above, is its cosmopolitan capital, but aside from that it's a country full of unspoilt parkland. Latvia's national parks boast fantastic hiking trails, and if you visit in spring you can see huge numbers of wild cherry trees in blossom. If city life is more your thing then Riga boats one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world - in fact incredibly, they account for a third of the properties in the city centre! When to visit depends on w...

I have to admit when I was researching new destinations to suggest to you I had never even heard of Palau, but if you're into diving or snorkelling you may well already be aware of it, as it's one of the best places in the world to do just that. Palau is an archipelago of more than 500 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, and 100% of its marine territory has been turned into a sanctuary to try to protect what has been labelled a 'Serengeti' on the sea. It's home to some of the healthiest reefs on the planet, and Palau's Blue Corner is amongst the world's top dive sites. This is a remote and untamed part of the world, but there were also some ferocious battles here during World War two - and you can see submerged ships and fighter planes in the lagoons. Top tip: Palau enjoys a warm climate all year round, and while rain is more frequent between July and October, there is still a lot of sunshine.

Botswana has become one of Africa's most stable countries, and I'm featuring it as a destination suggestion today, because in 2016 the country celebrates 50 years of independence. You can see incredible sunsets and stargazing opportunities, as seen in the photo below - but that's certainly not the only reason to visit. This landlocked country is sparsely populated, so tourism is an important source of income. It's usually safari-based, and is tightly controlled and often upmarket.  The Chobe National Park is home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, and you can take a sundowner cruise on the riverfront to view them up close and personal. The landscape in Botswana is stunning, and there is fantastic game viewing and birding all year round, with no crowds - what's not to love?

A few weeks ago, I started another new feature on Travel Lightbulb - picking the best bits out of the  travel magazines for those looking for a bit of adventure, and something different. This week, I'm focusing on a place I have to admit I hadn't even heard of when I saw in on one of the lists in the travel magazines at the end of last year! Japan's network of bullet trains is expanding, and after more than a decade of construction, it will extend to the country's most northern island for the first time. It will take just over four hours to reach Hokkaido - but what can you find there? Well in the winter its powdery snow makes it very popular with skiers.  In the summer months, the hiking is said to be fantastic. You can also go canoeing and fishing on Lake Kussharo, or can head to the Shiretoko Peninsula to spot eagles, whales and dolphins.  Put off by the cost? Don't be - because of the weak yen, Japan is cheaper to visit than it has been in years....

Time for another new feature on Travel Lightbulb! Every year travel magazines are full of ideas for those looking for a bit of adventure, and something different. The lists are usually compiled in December and January to give us all ideas and, if we book, something to look forward to. I decided to wait until now to write this strand, so that I could do a bit of research and give you my pick of a few very different places to visit when you're next looking to head off on your travels. The first of my ideas is something I've always wanted to do. Are you into trains? If so, have you ever thought of doing one of the world's best train journeys? The Trans-Siberian - or as the English travel writer put it "the big train ride"! You'll travel almost 6000 miles, so if you feel like the world is a small place, take this trip and let your mind wander! As well as this trip being as awesome thing to do, it's also a timely one - book now and you would be...