Travel Lightbulb

You may have been told that December to March is the ideal time for a holiday in Lapland, and that's because both snow conditions and the northern lights displays are at their peak. However if you're not on the hunt for Santa, then the melting snow between April and June gives a wonderful hint of the phenomenal landscape that has been hidden for months.  In fact, Laplanders say late March-early April is their favourite time of the year. The daylight hours are longer, the temperature improves, and with less cloud cover, your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis increases. My flashback today features a hotel where you can opt to stay in an igloo - and that option is available until April. To view my original post, click  here.

I recently had a wonderful flight up to Edinburgh. Normally the cloud cover in the UK drives me crazy, but on this day, the skies were clear and I had a fabulous view over the snowy hills below. I love taking photos from the plane - it just feels like you're in another world when you're flying high! Have you got any photos you'd like to share that you took on a flight? Feel free to get in touch via my contact page.

When I first saw the photo below, it reminded me of the scenery in the film Jurassic Park. I thought it was taken on a remote island somewhere....but it's not.....and you may not believe me, but this stunning photo was taken in Spain! 2018 marks the centenary of the official opening of the Picos de Europa national park. That makes it one of the oldest parks in Europe. It's accessible not only by flights to Bilbao, but also via ferries which dock in Santander. If you love the outdoors, then make plans to visit the Picos this year. The limestone peaks stretch over 250 square miles, and are the perfect place for those looking for a big of adventure. As well as canyoning you can go mountain biking; and do one of the best day hikes in Europe. The Cares river route is one of the most breathtaking trekking trails that can be done in Europe, and follows the course of a hydroelectric pipeline through some of the most dramatic scenery you could imagine. The journey is just over ...

If you are a fan of places like the Seychelles or Mauritius, then I may have found a new holiday destination that you'll love. The pure white sand and turquoise seas are just as beautiful, but this is the remote Andaman archipelago of India.  In my opinion, the Andaman islands tick even more boxes than the likes of the Seychelles, and that's because very few people have heard about these 200 little-known islands so they're less popular with tourists - at this moment in time!  The islands are located in the Bay of Bengal, and are surrounded by incredible coral reefs. It's those reefs that visitors will relish, from snorkelling to kayaking through mangrove forests - there's plenty to do. Accommodation is quite limited, but there are new luxury but sensitively built beachside hotels starting to appear on the stunning coastline. Thanks to an increase of flights from four of India's major cities to the capital Port Blair, the archipelago has b...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, you may be thinking about whisking your loved one off to a romantic destination. If you need a bit of inspiration, I've compiled a little list of some of my favourite spots to make sure that love is in the air! Positano, on Italy's Amalfi coast is one of the most romantic villages I can think of. This glamorous little seaside town tumbles down the mountain to the breathtakingly blue waters. It's the perfect place in which to chill out; browse the local markets, and spend time on the beach. The sunsets are stunning here too.  Seville is one of my favourite cities in the world. There's nothing more romantic than simply wandering round the beautiful winding streets stopping off for a glass of cava or two! The architecture is stunning - and make sure you visit the cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. You may have expected Paris to make my top 3 but while I love the city, I do find it ...

Today's photo was inspired by a television series I watched recently, with British actor Julie Walters travelling round the UK by train, and it got me thinking about rail holidays. 'As seen on screen' travel is a growing trend, with film and television locations becoming holiday hotspots.  In Scotland you can follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter on The Jacobite steam train, which crosses the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct made famous by the film. The 84 mile round trip from Fort William to Mallaig has been described as the greatest railway journey in the world. Who could resist that stunning scenery? Not me....it's now on my ever-growing list of destinations I'm determined to travel to!

A new year, and a time for new ideas. Boise Idaho has been named as one of the 50 best cities to travel to in 2018. Idaho's capital used to be a popular destination for conventions, but they're now shaking off that tag. Photo courtesy of Idaho Tourism Boise is a perfect place to explore the great outdoors. The Boise river winds through the city; the Rocky Mountains are the backdrop to the city; and if you're there in the winter, skiing is just a short drive away.  Photo courtesy of Idaho Tourism If you're a beer lover, Idaho is number 10 when it comes to beer breweries per capita in the United States, with more than 50 breweries here! If wine is more your thing, Boise is a major hub, with over 50 vineyards in Idaho. Photo courtesy of Idaho Tourism There are boutique hotels and great restaurants opening up - why not go, and be one of the first to discover this exciting destination!

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...