Churches & Cathedrals

Soak up the Spa Waters in Western Bohemia

An article for The Joy of Quiet Places: A Lonely Planet Book, August 2024
"An early morning stroll through the tiny, lovely spa town of Frantiskovy Lazne is an almost meditative experience, until a sip of musty spring water brings you to earth with a bump..."

Church of St Sava in Belgrade, Serbia

An article for Go Here Instead: A DK Eyewitness Book, October 2022
"With its enormous size, cross-shaped floorplan and commanding dome, Belgrade's Church of Saint Sava was clearly modelled on Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia. But there is so much more to it..."

Europe by Foot: Carpathian Mountains

An article for Unforgettable Journeys: A DK Eyewitness Book, October 2020
"Emerald forests, medieval castles and wildflower-dusted mountains - explore the continent’s last great wilderness on a four-day hike through Romania’s incredible Carpathian Mountains..."

20 Places to Travel in 2020: Eastern Europe

An article for Travelzoo, December 2019
"From the fantastic fairytale palaces of Central Slovakia to the moody medieval castles of Transylvania, Europe’s eastern reaches are home to some of the continent's biggest hits..."

Alternative Prague: Escaping the Tourist Trail

An article for Rough Guides, April 2018
"Explore some of Prague’s ecclesiastical oddities, starting with the bearded woman statue in Loreto Church - this is St. Wilgefortis, who prayed for facial fuzz to help escape a betrothal..."

10 Things to Do in Vilnius, Lithuania

An article for The Independent, March 2018
"Vilnius is known for its historical charm, yet it is a city that's modernising fast. Today, for every baroque church there’s a hipster café; for every old cobbled street, a modernist work of art..."

Prague’s Best Boutique Hotels

An article for Honey Travel by nine.com.au, October 2017
"Until the turn of the decade, a stay in Prague usually meant either an out-of-town chain hotel or a self-catering apartment. But today, luxury boutique city hotels are growing in popularity..."

Northern Beauty: Scotland’s Secluded Islands

An article for Flight Time (Flybe in-flight magazine), March 2017
"Head beyond the Scottish Borders, bypass the capital, traverse the Highlands and cross the North Sea. Only then will you reach Scotland's outer limits - its remote, remarkable, islands..."

Adler Thermae: Hot Spring Luxury in Tuscany

An article for About Luxury Travel, October 2016
"A beautiful and bountiful wellness retreat built around warm thermal springs, Adler Thermae Toscana is the perfect place to relax, unwind, and enjoy the gorgeous Tuscany countryside..."

40 Must-See Structures in Scotland

An article for USA Today, May 2016
"As well as its stunning nature, Scotland has amazing man-made structures, from prehistoric settlements to medieval fortifications, Victorian monuments to ultra-modernist parliaments..."

Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine: Five-Star Spain

An article for About Luxury Travel, February 2016
"The hotel began life as the Monastery of Santa Maria de Retuerta in 1146, and this medieval heritage is still in evidence throughout, from the refectory restaurant to the cloister garden..."

Spotlight On Plzen

An article for Jumeirah Magazine, June 2015
"There are 50 principal cultural events scheduled in 2015 that aim to make the most of Plzen's appealing architecture, from the beautiful Baroque square to the gigantic Gothic synagogue..."

Liechtenstein Travel Guide

A guide for World Travel Guide, April 2015
"A pocket-sized principality in the heart of Europe, Liechtenstein rarely tops anybody's bucket list of continental must-sees. Yet this tiny, landlocked nation offers more than you'd imagine..."

Czech Republic Travel Guide

A guide for World Travel Guide, April 2014
"A historic jewel at the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic packs a big punch for such a tiny country; from majestic castles to medieval towns, elegant spa resorts to scenic parklands..."

Life & Soul: Assessing Zurich’s ‘Visitability’

An article for Silverkris (Singapore Airlines in-flight magazine), December 2013
"This Swiss city is frequently caricatured as squeaky clean and somewhat clinical, populated with pin-striped bankers and greyfaced financiers. But Zurich has so much to offer visitors..."

Fine Design at The Augustine in Prague

An article for Private Air Magazine, September 2013
"The moment the door swings open, guests are reassured they are in for a treat. Beyond the threshold lies a luxurious living room, with an iron staircase spiraling up through the ceiling..."

London Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, May 2012 - May 2013
"The story of London is a tale of two cities. One narrative is an urban landscape littered with long-established landmarks, time-honored art and culture and a stubborn hint of Britishness..."

Patagonia North to South Tour Itinerary

A 16-day tour itinerary for Viventura, February 2013
"Watch the playful penguins of the Seno Otway and see sheets of ice from the Perito Moreno glacier crash into the water. This unique destination offers stimulating scenery at every turn..."

The Malá Strana Walk – Audio

An audio walking tour for Prague Tourism, February 2013
"It may be translated as the ‘Lesser Town’ in English, but Malá Strana is one Prague’s premier attractions. Initially established as a town in 1257, it flourished during the reign of Charles I..."

The Malá Strana Walk – Text

A walking tour for Prague Tourism, February 2013
"It may be translated as the ‘Lesser Town’ in English, but Malá Strana is one Prague’s premier attractions. Initially established as a town in 1257, it flourished during the reign of Charles I..."

Peru-Bolivia-Chile Tour Itinerary

A 13-day tour itinerary for Viventura, January 2013
"Spanning Peru, Bolivia and Chile, the Altiplano region features some of the most spectacular scenery in South America: thermal geysers, high mountains, and the largest salt flat on earth..."

Rome City Vacation Guide

A city guide for Expedia, December 2012
"It was once considered the centre of the universe, when all roads lead there. Now the Italian capital is a living museum of three million with all the smart trimmings of a cosmopolitan hub..."

HOLY GHOST HOSPITAL CHURCH IN FUSSEN, GERMANY

An audio walking tour for Tourizz, December 2012
“Then, once you get beyond the beautiful facade, things only get more impressive. You see, the interior of this little Spitalkirche is one of most intricately-decorated in all of Germany…”

The Best City Cruises in Eastern Europe

An article for Vertu Select, November 2012
"Medieval hilltop castles, gold-domed churches and ancient trading ports: Eastern Europe's cities have a wealth of treasures to discover. And there's no better way than with a cruise..."

Prague City Vacation Guide

A city guide for Expedia, November 2012
"A popular city escape in the heart of Europe, charming Prague has more than 1,000 years of history written into its stunning fairytale church spires, ancient castles and beautiful bridges..."

Glasgow Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, August 2012
"Scotland's second city Glasgow is often considered Edinburgh’s little brother. That simply means it stays out later, has far hipper taste in music and still has its best years ahead of it..."

Vienna Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, July 2012
"Vienna is a city shaped by its imperial past. You’ll find its ancient streets home to magnificent state palaces, grand baroque architecture, fine museum squares and ornate opera houses..."

Zurich Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, July 2012
"Zurich is a city in transition. Once considered a boring financial hub populated by buttoned-down bankers, the city is now reinventing itself as a vibrant, trendy and modern metropolis..."

Frankfurt Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, July 2012
"It may be only the fifth-largest city in Germany, but Frankfur is the country’s business capital, continental Europe’s largest financial center and one of the world’s busiest transport hubs..."

Salzburg Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, June 2012
"The illustrious birthplace of Mozart, the inspirational drawing board for “Silent Night”, and the mountain stomping ground of Julie Andrews’ Maria, Salzburg's a city with music in its blood..."

Stockholm Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, June 2012
"A collection of 14 serene islands, the city is blessed with a wealth of green spaces, inspiring panoramas of the Baltic Sea and probably the freshest air of any major metropolis on earth..."

Warsaw Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, June 2012
"It might not have all the quaint historical culture of Krakow or the distinctive Baltic beauty of Gdansk, but Warsaw is the ever-changing, endlessly fascinating face of 21st century Poland..."

Prague Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, June 2012
"Known affectionately as “The City of a Thousand Spires,” the Czech Republic capital boasts some of the grandest churches in Europe, along with the world’s largest atheist population..."

Edinburgh Overview and Q&As

A guide for Forbes Travel Guide, May 2012
"Described by the famous Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid as "a mad god's dream,” Edinburgh is a multifarious mishmash of a metropolis. It has a history reaching back to the Bronze Age..."

Welcome to Edinburgh

A guide for GuidePal, December 2011
"Wrapped in a blanket of high hilltops, it is home to Michelin-star restaurants and world-class theatres alongside thriving nightlife and hectic urban chaos, all set against a calm sea view..."

Killing Time in Europe’s Best Cemeteries

An article for StalkingElk Magazine, November 2011
“An inexorable fixture in every childhood - whether burying your gran, losing your virginity or dabbling in the occult - cemeteries are also great for killing time prior to your own demise..."

Florence: A Cultural Heavyweight

A guide for GuidePal, September 2011
"While visitors have been rediscovering its glorious history since the 19th century, the city has now moved on from the days of the Medici to forge a new and thoroughly modern identity..."

Prague: A Truly Bohemian City

A guide for GuidePal, August 2011
"The Czech capital has a majestic assortment of cobbled lanes, high church spires, medieval bridges and meandering rivers. They're all watched over by a magnificent, fairytale castle..."

Weird Beards and other Bohemian Oddities

An article for StalkingElk Magazine, April 2011
“In the heartlands of Bohemia, Christian institutions offer much more than just war-mongering scripture, cheap magic tricks and kiddy-fiddling clergymen. They offer bizarre trinkets too..."