Explore by country
- Austria
AustriaBad Gastein in winter and a few days in Vienna, with prices and tips.Austria - South KoreaComing soonSouth KoreaSeoul and more, with what it cost and what I would do again.South Korea
- Indonesia
IndonesiaBali, with rice terraces, villas, cafés and scooters, with prices and tips.Indonesia - ThailandComing soonThailandOur notes from Thailand are on the way.Thailand
- JapanComing soonJapanOur notes from Japan are on the way.Japan
- MalaysiaComing soonMalaysiaKuala Lumpur first, with cafés, shopping and the Petronas Towers.Malaysia
All travel stories
Bali
Rice terraces, monkeys and waterfalls, villas, cafés and scooters, from our trips in 2022 and 2024–25.
5 stories
Best Area to Stay in Bali: Our Villa Stays in Kedungu, Ubud, Canggu and South KutaFour areas, four villas: what Kedungu, Ubud, Canggu and South Kuta are like and what we paid per couple per night.
Best Restaurants and Cafes in Ubud: Where We Ate and What It CostFold for breakfast, Sala Bistro for lunch, Shichirin for dinner and more, with the dishes and prices for two.
Renting a Scooter in Bali: Our Tips, Licence and Riding in the RainOur NMAX rental, the Indonesian licence we got in about an hour, riding tips, rain and what petrol costs now.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces from Ubud: Our Scooter Day, Tickets and Tea at D’WanA 40 km scooter ride from Ubud, two hours on the terraces, a coconut we bargained for and tea at D’Wan.
Sangeh Monkey Forest and Nungnung Waterfall: Our Day Trip, Tickets and TipsA quiet monkey forest, a long walk down to a waterfall in the rain, and what the tickets cost.
Bad Gastein
December 2025: the town, one ski day and the hotel by the waterfall.
3 stories
Bad Gastein in Winter: What to Know Before Your First VisitFour nights in December 2025, and one practical lesson: it matters where you stay.
Skiing in Bad Gastein: Ski Pass Prices, Ski Hire and Our CostsIn December 2025 I went skiing in Bad Gastein for the first time in ten years. Here is what we paid for the ski pass and rental.
Badeschloss Bad Gastein Review: Our Stay in a Junior SuiteFour nights in a junior suite beside the waterfall: the room, breakfast, spa, parking and the walk to the lift.
Vienna
Christmas markets, a zoo day, a date above the city, an evening out and the way to the outlet.
5 stories
Vienna Christmas Markets 2026: Dates, Map, Opening Hours and What to TryOpening dates and hours for the main markets, a simple map by area, an evening route, how to get there and what to eat.
Vienna Zoo (Schönbrunn Zoo): Our Visit, Tickets and TipsWe spent two to three hours at Tiergarten Schönbrunn, and what stayed with me most was how green it felt, with roomy enclosures and plenty of shade.
Donauturm Vienna Restaurant: Our Date, Booking and PricesA date in the rotating restaurant, where we did not need to hurry.
Three Places for an Evening in Vienna: Prater, Strandcafé and 7Stern BräuRides at the Prater, ribs by the Alte Donau and schnitzel with chilli beer: three evenings, three moods.
Vienna to Parndorf Outlet: Shuttle, Train or Car?Three straightforward ways to get there: a direct shuttle, a train with a short bus ride, or a rental car.
Budapest
A Christmas market, a basilica and two meals worth remembering.
2 stories
Budapest Christmas Market at St Stephen’s Basilica: Dates, Tickets and Our December VisitIn December we spent a few hours around Szent István tér: a Christmas market right in front of the basilica, the church itself, and the Budapest Eye a short walk away.
Budapest Food Stops: Breakfast at Läget and Dinner at TuttoTwo meals that stayed with us: a bakery breakfast and a quiet pasta dinner in the city centre.