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No two travellers plan in the same way. Some of us favour detailed spreadsheets and minute-by-minute itineraries, while others just have a great long list of love-to-dos that need turning into an actual plan. Whether you're in the early conceptual stages, already have a rough idea or own a…
On my recent trip to Japan, I had the opportunity to experience five different ryokans - traditional Japanese inns - and I can highly recommend the experience. It is completely different to staying in a hotel and you can get a great feel for the original style of Japanese home life.
Explore the rest of what makes the west (of Sweden) the best, or hop across to the glorious capital Stockholm.
A very fussy princess could once feel a pea at the bottom of several huge mattresses and 20 feather beds placed beneath her. Now, we aren't saying we would necessarily be able feel a minute garden pea (no matter how many corgis we buy, we are sadly still not 'HRH' status), but when it comes…
Part one of my tales from our family holiday in South Africa took us from Cape Town to the Winelands, while in part two we head on up the coast along the Garden Route and then north to the Waterberg for a family safari…
If you haven't seen our latest Family Brochure yet, I'd like to think it's the best we've ever produced, and that's including two that won the illustrious Guardian/Observer Best Brochure of the Year award. The reason? We've meticulously laid out the best family travel destinations (some…
Stress. We cannot stress enough how much we like to avoid stress. After all, we spend all day every day making your holidays as straight forward and stress-free as possible. The NHS (an organisation that knows a lot about being stressed) suggests doing the following things to help:…
Although its sensational walking capabilities, opportunities for sleeping under the stars in far flung parts of the bush and tracking big game mean that Zambia is a great option for seasoned safari-goers, there is also fun aplenty to be had by those heading out for safari for their first…
Forget what you think you know about Zimbabwe. Original Travel Africa Expert and former safari guide Matt tells us why we should cast aside any aspersions of Zimbabwe, and why he thinks this amazing country should be top of your list before it becomes one of Africa's premier and most sought…
With the world-renowned Louvre in Paris bursting at the seams with visitors and New York's mecca of modern art, MoMA, soon due to close its doors for a four-month renovation, museum lovers will have to get creative when it comes to planning their next cultural circuit. Not to fret, we have…
It might sound clichéd, but travel is one of life's greatest teachers. Whether you want to encourage your kiddos to learn by taking them to see the frescos in Florence, or by meeting the cast of The Lion King and understanding their habitat on a Big Five safari in South Africa, our travel…
Last Saturday saw the return of one of the UK's biggest horse races: the Epsom Derby. Think fillies in fascinators tottering tentatively around the grandstand as pint-sized jockeys pound towards the finish line aboard their trusty steeds. And aside from providing the opportunity to indulge…
Europe is a treasure trove of distinctive and diverse landscapes, cultural curiosities and world class architecture; all of which happen to be tremendously photogenic and Insta-worthy. From dramatic glacial rock formations to pristine pastel beaches, get your cameras at the ready to witness…
For an island that's approximately four times smaller than the UK, Sri Lanka packs quite the punch with a huge diversity of landscapes; from Ceylon tea blanketing rolling hills and mountainsides to national parks which are home to the highest density of leopards on earth (with 40 believed to…
At Original Travel we spend a lot of time discussing our part in the great sustainability and tourism debate. Here's a quick summary of our current thinking…
The nights are drawing in and almost certainly some shop somewhere has put up the Christmas lights so naturally we've decided to bypass all that and start thinking about 2019 instead. We've looked deep into our crystal ball, studied the tea leaves and read the runes (whatever they are) and…
It's arguably the most important holiday of your life and yet, amid the craziness of planning a wedding, the honeymoon can get a little lost. But don't panic! This is where we step in as your honeymoon gurus; our team of experts will help you identify the perfect destination to fit your…
Venue - check. Rings - check. Cake - check… What's missing? The honeymoon! Let's be honest (although we may be slightly biased), it's one of the most important parts of the whole wedding process. If you're seeking inspiration for that perfect post-wedding getaway, why not look a little…
Elsewhere in our blog we've talked about Travelling with Teenagers, given Teen to Teen Advice as well as Parental Advice on family holidays all around the far flung corners of our glorious globe. Now that every hidden nook and secret cranny is now in play with teens in tow, let's not forget…
The summer holidays may feel like a world away now but come June they'll be a veritable beacon of hope amidst the (organised) chaos of early morning wake-ups, school runs and vain attempts to prevent toothpaste from finding its way onto every single item of school uniform. Frankly, it's…
There are few foreign forays as fun as taking a beautiful private property or taking over a great boutique hotel and filling it with family of different generations, experiencing unforgettable activities together. Our friends across the pond may call it 'togethering' (each to their own), but…
Falafel, mango juice and suprisingly tasty stuffed pigeon! Original Travel Egypt expert Amelia Stewart gives us the low down on her top 10 Egyptian Food and Drink...
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and a mere 250 miles off the coast of mainland Africa but it still remains a largely undiscovered corner of the continent. I've just returned and can really only describe it as the most fascinating and beautiful country I've ever been to.…
We say Africa, you think safari right? Wrong! A safari holiday may be the first thing to spring to mind when imagining Africa but it's not all there is to this fabulously diverse continent. As such, we've picked our top 3 places to visit for a non-safari adventure in Africa...
They always say that you shouldn't meet your idols. In travel terms, Antarctica has been that idol for me; ever-present at the top of my bucket list. The question was - could it live up to my extremely high expectations?
This October, I took a two hour flight from London to Pisa, the city with the infamous 12th century Leaning Tower. I then travelled forward to Chianti, a winemaking region in Tuscany one hour away, where I spent three blissful days eating the most divine local produce and drinking…
Having recently returned from Greece's Danai Beach Resort, I can comfortably state that a day here can only be described as heaven on earth…
Travelling around Norway from Oslo to Bergen is no mean feat; a landmass so speckled with mountains and fjords that everywhere you turn it's impossible not to be awed by the staggering and dramatic landscapes that surround you. And there are several modes of exploration available, from boats…
As a real foodie I was extremely excited at the opportunity of travelling to Sri Lanka on my recent research trip to sample first hand some of their culinary delights such as hoppers and curries, and I was not disappointed. Having spent the last fortnight in Sri Lanka I have realised that it…
Having previously been to Thailand twice before, I presumed that I had already experienced most of what the country has to offer. However, on my recent trip to the self-claimed 'nation of smiles', my presumptions were proved highly incorrect (as most often they are).
Scary? Yes - absolutely. Incredible? Definitely. Set 380m on the side of a vertical limestone cliff in Peru's Sacred Valley cling four pods - three bedrooms and a restaurant. And how do you get there? You climb!
Cast aside any visions of fancy lodges and manicured camps, sometimes the best experiences come in more basic packages, which is exactly what I got when mobile camping in Botswana; just me, my tent, a long drop and a camp fire...
Vast deserts, towering mountains, infinite salt pans and endless game, who wouldn't want to drive around the world's second least populated country? Our resident ex-safari guide, Matt, explains why he thinks Namibia is the world's best destination for a self-drive safari.
Colombia - an absolute whopper of a country both geographically speaking (although it's no Brazil) and in terms of its diversity. It may forever remain synonymous with one particular resident (thanks, Narcos), however, on my trip to this colourful (in more ways than one) country I discovered…
I've just returned from an epic road trip through the USA's Deep South, a place of charming cities, sweeping mountains and musical marvels. Rather than try and put it into words, the best way to describe this region is actually in numbers…
Many people consider a cruise boat when contemplating a trip to Egypt… I can honestly say I've found the boat to do this: the one and only steam ship to ply the Nile, the SS Sudan is beyond compare and stands head and shoulders above the rest.
The beauty of an Italian road trip is that the relatively small size of the country means journey times are kept to manageable lengths (meaning the risk of map-related arguments is, critically, also kept to a minimum). The other beauty is, well, the beauty. Few countries offer such stunning…
When we're putting together your trip, choosing the perfect hotel is one of the key conversations. The hotels, camps and lodges we work with are - naturally - beyond reproach, but the team here at Original Travel have had to kiss a whole host of hotel frogs to come up with our portfolio of…
Turkey may have had a tough time of it recently but it is very much open for business and remains one of our favourite European destinations with its beguiling mix of culture, history, scenery and incredible hospitality. In need of convincing? Here are five reasons why Turkey should be your…
They may have a long standing rivalry in football, but they also happen to be two of our favourite Latin American holiday destinations, so how do Argentina and Brazil measure up alongside each other off the football pitch?
Does your ideal holiday involve spending your days weaving through winding streets, coiffing coffee and local eats at hidden restaurants and immersing yourself in a completely new city? Then you've come to the right place. Here is our definitive list, which took much refining, of our…
When it comes to friendly locals, Australian's are well known for being some of the friendliest out there. People do actually say g'day and you won't be hard pushed to find a gang of surfers barbequing at the beach. Plus, with a population of 24 million people, there are plenty of mates to make.
Sweden brings far more to the table than just the delights of Ikea and Abba, with its culture, nature and cuisine all providing some unforgettable experiences, be it during winter in Lapland or summer in Stockholm. So, start working your way through our top five experiences in Sweden as an…
Sometimes the best way to really get to the heart of a place is by heading to a local market for a spot of shopping. Witnessing the various ways that locals try and bag themselves the best deals, with frantic arm waving and price haggling, is often something quite extraordinary. So, here are…
In musical terms (stay with me), the phrase "deep cuts" refers to the true gems that are found later in an album; these tracks offer the same musical style of a given artist but don't ever make their way into the public consciousness. The music of true music lovers, if you will. Well, the…
Greece has long been a favourite destination of ours, equally brilliant both for honeymooners looking for a tranquil escape, and for families avoiding the rain of the English summer. So, we have put together a list of our top five best experiences in Greece, ranging from monasteries on the…
Re-use, reduce, recycle. We all know the huge importance of conserving and protecting our beautiful planet, and we all try to do our bit to help the environment and to reduce both our energy use and waste (Kenya and Rwanda are away ahead of us by the way, banning the use of plastic bags…
