In this 'new normal' of travelling in a post-lockdown world, we will all have to take into account things we would never normally consider when booking a holiday. Do we want to sit crammed in next to strangers on an aeroplane for hours, or would we rather stick to our own 'bubble' and drive…
As the world opens up again for travel, we're willing to bet that road trips are going to be the big summer trend. If you're planning a driving holiday in Europe there's a lot to consider, from destinations to driving routes and from packing essentials to memorable activities along the way.…
We're partial to a travel daydream, and lately we've been particularly taken with the idea of a retro road trip through Europe, motoring through picture perfect countryside, delving into the nooks and crannies of culture-filled cities and sampling the continent's best food and wine as we go.…
If you're desperate to travel post-lockdown but the prospect of flying fills you with dread, we're here to offer an alternative: the Eurotunnel. Board this fantastic futuristic train (big enough to hold a full-sized lorry as well as a full fleet of family-filled cars) and you can whizz under…
There are a few holiday types that deserve 'classic' status: the family ski week in the Alps, the road trip, the African safari and the sexy city break to name but four, but I'd like to add another one in to the mix - a week long gulet cruise in Turkey.
It's a staple storyline from hundreds of Hollywood movies: our hero(ine) leaves their small hometown and has many adventures and romantic trysts in the wider world before the epiphany that the boy/girl next door back home was the love of their life all along. That's a rather convoluted…
If you and your betrothed are not the type to yearn for a cookie-cutter honeymoon - perhaps the shimmering shores of the Caribbean, or maybe the rousingly romantic rue's of Paris are not calling your name - may we take the liberty of serving up some delightfully alternative honeymoon…
We talk a lot about our additional services. After all, they are one of the key things that sets us apart from the competition, and even more important in the new normal. But our regional playlists are one of the services we don't often bang the drum (excuse the pun) about.
We know you've been waiting for it all week, it's time for Original Travel's weekly travel quiz! It's week eight, so you've got more than a few weeks of travel trivia under your belt, now its time to hit the big quiz leagues. Being the world-class travel nerds that we are, the team at…
Yes, you read that right; this is actually a travel company suggesting we might travel less. Let me explain. As we gradually emerge, blinking, into the post-lockdown light, it's only natural that we'll be wary of travel for a while. Airports are likely to be more difficult places to…
If there's one thing that the lockdown has taught us, it's that old-fashioned fun has become the new norm. A thousand-piece puzzle? Piece of cake. Knitting? A Friday night favourite. The Original Travel Quiz? Highlight of the week. We hope you've brushed up on your travel knowledge because…
Do you remember the Peugeot 505 Familiale estate car? I'm showing my age here, but back in the early 80s it was the go-to ride for big families thanks to the novel idea (well, in a car anyway) of a fold-up third row of seats in the otherwise cavernous boot. Some of my fondest holiday…
This summer, swap your usual European beach break for an alternative holiday with the inevitable braggability factor that comes with going somewhere a little more niche. Whether you're tempted by a traditionally 'winter' destination such as Swedish Lapland or fancy exploring a lesser-visited…
Responsible travel, sustainable travel, eco-travel - call the concept what you will, but these buzzwords are making waves, and with good reason. We all want to safeguard our beloved planet, but we don't want to (and shouldn't) give up travel altogether, so how can we create the conditions…
Taking the planet's pulse is a particularly pleasurable part of our job, and each year we predict which destinations will hit the heights. So, without further delay, we introduce Original Travel's magnificent seven trending destinations for 2020. Some are entirely new destinations for us,…
Sometimes, being selfish isn't such a bad thing, and packing your bags and jetting off on a solo adventure is, arguably, one of those times. Travelling on your own is the best way to do exactly what you want to do; no waiting for someone else, missing out on an activity, or - even worse -…
Imagine a reality in which your soul existed outside of your body in animal form. This is the world created by Phillip Pullman in his best-selling trilogy, His Dark Materials, which was recently adapted into a hit BBC drama starring the likes of Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson and James McAvoy. From…
Here at Original Travel, we're big believers in the benefits of Slow Travel (which we define as travelling by modes of transport other than plane or car; such as train, horse, walking, biking, boating and more). As well as giving you the chance to appreciate and connect with your…
There's no denying that wellness is having a moment and in travel, people are increasingly seeking out holidays with a healthy twist. Whilst meandering through the limestone peaks of the Dolomites and coasting along the shores of Lake Garda and Lake Como, our Italy expert, Charlotte,…
Sweden is known for a lot of things: excellent design, an unfairly tall and attractive population, ABBA and… food. On a recent foodie trip to Stockholm, our Sweden expert, Ella, fell head over heels for their incredible food culture and returned convinced that despite its small size, you'd…
The idea of going for a run on holiday might sound like your idea of a living nightmare, but hear us out. Running can be the perfect way to explore a new place while gaining a totally new perspective of your surroundings. Getting up bright and early and heading out for a run can give you the…
Hulking mountains, glittering glaciers and Wild West-style towns; the Yukon plunges you into a world of adventure in the great outdoors. Whether you're gazing wide-eyed at the dancing Northern Lights, kicking back with a cancan show or soaring over icy lakes in a single propeller plane, the…
Luxury holidays tend to fall very squarely into two very different camps. On the one hand are the health holidays: lung-busting hilltop hikes by day, healthy farm-fresh meals by night and a smattering of smoothies and spa treatments in between. They'll leave you feeling great but perhaps a…
'I' definitely does not always come before 'E' except after 'C' (just go to Iceland and see some 'glaciers') and you may want to 'warn' people about your 'worn' jeans (you may even shed a tear over the tear). The English language is full of quirks - words that sound the same but can be…
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.
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…
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?
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…
