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Dubai fascinates me. The sky is literally the limit with all the luxury in the world, its new high-rise buildings and Western-style mega malls. Whatever you want to do or buy, you’ll probably be able to find it in Dubai. But for me, the city has no soul. Everything is...
Dubai fascinates me. The sky is literally the limit with all the luxury in the world, its new high-rise buildings and Western-style mega malls. Whatever you want to do or buy, you’ll probably be able to find it in Dubai. But for me, the city has no soul. Everything is new, mostly built after the seventies, and seems to be aimed at spending as much money as possible. If you’re looking to find some history or culture, you’ll have to look hard. I did find some though. Al Bastakiya is one of the oldest neighbourhoods (1890’s) in the city with narrow, labyrinthine streets, art galleries, museums and cafés. It’s a nice contrast to all the skyscrapers. Unfortunately...
OTHER DESTINATIONS
De mix van oud en nieuw vind je overal in Athene. Het is inmiddels een terugkerend thema in mijn tips voor deze leuke stad. Of ik het nu heb over de leukste bezienswaardigheden, mijn favoriete restaurants of mijn hoteltips. Over één onderwerp heb ik het echter nog...
Paris is one of those cities I’ll never get tired of. I lived there for a year, and no matter how often I return for a short city break, it’s always great to be back. Wandering the charming streets, having coffee at a cozy café, enjoying great food (obviously), or...
Budapest is a fantastic destination for a city trip in Europe. It reminds me of cities like Paris or Vienna, with beautiful streets full of impressive architecture, a fascinating history, and a rich cultural scene. But what makes Budapest truly special for me is how...
Hong Kong is a city with so much energy that it never seems to sleep. Between the neon lights and the crowds on the streets, there’s a lot to discover. Whether it’s your first time in Hong Kong or you’ve been here before, you’ll always find fun and interesting things...
By now, it probably won’t surprise you that I often choose my travel destinations based on their reputation for great food. So when I recently decided to spend five days in Hong Kong, my preparation mainly consisted of compiling a long list of restaurants and cafes to...
Hong Kong is such a unique and fantastic city where East meets West. Whether you're visiting for the delicious food, the impressive skyline, or the charming neighborhoods, there are a couple of things that are good to know in advance so you can make the most of your...
Many people get their first taste of Hong Kong during a layover on a long flight. With a bit of luck (or good planning), you can spend a day or two exploring the city. That was my experience as well. Sixteen years ago, I missed a connecting flight and suddenly found...
It’s no surprise that Greece is a foodie paradise. Especially the capital Athens offers countless fantastic restaurants, making it tough to decide where to eat. If you want to enjoy good food in Athens, you’re certainly not limited to Greek cuisine. Whatever you’re...
For the most beautiful luxury boutique hotel in Athens, you’ll want to head to the Psirri neighborhood. Nestled just around the corner from the bustling Varvakeios Market and surrounded by street art, local restaurants, and artisanal shops, you’ll find the stunning...
For a European city trip in the off-season, Athens is the perfect destination. I always struggle to decide where to go in October or November for a decent chance at good weather. Turns out that Athens is the answer! A few days of 20-25°C sunshine quickly made me...
Tallinn is such a great destination for a city break. While it's said to be a lot of fun during the summer months, I deliberately chose to visit Tallinn right in the middle of winter. Why? Fewer tourists, lower hotel rates, but most importantly: snow. A beautiful, old...
One of my favorite things about a city trip is staying at a beautiful boutique hotel. A place where great attention has been paid to the (design) interior, the service is top-notch, and you're spoiled with a delicious breakfast in the morning. For the past few years,...
There are two main reasons why you should include Chiayi in your Taiwan itinerary. First, you can visit the beautiful Alishan Forest Recreation Area from here as a day trip. And second, it’s famous for its food scene and authentic Taiwanese dishes that originate from...
In addition to visiting amazing cities like Taipei and Tainan, you definitely don't want to miss Taiwan's beautiful nature. Taroko Gorge is on every nature lover's list. But there's another national park in Taiwan that's absolutely worth a visit: Alishan National...
As much as I love city trips, sometimes all I want is to spend some time in nature. Enjoying the fresh air and some peace and quiet. Ideally, with a bit of luxury, of course. And I can now tell you from personal experience that when it comes to luxury hotels...
A visit to Tainan should definitely be part of your Taiwan itinerary. Not only was Tainan the official capital of Taiwan between 1624 and 1887, it is also Taiwan's oldest city. And did you know that this part of Taiwan was once a Dutch colony (between 1624-1662 and...
For true foodies, Tainan is a must-visit on your Taiwan itinerary. There's a reason why this city is known as Taiwan's food capital. I spent 4 days (3 nights) in Tainan and discovered many great places to eat or have coffee during that time. Whether you're planning to...
Located on Taiwan's east coast, near the city of Hualien, lies the spectacular Taroko Gorge National Park. With its impressive marble cliffs, dramatic landscapes, ancient temples, and intensely blue water, this is definitely one of the highlights of my time in Taiwan....
For a weekend getaway in the Netherlands, Maastricht is one of my favorite destinations. Nowhere else in the Netherlands do I feel so much like I’m on vacation, and I want to spontaneously start speaking to people in another language. I'm also a big fan of beautiful...
A city trip to Taipei might not be the most obvious destination given the time it takes for most of us to get there. But if you're planning to spend more time in Taiwan, then visiting Taipei will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip. I begin and end my...
If you still need a reason to travel to Taiwan... the food is fantastic! The charming street food stalls on every corner, the amazing night markets, the strong influences from both Chinese and Japanese cuisine, and of course, authentic Taiwanese food. In this Taipei...
Taiwan is an amazing country to visit. It is quite modern, so you don’t have to worry much about getting from A to B or finding places to sleep. However, for many of us it’s a country on the other side of the world with from time to time its own ‘instructions’. Are...
Taiwan is one of those destinations where you really feel that you're traveling. I don't speak the language, you won't run into Western tourists all the time, there's delicious food on every street corner, and it has the most stunning nature. I have 2,5 weeks to...
A few minutes before arriving in Tallinn, the pilot informs us about the weather. Cloudy, windy, and snowy. Not what I would typically call holiday weather. But I decided to visit Tallinn in winter because of the snow, so this announcement actually makes me smile. And...
It’s been 30 minutes since we left our car and anything that reminds us of our hectic city life behind. Carrying a backpack that hasn’t been used in years. And pulling a folding wagon filled with food and drinks for the coming days. Any doubts about whether it’s still...
I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep this up, but for now I'm trying to avoid trips that require getting on an airplane. Which means that if I do want to travel abroad, I look for places just across the border. So when I received an invite to visit Essen and...
I'd been planning to visit Amersfoort for a while now. With its historic city centre, great restaurants and shops, and plenty of things to see, Amersfoort is the perfect destination for a day trip when you're visiting the Netherlands. This beautiful city is super...
The first time I visited Hotel des Indes was to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday. Despite having lived in The Hague her entire life, it also happened to be her first time to see the hotel from the inside. Hotel des Indes is a landmark in The Hague. Everyone...
Travel plans may have turned into vouchers for (hopefully) next year, but that doesn't mean that we won't be traveling at all. It will just be a bit closer to home. Starting with: Dordrecht, a perfect day trip from Amsterdam or Rotterdam. If I'm being honest, there...
Today, in addition to sharing some (definitely not all) of the 'The Hague hotspots' you should check out when visiting The Hague, I'll also be sharing these and more tips on a new app that gives you an easy way to collect, remember and share all the places you love....