Travel Blog

Durnstein Castle & Richard the Lionheart’s Imprisionment

On another very hot day our group of 14 from the Avalon Waterway’s cruise ship chose the early morning guided…

Novotel Leeds Centre Hotel

Built in the early 20’s, Novotel Leeds Centre hotel is the right choice for guests who are searching for a…

The Danube and Budapest from Buda Castle

In one whoosh of a wand you can cross off three Budapest attractions all in one go in one morning:…

12 Century Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds

Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds – one of the UKs best preserved Cistercian monasteries in the country. built in the 12 Century…

Harewood House – Leeds

Harewood House About eight miles on the outskirts of Leeds is one of Britains most lavish buildings, Harewood House which…

Eurail Travel Pass (UK)

Make sure when you buy a Eurail Pass to do so in your home country as it is cheaper and…

We made the Finals!

The entire team at Let’s Travel magazine were thrilled to be a finalist in the 2018 AmCham-DHL Express Success &…

This Christmas list is the new ‘bucket list’

The Christmas list is the new ‘bucket list’ The Top 10 Most Popular Experience Gifts for 2017 Adrenaline, Australia’s most…

Thailand : Elephant Cup Polo

After four days of fun festivities on the bank of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River in Thailand, the 15th King’s Cup…

Air NZ with Ronan Keeting & Julian Dennison

Air New Zealand’s Christmas song has attracted more than 8 million global views since its premiere last week, and ‘Summer…

Thailand in mourning – VIP alert for travellers

Tourism Authority of Thailand : Visitor Information and advice on the Royal Religious Rites and status of attractions and events…

The true scale of tiger selfie tourism in Thailand

In the tragic wake of the scandal and closure of Thailand’s Tiger Temple, World Animal Protection exposes the true scale…

Ready to holiday? Read this first!

It doesn’t matter where you’re going, getting away for a break is always exciting. Whether it’s a romantic weekend away…

Interesting global coffee facts

When you are travelling and getting used to new cultures and cuisines, you could be excused from think that simplest…

Most Efficient Airports for 2014

ATRS (Air Transport Research Society), the world’s leading academic society in the air transportation field, measures and compares the operating/managerial…

Kiwi Businesses Failing to Address Complaints

Kiwi travel and tourism firms may need to review their online complaint management and social processes according to the results…

Air New Zealand First to Take Delivery of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Air New Zealand became the first airline to take delivery of the Boeing 787-9 at an event attended by more…

Heightened Security Confusion

Greeley Koch, executive director for the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, criticised a recent Transportation Security Administration advisory regarding the…

1 In 10 Forgot To Pack Underwear

New survey highlights the UK’s poor holiday packing habits When it comes to holidays, the UK is a nation of…

The hardest suitcases to crack

Global travel search site Skyscanner has set about testing the toughness of suitcases to reveal the brand most likely to…

Have you got the post-holiday blues?

With the summer holiday season drawing to a close, the New Year can be one of the most depressing times…

Elvis is alive and well in NSW!

Nadia is about to board the Elvis train and has spent the morning tracking him around Sydney …    

Aussie Icon 2014 Wall of Fame Recipient

As one of our intrepid writers heads off to join the Elvis Train, we’ve just head word in that Ian…

Branson and Rafter take up Make the Most of the Moment challenge

Sir Richard Branson and tennis legend Pat Rafter have a special place in their hearts for the Sunshine Coast and…

Photo of the week: India

This week’s photo is of an old woman in the slums in Mumbai, India. Image credit: Josias Tschanz, Photographer / filmmaker www.josiastschanz.com…

Photo of the week: British Columbia

This week’s photo is of old deserted century homes near Ashcroft, British Colombia. Image credit: Josias Tschanz, Photographer / filmmaker www.josiastschanz.com…

Photo of the week: New York

This week’s photo is of a view of Manhattan from a boat, New York, USA. Image credit: Josias Tschanz, Photographer /…

Photo of the week: Cuba

This week’s photo is of a Cuban man in front of his home in Trinedad, Cuba. Image credit: Josias Tschanz, Photographer…

Photo of the week: India

This week’s photo is of a gipsy boy in the desert near Jaisalmeer, India. Image credit: Josias Tschanz, Photographer / filmmaker www.josiastschanz.com…

Photo of the Week: Morocco

This week’s photo is of a Snake Charmer captured in Morocco Image credit: Josias Tschanz, Photographer / filmmaker www.josiastschanz.com www.countingants.com info@josiastschanz.com…

Photo of the week: Alaska

This week, we have two, both from Alaska. Both images were captured by: Josias Tschanz, Photographer / filmmaker www.josiastschanz.com www.countingants.com info@josiastschanz.com…

The Utah town of Moab – Majestic, Outstanding, Adventuresome, Beautiful

We arrived in Moab on the hottest day of the year as the thermometer reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit – almost…

Below Stairs on the Bordello Trail at the Occidental Hotel

Last night we spent the night at the Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming. With only two rooms remaining we slept…

World’s rarest whale sighted

There was great excitement aboard Heritage Expeditions’ ship the Spirit of Enderby on Wednesday when an extremely rare North Pacific…

Our Trusty RV Shreds a Tire on a winding Wyoming stretch of Highway 14

We had planned to be in the town of Buffalo before 2pm to go horse riding on a local ranch,…

Fishing the Depths of Yellowstone Lake for Large Cutthroat Trout

It was hovering around freezing when we left the dock at Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake. The sun was…

Our ‘Old Faithful’ RV from El Monte Survives Yellowstone

On the last night in Yellowstone, the temps dropped to 24f or -4 degrees Celsius and our picnic table the…

Fly Fishing in Cottonwood Creek for Cutthroat Trout

About 90 minutes drive on gravel roads from Jackson Hole, Wyoming I was privileged to experience a day’s guided, exclusive…

Helen and Hobbs on a Harley Davidson

We were traveling over an 8,400ft pass from Idaho to Wyoming when we came across a group of Harley Davidson…

The One That Nearly Got Away

Slippery fishing on the Snake River! It was one of the last casts with a stonefly nymph on the South…

Whale Antics

Passengers on Black Cat Cruises harbour cruise on Akaroa Harbour this afternoon were treated with amazing views of a breaching…

Issue 24 is here!

  It’s so great to have that familiar “new ink” smell in the office again as we ship out the…

Fiji Bound …..

Our Editor-in-Chief is off to Fiji tomorrow. Her four day trip includes a multitude of properties, so she’ll have loads…

Cango Wildlife Ranch was truly wild!

What a blast – can’t thank the staff enough for the hands on experience I enjoyed at the Cango Wildlife…

Rest your head

A bit of a surprise on this latest trip was just how much apartment style accommodation has been added to…

The Trees are Alive . . . with Slithering Snakes

Undara National Park is teeming with wildlife and, to get a sense of how much wildlife, I joined the Sunset…

Steering in the Right Direction – Texas Longhorn Cattle Country

I arrived in Charters Towers, Queensland about midday and the heat was stifling. My first stop was to check into…

A One Man Quest – Finding Good Accommodation

A bit of a surprise on this trip was just how much apartment style accommodation has been added to the…

Tropical Townsville – Gateway to Magnetic Island

Townsville is slowly getting a good name for itself. Besides the busy working port, they have largest army barracks in…

A Horse is a Horse of Course of Course!

“Jack’s quite peculiar,” said Leonie, the wrangler. “He’s a snorkeling horse!” Right, I’ve heard that one before, I thought. On…

It Beats Gilligan’s Island – Mounu Island, Vav’vu

My first outer island destination in Vav’vu, Tonga was Mouna Island, all six and a half acres of it. It…

Lape Island Community Project, Vav’vu, Tonga

On my return to Neifau from Mounu Island we stopped in at Lape Village, what I can only describe as…

Those Boots Were Made For Walking

Last weekend, in glorious sunshine I spent some leisure time in the Whangarei district and along the Tutukaka Coast, located…

A River Run’s Through it . . . Bikes, Balloons and the Boise River!

In the winter the folk who live in Boise can sometimes experience 15c weather downtown so you’ll find many families…

Grizzly Hackle, Missoula, Montana

This outfitter has a great tackle store right in the heart of downtown Missoula and on the day I visited,…

One Man’s Adventure is Another Man’s Leisure – Sun Valley

  Sun Valley, Idaho. Most people have heard about it, why because it was the first ski resort in America…

A Real Western Town – Virginia City, Montana

If ever there was a city that retained a slice of the old west then Virginia City, Montana has to…

Montana’s Big Sky Country – High on the Wild

A short two hour drive from Virginia City, Montana I found myself pulling up to the front door of the…

Hell’s Canyon – A Snake River Shower!

After a night spent in the town of Riggins, a place with nice hotel, one Main Street, a few cafes,…

Tugs the Drugs! Fly Fishing on the Upper Selway River

I’d spent the night in a stunning log cabin at River Dance Lodge in Idaho. At 8am the next morning…

Wet and Wild in Idaho

It was just another lovely summer’s day in Idaho . . . the temperatures hovered around 80 degrees, down from…

Takatu Lodge, Matakana – Simply Sublime

From the moment the sunrise glowed from behind Little Barrier Island and I caught a glint of a touch of…

Riverside Matakana – Paradise Found

Planning a little weekend away then check out Riverside Matakana, a stunning property with 17 beautifully appointed batches. Each bach…

A Walk on the Wild Side – Bonorong Wilderness Sanctuary

  Where else can you get up close and personal with wildlife – no, not in a zoo – but…

A Convict’s Rite of Passage

  “I’m an eighth generation Tasmanian,” remarked Jake Bradshaw when we first met on the grounds of Port Arthur. “My…

Fit for a Premier – Quamby Estate, Tasmania

  Quamby Estate Golf is steeped in Tasmanian history as the home of Sir Richard Dry – the first Tasmanian…

California’s Temecula Valley ‘Au Naturale’ Temptations

Less than a couple of hours from downtown Los Angeles and one hour from Orange County, wine and vineyards feature…

Easy Rider – From Route 66 to 77 Sunset Strip

  It not often you can follow in the wheels of a cult movie but we somehow managed to drive…

Tarantulas, Gila Monsters, Mountain Lions and Western Diamond Back Rattlesnakes!

  One of the highlights of visiting the Sonora Desert in Arizona is the chance to experience a world-renowned zoo,…

A Wild, Wet and Windy Flying Foxy Fling

  With a low pressure weather system blanketing Tasmania, it was always going to be a bit wild, wet and…

Ride ‘Em Cowboy! Horse Riding, Saguaro Cactus and Rattlesnakes

  I once swore I’d never ever get on the back of a four legged critter again after a sunrise…

Pasadena’s Huntington Museum and Local Food Tours

  Famous for the Beach Boys song Little Old Lady from Pasadena and The Pasadena Rose Parade, this LA location…

Tombstone – “The Town Too Tough to Die”

  We arrived in Apache and Geronimo territory today and settled into the town made famous by Wyatt Earp, his…

Petroglyphs and a Primitive Campsite – An Arizona Hidden Attraction

  Mark, my other writing buddy from Arizona and I had decided to leave the comfort of the luxury RV…

On The RV Road Again in Southern California

  Having just set off on our two week Recreational Vehicle (RV) trip in the American Southwest we thought we’d…

Best International Pow Wow 2011 Host City Article!

Here’s Let’s Travel Magazine’s very own Gary Dickson as he accepts the award for Best International Pow Wow 2011 Host…

Hollywood Red Carpet Bash

  The opening night party at this year’s Pow Wow was a red carpet affair when they opened the Kodak…

We are WINNERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  The Let’s Travel team are very proud to announce that our Editor @ Large, Gary Dickson, has literally just…

3rd Street Pedestrian Mall – Santa Monica

  Now this is how to make a street into a pedestrian only mall. 3rd Street in Santa Monica is…

Jamaica Bay Inn

  For the first time in years we hailed a cab outside the international terminal at LAX and took a…

Sky High in Seoul

  Yes, Auckland has it’s Sky Tower like many other cities, but if you visit Korea you’ll want to see…

A Tipple a Day . . . Rice Wine Rules

  Just when you think you have tried most of the world’s potent beverages the Koreans come along and redefine…

Surprising Seoul

  On our first day touring Changdeokgung Palace it began to snow. The temps hovered just below freezing and a…

Staying Overnight Among the Vines

  After a sensational day out at the Wairarapa Harvest Festival where we were alongside more than 2000 other people…

A Visit to the Vintage Aviator

  The day was coldish and overcast and not the sort of day to linger outside too long so we…

Hoedown at the Harvest Festival

  It hardly seems like a week ago that I was hobnobbing it down at the 6th annual Wairarapa Wines…

Wine and Wheels with March Hare Cycling

  While all the real folk were working hard I was pedalling harder last Friday afternoon on a work assignment…

Getting streetwise …

  When I travel I love to try the street food, the good local ‘hole in the wall’ restaurants and…

Everest: Mission Accomplished!

Summitted Gorky Ri at 5360m after a 6am start and three hour climb. Day included summit descent, lunch, then another…

Everest: The eagle has landed

Day 11 I’ve now descended to Namche Bazar and spent three hours wandering the back alleys taking pics. Also had…

Everest: third blog

Midnight in an A-Frame tent, camping at Dole at 4090m. Below freezing outside, but tucked down in sleeping bag layered…

Everest: up, up and away!

Now at Namche Bazaar at 3583m for two nights under blue skies. Acclimatisation kicking in and walking is progressively harder!…

Everest: First camp

Camped at 2850m last night – down to freezing. Good group and meals are great. The hiking/altitude starting to kick…

Everest: The joys of travel

Day 1 in Nepal Start with a 5am wakeup call 5.30 breakfast 6am on the bus 4 hour wait at…

Kartwheeling in Kathmandu

On my first morning my mouth ached from a tooth infection. With a good dose of antibiotics and pain killers…

1000 miles down, many more to cover!

The intrepid Shane Boocock has now completed his seven day circumnavigation of the Scottish Highlands where he feasted on salmon,…

The best laid plans …..

It seems even Editors aren’t immune to the effects of the ash cloud …. Pacific Blue cancelled last night and…

Ssshhhhh – it’s all going a little quiet …….

It may get a little quiet around the site for a few days next week …. some well deserved R+R…

Starry starry night

Our Editor at Large is contemplating his 12 hour flight from San Francisco tonight as he sits around the swanky…

Flowers in your hair?

We’re in San Francisco for Powwow travel convention …. and the city is turning on the weather … and the…

Sky High in Queenstown

At 7am this morning there was frost on the ground and it was what I’d class as a bit nippy!…

Hiking This Restless Land

With Mt Ruapehu’s Crater Lake hotting up once more, I thought some of you would like to see it before…

USA – land of contrasts

While one Editor @ Large has been assessing the skiing in Colorado and experiencing white out conditions that enforced a…

Captivating Canterbury

What a beautiful time of year to be visiting the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island. My journey so…

Eating in Brisbane

Into my second day of eating and drinking in Brisbane as we wait for the Ashes to commence tomorrow. While…

Cricket, canapes and cocktails …

Off to Brisbane on Tuesday for the Ashes cricket test … shall endeavour to find a few gems on the…