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...
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The perfect 5 day Hong Kong itinerary for first-time visitors
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 myself in a very warm Hong Kong for a day. But Hong Kong is more than just a stopover; it’s also an amazing destination for a longer city trip. That’s why I recently flew to Hong Kong for my first ‘real’ visit. I spent 5 days here, which was perfect for a first introduction to the city. In this post, I’ll share in detail what I did each day, where I ate, and some useful tips. Hopefully, my 5 day...
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17x Best things to do in Athens, Greece + useful tips
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...
Kruisherenhotel Maastricht review: design in a Gothic church
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First time in Taipei: 15x fun things to do and see
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...
15x My favorite things to do in Tallinn in Winter
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...
Essen & Duisburg: the Urban Jungle of the Ruhr Region in Germany
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...
15 Great Things to Do in Amersfoort, the Netherlands
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...
A Stay at the Legendary Hotel des Indes in The Hague
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...
Visiting Dordrecht, a Perfect Day Trip from Amsterdam
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10 x The Hague Hotspots: Tips from a Local
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How to Spend 3 Days in Cape Town, South Africa
There are many places in the world I'd like to go back to some day. But with Cape Town, it wasn't a matter of wanting, but knowing that this was going to be a first of many visits. This is my kind of city, I love it! And because I'm totally convinced that there will...
Coffee Lover’s Guide: 15 Best Cafes in Chiang Mai
I'm spending two weeks in Chiang Mai. With all the stories I'd heard about digital nomads choosing this city as their base in Thailand I figured there must be enough to do and see to keep me busy for two weeks. After the first two days I'm wondering if maybe I was...
Design Hotel August: a Luxurious Stay in a Former Convent
I don't particularly like celebrating my own birthday. But I do love celebrating other people's birthdays! Unfortunately, many of my friends go through the same phase of not wanting to be reminded that they're getting older and prefer not to make a big deal out of it....
Best things to do in Seville: 16x where to go, eat & stay
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Amerikalinjen: Oslo’s most beautiful boutique hotel
As I cross the street from Oslo's Central Station I’m looking up to this impressive building that’s been here for a hundred years. This was once the headquarters of the Norwegian America Line ('Amerikalinjen'), a cruise ship company taking passengers to the United...
The Ultimate Oslo City Guide: 21x What to do & Where to eat
It's not the first time I'm visiting Oslo, the capital of Norway. I've been here once before with my family when I was a teenager. Which, let's be honest, is a really long time ago. I remember seeing an old Viking ship, eating lots of waffles and trying cheese with a...
Where to Stay in Chicago: Dana Hotel and Spa
I have booked my flight. The next question is: where to stay in Chicago? As much as I like hotels, I always find this extra difficult when I visit a city for the first time. After all, you don't want to end up in a bad neighborhood, or be too far away from all the...
How to eat your way through Bangkok
I know, writing about where to eat in Bangkok (or Thailand) and not mentioning street food is kind of unacceptable. But with so many stories already out there about where to find the best street food, what Thai food you must try, etc.... I thought I'd focus on another...
Where to stay in Chiang Mai: 4 Boutique Hotels
Tourists and digital nomads have clearly discovered Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second city. Mostly known for the over 300 Buddhist temples, these days you’ll be just as impressed by the number of hotels, restaurants and trendy coffee shops. They’re everywhere. Finding a...
Where to Eat in Chicago: 10 Great Places You Don’t Want to Miss
Why do I keep forgetting how long it takes to change the design of your website?! Anyway, that's what I've been working on these past weeks. And the reason why it's been a while since I shared my last post here. But I'm mostly done now (it's never really done, now is...
My 15 Favorite Things to Do & See in Chicago
It's my first time in Chicago. In a week I'll be starting a new job and even though I didn't know that when I started planning several months ago, the timing is now kind of perfect. Traveling 'in between jobs' always gives me that extra sense of freedom where I don't...
Where to Stay in Bangkok: 3 beautiful boutique hotels
Whether you're visiting Thailand to lie on a tropical beach or explore the hipster coffee scene in Chiang Mai, your first stop is probably going to be Bangkok. I'm not using Bangkok simply as a jump-off point to visit the rest of the country. It's my first time in...
A Day Trip to Nara Deer Park in Japan
I’m currently in Bath (the city, not the tub) where I’ll be ringing in the new year. It’s the last day of the year. The final blog post of 2018. Time to make travel plans for 2019 and look back at the beautiful places we visited this year. I didn’t travel as much as...
15 Amazing restaurants in Maastricht & shopping tips
If my previous post didn't convince you to visit Maastricht, then this one should do it. Because in addition to being super charming, Maastricht is also a great city for shopping and eating. So in this post, I'm sharing my favorite cafés and restaurants in Maastricht...
3 Days in Maastricht: Best things to do & hotel tips
Maastricht is the most southern city in the Netherlands. So southern that it actually takes me longer to get here than Antwerp or Brussels in Belgium. But I love visiting Maastricht. It's a beautiful, historic city and so different from other Dutch cities that it...
11 Great Things to Do in Mechelen, Belgium
With its location in the heart of Flanders Mechelen is the perfect destination for a day trip from Brussels or Antwerp. Or - in my case - a nice weekend break. When I arrive at Mechelen station, I'm surpised it takes me less than two hours to get here from The Hague...
How to Spend a Fun Weekend in Brisbane
The main reason I decide to visit Brisbane? Koalas. Yes, I've seen them relaxing in a tree on the Great Ocean Road. But... I want to hold one. Have one of those super posed and touristy photos where you get to hold one and fall in love for as long as it takes to take...
St Petersburg Guide (Part 2): Things to Do on Your First Visit (+ video)
As I decribed in my first post about St Petersburg, I'm leaving the city after six days wanting to see more of this fascinating country. I realise how little I know about Russian history except for the major events and the people who played a role in it. But visiting...
My 8 Favorite Things to Do and See in Kyoto
After the first couple of days in Tokyo, we continue our trip through Japan in Kyoto. By now the worst of that terrible jet-lag (that never seems to end) is behind us. And we're getting better at finding our way in this country that feels so structured and organised,...
St Petersburg Guide (Part 1): First Impressions & Getting a Russian Visa
After six days in St Petersburg, I’ve only scratched the surface of what Russia is like. I am under no illusion that you can get to know a country this big and diverse by visiting just one city. But it is a great introduction to Russia and I leave hungry for more. Not...
10 Food & Shopping Hotspots You Need to Know in Gothenburg
The woman behind the counter looks confused when I apologetically respond to her question in English. It's not the first time this happens. Not that the people in Gothenburg don't speak English, which they do perfectly, but with the way I look they often think I'm a...