Category: Reflections On Travel

  • The Confidence Gap Nobody Talks About When Learning A Language

    The Confidence Gap Nobody Talks About When Learning A Language

    I’ve travelled to more than 150 countries over the last twenty-five years, yet for most of that time I genuinely believed I was terrible at languages. It wasn’t because I couldn’t learn vocabulary or understand grammar. It was because every time I tried to speak, I became someone I barely recognised: hesitant, self-conscious and afraid…

  • The Quiet Magic Between Realejo And Centro Sagrario

    The Quiet Magic Between Realejo And Centro Sagrario

    I first visited Granada years ago and left knowing I’d barely scratched the surface. Returning with no itinerary beyond exploring the streets of Realejo and Centro Sagrario at walking pace, I discovered a different side of the city altogether. Colourful street art, hidden cafés, long afternoons beneath the trees in Campo del Príncipe and conversations…

  • Can Self-Learning Language Apps Alone Make You Conversational? What I Found Out

    Can Self-Learning Language Apps Alone Make You Conversational? What I Found Out

    Self-learning apps can help travellers start a language, but real conversation needs human practice, correction and confidence when someone actually answers back.

  • What Actually Works When Learning A Language As An Adult?

    What Actually Works When Learning A Language As An Adult?

    I have always been bad at languages, which is more than a little embarrassing for someone who has spent his life travelling the world. Now, while travelling through Spain, I am trying a different approach to learning a new language as an adult: real conversation, human feedback and personalised lessons with Preply.

  • Learning To Travel Again

    Learning To Travel Again

    After a serious illness and a hard recovery, I am finding my way back to travel, not as work, not as content, but as something real again.

  • Three Days In Jerusalem: The Perfect Itinerary For First Time Visitors

    Three Days In Jerusalem: The Perfect Itinerary For First Time Visitors

    Jerusalem is one of the world’s most extraordinary cities, where more than three thousand years of history, faith and culture converge within a remarkably small area. Sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, its ancient streets have witnessed empires rise and fall, while beyond the Old City’s walls a vibrant, modern city offers outstanding food, bustling…

  • The Ultimate Tel Aviv Travel Guide For First-Time Visitors

    The Ultimate Tel Aviv Travel Guide For First-Time Visitors

    Discover the very best of Tel Aviv with this complete first-time visitor’s guide, covering everything from neighbourhoods, beaches and food to costs, transport and the experiences that make Israel’s vibrant coastal city unforgettable.

  • What To Expect At Israel’s Airport Security

    What To Expect At Israel’s Airport Security

    Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv is infamous amongst travellers for being seriously heavy with security. Horror stories of innocent travellers being detained for hours, missing flights and intrusive luggage checks are the norm, and the average traveller is often paranoid about strip searches and heavy interrogations, but is it really that bad?…

  • Is Israel Safe To Travel To? Perception Versus Reality

    Is Israel safe to travel to? When people think of travelling to Israel the question of safety and security always comes up. Is it too dangerous to travel in Israel? Are tourists putting themselves at risk in Israel? The truth of the matter is that the reality is very different to what many people assume.

  • Sunrises And Suicides At Masada National Park.

    Sunrises And Suicides At Masada National Park.

    A sunrise over Masada is spectacular, but the real reason to visit lies in the story beneath your feet. Explore one of Israel’s most extraordinary archaeological sites and discover the history, tragedy and resilience that transformed an isolated desert fortress into one of the Holy Land’s most enduring landmarks.