Update: See our posts from this trip: Three weeks ago, I was feeling blue. It was exactly a year since we set off on our big road trip around California and I longed for another adventure. But this year has been one of uncertainty and we’ve found it hard to plan things in advance. Over … Read more
A road trip in Italy ticks all the boxes of epic drives, amazing food, friendly people, beautiful culture and some of Europe’s most gorgeous sights. It’s one of our favourite places to road trip, not least because of the food. We return again and again and are always re-intoxicated by its charms. We’ve done a … Read more
Set on seven hills overlooking the River Tejo, Lisbon is sometimes called the San Francisco of Europe, but I think that takes away from its own distinctive charm. The hills are certainly similar, and it shares a golden light, but much of the wonder of Lisbon comes from its history. Most of the city was … Read more
The view from the Dom Luis I bridge sums up the allure of Porto; port wineries on one side, a colourful hodge-podge of buildings and bell towers cascading down the other, and the peaceful Douro river flowing down the centre, lined with buzzing restaurants and people ambling by. The azulejo tiles, baroque and beaux arts … Read more
There’s nothing like a road trip in Europe to make you appreciate the diversity of the continent – buy croissants and go for a walk on a French beach in the morning then sip a spritz beside an Italian lake by sunset. From mountains to coast to cute medieval villages – there’s something to suit … Read more
It’s finally here – the new look Bridges and Balloons. As much as I loved the old site, it had had its day. It was slow as a sloth and as I’d insisted on building it myself, it was frankly a bit of a mess (code and I are not good friends). I wanted something … Read more
I’d been sitting with Anneena for an hour discussing everything from Frozen to the dangers of hiking drunk. She also told me she hopes to be a paediatrician when she grows up, but not a politician as they have a tendency to get shot. T he whole conversation was in English (including the word paediatrician) and at … Read more
Tokyo has some incredible hotels, but one of the most reasonably priced ways to stay there is to choose an Airbnb. There are all sorts of options, from traditional Japanese houses to modern apartments. And if you don’t mind sharing, you could stay in a guest room in someone’s home. We’ve curated a collection of … Read more
Santa Cruz has the ocean, the city, the forest and the mountains, and no matter which one you choose, there are some gorgeous places to stay. We’ve included some hotel options in our things to do in Santa Cruz post, and here’s our pick of the best Santa Cruz AirBnBs. They’re an excellent way to … Read more
San Francisco is one of my favourite cities in the world – a progressive hotspot, rich in counterculture, arts and beauty. It’s a city that gives birth to creativity of every kind, and makes for an intoxicating place to visit. Historically, it has lacked creative hotels, but it is now hot on the heels of … Read more