Europe
The Best Pubs in Galway: Music, Pints, and Irish Craic
Anyone who’s been to Ireland knows that as amazing as Dublin’s pubs may be, the real craic is in Galway. Sure, I may be biased as Galway was once a place that I called home, but I’m not alone in my thoughts. Even the locals agree that Galway’s craic is top notch, with many of…
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What to Wear in Ireland: Stay Warm & Dry with this Ireland Packing List
I’m going to assume that you already know that Ireland has a reputation for, well, not the best weather. Rain, wind, more rain; you get the picture. But, when the sun comes out it can be warm and beautiful and, believe it or not, it does actually snow on occasion in the dead of winter.…
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The Best Castle Hotels in Scotland
Scotland has a ton of charm. From the dark, medieval city of Edinburgh, to the mysterious Loch Ness, and the fairy stories of the stunning Isle of Skye; this small island country is filled with magic. But while the folklore and landscapes are fun to explore, there’s another way to add some magic to your…
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How to Spend 2 Days in Edinburgh
Going to Edinburgh was my first real solo backpacking experience. Sure I’d been living in Ireland for a few weeks by then and seen a bit of the country, but I had either been with my parents or close enough to my new home that I didn’t feel that it really counted. I chose Scotland…
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Affordable French Chateau Hotels to Stay In
What comes to mind when you think of France? Is it the romantic city of Paris? The sea-side towns of south coast? Lavender fields in Provence, or the vineyards of Champagne? Or perhaps the hundreds of beautiful castles that dot the countryside? Personally, I’m a sucker for castles so they are always one of the…
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Sacré Bleu! 8 Things Not to do in Paris (and What to do Instead)
Confession: I never expected to like Paris. My mom went years ago when she was in her twenties and had nothing good to say about it. That, paired with the fact that it’s known to be such a romantic destination, kind of threw me off. Of course, then I heard that Paris had some of…
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The Best Things to do in Eze, France: A Day Trip from Nice
The French Riveria is a beautiful part of France to visit. There’s no shortage of charming coastal towns here and after spending a week based in Nice, I enjoyed exploring a few of them. However, without a doubt, my favourite was the cliff-side village of Eze. I visited Eze as a day trip from Nice…
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Fall in Love with Solo Travel in Paris
Paris is known as a romantic destination for couples but it’s actually one of my favourite cities for solo travel. In fairness, I didn’t expect to love Paris. I actually only went for the first time in 2011 because I heard of the Christmas Markets but it didn’t take long for me to fall in love…
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Cute and Cheap Hotels in Paris, France (Perfect for Solo Travellers!)
Ah Paris, France; the city of light and the city of love. Known as a romantic destination, it’s actually one of my favourite places to travel solo. Which is actually how I discovered that Paris, despite its popularity, actually has some really great budget-friendly accommodation options (and no, I don’t mean hostels). Sure, they may…
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A Night at Le Moulin Rouge: is it Really Worth it?
When it comes to Paris, the famous red windmill of Le Moulin Rouge is just as iconic as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, or the Louvre. First built in the late 1800s this world-famous cabaret has attracted visitors from across the globe for over a century. With its risqué performances and beautiful dancers, Le Moulin…
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Easy Day Trips from Paris by Train (Plus Guided Tour Options)
Paris is a stunning city with plenty to see and do. It’s easy to spend at least 3 days in Paris just exploring the cobblestone streets of the French capital. However, as enchanting as Paris is to discover, it’s also a great base from which to explore other charming French cities and attractions. So if…
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8 Tips to Explore Paris on a Budget (and Still Have a Magical Experience)
Paris on a budget? Sounds kind of crazy doesn’t it. But, from someone who has been four times I can tell you that it is possible. And possible in a good way, not the sleep in a 20 bed dorm and eat packaged noodles kind of way because, let’s be honest, that’s never fun. So,…
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The Best of Monaco in 1 Day
When I think of Monaco a few things come to mind; the iconic Monte Carlo casino, yachts, James Bond, the Grand Prix and pretty much anything else that screams bucket loads of money. The type of money I will never, even in my wildest dreams, come close to owning. But just because I could never…
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3 Days in Venice: The Perfect Venice Itinerary
I’ve been to dozens of cities around the world and yet Venice remains a favourite. There is something truly magical about this city with its canals instead of roads, gondolas instead of cars, and endless palaces. I’ve travelled solo to Venice three times now, my most recent visit was a week long. While some may…
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Paris in 3 Days: A Paris Itinerary for First-Timers
Ah Paris. The city of light. The city of love. It’s a favourite destination for many and for good reason. The capital of France is not only beautiful to explore but offers plenty and see to do. From wandering through local neighbourhoods to discovering the treasures of world-famous museums. Not to mention the food scene,…
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How to Spend 5 Days in Nice, France
Are you headed to the French Riviera for a few days and looking for ideas of what to see and do? I did this a few years ago and had a great time soaking up the sun and exploring coastal towns while using Nice as my base. With easy access to nearby towns, plenty of…
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Champagne Tasting in Reims
France is known for many things including champagne. The delicious, sparkling wine that is famous worldwide comes from a very specific area of the country. This area, called Champagne, is home to several towns and cities including Reims, the capital of Champagne. This city is home to many Champagne houses’ headquarters and many of these…
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The Perfect Crete Itinerary: 7 Days in Crete, Greece
Without a doubt Greece is one of my favourite countries. I love the islands, the food, the cute towns with the friendly locals and, of course, the beaches. Plus, I also feel comfortable traveling solo in Greece as a woman. So, when friends of mine planned a destination in Crete I quickly said “YES!” and…
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How to Plan a Day Trip to Lake Como From Milan
Lake Como is one of the most popular places in Italy. Famous for its resort towns and villas, Lake Como has a reputation for being a playground for the rich and famous. Which of course, means that when it comes to travel in Italy, Lake Como has a reputation for being a more expensive destination,…
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European Christmas Market Itinerary by Train
If you are a regular reader then you already know that I LOVE Christmas markets. Ever since I discovered that they existed way back in 2011 when I travelled for the first time, I’ve been kind of obsessed. The holiday season may be cold in Europe, but it’s so darn magical and hands down one…
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Experience the Magic of Paris at Christmas with These Festive Ideas
I love Paris and I love Christmas, so getting to see Paris at Christmas was pretty, well, magical. I’m no stranger to exploring Europe during the Christmas season. After all, Europe’s Christmas markets are basically my version of Disneyworld. But, there’s something about the way that Paris does the Christmas season. It’s just that little…
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Christmas in Colmar, France (2022): Everything You Need to Know About Colmar Christmas Markets
If you are at all familiar with France you’ve no doubt heard of the fairytale town of Colmar. It’s said to be the jewel of the Alsace region and the inspiration behind the village in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. After a couple of minutes of walking through ‘Little Venice’ you’ll see why! Colmar, like…
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Christmas in Strasbourg, France (2022): Everything You Need to Know About Strasbourg Christmas Markets
For me, the holiday season is the most magical time of the year and while I will always be home for Christmas, I absolutely love spending part of the holiday season in Europe experiencing Europe’s best Christmas markets. Germany and Austria tend to be the favourites with big cities like Vienna and Nuremberg taking the…
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Nuremberg Christmas Markets: The Ultimate Guide (2022)
Germany is king when it comes to Christmas markets and while I love so many that this country has to offer, I think the Nuremberg Christmas Market takes the cake. Or, maybe in this case the lebkuchen which is German gingerbread for those who don’t know. After all, we are talking about Christmas here! So,…
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Experience the Magic of Christmas in London with these Festive Activities (2022)
Flashing lights, roller coasters, and festive afternoon tea. Christmas in London isn’t as traditional or old-world as in some other European destinations like, say, Christmas in Vienna, but there’s something about the Holiday season in London that still gets me excited. There are London’s Christmas markets which range from carnival-esque fairs to quaint German-style wooden…
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