Monthly Archives: July 2026

Copenhagen, Denmark Why go? Copenhagen is a model of sustainable urban living, and in 2026, it’s going to be all about cycling, organic dining, and eco-friendly hotels. The city is one of the happiest in the world, and it shows. Kyoto, Japan Why go? After the frenzy of Tokyo, Kyoto’s temples, zen gardens, and traditional […]

Overflowing with rich cultural experiences, historical monuments, and an alluring, albeit frenetic, energy, the unique attractions of India’s bustling capital have spellbound generations of travellers across the centuries. The ever-present anchor of the multitude of kingdoms and empires that have risen and fallen around it, Delhi boasts a layered architectural legacy and an international cultural […]

Thank you to Expedia for sponsoring this blog post. I’ve been visiting 30a ever since my college days (which were far too many moons ago at this point, thank you very much). We took a family trip to Watersound this month, and it was Alex’s first time to visit. Being the Aussie he is, Alex […]

A Coastal Maine Road Trip with Kids (What to Know Before You Go) We packed in lobster rolls, coastal strolls, lighthouses and one too many “just one more stop!” moments…all within 6 days (that’s all we had). And while it was so much fun, it was also… a lot. Looking back, I’d absolutely recommend stretching […]

There comes a point every winter when the great British weather seems determined to test our resilience. When the novelty of cosy evenings and hot chocolate has well and truly worn off, the Christmas decorations are more of an annoyance than a celebratory feel good, and sunset arrives no sooner than you finish your afternoon […]

A couple contacted me at Concierge Unique in late May one year asking about a villa for the first two weeks of August. They had been looking online for several weeks. They had found properties they liked. They had a budget that would have been entirely adequate in February. In May, it was adequate for […]

It is the moment everyone waits for on safari. Sometimes, quite literally everyone. You have spent the morning searching for that elusive leopard. Perhaps a guide has just tracked a lion pride moving through the bush. Maybe, after hours of anticipation, a pack of endangered African wild dogs finally emerges from the grass. You lift […]

As Europe starts opening up to travelers again, it’s more exciting than ever to think about the cultural treasures that await. For me, one of the great joys of travel is having in-person encounters with great art and architecture — which I’ve collected in a book called Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces. Here’s an ancient favorite:  […]

For me, one of the great joys of travel is having in-person encounters with great art and architecture — which I’ve collected in a book called Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces. Here’s one of my favorites:    Nowhere else does the splendor of Moorish civilization shine so beautifully than at the Alhambra — this last and greatest Moorish […]

As Europe starts opening up to travelers again, it’s more exciting than ever to think about the cultural treasures that await. For me, one of the great joys of travel is having in-person encounters with great art — which I’ve collected in a book called Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces. Here’s one of my favorites:    […]