Matador Network's Blog, page 616
July 16, 2021
The Red Centre Way is the ultimate Australian family road trip from Alice Springs to Uluru
Rising 1,142 feet above the surrounding red desert in the southern part of the Northern Territory in Central Australia, Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, is one of Australia’s most recognizable natural landmarks. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 for both its natural and cultural values, Uluru is a great bucket list destination for a road trip through Central Australia.
One route is The Red Centre Way, a journey that spans over 700 miles in a circular trip across an ever-changing landscape between Uluru and Alice Springs, the nearest large town to Uluru, which is located pretty much in the exact center of Australia.
This trip begins in Alice Springs and follows a route that allows families to enjoy the best of Australia’s great outdoors with stunning gorges, canyons, and swimming holes. The main attraction is, of course, Uluru, where you can learn about the local Indigenous culture before returning to Alice Springs.
While it may seem daunting to embark on an off-road adventure through Central Australia, rest assured that road trips are entrenched in the Australian psyche and are a popular choice for families on vacation. This route in particular is an ideal introduction to the diversity of the landscape of the vast country and its culture. Here’s everything you need to know about driving The Red Centre Way with your family.
The best time to take a road trip on The Red Centre WayAlthough Central Australia is incredible all year round, the most comfortable time to visit is between May and September when the maximum daytime temperature is usually between 68°F and 86°F. From June to August it’s winter in Australia, and overnight temperatures drop, so it’s advisable to pack warm clothing and be prepared. September is ideal if you wish to see the desert wildflowers blooming around Uluru, a scene that family members of all ages can appreciate.
An overview of The Red Centre Way route
Photo: Benny Marty/Shutterstock
The Red Centre Way road trip through Central Australia is ideal for families, with plenty of outside fun and very limited WiFi to distract the kids from the great outdoors. Beginning in Alice Springs, the route heads west to explore the West MacDonnell ranges and their amazing gorges and swimming holes. The route then follows the Mereenie Loop Road, a red dirt track that connects the West MacDonnell Ranges with Kings Canyon, Australia’s version of the Grand Canyon. After Kings Canyon, the road takes you to Uluru, which can be experienced in a number of memorable ways. The road trip comes to an end when you depart Uluru and drive all the way back to Alice Springs, this time via the main highway.
The whole trip can be completed in five days, but that might feel rushed as you won’t have much time to enjoy the highlights. Seven days is ideal, and 10 days is pure outback bliss.
How families can experience The Red Centre WayAlice Springs
Photo: pierdest/Shutterstock
The starting point of any Central Australia road trip is Alice Springs. It’s the only decent-sized town for around 932 miles and is famous for its beautiful desert landscapes, opportunities for adventure, and Aboriginal cultural experiences. Located between the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, Alice is reached via domestic flights from most capital cities in Australia.
There are two important things that you need to get in Alice Springs, a 4WD vehicle and a Mereenie Loop pass. The Mereenie Loop pass is required to drive the Mereenie Loop Road, an iconic red dirt track along The Red Centre Way. It costs around $4, and passes are available at the Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre.
We recommend that you book a 4WD well before you arrive. Vehicles can be hired with or without camping gear; however, we recommend opting to rent as there are some amazing places to camp along the West MacDonnell Ranges.
If there is a spare day in Alice Springs before heading out, a visit to the Alice Springs Desert Park is popular with families for the opportunity to learn about the interesting animals and plants in the area. The park has great features, such as a walk-through bird aviary and the Nocturnal House, a purpose-built section showcasing the area’s nocturnal animals such as the bilby, mala, and thorny devil.
The West MacDonnell RangesHeading west from Alice Springs, there is no doubt that exploring the swimming holes and gorges within the Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park (aka the West Macs) will be a highlight of your family road trip. An ancient landscape that has been sculpted over time by the elements of nature, the West Macs are dramatic mountains with semi-permanent and permanent waterholes, and a red desert topography that contrasts with the green plant life and blue sky. It’s also a refuge for rare wildlife and plants, including the peregrine falcon.
Swimming and camping in The West MacDonnell Ranges
Photo: Roadwarrior Photography/Shutterstock
The route passes by Ellery Creek Big Hole, where you can pull up and enjoy a plunge in the cool creek that cuts through the high gorge walls in spectacular fashion. If time allows, there is a wonderful two-mile hike called the Dolomite Walk that takes you through the surrounding formations and offers stunning views.
Another scenic swimming spot is Ormiston Gorge, located a little further west. Possibly the most photogenic waterhole along The Red Centre Way, here you can enjoy deep water swimming, sand, and the native white gum trees that line the creek. A short but sweaty 20-minute hike up to a lookout offers amazing views of the creek as it cuts through the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Many who drive The Red Centre Way choose to camp at these waterholes for a night or two before making their way through to Kings Canyon via the Mereenie Loop Road. Camping at both Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge is available first-in first-served for a fee using an honesty box system. It cost about $6 for a family at Ellery Creek and $18 at Ormiston Gorge. Both campgrounds have toilets and barbecues but only Ormiston Gorge has showers and a kiosk selling ice-creams, coffee, and snacks.
Finke River, the oldest riverbed in the worldJust past Ormiston Gorge is Finke 2 mile, a 4WD-accessible-only camping area with no facilities. Here you can take an opportunity to splash around in the Finke River, said to be the oldest riverbed in the world. It’s not unusual to have the whole place to yourself, except for the flocks of brightly colored budgerigars that flitter around the white gums that grow in the sandy ground beside the creek.
Redbank Gorge
Photo: Christina Fink/Shutterstock
Located 97 miles west of Alice Springs, Redbank Gorge is the last wild swimming opportunity along The Red Centre Way. A hike along a river creek bed is required to reach the permanent waterhole at the end. Depending on recent rain, sometimes this hike is an easy stroll along a dry river bed, and other times it takes up to an hour scrambling over rocks. Either way, it’s worth the hike in for the opportunity to swim in this remote gorge with yellow-tinged water that contrasts beautifully with the red gorge walls and blue cloudless sky of Central Australia.
Camping is available here as well on a first-in first-served basis, but given the long hike into the actual waterhole with swimming gear, food, and water supplies, it’s not as appealing as Ormiston Gorge or Ellery Creek where you can take a dip within a few minutes stroll of the campground.
The Mereenie Loop RoadThe Mereenie Loop pass will be required for the next section of The Red Centre Way. Make sure it’s in your glove box or somewhere handy, and get ready to tackle the Mereenie Loop Road, an unsealed, corrugated track that links the West Macs with Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park.
The road itself is only around 87 miles long, but it can take two to three hours due to the conditions. This stretch of the route can be particularly dangerous with wildlife on the track, such as wild brumbies and camels. While driving the Mereenie Loop Road, expect amazing outback scenery with tons of red and green that contrast magically with the blue of the outback sky.
Kings Canyon
Photo: Jessica Palmer/Family Holiday Destinations
Located in Watarrka National Park, Kings Canyon is seriously underrated and at a great point of the route to stop and explore the area for a couple of nights. Kings Canyon Resort is around six miles from Kings Canyon itself and offers glamping facilities as well as a campground and hotel rooms.
The nearly four-mile Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a must-do here, offering a decent leg workout in the initial ascent, epic views, and the chance to experience the Garden of Eden, a hidden oasis in the middle of an otherwise red and barren landscape. There is also a more relaxed option in the almost two-mile return Kings Creek Walk, which meanders up the middle of the canyon at ground level.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Photo: Stickybeak TV/Shutterstock
The next section of the route takes you to Uluru, located within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This stretch of the journey takes around three hours (186 miles) from Kings Canyon Resort, and to be honest, it’s probably the least exciting part of the whole road trip. There is no mobile phone coverage for long stretches, so stock up on snacks and make sure the kids are strapped in and occupied.
You will spot Uluru in the distance long before you reach it, but don’t be tricked by Mount Connor, another giant rock that dominates the otherwise flat landscape. You can tell the difference between the two as Mount Connor has a completely flat top, whereas Uluru has more of a domed one.
Photo: Benny Marty/Shutterstock
There are many unique ways to experience Uluru; however, hiring a pushbike and cycling around it is a memorable option for families. Pushbikes can be rented from Outback Cycling, a private operator next to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, and the whole circuit is around nine miles. The walking trail around Uluru is a little shorter at around six miles, but a much easier and very popular route is the Mala Walk, which at one mile features caves with significant Indigenous heritage and examples of ancient rock art by Indigenous people.
Both kids and adults alike will love the sunrise Field of Lights tour, during which a bus transports visitors to a secret location to view hundred of thousands of multicolored solar-powered lights spread over an area the size of seven football fields. The Field of Lights is a long-running art installation by British artist Brue Munro who is best known for immersive large-scale light-based installations. Uluru’s Field of Lights can be viewed by a tour at sunrise, sunset, and after dark, but sunrise is particularly enjoyable — when the sky becomes lighter, Uluru itself in the background really stands out, changing from an earthy brown to a bright orange through to a flaming red as the morning sun rises higher in the sky.
Another great way to experience Uluru as a family is by camelback with Uluru Camel Tours. This camel farm is an animal-first farm with rules in place to ensure the welfare of these gentle giants. A number of tours are offered, but the Sunset Camel Tour is popular with families and includes a one-hour ride in the desert landscape with views of Uluru.
Photo: Benny Marty/Shutterstock
Families with older kids (over 12 years) will be able to experience Uluru on a segway tour, but family members of all ages can book in for an unforgettable scenic helicopter ride, although kids must be accompanied by an adult.
The Domes of Kata Tjuta
Photo: Maurizio De Mattei/Shutterstock
It’s worth devoting an entire day to the domes of Kata Tjuta, also located within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park roughly 36 miles west of Uluru. Formerly known as ‘The Olgas, it’s just as amazing as Uluru and is, in fact, larger. There are some spectacular walks here that really showcase the surrounding landscape, particularly the Valley of the Winds Walk in which you can run your hands along the ancient giant domes and imagine the stories they would tell, if only they could talk.
There is an entry fee of $28 per adult for a three-day pass to visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Children 17 years and younger are free. Most families choose to stay at Ayers Rock Resort, which is close to the national park and offers a range of accommodation from camping through to up-market hotel rooms.
If time allows you can extend your trip to explore more, but if not, head up the Stuart Highway back to Alice Springs to complete your Central Australia road trip. The journey back to Alice should take around five hours without stopping. 
The post The Red Centre Way is the ultimate Australian family road trip from Alice Springs to Uluru appeared first on Matador Network.
There really are more sharks in the water, but you can still swim and surf
If you feel like you’ve been reading about more shark sightings lately, it’s not just because this is Shark Week. It’s also not just because more people are fleeing record-breaking heat by going to the beach. It’s because there are more sharks.
And that’s a good thing, mostly.
It doesn’t feel so good if you’re the surfer who was attacked by a great white shark at a beach 20 miles south of San Francisco three weeks ago. Or the Southern California teenager whose hand was bitten by a different great white a few days later. Or the parents of an eight-year-old harmed in shallow Florida waters this month.
But as dramatic as these occurrences are, and as unfortunate for those involved, fatal shark attacks, and even minor injuries caused by sharks, are rare.
“The odds of any interaction are so low, it’s much more dangerous to drive your car … This is an irrational fear that doesn’t statistically exist,” says Chris Fischer, Founder and Expedition Leader for OCEARCH, an organization that collects and disseminates data about marine environments.
Sharks are making a recovery.
Photo: OCEARCH and Chris Ross
While Fischer says we should heap “love” on the families of those few individuals hurt by sharks, he believes that our reaction to the presence of more sharks in US waters should be pride. And joy.
“We’re in the midst of this amazing recovery of our sharks and the oceans in general on both our east and west coasts,” says Fischer. “It’s something to be celebrated right now, what’s happening. We are going to be proud in the United States with the ocean we leave our kids.”
As Fischer tells it, in the 1990s shark populations were at single-digit percentages of where they should be. But US conservation efforts launched decades ago — like the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which benefits a shark food source and crucial parts of the marine ecosystem — are showing positive effects today. Some species are nearing 20 percent of their target population numbers.
“We’re starting to see that some of our shark populations have rebuilt, some of them are still in process, and some of them are still struggling but moving in the right direction,” says Fischer. “So we’re in the midst of this incredible time because of great moves made about 30 years ago.”
OCEARCH’s role in the conservation effort is the addition of data. By tracking where sharks are moving, mating, and gestating, Fischer’s team provides marine biologists, fisheries, and other concerned parties the information needed to help manage that population back to recovery. Sharks matter, says Fischer, because they play a crucial role in the food chain.
“Sometimes people think, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of sharks here because there’s so many fish.’ And it’s like, ‘No, no. There’s so many fish here because of the sharks,’” says Fischer. “It prevents one tier of the food chain from collapsing others. We’re in the process of seeing that come back to the United States of America. And it’s really exciting, to turn our ocean back into a truly wild place again.”
The ocean is untamed, just steps from the beach.
Photo: Steffen Lay/Shutterstock
And that’s exactly what anyone who steps into the ocean should know: it’s a wild place.
“You need to understand that when you go down to the beach, when you’re three, four feet out in the ocean, you’re deep into the wild, immediately deep into the wild,” says Fischer.
Fischer says you need to have “situational awareness” and consider the habitat you want to enter. If gulls and pelicans are dive-bombing a certain area, and seals suddenly appear, don’t join the feeding frenzy. It means that birds and seals are feasting on schools of fish, and that, inevitably, sharks are below the surface ready to prey on the seals.
“You wouldn’t just hike into the forest if the mountain lion were chasing deer around,” notes Fischer. “You can’t go to the beach and just walk in. You need to take a look at it, you need to understand it a little bit. And you should be doing that anyway, for your own safety and for the safety of your loved ones.”
Fischer advocates for personal accountability because, as he and other experts explain, sharks aren’t out to get humans. When we enter their world, though, sharks, especially young ones, might confuse us with dinner.
You’re entering their world.
Photo: RugliG/Shutterstock
In the case of the two California incidents noted above, the sharks were believed to be juvenile “white sharks,” which is what marine researchers call what we know popularly as “great whites.” They were probably about two years old and just six to seven feet long, or half the length of adults.
Surfers are used to seeing photos of seals and shortboarders shot from underwater shown side by side. It turns out we look a lot like a seal when we’re wearing a wetsuit and our feet are dangling off the side of a board.
“When you’re in the middle of the food chain, and the seals are going off, and you’re dressed up like a seal, and the one in 13 million chance happens … it’s not on the shark. It’s like really just an unfortunate thing for everybody,” says Fischer.
Much more dangerous, he says, are rip currents. In places like San Francisco’s 3.5-mile-long Ocean Beach, great whites swim just offshore — and have even been spotted leaping out of the water, but no one has ever been attacked by one. Yet the same beach has seen multiple drowning deaths over the years, caused either by powerful rip currents or unexpected sneaker waves that sweep waders off to sea.
Be smart, be thankful, and do what you love.
Photo: Wonderful Nature/Shutterstock
Understanding ocean currents and avoiding areas where birds are stalking schools of fish are the most obvious things to keep in mind. If you want more reassurance, you could avoid swimming at the times that OCEARCH’s research shows white sharks are more likely to feed. That’s at dawn and dusk and at slack tide when the tide is not changing much, as it is when white sharks feed on seals. Tiger sharks, for their part, favor river mouths and locations where water is mixing. You could even use OCEARCH’s shark tracker to see where these mysterious fish are in the ocean.
But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go in the ocean altogether. “The likelihood is so low that if you’re a passionate surfer, and it’s the perfect wave, I totally get it. You’ve just got to be realistic,” says Fischer.
Nowadays, more people are surfing, kiting, kayaking, stand-up paddling, and the like. With ever better wetsuits, they are doing it in every season of the year. Coupled with healthier oceans off US coasts, it means shark encounters will increase.
“It’s simple math, but it’s not gonna be ever going to be any sort of runaway number. We just don’t see that,” says Fischer. On the contrary, we should look at more sharks in the water as the good news that it is. He says, “In aggregate, this should be a story of just tremendous joy.”
The post There really are more sharks in the water, but you can still swim and surf appeared first on Matador Network.
10 magnificent UK train journeys through seaside towns, national parks, and mountain peaks
The allure of train travel is that you spend fewer hours up in the air and more time immersing yourself in the scenery. Despite its humble size, the United Kingdom is filled with spectacular natural landscapes and historic towns that are best enjoyed from a comfy train carriage.
Traveling by train in the UK frees you up from valuable time chewed up by airports. There’s no need to worry about clearing security or checking and collecting your luggage when you take the train. Nor do you need to splash out on costly airport transfers, which means you have more dollars to spend on cream teas and fish and chips. Besides offering a far juicier experience, this form of slow travel is also far kinder to the environment than flying or renting a car.
Get inspired with these 10 scenic train journeys in the United Kingdom that will whisk you past rugged coastlines, remote highlands, traditional seaside towns, and through the heart of national parks.
1. Brontë County: Keighley to Oxenhope via steam train
Photo: The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (official)/Facebook
Operating for over 150 years, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) spans five miles of preserved standard gauge railway line and is served by both steam and diesel locomotives. The service was established to link the local mill trades, and nowadays it’s a tourist attraction in Yorkshire, loved by local residents and tourists alike.
Starting at Keighley and concluding at Oxenhope, the route connects six beautiful towns and villages. Peer out of the window and you’ll see bucolic scenes of rolling hills, woodland, and sandstone mill towns. The most notable station is Haworth, the birthplace of the Brontë sisters and the jumping-off point for exploring the moors that inspired their novels.
You can book a single or return ticket from Keighley, which links conveniently to the mainline. There is the option to purchase a Rover Ticket that allows unlimited train journeys for the entire day, as well as entry to the Museum of Rail Travel and whatever temporary exhibition is taking place. The duration of the journey from Keighley to Oxenhope is 30 minutes. You can book tickets and check the current schedule online via the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway website.
2. North East Coast: York to Edinburgh
Photo: robert f cooke/Shutterstock
Following the route of the legendary Flying Scotsman, the York to Edinburgh line is rich with coastal panoramas, crumbling castles, and urban skylines that fuse old with new. This scenic train ride is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of journey, so it’s worth booking a window seat and keeping your camera poised for the landmarks.
Your journey starts in the history-rich city of York. Thundering northwards through the farmland of North Yorkshire, you’ll soon reach the picturesque university town of Durham and catch a glimpse of the cathedral and castle as the train soars across the viaduct.
Departing Durham and approaching Newcastle, keep alert for a sighting of the Angel of the North. At a height of 65 feet, Antony Gormley’s 1988 steel sculpture is the largest statue in the United Kingdom. You’ll traverse the River Tyne in Newcastle via the High Level Bridge, which offers a panoramic view of the city and its six other iconic bridges and eponymous castle. Departing Newcastle, the scenery opens up as you fly through the Northumberland coastline, whizzing past the likes of Lindisfarne Castle and the dreamy seaside town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. As you cross the border you might catch sight of the English and Scottish flags rippling beside the track.
Originating from London Kings Cross Station, the leg from York to Edinburgh Waverley takes 2.5 hours and trains depart frequently throughout the day. Off-peak tickets, journeys that commence after 9.30 AM, are the cheapest and you will make a saving if you book in advance. You can book tickets online with London North Eastern Railway (LNER) or The Trainline.
The original Flying Scotsman still makes sporadic trips and you can track the latest news on the Railway Museum website.
3. West Highland Line: Glasgow to MallaigPhoto: Creative Screen/Shutterstock
The remote route from Glasgow to Mallaig is right out of the Harry Potter movies, which hints at the magic of the landscapes you’ll pass on this train journey. Connecting one of the largest cities in the nation with the tiny fishing port of Mallaig and navigating some of the most remote regions in the country, this train ride is spectacular. For certain stretches of the route, there are no roads whatsoever, so the train is the sole means of witnessing these landscapes.
The route skirts past Scottish lakes including Loch Lomond, as well as one of the smallest villages in the United Kingdom, Tyndrum, and the highest altitude train station in the nation, Corrour. One dramatic stretch comes shortly after leaving Corrour: the Horseshoe Curve. Pulling into the town of Fort William, crane your head to the right for a chance to get an eyeful of Ben Nevis, the tallest peak in the country at 4,413 feet.
As you approach the town of Glenfinnan, you will cross over the viaduct that was immortalized in the Harry Potter franchise. Book a seat on the left-hand side of the train for the most rewarding views out over the water of Loch Shiel. Once in Mallaig, you will be greeted by a view of the Isle of Skye, which is accessible via a boat from this fishing village.
The complete route from Glasgow to Mallaig takes 5.5 hours. You can book tickets online at ScotRail or The Trainline. During summer, usually April until late October, you can opt to ride the daily Jacobite steam train between Fort William and Mallaig. This is bookable via West Coast Railways, and the twice-daily journeys sell out fast.
4. English Riviera: Exeter to Paignton
Photo: Pratan Saetang/Shutterstock
Traversing the Devon coastline, the evocatively named English Riviera Line connects the ancient city of Exeter with the sandy beaches and pastel-hued buildings of Paignton.
Bidding farewell to Exeter, the train races along the banks of the River Exe towards the romantically named village of Starcross. Keep your eyes peeled for seals and sea otters as you skim the water’s edge. From Starcross, the track hugs the coast as it weaves through the seaside resorts and fishing ports of Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, and Teignmouth. This section of the route is especially scenic, and you want to sit on the left-hand side of the carriage for the best ocean views. The town of Torquay is a top contender if you want to break up the short journey and catch a few waves or explore the gardens and art galleries.
The complete train journey from Exeter Central to Paignton takes around one hour. You can book tickets online at Great Western Railways (GWR) or The Trainline.
5. Above the Clouds: Llanberis to Mount Snowdon
Photo: Snowdon Mountain Railway/Facebook
Jump aboard the traditional locomotive at Llanberis Station and absolutely do look down as the carriage jostles along a sheer volcanic ridge on this nail-biting journey up Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales and England.
Subject to the current conditions of the track and the season, the Snowdon Mountain Railway will either take you to the summit of Snowdon or to the three-quarter marker, Clogwyn. The train passes through four other stations, with your first landmark being the Ceunant Mawr waterfall, which cascades down the ravine below. Passing through Hebron Station you will see the abandoned farm of Helfa. This may have been a sheep station or perhaps a hunting lodge in the past, but either way, its tousled state adds to the drama of the landscape. Pushed by an original Swiss steam locomotive from 1896, you will stop at Halfway while the staff top up the water tanks before commencing past the Rocky Valley, a near-vertical cliff scattered with black volcanic rocks.
Once at Clogwyn, you will have time to savor the view from 3,560 feet above sea level. If your journey makes it to the summit, you may be able to see as far as Ireland on a clear day.
You can book a ticket that covers transport up and down the mountain (45 minutes each way) and includes a 30-minute stop-over at Clogwyn. Alternatively, you can buy a single ticket and walk back down the mountain. You can check the current schedule and book your tickets online at Snowdon Mountain Railway. Seats on the service are limited and it is extremely popular so it’s best to book ahead.
6. Celtic Cliffs: Londonderry to Coleraine
Photo: J. Hamilton/Shutterstock
This short but sweet train ride in Northern Ireland navigates a devastatingly scenic strip of the northern coast between Londonderry and Coleraine.
One of the major highlights of the journey is the view afforded of the lava-formed Binevenagh Mountain, which you might recognize from Game of Thrones. Standing with arms outstretched atop the cliffs is a sculpture of the Celtic God of the Sea, Manannán Mac Lír. If visibility is on your side, you might catch a glimpse of the icon as you pass through Magilligan Station.
On approach to Coleraine, the track skims the Benone Strand, which is a fabulous place for swimming, sunbathing, and watersports during summer. As you approach the seaside town of Castlerock, peer up at the top of the coastal cliffs for a view of Mussenden Temple before you plunge into the longest tunnel in Ireland.
The journey from Londonderry to Coleraine takes around 40 minutes, and you can reserve tickets online in advance at Translink.
7. Night Riviera Sleeper: London Paddington to Penzance
Photo: Timothy Dry/Shutterstock
For this train ride, you can take either the scenic day option or the glamorous overnight option. The Night Riviera Sleeper flutters you away from the streets of London to the westernmost tip of England, the Cornish port town of Penzance, via tranquil countryside and quaint seaside towns.
The train glides through the North Wessex Downs, which comprises bucolic views of farmland and lush green hills. From Exeter, you will breeze past the River Exe in the route mentioned previously before the track creeps inland and along the edge of the Dartmoor National Park. Peer out of the window at the historic market town of Newton Abbot which served as the home of the South Devon Railway locomotive works during the Victorian era. The final leg of the track weaves through the desolate Bodmin Moor, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty strewn with heather, granite, moorland, and grazing wild ponies.
The route from London Paddington to Penzance takes around five hours during the day or eight hours when you opt for the sleeper. The overnight option generally departs at 11:45 PM, but boarding opens at 10:30 PM. Choose between a seat or a private cabin, which also permits access to the bar and lounge. Consult the schedule, prices, and book your seat online at Great Western Railways (GWR) or The Trainline.
8. By the Seaside: St Erth to St. Ives
Photo: Victoria Ashman/Shutterstock
Another snippy route that proves that you needn’t book the longest train journey to experience some of the most sensational scenery in the United Kingdom. The line between St. Erth and St. Ives in Cornwall is a mere 10 minutes, and the whole course grants views of the cliffs, islands, and coves that form the Cornish coast.
Choose to break up your short journey with a stop at Carbis Bay where you can sink your toes in the golden sand and cool down in the turquoise water. Once in St. Ives, you can potter around art galleries or hop aboard a boat for a cruise around the headland. This is a perfect side trip if you took the Night Riviera Sleeper down to Penzance.
You can book tickets online at Great Western Railways (GWR) or The Trainline.
9. God’s Own Country: Leeds to Carlise
Photo: MNStudio/Shutterstock
This route takes you from the capital of West Yorkshire and concludes in the most northwestern county in England, Cumbria. Weaving through national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the backdrop to this route is some of the wildest scenery in the United Kingdom.
Around one-third of the track twists its way through the rolling hills and swathes of moorland in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including the Yorkshire Three Peaks. You’ll spot the 24 arches of the Ribblehead Viaduct soon after departing Ribblehead Station, the most impressive of the 21 viaducts that you’ll pass on this journey. Leaving the pretty village of Dent, which sits on the western slopes of the Pennines, the line is absorbed by Cumbria, with the Eden Valley to your right and the Lake District National Park on the left.
The journey from Leeds to Carlisle takes one hour and 45 minutes. This is another route that is part of the mainline rail network, so you can book tickets online with Northern Railway or The Trainline.
10. Quintessential English Countryside: Bluebell Railway
Photo: Graham Henley and Bluebell Railway/Facebook
Discover the charm of the Sussex countryside in southeastern England as you traverse the edge of the Ashdown Forest on a beautifully preserved steam locomotive.
Bluebell Railway operates two services, The Pioneer (weekends) and The Sussex Cricketer (weekdays). Besides the regular scenic services, you can also book a special dining experience with options ranging from classic English afternoon tea to a fish and chips supper special and even a gin tasting.
The route starts at Sheffield Park, which has been restored in the style of the 1880s station while the next calling point, Horsted Keynes, is a throwback to the roaring ‘20s. Evoking the spirit of the 1950s, Kingscote is the most tranquil and photographic stop on the route. Concluding in East Grinstead, you can connect to the mainline network and easily continue your way to London or Brighton.
You can book a ticket online on the Bluebell Railway website. Fares increase if you wish to book a food service or reserve an entire compartment for your group. It takes around 40 minutes to complete the 11-mile journey.
The post 10 magnificent UK train journeys through seaside towns, national parks, and mountain peaks appeared first on Matador Network.
Watch: A woman shows how many ways NYC tourists are scammed in Times Square
If you’re going to New York City, you’re probably going to stop by Times Square. But Youtuber Sarah Funk, a New Yorker through and through, wants to protect you from all of the scams the popular destination has in store for naive tourists. So she went undercover with a pair of cut-offs, a backpack, and, most importantly, an I heart NYC t-shirt to experience all of the scams in Times Square herself.
You might be surprised to find out that fake monks roam the streets to raise money to build a temple in Chinatown — that’s already built. Funk noticed that the fake monks tend to exaggerate previous donation numbers to encourage other people to fall into the trap. In exchange for the little money she gave to one of them, she got a couple of cheap trinkets.
She also stopped by some guys selling CDs in Times Square that would not let her go until she gave them more money. The Naked Cowboy she took a few photos with wasn’t a scam at all. He’s trademarked his brand and makes $150,000 a year selling photos, producing CDs, and even has licensed performers who tried to infringe on his brand.
The last scam she tested was the people wearing costumes who ask for money for a photograph. She found out that if you even try to take a photo near them, they’ll jump right in so they can make their money. Is this one a scam? Inconclusive, she said.
Funk has a playlist on her Youtube explaining all the ways New York tries to scam you and offers the best alternatives, so you can live like a real New Yorker, even if it’s only for a couple of days.
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New York City is getting its first LGBTQ+ history and culture museum
New York City’s first LGBTQ+ museum will be coming to fruition in 2024. The New-York Historical Society is expanding over 70,000 feet to create the American LGBTQ+ Museum, which will be dedicated to the community’s history and culture in the US and worldwide.
The 70,000+-foot museum will envelop the historical society’s fourth floor and encompass two galleries, access to the roof garden, and areas for offices and storage. The space is to be designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, and the project will be rolled out in stages until funding is secured, according to a news release.
As New York is the number one destination for American LGBTQ+ travelers, and homes the greatest number of LGBTQ+ people in the country, the city is an ideal place to build an establishment to educate and preserve history. Along with exhibits and collections, the museum will also collaborate with LGBTQ+ centers, cultural organizations, and colleges and universities for programming and research.
“We’re delighted to partner with New York’s foremost museum of history to build a new museum dedicated to an exploration and celebration of the richness and diversity of LGBTQ+ history and culture in America,” said Richard Burns, chair, board of directors, The American LGBTQ+ Museum. “The respect and rigor with which New-York Historical has approached this process, including their consultation with local communities, mirrors our own commitment to building a thoughtful, welcoming, queer, and inclusive experience for our visitors and partners. We look forward to bringing a dynamic new museum to life within this cherished, deeply-respected, and growing New York City landmark.”
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How ‘Twilight’ fans changed Forks, Washington, forever
Lissy Andros felt ready for a big life change. Her mother had recently divorced her husband of 40 years — Andros’ father — and Andros decided that the two of them needed a fresh start. It was around then that she picked up the Twilight books. By the time Andros finished the series, she had come to a realization: She should move to Washington.
Andros arrived in Forks, Washington, in September 2009, a year after the release of the first Twilight film. The resulting franchise would launch a cultural phenomenon and mobilize legions of diehard fans. She recalls a town in the midst of an “economic downtown,” she says, thanks in part to a sharp decline in the timber industry, which was the source of Fork’s prosperity in the 1980s and ’90s.
“There were stores on Main Street that were boarded up,” Andros adds. “It was pretty bleak.”
But the year that Andros arrived in Forks would come to mark a turning point for the town. She had a front row seat to Forks’ transformation as fans flooded Washington state, hungry to recreate Edward and Bella’s brooding romance.
“In 2005, before Twilight was published, Forks had about 5,000 people come through the visitors center, for the whole year,” says Andros, who has served as the executive director of the Forks Chamber of Commerce since 2012. “By 2008, we had about 18,000 people, and then in 2009 it jumped to 69,000.”
Forks was once a quiet, quaint town on Washington’s stunning Olympic Peninsula. It, and the surrounding area, were known not just for logging, but for the stunning, near-magical natural landscape. The nearby Olympic National Forest is an undoubtedly ethereal setting that’s well-suited to the supernatural and is celebrated for its lush, dense forests and rocky wet-sand beaches. But instead of looking for natural wonders, legions of tourists who came after the release of Twilight paraded up and down Main Street in search of familiar locations from the books (the movies weren’t filmed in Forks).
Photo: Maks Ershov/Shutterstock
The infusion of tourist dollars revitalized the town, and locals jumped on the bandwagon: Andros remembers one woman who renamed her group of businesses, including a tour company and a restaurant, Dazzled by Twilight.
In 2011, Andros took a position with the town’s Chamber of Commerce in the tourism department. At the time, there was no official Twilight celebration planned, but fans had started to trickle into Forks five years earlier, around 2006. At first, Andros’ predecessors didn’t know what to do with outsiders coming to their town looking for Twilight-themed adventures.
One time, a fan dropped by the visitor’s center and asked where to find “Twilight food.” Marcia Girling, Andros’s predecessor at the Chamber of Commerce, called up the local drive-in, Sully’s Burgers, and pleaded with the owner to create a Twilight-themed menu item on a whim. He threw together the “Bella Burger,” which included a set of plastic fangs. It was a hit, and Sully’s kept it on the menu permanently. Andros estimates the drive-in has given away 70,000 pairs of plastic fangs by now.
Photo: Forever Twilight in Forks
In the years that followed, the Chamber of Commerce set up events at city parks and private businesses, but the Twilight events in Forks felt scattered and disjointed. In 2015, with Andros’ help, the town rebranded its Twilight festivities as “Forever Twilight in Forks” — thereby solidifying Fork’s permanent association with the franchise. The highlight is the four-day Forever Twilight in Forks Festival, which attracts around 1,500 diehard fans every year.
Andros admits that there are locals who simply don’t accept that their town is now a must-see destination for vampire cosplayers. There are also Forks residents, she says, “who aren’t happy or sad about it, they’re just confused,” and who still wonder what the big deal is more than a decade after the Twilight books were first published. In fact, Andros surmises that most locals would prefer not to have an infusion of vampire enthusiast dollars, but a logging renaissance.
“I think that most people would [rather] have us known for logging,” Andros says. “I think that if Forks residents had a choice, they would have logging be back the way it was, because it really was a huge industry.”
Photo: Forever Twilight in Forks
For Twilight fans, though, the intrigue of Forks has never really faded. The town has remained a popular enough destination over the years among Twilight-minded tourists that, in 2017, the town unveiled its Forever Twilight in Forks museum, a collection of costumes and other memorabilia from the film series — including a prop affectionately known as Chuckesmee. The animatronic doll was deemed so creepy that the crew of the Twilight films decided to fashion a CGI vampire baby. Today, Andros says people come all the way to Forks just to get a look at her.
Though the number of visitors has dipped since 2009, it hasn’t gone down by much: Around 38,000 people visited Forks in 2019. This summer, a Bella Swan-cosplayer with nearly 18,000 followers who goes by @justbellaswan on Instagram is working at the Chamber of Commerce. Andros says fans cry when they meet her in person. Netflix is also re-releasing the entire film franchise on its streaming platform this month, which is sure to trigger another wave of enthusiasm and nostalgia for Edward and Bella’s timeless romance. That means freshly invigorated waves of tourists are sure to arrive in Forks, looking to relive the Twilight Saga all over again.
Bella and Edward’s romance is eternal. And the obsession with Forks that followed their love story? It’s as immortal as the vampires who inspired it.
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The EU aims big on climate progress, and the US appears ready to match
This is The Climate Win, the most positive sustainability news around the world every week.
The EU proposed some climate emergency initiatives this week that, if enacted, would pretty much throw down the gauntlet and dare others to follow suit. As The New York Times reported, a series new proposals could end the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, raise the price of using fossil fuels even outside the automotive industry, and — this is the big one — slap a carbon tax on the import of what the EU could determine are “polluting” products from overseas.
The overall goal of the EU proposal is to ramp up the 27-nation bloc’s efforts to become fully carbon neutral by 2050, and to achieve a 55 percent reduction from 1990 emissions levels by 2035. The moves amount to a full-on switch away from fossil fuels, combined with ambitious efforts to ramp up clean energy production from solar, wind, and other carbon-free sources during the same time period.
Democrats in Washington, DC, met the EU challenge on Wednesday, by announcing a similar plan, reported, though the details on this side of the Atlantic are noticeably lacking. What was announced was part of the Biden administration’s $3.5 trillion budget plan and would include a carbon import tax similar to what the EU is proposing, along with money to develop renewable energy resources. Much of the renewables plan has been previously touted by the Biden administration as part of its ambitious agenda to curb fossil fuel dependency in the United States.
Neither the EU or the US is anywhere near passing these plans, and it will be months and likely many rounds of caveats and exceptions before anything is set in stone. But these are definitive big ideas that could create generational action to tackle the climate crisis. No country has ever tried a carbon import tax before. The bright spot in a carbon import tax is that, rather than offloading pollution offshore, it creates a strong financial incentive for exporters from abroad to set and abide by their own climate reduction targets.
Let’s hope that elected officials in both the EU and the US take these proposals seriously.
More climate winsA project under development in rural southwesternx Utah aims to develop a massive supply of geothermal energy by digging down deep. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported on plans from Utah-based FORGE lab to significantly ramp up geothermal energy production across the US, which currently accounts for far below one percent of energy supplies. The company has completed the development of one well and plans to build another.
New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously to approve a second massive offshore wind project, according to a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The project will allow two developers to build 2,658 megawatts of wind power off the Jersey shore — enough to power more than one million homes.
Italy finally banned cruise ships in Venice — and it looks to be for real this time. The Venetian Lagoon is fragile and in need of a break from overtourism, and after UNESCO threatened to put the lagoon on an endangered list, the government responded by banning large cruise vessels from entering from August 1. Finally, you’ll be able to take a picture of Piazza San Marco without a giant ship behind it.
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How to travel on Pakistan’s spectacular Karakoram Highway, the world’s highest road
Aptly nicknamed the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Karakoram Highway cruises over the world’s tallest mountain range between Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and Xinjiang in northwest China. On the way, it passes the 15,700-foot-high Khunjerab Pass, making it the world’s highest paved road when it was completed in 1978 by the governments of Pakistan and China to connect the countries.
The mostly well-paved architectural delight coasts through the planet’s most breathtaking mountain ranges — the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush Mountains — which add high alpine majesty to the highway’s functional appeal. Add in picturesque villages, suspension bridges, and treks, and you have the most bewitching road trip in all of Central Asia. Here’s how and why you should visit.
How to get to the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad
Photo: Samantha Shea
The official length of the KKH stretches from Hasan Abdal, some 30 miles from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, all the way to Kashgar in Xinjiang, China. The bulk of the highway is paved and generally thought of locally as the nicest highway in Pakistan, though it can still be treacherous during the summer monsoon season. Nearly any type of wheeled vehicle can be seen there, including bicycles.
Even though I spent four months in Pakistan in 2019, I never quite made it to the Karakoram Highway, or KKH, as it’s known. After finally making it back to Pakistan in April 2021, I wasted no time going to the KKH. Spring blossom season was peaking, so I hopped on what would prove to be a more than 20-hour journey to reach the “iconic” portion of the Karakoram Highway — the stretch traversing the mountainous and beautiful region of Gilgit-Baltistan.
It’s in Gilgit-Baltistan’s stunning Hunza Valley that the 800-mile Karakoram Highway offers up some of Pakistan’s most beautiful vistas. There are a few options to get to Gilgit City, where the KKH begins to get exciting. The first is the night bus from Islamabad for just under $20 on the government-owned NATCO bus line. Buses depart from the primary bus terminal, though you should inquire locally for departure times and specifics as they change frequently.
Flights are also available from the Islamabad International Airport for about $95, with daily departures at 6:00 AM and 9:40 AM, and occasional other departure times available. You can also reserve a spot in a private car for close to $30; you’ll need to inquire locally with your lodging provider for specific booking details. Lastly, if you’re comfortable driving on the left side of the road in challenging conditions, you could also drive yourself on the 12-hour journey.
Being a budget backpacker unaccustomed to driving on Pakistani motorways, the bus made the most sense. Yet it wasn’t without its fair share of interesting moments. Landslides, construction, a host of carsick passengers, and the fact that we were traveling at night made the journey less than smooth. But the moment the sun began to rise I found myself surrounded by giant, glorious mountains that erased any memories of the past who-knows-how-many hours. And to think I wasn’t even yet anywhere close to the main attraction.
How to travel along the Karakoram Highway
Photo: Pises Tungittipokai/Shutterstock
Traveling by motorcycle is the most picturesque way to explore the KKH. Pick one up at Gilgit Bikers in Gilgit or Karakoram Bikers in Danyor, with options available for guided tours if you have time and prefer a local guide. If you’d rather go at it on your own, allow five to seven days to complete a tour from Gilgit to the Khunjerab Pass and back. Consider starting near Chilas or Gilgit. The portion of the Karakoram beforehand isn’t that exciting, and it’s draining to drive on two wheels.
If you plan on exploring the KKH without your own vehicle, be prepared to hitchhike. Luckily, it’s relatively safe and easy to do along the highway. Private passenger vehicles regularly pick up hitchhikers and drop them farther down the road, and while you should of course use your judgment when hailing and accepting a ride, this can be a great way to pick up local tips on what to see (and what to avoid). Unlike in other regions, buses do not really ply farther than Aliabad, so stock up on supplies there or in Gilgit and have enough for your journey.
While hitchhiking, I routinely encountered people who were happy to drive far beyond where they planned to go to get me to my destination. People living in this region are exceptionally friendly and have grown accustomed to tourists since the highway opened to international travelers in the late 1970s.
You also have the option to pay for a taxi (they exist in all villages and towns) or hire a private driver to take you anywhere you want, whenever you want to go. This will be particularly useful if you’re planning on making your way to the famous Khunjerab border with China and don’t want to hitchhike. Keep in mind that even though Pakistan is usually a very affordable country to travel through, this option will be pricey — plan to pay at least $30 per day or more, particularly if traveling with more than one person.
Where to stop along the Karakoram Highway
Photo: Samantha Shea
You could drive from Gilgit to the Khunjerab Border in one long day, but this is an excursion you should dedicate a few, or many, days to. If you do have more time to spend, don’t feel like you must visit all of the Karakoram Highway’s epic stops in order. After my long bus journey to Gilgit, I then made it to Aliabad, headed to Hunza via a shared van, and from there to the picturesque village of Ghulkin, Gojal, in Upper Hunza. After exploring, I then backtracked and went both farther north and south days, and eventually weeks, later. However you explore them, here are the must-see stops along the KKH.
Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat Basecamp — The first must-see is located off of the Raikot Bridge and along one of the world’s most dangerous (unpaved) roads. Fairy Meadows is the most talked-about tourist destination in Pakistan by those actually in the country. While not directly on the highway, but rather just off of it, the meadows can only be reached via a very bumpy Jeep ride, which segues into a two-hour hike. Once you arrive, you’re rewarded with views of Nanga Parbat that seem unreal, as though they’ve been pulled from a science fiction film. If you’re fit and feeling adventurous, you can hike to the Nanga Parbat base camp to really get to see this “killer mountain” up close.
Rakaposhi Basecamp – Another must-see is Rakaposhi, yet another massive mountain that peaks at over 25,000 feet in elevation. Beginning from the village of Minapin, you can hike to its basecamp for some of the most incredible views in Pakistan, looking down from the high alpine to valleys below. From Gilgit, Minapin takes about two hours to reach, and the hike itself is best done as part of a minimum two-night trip. The route up to the basecamp is very steep, and I was glad I broke it up into pieces. The first scenic camping spot is about two to three hours from the starting point, and from there another two-ish hours to the base camp. The best thing about this hike — aside from its legendary views — is that the two camps are manned, and renting a tent and sleeping bag as well as having all your food prepared for you is possible, unlike on some other treks.
Karimabad — This is quite possibly Pakistan’s most charming town. Located above Aliabad and easy to access, Karimabad is postcard-worthy, complete with stone streets, ancient forts, and very good Pakistani food. Essential stops include the Baltit and Altit Forts and the Eagle’s Nest Viewpoint. If you’re feeling up to a steep sunset hike, check out the Queen’s Monument, which is situated high above Baltit; the views of the sun setting over the high country are spectacularly colorful.
Photo: Pises Tungittipokai/Shutterstock
Attabad Lake — Beauty born out of disaster is the next logical stop on your Karakoram Highway road trip, a place that, no matter how many photos you’ve seen of it, will still leave you awestruck. It’s important to acknowledge, however, that the lake was born of a tragic incident. The bright-blue lake was formed in January 2010 after a massive landslide destroyed two villages and many lives. As the landslide cut off the flow of the Hunza River, the lake that you see today was formed. Numerous hotels and “glamping” sites have popped up around the lake, but I recommend visiting it as just a day stop. If you want to do more than just look at it, water sports such as jet skiing and boating are available for hire.
Gulmit — This medium-sized village in Upper Hunza’s Gojal district is right on the KKH, and it’s worth a stop for two reasons. The first is Ondara Poygah. In 2021, residents of Gulmit undertook a massive feat to construct a stone staircase all the way to the top of Ondara Fort, a historical landmark that’s been in the region for hundreds of years. The view from the top is impressive, to say the least, and makes the climb up the few thousand steps worth the effort. Gulmit is also home to a carpet factory run entirely by women, and tourists are encouraged to visit to learn more about — and support — what they do.
Ghulkin — This village neighboring Gulmit was my home for over a month, captivating me with its numerous hiking trails, headlined by the day hike up to Passu Glacier, and the views they offered. The village is set far above the road and can be reached by a winding drive up from the “Jannat Ghulkin” sign on the KKH.
Hussaini Suspension Bridge — This fear-inducing span across the Hunza River provides amazing views. The bridge was renovated relatively recently but can still induce chills in those afraid of heights. The Passu Bridge is located downriver and can be reached from the road or a one-day trek that goes through a summer settlement.
Photo: Wit.Siri/Shutterstock
Passu — As you progress farther down the KKH, you’ll pass two charming small towns. The first, Passu, is a village known for its massive natural landmark, the Passu Cones, also called the Passu Cathedral. The drive towards them, as they loom ahead of you, is perhaps the highlight of the entire KKH. Passu is also home to one of the best restaurants in Pakistan, the Yak Grill, which serves up various fresh and delicious yak dishes.
Sost — If you plan on making it all the way to the border or beyond, you’re going to have to stop in this second town, Sost. The small market town is the last stop before the border, and while there’s nothing much to do there, you can also get off-the-beaten-path by taking a detour to Chipursan Valley, a remote valley about four hours by Jeep from the bazaar. Tour operators including Hunza Explorers offer Jeep tours in the area.
Khunjerab — A road trip up the Karakoram Highway wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Khunjerab, which refers to both the national park that surrounds the Khunjerab Pass and the famous border at an elevation of over 15,000 feet. The national park is full of opportunities to spot rare wildlife like blue sheep, yaks, marmots, and ibex. You’ll also be able to take as many pictures as you like at the top and say you visited the world’s highest ATM.
Crossing the Khunjerab Border
Photo: mamahoohooba/Shutterstock
If you’re planning on seeing the entirety of the KKH, then you’re going to need a Chinese visa. The border is open for travelers to cross (outside of COVID-19 border closures) on weekdays from April to October. Keep in mind that, unlike when coming from China to Pakistan, you cannot cross on your own and must be accompanied by a Chinese guide until you reach the city of Tashkurgan. The Chinese authorities will also go through each and every single photo on all of your electronic devices, so hide anything inappropriate.
Unfortunately, photography is not allowed from the border until Tashkurgan, despite some seriously camera-worthy views. From there, you can continue on to Kashgar, which officially marks the end of the Karakoram Highway. If you’re crossing into Pakistan from China, you don’t need a guide and can take a bus or even hitchhike to reach the famous crossing.
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London calling! Get great rates at these luxury hotels in the English capital
A good stay in London includes three things: historical tours, museum visits, a meal that thoroughly disproves the “all they have is fish and chips” theory, and an unforgettable afternoon tea. As travel to the United Kingdom opens and restrictions ease for US travelers, take advantage of these boutique hotel deals in London this summer and fall.
Experience London’s most unique lodging experience at The Good Hotel
Photo: Good Hotel London (Good Hotel London)/Facebook
London may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of destinations for a floating hotel. But the Good Hotel, moored at Royal Victoria Dock, is exactly that. The four-star property is easily the city’s most unique, combining a hip, Instagrammable ambience and style with a do-gooder’s heart. The hotel employs long-term homeless citizens, so you know your money is going to a good cause. This is the kind of hotel that tempts you to stay, with a lobby fit for lounging over the laptop and rooms that make you feel as though you’ve finally secured that luxury cabin quarters on a river cruise. The on-site restaurant focuses on sustainably sourced vegan and vegetarian cuisine and offers a collection of the city’s best craft beers.
We’d be remiss not to mention that we also love this hotel for its convenience, especially its proximity to the tube and all major attractions. The Mediterranean and Italian-inspired restaurant Zero Sette is adjacent to the dock and worthy of a night out. From the dock you can also head to the riverfront and the acclaimed Windjammer Bar, or stop by the Isle of Dogs on your way into the city center.
Price: From $97
Treat yourself to a piece of telephone history at Brown’s HotelPhoto: Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel/Facebook
Hotels often lose out to home rentals in the “feel like you’re a local” category. Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair is the exception. Comprised of a series of townhomes, Brown’s puts you within walking distance of Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, in an upscale environment that’s as “ Olde London” as it gets. Being a luxury hotel, Brown’s also provides fancy amenities including The Donovan Bar, one of London’s best spots for a Scotch, and top-notch English cuisine at Charlie’s. Don’t miss out on the experience of having an afternoon tea at the hotel. Overall, this is the best hotel in London to treat yourself.
What draws us to Brown’s Hotel, though, is that it’s an unmistakable part of the quintessential London experience. Being so central, you can access everything in the heart of the city, along the Thames, or anywhere accessible via the tube. You can also experience English history at its finest. The hotel was a favorite of Agatha Christie and is the place where Alexander Graham Bell made his first telephone call — in 1877, before having a “phone number” was even a thing.
Price: From $644
Put yourself close to everything at Number Sixteen
Photo: Firmdale Hotels PLC/Facebook
If museums are part of your London itinerary, then the boutique Number Sixteen hotel is a solid lodging choice. Located right in the City Centre neighborhood and walkable to the museums of South Kensington including the Natural History Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum, Number Sixteen is London’s most conveniently located boutique hotel. Its Victorian charm is the perfect setting for an English breakfast at The Orangery before heading out for a culture-focused outing.
Photo: Firmdale Hotels
We love the hotel’s entire facade. It uses discerning shades of blues, yellows, and pinks to distinguish each room from another. The rooms are cozy and quiet, but retain the historic charm that makes central London one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. And the afternoon tea is absolutely to die for.
Price: From $232
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Essential tips for traveling with friends in a different tax bracket
Few things are more awkward than talking about money with friends who make significantly more or less than you. In everyday life, it’s a pretty easy situation to avoid: Just don’t talk about it. Traveling, however, thrusts money issues and income disparities into the open.
Money is a factor in every aspect of travel, from picking a destination to deciding on activities, where to eat, and where to stay. When one traveler wants something extravagant and the other wants to ball on a budget, things can get contentious. Here are simple tips on how to get through the trip without ruining the entire thing.
1. Don’t let them payOffering to pay for a meal might sound like a good idea if you make significantly more money than your friend. It’s generous, reduces the hassle of splitting a bill, and might appear to exhibit a degree of sensitivity. Well, don’t. Picking up the check is fine if you’re hosting a guest or taking an employee out for drinks. But on a vacation where everyone is supposed to be equal, picking up the check introduces a power dynamic, despite your honorable intentions.
You might say, “Don’t worry about it man, I’ll grab this one.” But what the budget traveler hears is, “I know you can’t afford this, man, and compared to you I’m basically rolling in money. So put that wallet away, you charity case, and let me handle it.”
Yes, you’ve been generous, but the line between generosity and pity is extremely fine. Your friend might accept your gesture, and even genuinely appreciate it, but they’ll also feel a pang of smallness that will persist — or grow into bitterness — throughout the trip.
By the same virtue, if your friend keeps trying to treat you to every meal, or constantly pick up the tab, don’t let them. It might sound harmless at first, but you’ll quickly start to feel indebted and even resentful. A successful vacation is rooted in equality. Nothing erodes that equality faster than one person paying for the other.
The exception to this rule is if one traveler offers to foot the bill for an experience both can enjoy, but which they would otherwise have to skip altogether due to cost. This could be dinner at a fancy restaurant, or a pricey excursion like swimming with dolphins. If the richer friend doesn’t mind spending the money to do the activity, you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable offering to pay as long as the other person understands it’s worth the double cost.
2. Balance the budgetPresumably, you’ll already have a rough idea of what your trip will look like before you depart. That means zeroing in on what things you want to reserve before going and which you want to book once you’ve arrived. Whether it’s a hot-air balloon ride, a safari, paddle boarding, snowmobiling, zip lining, or tickets to a bar crawl, excursions are the meat of your vacation. It’s also one of the most common parts of a trip where money issues come into play.
While your friend might have no qualms about dropping $100 to go zip lining during that hour of free time in Costa Rica, the budget traveler might prefer a short (and free) hike. While your friend might want to spend $40 on a bar crawl, and the built-in social circle that comes with it, maybe you’d rather hit the bars on your own and try your luck meeting people in the wild. Compromise is important.
A budget traveler should keep their funds in mind without descending into inflexibility (you’re on vacation, after all), while the more extravagant traveler should feel free to suggest and advocate for their preferred activities while remaining open to adjusting. Skimping on everything and eating McDonald’s for every meal is no way to have a fun trip, but blowing all your money on extravagences and pressuring your friend to do the same is also inadvisable. As with any relationship, each must understand the other’s situation.
3. Don’t be afraid to part ways“Parting ways” doesn’t literally mean saying farewell to your friend mid-trip and having totally separate vacations, but it does mean diverging for a few hours to pursue separate interests or experiences. If you can’t agree on whether it’s worth it to enter an expensive museum, for example, feel free to go your separate ways for a few hours.
It’s healthy to carve out some alone time on a trip even when traveling with a partner or best friend. There’s no contract that says you have to spend all your time together. Agreeing on every single aspect of your trip would be great, but it’s unrealistic, especially when money comes into play. Rather than force a bitter compromise neither of you are happy with, just take a break from each other, spend some time on your own, and reconvene without resentment a few hours later.
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