Updated 2019: I have traveled to more than 60 countries preparing my trips with guides and online. Yet since making my home in Manila and traveling around the Philippines a bit, I have not found a good, up-to-date guide for this fast-changing city. So, here is my Mini-Guide Manila with reasons why you should go, where […]
Every year Lonely Planet, my favorite travel guides, publishes a list of top destinations to visit. The countries and cities Lonely Planet selects are usually beautiful places that are just making it (back) onto traveler’s lists, yet before they become mainstream and the tour buses arrive. That always makes for an intriguing list to check
Poznan in Western Poland, also known under the former German name Posen, has a beautiful old town in the center that invites for a leisurely stroll, nice restaurants around the lively market square and beautifully restored historic sights. And you can enjoy all of that with fewer tourists than Gdansk or Krakow and at lower
Bratislava sits in a beautiful spot on the Danube River, has a cute old town with the castel towering over it, plenty of sights and good food and entertainment – all at prices much lower than neighboring Prague or Vienna – and, for now, without the tourist crowds. All this makes it the perfect weekend
Taipei surprised me on my return visit as one of the most changed cities in Asia, in a good sense! It has embraced its history, including its dark spots, It is a modern city that has preserved its historic roots. And Taipei is one of the most diverse and open cities in Asia, welcoming any
Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is a great springboard to explore South East Asia, with plenty of inexpensive flights to countless destinations in the region. But there is a lot to see and do on stop-overs in the city as well – from one of the most iconic buildings in Asia to shopping and
Kuala Lumpur is not a city I fell in love with on first sight, yet I found myself coming back regularly. It is a modern city in the heart of South East Asia and has become a low-cost carrier hub, making Kuala Lumpur a springboard to explore the region. Enjoy the food, sights and shopping
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, was planned to be the capital of Australia, settled by free immigrants and not convicts like the bigger cities Sydney and Melbourne. Those plans led to a neat grid of streets in the center of Adelaide, surrounded by a ring of parks. While that plan never quite worked
If you are visiting Myanmar, you will most likely pass through the business capital Yangon and it’s new international airport. Even if you have little time, I recommend to stay over for at least a day and see the sights – the Shwedagon Pagoda is the most impressive, single pagoda I have seen anywhere and
Washington D.C., the capital of the United States of America, is one of the top 10 destinations for foreign visitors – and rightfully so. You can not only see the seat of power and historic monuments, but a stunning selection of museums, many of them free to visit! While the beaches and amusement parks elsewhere
When I considered moving to the USA as part of an exchange program, the first opportunity was to go to Boston, Massachusetts, and I had a photo of Boston Harbor on my desk for months. After it fell through and I ended up in San Francisco, the city I fell in love with, I returned
You live in one of Europe’s big cities and would love to get away to see some unspoiled nature and exotic wildlife! You want to have a comfortable trip without breaking the bank – no problem: You will fly to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, and on to Sarawak province on the island of