We thought we’d share our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025 if you’re looking for inspiration for your travels in 2026. These are the travel stories, guides and itineraries that readers clicked on most over the last 12 months, and they include everything from the best hotels for Sydney’s fireworks, the most visited travel post, to the best neighbourhoods in cities, road trip routes, city itineraries, and more.
It’s that time of the new year when we look at our stats for the previous year to see what recipes and food and travel stories readers searched for most and where they spent their time from the thousands of posts on our site. It’s not only a useful exercise for us, but over the years when we’ve shared these compilations, readers have told us that you find them fascinating and inspirational.
We’re starting with our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025, which includes a mix of hotel guides, city itineraries, road trip routes, and travel tips. Not surprisingly, posts on some of the world’s most popular destinations (Paris, Barcelona, Italian Lakes, Mallorca) featured on the list, as well as places in Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Siem Reap, Phuket), our home since 2011. (Update: we now shared our 25 most popular food posts of 2025, 25 most popular culinary travel stories of 2025, and 25 most popular recipes of 2025.
And if you are planning a trip in 2026, please consider using our links to buy travel insurance, booking flights with CheapOair, Kiwi.com or Etihad; booking a rental car; booking flights, transfers, hotels, apartments, holiday rentals, and hire cars with Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Wotif, lastminute.com, ebookers, or Trip.com; book a beautiful apartment or home on PLUM; book a transfer, tour or tickets to museums and attractions on Get Your Guide; buy train tickets on RailEurope, and bus and train tickets on 12Go; or book a cooking class or meal with locals on EatWith.
25 Most Popular Travel Posts of 2025
These were the 25 most popular travel posts of 2025. Hopefully they provide inspiration for your 2026 travels.
Best Sydney Hotels for New Years Eve Fireworks – Hotels with Harbour Views
Topping our list of 25 most popular travel posts of 2025 is our guide to the best Sydney hotels for New Years Eve fireworks, which are hotels with harbour views. A hotel room with harbour vistas is your best bet for seeing Sydney‘s fireworks on New Years Eve because the best vantage points on Sydney’s harbour foreshore get packed and alcohol is prohibited or only available for sale (no BYO) at many waterfront parks.
If you book a room with a view, you can sip bubbly and snack as you watch the world’s most spectacular fireworks display, without having to camp out overnight or battle the crowds. As inner-city Sydney residents for many years, Terence and I thought we were the luckiest people on earth come New Year’s Eve. We simply strolled to the nearest foreshore park with a picnic basket and friends to watch the fireworks.
For years we lived opposite East Balmain Wharf where we had Sydney Harbour Bridge views. After moving to Potts Point we had harbour vistas from every window and balconies. Too easy. Life was far simpler and less organised then, but these days, sadly, you need to book spots and even buy tickets to some zones to watch the fireworks, which is why recommend booking a Sydney hotel with harbour views, which you’ll need to book soon.
Best Sydney Hotels for New Years Eve Fireworks – Hotels with Harbour Views
Italian Lakes Road Trip – Circumnavigating Northern Italy’s Romantic Lakes
Italian Lakes road trip? But don’t people visit the lakes to stay at grand hotels, stroll the luxuriant gardens of stately villas and cruise around on glamorous speeds? They do. But if you like to drive, one of the most fun things to do is circumnavigate Northern Italy’s lakes by car. Like driving Mallorca, the majestic mountains and shimmering water make a road trip around the Italian Lakes a real delight.
The 18th and 19th-century grand tourists travelled around the Italian Lakes by horse and carriage, risking attacks by bandits to take in the breathtaking beauty of this Northern Italian region and to settle into sumptuous Italian Lakes hotels. These days the most fun way to see the area is from behind the wheel of a car – preferably, a small, fast car – on an Italian Lakes road trip.
This is our guide to how to do it, based on our years of experience criss-crossing Italy by car, researching and writing travel guides on Italy, including half a dozen guidebooks to the Italian Lakes, Milan and Northern Italy. If you’re going to explore the region, see our Northern Italian itineraries and guide to things to do on Lake Como. No matter which lake you’re on, don’t miss partaking in the Italian rituals of the passeggiata and aperitivo.
Italian Lakes Road Trip – Circumnavigating Northern Italy’s Romantic Lakes
Best Bangkok Hotel Swimming Pools from Rooftop Infinity Pools to Riverview Pools
The best Bangkok hotel swimming pools range from rooftop infinity pools atop luxury towers boasting dazzling panoramic vistas of the Bangkok skyline to garden swimming pools in the grounds of historic Chao Phraya riverside hotels offering waterfront views from your sun-bed. This guide was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025.
We used to live in Bangkok, but after we moved to Siem Reap one of our most memorable magazine assignments as travel writers was a ten day trip in Thailand’s capital for a story on Bangkok restaurants, during which we got to at 137 Pillars Suites and Residences, pictured above. The luxury hotel has not one but two of the best Bangkok hotel swimming pools – both stunning infinity pools offering sweeping city views.
A hotel with a swimming pool is mandatory when you’re on holidays in hot and humid Bangkok. Even if you’re planning to be out and about most of the time, eating, sightseeing and shopping, there’s nothing like a cooling dip after a sweaty day on Bangkok’s muggy streets. Travellers from Europe and North America especially find the heat challenging. So book a hotel with a pool. You’ll thank us later.
Best Bangkok Hotel Swimming Pools from Rooftop Infinity Pools to Riverview Pools
Guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park – Insider’s Guide
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is breathtaking. The UNESCO World Heritage listed 12th century temple city of Angkor Wat and scores of Khmer Empire temples dating from the 9th to 15th centuries within vast Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap are the world’s most spellbinding archaeological sites. A handful of atmospheric, lesser-visited remote Cambodian temples such as Sambor Prei Kuk and Banteay Chhmar are also worth your time.
It’s not surprising that our guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park was was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025. Our comprehensive Angkor Park guide is the best Angkor guide as it’s an expert guide and insider’s guide – we’ve lived in Siem Reap for 13 years, just 15 minutes from Angkor Wat, and visited Angkor hundreds of times, making our guide the most detailed up-to-date Angkor Archaeological Park guide.
And there’s never been a better time to visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park. Tourist numbers still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels so you can be quite alone at many temples including Angkor Wat (see our guide to Angkor without crowds). The 26kms of new bike tracks established during the pandemic continue to make cycling to and around the temples an absolute delight. You might even spot wildlife on the way!
Guide to Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park – 2026 Update
Best Ubud Resorts with Jungle Views and Jaw Dropping Swimming Pools
The Indonesian island of Bali has long lured Bali lovers to bask on its wide beaches, surf its superb waves and sip cocktails while sunset watching on its sands. But for this travel and food writer, aside from drinking and dining at Bali’s outstanding restaurants, the island’s big appeal has long been the lush jungle and rice terraces of Ubud, Bali’s artistic and cultural heart, and the beautiful Ubud hotels that offer breathtaking vistas of rice paddies and rainforest.
My picks of the best Ubud resorts boast gobsmacking jungle views and gorgeous accommodation with private pools and spacious terraces and balconies from which you can soak up those views. These exceptional lodgings also have airy public spaces, breezy dining and drinking spots, luxuriant gardens, fresh mountain air, forest sounds, nearby rice terraces for walks and hikes, and a range of engaging experiences to get out and enjoy Ubud’s nature and culture.
I’ve got an Ubud resort for every budget, from affordable to luxurious, with a mix of Ubud resorts, hotels, villas, and a guesthouse in the heart of Ubud and in surrounding villages. Hotels that are not in town offer transport to Ubud, from free shuttle buses for travellers on a budget to private vehicle with driver for those who aren’t, and car rentals for travellers who prefer to have their own wheels.
Best Ubud Resorts with Jungle Views and Jaw Dropping Swimming Pools
Barcelona’s Best Neighbourhoods for Going Local and Experiencing Everyday Life
It’s also not surprising that our guide to Barcelona’s best neighbourhoods for going local and experiencing everyday life was one of our most popular travel posts of 2025, as Barcelona is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. However, Barcelona has been suffering from overtourism for many years, largely due to cruise ship tourism.
The monumental ‘cities at sea’ were disgorging 37,000 passengers a day on the city, most of whom crowd the main promenade of La Rambla, the Ciutat Vella (Old Town) and Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), day after day, destroying the quality of life of residents. Fortunately, authorities are reducing the number of ships… to 31,000 passengers. Many locals argue it’s not enough.
More than ever, it’s important to be a responsible traveller when visiting Barcelona. We have loads of tips to how to avoid contributing to overtourism including advice from a Barcelona local in the tourism industry. These include visiting off season, getting off the beaten track, and staying in Barcelona hotels instead of renting apartments.
Barcelona’s best neighbourhoods for experiencing local life are an easy amble from the touristy city centre. In these lovely local neighbourhoods you can admire charming old shopfronts, graze your way through local markets, take in some street art, hit a laidback local bar, or simply hang out and absorb the rhythm of Barcelona. Just do so with respect to local residents.
Barcelona’s Best Neighbourhoods for Going Local and Experiencing Everyday Life
One Day in Chiang Mai Itinerary for a Perfect Day in Northern Thailand’s Lanna Capital
Our one day in Chiang Mai itinerary for a perfect day in the old Lanna capital of Northern Thailand has been created with travellers on a tight schedule in mind. Of course one day is not enough time, but not everyone has the luxury of staying longer, especially if you’re on a multi-country Southeast Asian trip or you’re focusing on seeing as much of Thailand as you can.
Do our one day in Chiang Mai itinerary and you’ll enjoy some special experiences, including absorbing atmospheric temples, taking in contemporary art, savouring delicious Lanna food, and drinking in Chiang Mai’s coffee scene. Don’t be surprised if it has you yearning to return again for a weekend in Chiang Mai.
And if you enjoy your one day in Chiang Mai itinerary so much that you decide to extend your stay, see our Weekend in Chiang Mai itinerary. You might also find our our guide to how to plan a perfect one day itinerary every day of your trip helpful.
One Day in Chiang Mai Itinerary for a Perfect Day in Northern Thailand’s Lanna Capital
Best Mallorca Beaches and Where to Stay Near These Beautiful Stretches of Sand
The best Mallorca beaches won’t be near your hotel. While the chances are that your accommodation is a stone’s throw from a decent beach, if you’re seeking a stunning stretch of sand to spread out your towel, you’re going to have to go further afield. But trust us, these beaches are worth it. And all of these beaches can be visited if you do our Mallorca road trip through the Tramuntana.
Boasting some 262 or so beaches, most of which are absolutely stunning, it’s a no-brainer as to why Spain‘s Balearic island of Mallorca is one of the most popular European summer destinations in the Mediterranean. We’ve criss-crossed the island in a rental car to photograph and update travel guidebooks to Mallorca and the Catalan island is one of our favourite summer spots.
Yet when people think of a sun and sand holiday in Mallorca, the first destinations to come to mind are generally the over-developed beach resorts. We recommend getting off the beaten track instead to the more secluded, wild, windswept beaches or the tranquil, aquamarine coves, bobbing with fishing boats. These are our favourite beaches and our picks of the best Mallorca accommodation a short drive from these stunning stretches of sand.
Best Mallorca Beaches and Where to Stay Near These Beautiful Stretches of Sand
Bangkok Riverside Hotels on Chao Phraya River – Best Riverfront Hotels and Resorts
Our guide to Bangkok’s best riverside hotels was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025. Over the last decade or so, a riverside renaissance has seen new Bangkok riverfront hotels and resorts – along with restaurants, cafés, bars, and even shopping malls – sprout up on the banks of the Thai capital’s Chao Phraya River, luring locals and expats as much as tourists to Thailand’s ‘River of Kings’.
We lived in Bangkok before moving to Cambodia, writing stories on Bangkok, updating Thailand travel guidebooks, and I also edited a Southeast Asian travel magazine. As far as I’m concerned a stay at one of the best Bangkok riverside hotels on the Chao Phraya River is a must for first-time visitors to Bangkok. It’s still where we stay whenever we return to Bangkok.
Staying in a Bangkok hotel on the riverside is a brilliant idea for repeat travellers seeking respite from Sukhumvit’s traffic chaos and car fumes and Silom’s bright lights and bustling streets. There are few things as relaxing and restorative as a few days spent by the water. Exploring Bangkok’s riverside is guaranteed to reduce stress levels. Although there are still plenty of things to do on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River.
The best Bangkok riverside hotels range from one of Bangkok’s oldest hotels, the legendary ‘Oriental’, now the Mandarin Oriental, in Bangrak, to the city’s most luxurious lodgings, The Siam, and everything in between, from sprawling riverside resorts with enormous swimming pools and sleek boutique hotels offering spectacular temple views from breezy rooftop bars to historic Chinatown mansions that will take you back in time.
Bangkok Riverside Hotels on Chao Phraya River – Best Riverfront Hotels and Resorts
Understanding Venice, the City Built on Water, By Boat On a Bragozzo
We settled into a 17th century palazzo in Northern Italy‘s Venice, smack-bang the Grand Canal for two weeks, as part of our year-long grand tour of the world dedicated to slow, local and experiential travel. We learnt about Venice’s social history, art and architecture on a walking tour with a local historian, got tips to painting Venice from a Venetian artist, and met the Venetian publishers of My Local Guide to Venice for local tips.
We also got Venetian cooking lessons with a Countess in her home, talk tasted Venetian farm-to-table cuisine with the chefs at Venissa on the island of Mazzorbo, learnt about Veneto wines on a sipping tour with a local sommelier, and shopped the Rialto markets with the owner of our favourite Venetian restaurant.
But as Venice is a city built on water, a series of 117 islands crisscrossed by canals, connected by bridges, and surrounded by seawater, we wanted to get on the water. The key to understanding Venice, we felt, is to get beneath the surface of the ‘City of Water’, and do it by boat. We did just that, aboard a bragozzo, a traditional Venetian skiff, with marine scientist Luca Zaggia. We recommend you do, too!
Understanding Venice, the City Built on Water, By Boat On a Bragozzo
Things to Do in The 18th Arrondissement of Paris – Where to Stay, Eat, Explore
Ou guide to things to do in the 18th arrondissement of Paris was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025. It’s based on the things we love to do in Montmartre, one of the world’s most fascinating neighbourhoods to explore. While Montmartre is home to iconic Paris sights, such as the white-domed Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, you don’t have to go far to get off the tourist trail and find bistros, cafés and bars popular with local residents.
If you don’t stray far from Place du Tertre’s caricature artists, creperies and Irish bars, you won’t experience the local side of Montmartre. To do that, settle into a charming apartment in Montmartre, avoid the congested tourist zone, take in the views from Sacré-Cœur early in the morning before the tour groups arrive or after they’ve gone in the evening, and do as the locals do in Montmartre.
In the mornings, shop the bakery, butcher’s and fishmongers before the tourists clog the streets, explore off the beaten track Paris during the day, and dine in classic old-school spots in the evening. Do a cooking class with a pastry chef (one of the world’s best cooking classes) and an art themed walking tour around Montmartre, as we did with artist Marie Theres Berger, who became our Local Knowledge Paris expert sharing her insider tips.
Note that most apartments in Paris are accessed by stairs, so check how many flights there are when you book if that’s a problem. Our apartment was located on the top floor of a sixth floor building. It was a long way up but an excellent workout. Watch the video of our trek downstairs!
Things to Do in The 18th Arrondissement of Paris – Where to Stay, Eat, Explore
Best Phuket Hotels from Chic Boutique Hotels to Luxe Beach Resorts
Our guide to the best Phuket hotels was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025. Phuket is a fantastic place to kick off your Thailand trip. Thailand’s largest island, Phuket is blessed with a wide variety of beaches, towns, villages, and beach resorts, each with their own personality, which means you need to choose where to stay on Phuket carefully.
Then there’s Phuket’s Old Town, also called Phuket Town, the charming historic heart of the island’s capital, where you’ll find lively local markets, mouthwatering street food, atmospheric cafés, and traditional restaurants offering fantastic Southern Thai food, including Phuket cuisine that’s unique to the island.
The best Phuket hotels include everything from boutique hotels in Phuket Old Town to luxury beach resorts overlooking the sea. Our guide to where to stay on Phuket depends on the experience you want – whether you want breathtaking ocean views, you want to be within splashing distance of the sea, or be close to atmospheric markets, delicious street food and restaurants specialising in southern Thai food.
Best Phuket Hotels from Chic Boutique Hotels to Luxe Beach Resorts
Siem Reap Water Festival – A Celebration to Mark End of Monsoon
Like Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben Ancestors Festival, Bon Om Touk is one of the most important Cambodian holidays of the year. Occurring on the full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk in October or November each year, Bon Om Touk is celebrated with the Siem Reap Water Festival here in ‘temple town’, gateway to UNESCO World Heritage listed Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park.
Siem Reap Water Festival, part of the nationwide Cambodia Water Festival, is our favourite Cambodian festival. It marks the end of the monsoon and rice season, the reversal of the flow of the Tonle Sap (Great Lake), and the start of the fishing season with boat races, water rituals, traditional ceremonies, such as moon worship and floating lanterns, as well as fireworks, street food, beer bars, bands, and concerts.
We’ve been to Siem Reap Water Festival every year it’s been held since we settled in Cambodia’s charming city of Siem Reap in 2013. We’ve always lived a block or two from the lovely Siem Reap River, our favourite place to spend time, and have walked the shaded riverside paths many thousands of times over the years. Terence can often be found on the river banks capturing scenes from Siem Reap Water Festival.
You need to book accommodation well ahead of the Siem Reap Water Festival as it’s one of the busiest times of year in Siem Reap. The Old French Quarter and Wat Bo neighbourhood are the best areas to stay for the Siem Reap Water Festival, with plenty of excellent budget, mid-range and boutique hotels within walking distance of the river.
Siem Reap Water Festival – A Celebration to Mark the End of Monsoon
Calabria is the New Puglia – Italy’s Last Frontier for Travellers
I’ve been saying this for more years than I can remember: if you’re heading to Europe this year and Calabria is not on your Italy itinerary, then you need to revisit that. Italy’s last tourist frontier, Calabria is the new Puglia, and I know I sound like a broken record, but trust me on this: now is the time to get to Calabria.
Narrow roads snake through pristine pine forest to remote turquoise-coloured mountain lakes. Atmospheric hilltop towns are crowned by stone castles, with sumptuous churches are secreted on quiet cobbled lanes. Colourful seaside villages are perched in improbable cliff-top locations. Unspoilt beaches are skirted by crystal clear water. Everywhere there’s a low-key vibe and the people are Italy’s most laid-back locals.
These are just some of the things about Italy’s southern region of Calabria that have captivated us since our first trip to Calabria. We became smitten with mysterious Calabria way back in 2008 when we spent some months there crisscrossing the region by car, researching and writing the first English travel guidebook to Calabria. This post was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025, so maybe you’re all finally listening to me :)
Calabria is the New Puglia – Italy’s Last Frontier for Travellers
Kotor Old Town Walk – A Self Guided Stroll Around the Stari Grad
One of the best things to do in Kotor is simply to wander the streets of this wonderfully preserved walled old town, and our Kotor old town walking itinerary was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025. Our Kotor itinerary comprises a self guided stroll around the Stari Grad or Old Town, which we created on our last trip to this mini-Dubrovnik of elegant sandstone Venetian palaces, skinny lanes and sunny squares.
Our walk starts at Gurdic Gate, and once you reach the northern River Gate and cross the bridge, you have the opportunity to do the hike up to the ramparts of San Giovanni’s Fortress, also called St John’s Castle, which we highly recommend you do. It finishes at the point where most people start, on Café Forza, where we recommend you order a slice of the traditional lemon almond Dobrotska Torta, a local specialty made by the café owner’s wife.
Once sated, our walk takes you out of the Old City through the main town entrance, Morska Vrata or Sea Gate. If you pass a rather distinguished-looking old gentleman in a traditional costume on the way out, that’s Čedo Pustinjac. Say hello from us!
Kotor Old Town Walk – A Self Guided Stroll Around the Stari Grad
Hilltop Towns of Calabria – Atmospheric Mountain Villages in Southern Italy
The atmospheric hilltop towns of Calabria in southern Italy are a highlight of the southern Italian region and they seem to pop up everywhere. Typically topped by a sturdy castle and handsome church, their tiled-roof houses appear to tumble down the hillsides. Strolling the narrow alleyways behind them and climbing the steep stairs to their citadels is one of the delights of travelling Calabria.
The hilltop towns almost became the theme of our road trips around Calabria when we were researching our travel guidebook to Calabria years ago. I used to get so excited studying the map, looking for familiar patterns, squinting my eyes to see if I could see a mountaintop village ahead in the distance, eagerly anticipating when one might pop up next.
Then when we arrived – a joy for me, torture for Terence, who would have to negotiate the usually narrow and often one-way streets that always seemed too skinny for our hire car – I relished exploring the cobblestone lanes and peeking into the private homes and imagining their secrets. If you’re planning a driving holiday in Calabria, see our Calabria itineraries and road trip routes which take in many of these hilltop towns.
Hilltop Towns of Calabria – Atmospheric Mountain Villages in Southern Italy
Coolest Siem Reap Neighbourhood – Where to Stay, Eat, Drink and Shop in Wat Bo Village
Siem Reap is a city of villages and like the chic shopping quarter of Kandal Village, Wat Bo Village, our neighbourhood, has quietly evolved into one of Siem Reap’s coolest neighbourhoods in recent years. Shaded by lofty trees, the leafy riverside with its new walking paths and fairy-lights, is dotted with street food carts and pop-up bars. Tucked down narrow side streets are some of Siem Reap’s best restaurants, cocktail bars and cafés.
It’s home to urban farm-to-table restaurants, convivial cafés and atmospheric bars, street food trucks and pop-up riverside bars, a spot of fab shopping, and a busy student quarter. Wat Bo Village is also the address of Miss Wong, Siem Reap’s best cocktail bar. Reason enough to make it your address on your next stay.
When I published this guide to Wat Bo Village back in 2020 and declared Wat Bo “hip” in my little Siem Reap piece in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2021 and a story I did for Asian travel magazine, DestinAsian, A New Dawn for Angkor, I could never have predicted that Wat Bo Village would land at #3 on Time Out’s guide to the world’s coolest neighbourhoods a couple of years later.
Coolest Siem Reap Neighbourhood – Where to Stay, Eat, Drink and Shop in Wat Bo Village
A Stroll Around Jerez in Southern Spain – A Self-Guided Walking Tour Itinerary
Boasting a lovely old centre that is largely pedestrianised, cobblestoned lanes lined with fragrant orange trees, and countless plazas boasting fountains, sculptures and alfresco cafés, Jerez (Jerez de la Frontera) is a real treat to explore on foot. This stroll around Jerez is the walk we love to do. And we recommend doing it in the late afternoon or early evening in summer.
Like its sister Andalucian cities of Seville, Granada and Cordoba, Jerez has an abundance of gorgeous buildings to admire – a Moorish Alcazar with a mosque and Arab baths, the ruins of city walls, gates and watchtowers, a monumental Cathedral with breathtaking architectural flourishes, and dozens of splendid churches with flamboyant facades. Everywhere you gaze, there are gracious sandstone buildings with intricately decorated portals.
Turn a corner and you’ll stumble across a whitewashed sherry bodega with arcaded courtyards, tiny vineyards, and, glimpsed through the arches, dimly lit cellars housing old wooden barrels. Charming flamenco peñas, quaint neighbourhood bars, and ramshackle old houses complete the picture.
You can kickstart your stroll around Jerez with coffee and churros at La Vega café on Plaza Esteve before doing a lap around Mercado de Abastos next door, cross over to El Gallo Azul, one of Jerez’s most striking buildings, and make a note of bar Damajuana, where you should return in the evening for a drink. This Jerez walking tour was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025.
A Stroll Around Jerez in Southern Spain – A Self-Guided Walking Tour Itinerary
Avoid the White Lotus Crowds Off the Beaten Track in Northeastern Thailand
The enormous northeastern region, Isaan, covers a third of Thailand, with one third of its population. It’s a favourite of Thai travellers eager to escape the most popular destinations that teem with foreign tourists. It’s not hard to understand why locals head north if you’ve been to Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket in peak tourist season. The vast majority of Thailand’s 35+ million visitors all visit the same places.
In 2025, those places featured in The White Lotus series. We’ve stayed at ‘The White Lotus resort’ that starred series, The Four Seasons Koh Samui. One of our best guidebook updating gigs saw us test out dozens of luxury five-star hotels in Thailand, including a handful of luxe lodgings on Southern Thailand’s island of Koh Samui. So I can confirm, yes, it’s heavenly, and I can’t blame set-jetters for booking a trip after seeing in the series.
But if you’re keen to escape the White Lotus crowds converging on Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, Northeast Thailand is where to go. Our Northeast Thailand itinerary will take you off the beaten track on a two-week road trip through the Isaan region. Khmer Empire temples, bucolic countryside, blisteringly hot Thai food, nomadic monks, and Thai cowboys: the Isaan is like no other region in Thailand.
Avoid the White Lotus Crowds Off the Beaten Track in Northeastern Thailand
Our Guide to Surfing on the Gold Coast, Australia
Terence’s guide to surfing the Gold Coast was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025. Australia’s Gold Coast really is a surfer’s paradise and while you’d think that the most likely place on the coast to have the best surf would be the place named Surfers Paradise, surfing on the Gold Coast really has its home further down the coast with the legendary point breaks at Burleigh, Currumbin, Kirra, and Snapper Rocks, a National Surfing Reserve.
When Terence was in his early twenties, he lived and surfed the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, north of Brisbane. But when the big swells were approaching, he and friends would jump in the biggest car they had between them and head to the Gold Coast. In this guide, Terence recollects the excitement of seeing the first set roll through and everyone scramble – pulling surfboards out, waxing them, and gulping down coffee and bananas for energy.
Terence writes how he often stayed for the duration of the swell, surfing until he could barely paddle any more. They’d grab a quick lunch and wait to see whether they should head to another beach for an afternoon surf. Salty, sunburnt and sated, they’d drive back up to the Sunshine Coast – until the next big swells came. Surfing a solid swell on the Gold Coast should be on every surfer’s bucket list. This is Terence’s guide to how to do it.
Best Tokyo Neighbourhoods for Going Local
As part of our quest to get beneath the skin of places on our year-long global grand tour, we focused on exploring local neighbourhoods, rather than ticking off sights. In Tokyo, we settled into a compact Tokyo apartment rental located midway between Akasaka and Roppongi.
As there are no notable sights to see or tourist attractions to speak of, Akasaka appears in very few guidebooks. Akasaka is as local as neighbourhoods get and that’s just the way we like it. The streets are jam-packed with izakayas (Japanese taverns) and karaoke spots frequented by local workers. From there, we’d head to Shinjuku for yakitori in the alleyways of Omoide Yokocho or ‘Memory Lane’ and for drinks in the Golden Gai quarter.
This is our guide to the best Tokyo neighbourhoods, laidback and local areas like Akasaka and the atmospheric Asakusa. While they rarely get a mention in magazines, with no notable sights to speak of, they are as local as ’hoods get with their buzzy izakayas, pachinko parlours, and children’s parks, and that’s just the way we like it.
Travelling to Tokyo for the first time? See our posts on Tokyo hotels we love for first-timers to Tokyo, why you should rent a Tokyo apartment for your second stay, Tokyo reflections and travel tips, local tips from a Japanese designer, visiting Tokyo fish markets on a food tour, and a local expert’s sake sipping guide, and lessons in Japanese pop culture from local authors.
Best Tokyo Neighbourhoods for Going Local from Akasaka to Asakusa
Darwin City Walk Itinerary – A Self-Guided Stroll Around Tropical Darwin
Vibrant, multicultural Darwin, the low-key capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, may be best known as the departure point for road trips to Kakadu National Park, Mary River National Park and Litchfield National Park to learn about ancient Aboriginal culture and absorb awe-inspiring natural beauty. But Darwin also warrants some of your time and your best introduction to the NT capital is on our Darwin city walking itinerary.
Boasting shady bay-side parks, galleries showcasing Aboriginal art, engaging museums, mouth-watering markets, and wonderful opportunities for waterfront dining, Darwin makes a fantastic base for acclimatising before venturing into the Top End’s national parks or road-tripping down to Nitmiluk, Katherine and Alice Springs, or across to the Kimberley in Western Australia, and the best way to experience it as far as we’re concerned is on foot.
Our Darwin city walk skirts the scenic waterfront that fringes the easy-going tropical capital, taking you through the compact historic quarter, along the tree-lined esplanade, and through leafy parkland shaded by lofty trees. Do our self-guided stroll at your own pace, visiting sights en route or returning to them later. Distances aren’t great between sights but the heat and humidity can be debilitating during the hottest months. Take plenty of water!
Darwin City Walk Itinerary – A Self-Guided Stroll Around Tropical Darwin
First Time Flying Tips – An A-Z Guide to Flying for the First Time
Another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025, this A-Z guide to flying for the first time was created for those of you planning your inaugural trip overseas, booking international flights for the first time, or even flying domestically. Our air travel advice is based on decades of experience as professional travel writers and guidebook authors and covers everything from airlines and airports to getting vaccinations and visas.
If you’re planning a trip overseas or even travelling closer to home and flying for the first time, we’ve got loads of first time flying tips for you so things go smoothly. Even if you’ve seen off siblings on their first adventure abroad or picked up family from the airport, navigating an airport for the first time as a traveller can be daunting, while the process of checking in and making your way through Immigration, Security and Customs can be stressful.
You want your first time flying to be hassle-free, not plagued with problems. The first time you fly, you want to spend more time relaxing in a lounge thumbing through a guidebook or clinking glasses of bubby with your travelling companion as you watch planes on the tarmac taking off, than arguing with airport security (something you should try to avoid at all costs!) because you just bought that bottle of water they told you to toss.
First Time Flying Tips – An A-Z Guide to Flying for the First Time
Driving from Darwin to Kakadu National Park – Where to Stop Along the Way
Driving from Darwin to Kakadu National Park in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory to do some of the country’s best indigenous guided experiences, absorb ancient Aboriginal rock art, and swim in serene waterholes will form some of the most meaningful memories of an Australia trip. As far as we’re concerned it’s one of the best road trips in Australia and many of you must agree, as it was another of our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025.
While many foreigners to the Northern Territory will do a tour from Darwin to Kakadu National Park, Australians prefer to take their time and drive. Allow a minimum of three days and nights, but five to eight days is better. While you can see a lot in a 2WD vehicle, you’ll experience far more with a 4WD. See our top tips to doing road trips in Australia to learn more about why a 4WD vehicle will be your best option for road tripping Australia.
Driving from Darwin to Kakadu National Park is an easy three-hour drive on good bitumen roads, but you can break up the journey with stops on the way at lush Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, Windows on the Wetlands, Adelaide River Jumping Crocodile Cruises, and Mary River National Park.
Driving from Darwin to Kakadu National Park – Where to Stop Along the Way
Things to Buy in Cairo and Tips for Shopping Khan el Khalili Bazaar
Forget the framed papyrus prints, scarab beetles and sphinx fridge magnets made in China that will probably end up in the back of a cupboard or at a future yard sale. For me, the things to buy in Cairo are locally made souvenirs with a history and story that you can use, such as hand-beaten copper and brass trays and coffee pots handcrafted by artisans using centuries-old traditions. Sheesha pipes and incense also make memorable souvenirs.
One of the best places to shop for them is the Khan el Khalili, the most atmospheric of all Egyptian bazaars or markets. Located in the heart of old Islamic Cairo, it was established on the site of the mausoleum of the Fatimid caliphs – great sponsors of the arts, architecture and education – known as the Turbat az-Za’faraan or Saffron Tomb, which was located in a palace complex built in 970 AD, the year Cairo was founded.
While there are many bazaars in Cairo, along with boutiques and shopping malls, the Khan el-Khalili is a special place to shop for the atmosphere and history as much as anything – even if all you take home is a pyramid magnet. Our guide covers things to buy in Cairo and tips for shopping at Khan el-Khalili based on our experience and my many years bargaining in the souks of the Middle East.
Things to Buy in Cairo and Tips for Shopping Khan el Khalili Bazaar
Have you been to any of the places, driven the road trips, or used some of our itineraries in our 25 most popular travel posts of 2025? If so, we’d love to get your feedback and tips in the comments below.
