Tag Archives: Travel

8 best travel books that explore more than just a destination

by Qin Xie

Published on The Independent on 3rd June 2021

With the world at a virtual standstill, many of us have turned to armchair exploration to temporarily satiate that hunger for travel and to see the world.

Like all those documentaries of far-flung places and virtual tours of destinations we can’t yet visit, travel books – and especially travelogues – have that transportative power. Even more so, because its slower pace forces us to be more reflective. And in turn, they stimulate our senses and reinvigorate our passion and curiosity.

There’s plenty of choice too, not just in the number of different destinations covered but also in the approaches to storytelling. Some reflect on a monumental event or achievement, others take on the task of self-inspection, a personal journey if you will, and then there are the ones that simply take us on a light-hearted spin.

Read more at The Independent

Eight stylish UK aparthotels to book for your next staycation

by Qin Xie

Published on The Independent on 1st June 2021

With the government’s travel “green list” still looking pretty slim, self-catering properties across the country are booking up fast, with prices surging as a result.

For those who don’t want to check into a hotel, there is a budget-friendly alternative – the aparthotel.

Long seen as the boring but functional alternative to traditional hotels for business travellers, stylish versions more akin to boutique boltholes have been popping up all over the country in recent years.

Read more at The Independent

Best things to do in UK national parks

by Qin Xie

Published on Staysure on 29th April 2021

From majestic peaks and rolling hills to serene lakes and rugged coastlines, the UK’s national parks have a lot to offer holidaymakers looking for a UK staycation.

But this year marks a particularly special anniversary – for it was 70 years ago, on 17 April 1951, that the Peak District became the UK’s first national park under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949.

In the 70 years since, 14 more national parks were established with the latest one, South Downs, only created in 2009.

Read more at Staysure

Best things to do in Cyprus

by Qin Xie

Published on Staysure on 19th March 2021

Ordinarily, around a million Brits visit Cyprus each year, making it one of the most popular holiday destinations for UK travellers.

Those numbers may have dipped recently, but our love for the island certainly hasn’t dampened.

In fact, since the country announced that it would be reopening its borders to British holidaymakers this summer, travel firms have been reporting a huge surge in bookings.

Read more at Staysure

How the United Kingdom’s Lockdowns Made Me a Tourist in My Own Neighborhood

by Qin Xie

Published on Fodor’s Travel on 16th March 2021

On the southern bank of London’s River Thames sits Battersea Park, a protected green space that first opened to the public in 1854. Within its 200 acres of parkland are several hidden gardens, a boating lake, and even a children’s zoo, making it one of the city’s most interesting parks. Its northern perimeter is a promenade that opens out onto a view of the river and the grand Chelsea mansions beyond that. On its other three sides, dense apartment blocks plug the gaps.

I’ve lived in a tiny studio apartment in one of these blocks for the last four years. For me, the park has always been a place of peace and joy, a replacement for that rare commodity in central London—a private garden.

That all changed last March when the U.K. entered a national lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The entire country was told to stay at home, and only go outside once a day for essential reasons such as to shop for groceries or to exercise. To ensure we complied, police were sent to patrol the streets, ready to hand out fines to those who broke the rules.

Read more at Fodor’s Travel