Author: Rebecca Hallett

The faces of San Francisco: keeping the city’s creativity alive

San Francisco has changed a lot in the last few years. It’s now the buzzing centre of America’s tech culture, and so expensive that most of the artists and iconoclasts who made it famous can no longer afford to live there. But you’d be wrong to assume that the city’s lost its radical edge. There…

11 Unique things to do in Iceland

From its pocket-sized capital to the vast landscapes of its interior, Iceland overflows with inspiring spots. The only real trouble is narrowing down what you want to do. Head out to sea to scour the grey waters for whales? Scramble over slick rocks to marvel at a waterfall? Or soak up the rays on a…

Top day trips from Reykjavík

Icelanders have a motto which visitors should know: þetta reddast – “It’ll all work out.” Hoping to go for a day in the wilds, but the roads are too icy? þetta reddast, there are plenty of other things to do. In the mood for shopping, only to find Reykjavík packed with tourists? Don’t worry, þetta reddast. Not…

The best day-trips from San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge, rows of colourful Victorian houses, trams chuntering up steep hills: San Francisco is a city full of iconic sights. But it’s worth tearing yourself away from it for a day or so to discover the other Californian treasures on its doorstep. Angel Island State Park A trip to Angel Island State Park…

Exploring Johannesburg: the graffiti capital of Africa

Johannesburg is home to a thriving street art scene. Rebecca Hallett takes a graffiti tour of Maboneng Precinct to discover a different to the city.

A first-timer’s guide to Johannesburg

Cape Town, Kruger National Park, KwaZulu-Natal: South Africa has some big-hitting sights. But a lot of visitors leave the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, off their itineraries. This is a mistake: it’s the best place to learn about South Africa’s past and look to its future. And if you need a break from the city’s size and energy,…

A taste of Tokyo: the city’s best food experiences

If you want to get to the heart of Tokyo's culinary scene, you'll need to go beyond the city's bustling restaurants and best-loved drinking dens. Here's how.

Tokyo nightlife: a neighbourhood guide

Until recently, running a club in Japan was a risky business. The fueihō laws, created in 1948, put restrictions on any small venue where patrons were able to “actively seek out pleasure” – including dancing. Though usually these laws weren’t enforced, any club or bar owners caught by police letting their patrons bust a move could face…

The best places to visit in Iceland this summer

Iceland is famous for majestic glaciers and snow-covered houses, for the Northern Lights and blue-lit ice caves. But visit in summer and it can feel like a totally different country. While there are still plenty of icy natural wonders, you can also party with the locals at summer festivals, hike across flower-strewn moorland or soak in hot…

The truth about tribal tourism

Travelling is all about opening your eyes to new places, people and ways of life. But unfortunately, sometimes we’re so eager for an exciting experience that we can’t see the effects of our choices, and it’s all too easy to stop thinking about them once you’re back home. While tourists are increasingly aware of the…

Go it alone: a guide to solo travel for introverts

There’s a common misconception that introverts are antisocial. In fact, being an introvert simply means that you get your energy from being alone – you might love seeing friends and going to parties, but you need to have some time to yourself to recharge your batteries. This can mean solo travel is particularly rewarding for…

What happens when you blend English tradition with Japanese craftsmanship

In a delicious meeting of two worlds, the most English of drinks has been combined with Japanese craftsmanship to create a premium craft gin, KI NO BI (“the beauty of the seasons”). Made with famously pure Fushimi water, the gin uses a rice-spirit base combined with a range of uniquely Japanese flavours – yuzu, sanshō…