I caught the travel bug quite early with my first big trip being with a friend to Hong Kong. Ever since then I have tried to get to somewhere new at least every few years…though Asia always seems to call to me.

My personal top travel destinations:

1. My London - My favourite city in the world and not just because I currently live there…
2. Hong Kong - Yes, lots of sky-scrappers but scratch a bit below the surface to discover secluded beaches, rain forests and hidden away monasteries…
3. Japan - Kyoto is amazing and Tokyo is incredible too, but really, the country as a whole is absolutely amazing…
4. Venice - A truly unique place that you must visit at least once in your lifetime…
5. Bangkok - A vibrant city that looks amazing with incredible food…
6. New York City - Lots to see and do from the theatre to amazing, iconic restaurants, sites, and museums…
7. Australia - A huge, amazing country filled with lots to see. Reminds me a lot of my native Canada…
8. Stockholm - Great outdoor spaces, and an interesting, accessible, city…
9. St. Petersburg - Incredibly magnificent historic sights that puts us mere mortals to shame!
10. …What next?

The following have proven to provide very helpful information or services:

• The Man in Seat Sixty-One . . . - A guide to world-wide train travel containing real world information and details that are often incredibly difficult to come by particularly when you do not speak the language
• omio - Travel booking using whatever means possible…easy to use search and booking facility

For the most part I book through Expedia which allows me to easily book flights, hotel and car though I have never really used their “rewards” programme (though collect the points anyway). This generally provides most services I normally use on holiday. For relaxing, beach/resort holidays we have recently been using Secret Escapes which provides great discounts on “luxury” holidays but also has really good customer service.