Wonderful Wanderings shares tips on things to do, where to eat and where to stay around the world - plus useful travel gear reviews.
Review of Cathay Pacific Premium Economy: is the price worth it?
Cathay Pacific Premium Economy is worth the price if you sleep badly in Economy: around 40 inches of pitch, calf and foot rests, boarding after Business, and free WiFi for Cathay members. Here is the cabin, the lounge rules and the baggage allowance.
18 Christmas Markets in Italy 2026-2027: Dates & Locations
Italy's Christmas markets run from mid-November to 6 January. This guide covers 18 of them for 2026-2027, from Bolzano, Merano and Trento in the Alps to Florence, Rome and Naples, with dates checked on each organiser's own site.
Delta Premium Select Review: Seat Maps, Fees, Cost
Delta Premium Select is Delta's long-haul premium economy cabin: 38 in (97 cm) of pitch, Sky Priority and 2 checked bags, with no Sky Club. Here is the cabin on 6 widebodies, with the rows to ask for, the fare-tier seat rules and what it costs.
Havaianas review: sizing, fit and Slim vs regular models
Havaianas run large if you order by your European size, because the number on the label is Brazilian: the Havaianas 35/36 is a European 37/38. Here is how the paired sizing works, how Slim differs from regular, and how the Freedom sandal wears.
In Bruges filming locations: 15 spots where it was filmed!
The 15 In Bruges filming locations are all real places in the medieval centre of Bruges, and every one still stands and can still be visited. Most are free squares, bridges and streets; five charge admission, and two are a working hotel and restaurant.
JAL Premium Economy Review: Seat Map, Fees and Cost
JAL Premium Economy gives you 42 in (107 cm) of pitch on every aircraft that carries it, two free checked bags, free seat selection on every fare, and a lounge before you fly. Here is the cabin aircraft by aircraft, with the rows to ask for, the rows to refuse and what it costs against economy.
Packable K-way rain jacket review: is it truly waterproof?
The K-way packable rain jacket is properly waterproof rather than shower-resistant, and it kept me dry through a full day of heavy rain in Barcelona. Here is how it handles wind, how the sizing runs, and how to fold it back into its own pocket.
KLM Premium Comfort (Premium Economy): Seats, Fees, Cost
KLM Premium Comfort is KLM's premium economy cabin: 38 in (97 cm) of pitch, 8 in (20 cm) of recline, 2 checked bags and SkyPriority, but no lounge. Here is the cabin aircraft by aircraft, with the rows to ask for, the seat selection rules, the baggage allowance and what it costs against economy.
Lufthansa Premium Economy: Seat Maps, Fees and Value
Lufthansa flies two different Premium Economy seats under one name, the 2014 recliner and the newer Allegris fixed shell, across 10 seat-map layouts on 7 aircraft types. Here are the rows to ask for, the seat fees, the baggage rules and what the cabin actually costs.
Qantas Premium Economy Review: Seat Maps, Fees, Baggage
Qantas Premium Economy is 38 in (96.5 cm) of pitch, free seat selection and no lounge, on three different seats. Here is the A380, 787-9 and A330-300Y cabin by cabin, with the rows to ask for, the baggage rules and what it costs.
Singapore Airlines Premium Economy: Seat Map, Fees, Cost
Singapore Airlines Premium Economy gives you 38 in (97 cm) of pitch, 8 in of recline, 35 kg of baggage and free seat selection, but no lounge. Here is the cabin aircraft by aircraft, with the rows to ask for, the seat fees, Book the Cook and what it costs in miles.
Typical food in Austria: 18 dishes to try, 7 I ate myself
Typical food in Austria is built to keep active people going through cold winters: Kaspressknödel (fried cheese dumplings), Tiroler Gröstl (pan-fried potatoes with bacon and egg), Tafelspitz (beef simmered in its own broth) and Kaiserschmarrn, a shredded pancake.
Heathrow Lounges 2026: Every Lounge by Terminal and Price
Heathrow has about 40 lounges open across Terminals 2 to 5, and 10 of them sell entry to anyone for about £34 to £52 (about €39 to €59, $45 to $69) a visit. This guide lists each lounge by terminal with who gets in, opening hours and prices, checked November 2026.
United Premium Plus Review: Seat Maps, Bags, Fees
United Premium Plus is United's long-haul premium economy cabin: 38 in (96.5 cm) of pitch, free alcohol, Premier Access and no United Club. Here it is aircraft by aircraft, including the four layouts with no Premium Plus cabin at all, plus the seat fees and what it costs.
Ghent Travel Guide: Getting There, Where to Stay, When to Go
Ghent sits about 55 km (34 mi) north-west of Brussels and roughly half an hour away by train, with a largely car-free centre you can cross on foot. This guide covers arriving, getting around, when to go, where to stay and what the trip costs.
Virgin Atlantic Premium (Premium Economy): Seats, Fees, Cost
Virgin Atlantic Premium is the airline's long-haul premium economy cabin: up to 38 in (97 cm) of pitch, 2 checked bags and a free standard seat, with no lounge. Here is the cabin aircraft by aircraft, with the rows to ask for, the seat fees, the baggage rules and what it costs.
Brussels Travel Guide: 18 Things to Do, Food and Hotels
Brussels takes two days: the Grand Place and the lower town on foot, the museums of the upper town, and the Atomium out at Heysel. Here are the 18 things worth doing, what to eat, where to stay and how to get in from the airport.
Bruges Travel Guide: Things to Do, Hotels and Restaurants
A complete Bruges guide: where the city is, how it stayed medieval, the six things to do first, where to stay and eat, and how to reach it from London or Brussels. Two days is the right length of stay.
Münster, Germany Food: Fun Restaurants and What to Eat
Six restaurants and cafes in Münster that still trade, from a vegan kitchen on Ludgeristrasse to a working cheese dairy in the harbour, with addresses, hours and what each meal cost, plus the Westphalian dishes worth ordering.
Is Lisbon Overrated? Why 3 Days There Was Too Much for Us
Lisbon is not overrated, but three days in the centre was one day too many for us. Two days covers Baixa, Alfama and Belém at a sane pace; spend the third in Sintra or Cascais instead of a fourth lap of the tourist ring.
11 Best Restaurants in Aruba: Where to Eat on the Island
Aruba's standout restaurants sit in three areas: Palm Beach for the open-air terraces, Oranjestad for waterfront tables at sunset, and Noord, Santa Cruz and Savaneta for the food Arubans eat themselves. Here are 11 I ate at myself.
The best pasteis de nata in Lisbon: 15+ places tested
When I was planning my trip to Lisbon in March 2020, I made a list of almost 30 pasteis de nata places. That I’m a massive…
The People of Bulgaria: What Bulgarians Are Really Like
Bulgarians are warm and helpful once you speak to them, and they almost never smile at strangers in public. Here is what that feels like on a first trip, from the horo dancing in Plovdiv to the greeting that opens with a complaint.
British Airways Premium Economy (WT+): Seats, Fees, Cost
British Airways World Traveller Plus gives you about 38 in (97 cm) of pitch, 2 checked bags and priority boarding, but no lounge. Here is the cabin aircraft by aircraft, with the rows to ask for, the seat fees, the baggage rules and what it costs against economy.
ANA Premium Economy Review: Seat Map, Fees and Cost
ANA Premium Economy gives you 38 inches of seat pitch on most of the fleet and 40 on the newest 787-9, two checked bags on the right fare, and ANA Lounge access at Haneda, Narita, Kansai and Honolulu, which few airlines include with this cabin.
Air France Premium Economy Review: Seat Map & Fees
Air France Premium Economy, renamed Premium in 2024, gives you 37 to 40 in (94 to 102 cm) of pitch and 2 checked bags, but no lounge and no free seat until check-in. Here is the cabin aircraft by aircraft, with the rows to ask for, the fees, the baggage rules and what it costs.
Emirates Premium Economy Review: Seat Maps, Fees, Cost
Emirates Premium Economy gives you up to 40 in (102 cm) of pitch, 35 kg of baggage and free seat selection, but no lounge. Here is the cabin aircraft by aircraft, with the rows to ask for, which routes actually have it, and what it costs against Economy.
Belgium Travel Guide: How to Plan a Trip to Belgium
A trip to Belgium fits into 4 to 6 days around Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, all under 90 minutes apart by train, with May to September the warmest stretch. This Belgium hub covers when to go, how to get there and around, what it costs, where to stay, what to eat and every province.
Classic chicken vol au vent recipe from mom’s kitchen
A chicken vol au vent is a puff pastry case filled with poached chicken, veal meatballs and mushrooms in a lemony velouté sauce. This Belgian classic serves 4 and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, shells baked at 180°C (350°F).
Flemish Stew Recipe: Belgian Beef and Beer Carbonnade
Flemish stew is beef braised for 2.5 hours in dark Belgian beer with onions, mustard, herbs and Liège syrup. Here is the carbonnade flamande recipe, the beer to use and what to swap the syrup for.
Waterzooi Recipe: The Classic Chicken Stew from Ghent, Belgium
Waterzooi is a creamy Flemish stew from Ghent, finished off the heat with egg yolks and cream instead of flour. This chicken version serves 4 and takes about an hour, and the fish version is a separate recipe, not a swap.
Quebec City Ice Hotel (Hôtel de Glace): Visitor Guide
The Quebec City Ice Hotel is the Hôtel de Glace at Village Vacances Valcartier, 20 minutes north of the city, rebuilt from snow and ice every winter and due to open on 26 December 2026 for the new season. Here is what it costs, how cold it is and how a night works.
20 Best Things to Do in Ghent, with Prices and Opening Hours
Gravensteen Castle, the Belfry, the Ghent Altarpiece and a boat trip from the Graslei are the four things to do in Ghent nobody should skip. All 20 are here, with current prices, opening hours and closing days.
Belgium in November: Weather, Events and What to Pack
November is Belgium's darkest, foggiest month, with highs near 10°C and only about 66 hours of sun in the whole month. It is also the cheapest time to see Bruges and Ghent, and the Christmas markets open in the final week.
What to See in Düsseldorf: 8 Sights With 2026 Hours and Prices
The 8 sights worth your time in Düsseldorf are the Rheinturm, the Königsallee, K20 and K21, the Kunsthalle, the Filmmuseum, the Stadtmuseum, KIT and Little Tokyo, all within half an hour's walk of each other. Here are the 2026 hours and prices.
Dresden in 2 Days: An Itinerary With 2026 Opening Days
Two days in Dresden covers the Altstadt on day 1 and a Meissen day trip plus Neustadt on day 2. Start on a Wednesday to Sunday: the Zwinger and Albertinum close Mondays, the Residenzschloss Tuesdays and the military museum Wednesdays.
15 Things to Do in Cologne: Dom, Museums and Kölsch
Cologne needs two days: the cathedral, the 533-step tower climb and one museum on the first, the Rhine, the Romanesque churches and a brauhaus on the second. Note that sightseeing in the cathedral has been ticketed since 1 July 2026.
Things to Do in Nuremberg: 14 Sights, Hours and Prices
Nuremberg's 14 main sights split into one walking day in the Altstadt, ending at the Kaiserburg, and five museums that each need half a day. Here are the 2026 opening hours, closing days and prices.
16 Christmas Markets in Switzerland 2026-2027: Dates
Switzerland's Christmas markets run from late October 2026 to early January 2027, and most open between 19 and 28 November and close on 23 or 24 December. This guide lists the official 2026 dates for 16 markets, from Zurich, Basel and Montreux to Einsiedeln and Gruyeres.
16 Christmas Markets in France 2026-2027: Dates & Locations
France has Christmas markets from mid-November 2026 to early January 2027, led by Strasbourg (27 November to 24 December 2026), the oldest in the country since 1570, and Colmar (23 November to 29 December 2026). This guide covers 16 markets with confirmed 2026 dates.
Rovaniemi at Christmas 2026-2027: Santa Village & Daylight
Rovaniemi at Christmas centres on Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle, 8 km (5.0 mi) from the city, where you meet Santa free every day; Santa Claus Office opens 08:00-20:00 from 30 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Helsinki Christmas Market 2026: Dates & Location
The Helsinki Christmas Market runs from 27 November to 22 December 2026 on Senate Square, in front of Helsinki Cathedral, open 11:00-19:00 Sunday to Thursday and 11:00-20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, with free entry.
Prague Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates and Locations
Prague's Christmas markets run from the last weekend of November to 6 January, with Old Town Square as the main market. Here are the announced 2026-2027 dates, where each market is, and what to eat and drink.
53 most Famous Belgians: Artists, Chefs and Scientists!
Belgium's most famous people run from Audrey Hepburn and Hergé to Adolphe Sax and Georges Lemaitre. This list of 53 famous Belgians covers the artists, chefs, scientists, inventors and record-breakers the country is known for abroad, with every name's nationality and dates checked.
Kraków Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Kraków Christmas Market opens on 27 November 2026 on the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) and runs into early January 2027, with stalls open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 and free entry.
Hamburg Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Locations
The Hamburg Christmas Market on the Rathausmarkt runs from 23 November to 23 December 2026, daily 11:00 to 21:00, with a Flying Santa at 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00; the Wandsbek market stays open until 1 January 2027.
Leuven Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Leuven Christmas Market opens on 3 December 2026 and closes on 20 December 2026 on Ladeuzeplein and Herbert Hooverplein, and entry is free.
Dinant Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
Dinant's Christmas season, Dinant Lumière, runs from 27 November 2026 to 2 January 2027, with a new 28-chalet market at the Palais de Justice and several free neighbourhood events rather than one single market.
Charleroi Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates and Location
The Charleroi Christmas Market runs on Place de la Digue and Place Verte, not Place Charles II, with wooden chalets, a paid ice rink and a champagne-and-oyster bar for winter 2026.
Mons Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates, Location and Hours
Mons Cœur en Neige spreads across three squares in central Mons: the Grand-Place, the Marché aux Herbes and Place Léopold, with wooden chalets, a free shuttle train and an ice rink for winter 2026.
Mechelen Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Mechelen Christmas Market runs from 4 to 24 December 2026 on Korenmarkt, Haverwerf, Van Beethovenstraat and Vismarkt, with wooden chalets, mulled wine and free entry.
Ostend Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
Ostend's Christmas market runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on Wapenplein and Sint-Petrus-en-Paulusplein, the first edition under new organiser Polar Bear Company, with free entry.
Budapest Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates & Location
Budapest's two main Christmas markets, Vörösmarty Square and the Advent Feast at St Stephen's Basilica, both open on Friday 13 November 2026 and run to 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027, with a nightly light show at the Basilica.
20 Christmas Markets in Belgium 2026-2027: Dates & Locations
Yes, Belgium has Christmas markets in nearly every city and town. This guide covers 20 markets for the 2026-2027 season: 18 have confirmed dates from their city or organiser, and Ypres and Durbuy are marked until they announce theirs.
20 Best Christmas Markets in Germany, With 2026-2027 Dates
Germany's 20 biggest Christmas markets open between 16 and 27 November 2026, and most close on 22, 23 or 24 December. Here are the 2026 dates, opening hours and what makes each one different, taken from every market's own site.
Bruges Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
Bruges' Christmas market opens 20 November 2026 and runs to 3 January 2027 on the Markt and Simon Stevinplein, with free entry, an ice rink and two new winter shows.
Antwerp Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
Antwerp's Christmas market opens Friday 4 December 2026 and runs to Sunday 3 January 2027 on eight sites, Grote Markt to Operaplein, with free entry and published daily hours.
Namur Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Namur Christmas market runs 27 November to 31 December 2026 across Place d'Armes, Place de l'Ange and Place du Théâtre, free to enter, with a skating rink open into early January 2027.
Liège Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Village de Noël de Liège runs 27 November to 30 December 2026 on Place du Marché and Place Saint-Lambert, with free entry every day and a Christmas ice rink open until 2 January 2027.
Lisbon Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates & What to Expect
Lisbon has no single German-style Christmas market. Its season centres on Wonderland Lisboa, the Rossio and Comércio lights, and pop-up markets that vary each year.
Paris Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Markets
The biggest Paris Christmas market, at La Défense, runs from 12 November to 31 December 2026 with 350+ chalets. The Tuileries and Champs-Élysées markets run into early January 2027, and the Gare de l'Est Alsatian market runs 2-18 December.
Berlin Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Dates and Locations
Berlin runs more than 60 Christmas markets in 2026. Its six main ones, Alexanderplatz, Gendarmenmarkt, Charlottenburg Palace, Rotes Rathaus, Spandau and Lucia at Kulturbrauerei, are free to enter except the Gendarmenmarkt, and the Rotes Rathaus has not yet published its 2026 admission.
Travel toiletries checklist: 32 carry-on items and the rules
A 32-item travel toiletries checklist for carry-on-only trips, with the liquids rule stated properly: every container 100 ml (3.4 oz) or smaller, all of them inside one quart-sized clear bag, one bag per passenger.
Things to Do in Münster, Germany: A 3-Day City Guide
Münster fills three days: the car-free Promenade, the Aasee and the Mühlenhof open-air museum, then the Prinzipalmarkt, the cathedral's 1540 astronomical clock and the Friedenssaal, and finally the harbour bars. Everything sits inside a 4.5 km ring.
35 Castles in Belgium: Which Ones You Can Visit
Belgium has roughly 3,000 castles. Of the 35 in this guide, 14 let you inside, 7 open only their park or gardens, 3 take overnight guests and 11 can be seen from the outside alone.
16 Best Cities in Belgium and What Each One Is Known For
Belgium's 16 best cities run from Brussels and Bruges down to Ninove and Charleroi, and almost all of them sit within two hours of the capital by train. Bruges is the busiest, Antwerp the most modern and Ghent the easiest base.
16 Things to Do in Ostend, Belgium: A Complete Guide
Ostend gives you Belgium's widest beach, the James Ensor House, a Napoleonic fort and 2 km of German bunkers inside a city you can cross in fifteen minutes. Two days covers it, and Mu.ZEE has moved to the Venetian Galleries until 2028.
Dame Blanche Recipe: What It Is and How Belgians Make It
A Dame Blanche is vanilla ice cream under hot melted chocolate with whipped cream on top, the standard dessert on almost every Belgian menu. The sauce is sugar, water, chocolate and butter, and it takes about five minutes.
Esslingen Christmas Market 2026: Dates & Medieval Market
The Esslingen Medieval Market and Christmas Market runs from 24 November to 22 December 2026 in the old town, open daily 11:00-20:30 and until 21:30 on Friday and Saturday. Entry is free.
Bratislava Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Bratislava Christmas Market runs from 26 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on Main Square and Hviezdoslav Square, open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 and closed on 24 and 25 December. Entry is free.
Regensburg Christmas Market 2026: Dates & Markets
The Regensburg Christmas Market on Neupfarrplatz runs from 23 November to 23 December 2026, and the ticketed Thurn und Taxis palace market runs from 20 November to 23 December 2026, closed 22 November.
Wrocław Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location
The Wrocław Christmas Market runs from 20 November 2026 to 7 January 2027 on the Market Square and nearby streets, open daily 10:00-21:00 with free entry, and closed on 24 and 25 December and 1 January.
10 Easy Belgian Recipes to Cook at Home
The easiest Belgian recipes to cook at home are Brussels waffles, stoemp, dame blanche and salade liegeoise, each ready in about 30 minutes. Here are 10 of them, with where each one comes from, how long it takes and what goes wrong.
Chocolate in Brussels: Workshops, Tours and Chocolatiers
Brussels offers three ways into its chocolate: a hands-on workshop, a guided tasting walk, or a shop crawl of your own. Here are the workshops that still run, the chocolatiers worth the queue and what a tour is really like.
Montreux Christmas Market 2026: Dates & Flying Santa
The Montreux Christmas Market runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026 on the quays of Lake Geneva, with more than 150 chalets and a Flying Santa over the market every evening at 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00.
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