Bath

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Bath has been celebrated for its natural hot springs for nearly two millennium. The Romans called it Aquae Sulis, the waters of Sulis, during their occupation of Britain and left behind the ruins of a massive bathhouse complex. This historically fashionable town was frequently recommended as a place for R&R for the British upper class. It was also home to Jane Austen in the 19th century.

From London take a one and a half hour train direct to the Bath Spa Station.

EAT

Blue Quails Deli A charming spot for breakfast, coffee or lunch near the Pulteney Bridge.

Chez Dominique Romantic and cozy French restaurant with a good wine list.

Sally Lunns House Good luck getting a seat. Try the Lunn bun. Recommended by a friend.

DRINK

Roots & Shoots Friendly, vegan cafe near the train station.

The Bell Inn Not for the faint (or sober) of heart, but a fun dive with live music.

PLAY

Artisan Market A Saturday market at Queen Square.

Bath Abbey Medieval splendor.

The Circus and The Royal Crescent The terraced houses of both areas are some of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture in England.

Pulteney Bridge

The Roman Baths Visit the museum and ruins of a nearly two thousand year old bathhouse.

Thermae Spa The verdict is still out on this three-level spa. It is one of the only places today to bath in hot spring pools and has a stunning view from the roof-top pool. But, we felt the water temperature was too low and the £40 weekend entrance fee too high.

STAY

Bath is small and busy on the weekends, so stay within walking distance of the Baths and Abbey. We loved No. 15 Great Pulteney, a charming, boutique hotel on a beautiful street.

Bath

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Kyoto

Kyoto was the ancient imperial city of Japan. Today, many of its temples and structures are still standing and enjoy UNESCO World Heritage status.

Kyoto is a 75 minute train ride from Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, or a two and a half hour shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo.

The Kyoto Gion Matsuri Festival happens each July and is one of the most famous in all of Japan. The city celebrates with parades, floats and festival food stalls. While crowded, it is an unforgettable time to visit.

EAT

Nishiki Market A fun place to walk through and have a meal.

Kaiseki Kyoto’s haute cuisine is a beautiful, multi-course meal that originated 500 years ago.

DRINK

The Gion District This part of the city escaped bombing in World War II and remains one of the most well-preserved areas of the city. Visit the old tea houses in this old geisha district, and if you are lucky, you may spot one of the few geishas left. Hanami Street is a particularly lovely walk.

Pontocho This narrow, ancient alley is over 500 years old. The area is well known for its excellent nightlife, dining, and is in general a lovely area to walk around at night.

PLAY

Arashiyama Beautiful, tightly packed bamboo groves.

Fushimi Inari A short train ride outside of Kyoto’s main station, this Shinto shrine is a spiritual place. Thousands of brightly colored tori arches are arranged throughout the forest like dominoes.

Ginkakuji and Kinkakuji Temples The Silver and Golden Pavilions, respectively, are among the most famous of Kyoto’s thousands of temples. Rent bikes for a self-led tour.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Shosei-en Garden Traditional temple garden.

The Philosopher’s Path A nice walk or bike along a peaceful stream. The path is very near Ginkakuji.

Yasaka-jinja A Shinto shrine in Gion.

STAY

We recommend basing yourself in Kawaramachi, Gion or near Kyoto Station. All are within walking distance of good food, nightlife and most of the top sites.

Kyoto

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the most dynamic and fascinating cities in the world. The Japanese capital is a bridge between centuries of tradition and the modern world.

The easiest way from the airport to city center is via the Narita Express or a JR train to Tokyo, Shinjuku or Shibuya Stations. The trains run a few times an hour and the journey takes one hour.

Tokyo is a great starting point for a longer trip around Japan. Kyoto, Osaka, Nagano and Kobe are all a few hours by shinkansen, Japan’s bullet train. If you have time, consider heading out of Tokyo for a 48 hour visit to one of the picturesque towns around Mt. Fuji. Lake Kawaguchiko, a hot spring resort town with stunning views of the mountain, is a lovely option for hiking, biking and relaxing in the onsen (a traditional, Japanese bathhouse).

Coming for Cherry Blossom (sakura in Japanese) season? The best viewing time for Tokyo is near the end of March, beginning of April.

Want to see a sumo wrestling tournament during your trip? Check the Grand Tournament schedule to align your visit.

EAT

Fonda de la Madrugada A Mexican restaurant in Harajuku with mariachi singers.

Lawson’s or Family Mart These convenience stores are all over Japan and sell tasty fast food. Try the curry or pizza buns, and onigiri (stuffed rice balls wrapped in seaweed).

Toyosu Fish Market Tsukiji Fish Market was formerly the world’s largest fish and seafood market, but closed its doors for good in 2018. The new market, Toyosu, is slightly further east and twice the size. The market is surrounded by tiny sushi shops, all serving the freshest fish in the world.

DRINK

Izakaya alley in Shibuya or Shinjuku. Izakaya are Japanese pubs that serve umami snacks. Try a Japanese whiskey or one of the top beer brands - Sapporo, Asahi, Kirin or Suntory.

Starbucks Shibuya Not one to visit a Starbucks abroad? We promise the views are worth it! Grab a coffee and watch thousands of people cross the street at once.

Shinjuku, Shibuya or Roppongi Go out in these neighborhoods and you won’t go wrong.

PLAY

Asakusa Visit the ancient Buddhist temple, Sensō-ji, and surrounding festival area.

Harajuku Know for fashion, this neighborhood is for shopping and people watching. Look for the teenagers dressed as Little Bo Peep, pop into an arcade to take photos in a purikura photo sticker booth, or head to the DAISO shop for cheap home wares and gifts.

The Imperial Palace

Karaoke Duck into any karaoke bar and pass a few hours singing your favourite 80s jams.

Shibuya One of the busiest areas in the city. Besides its famous crosswalk Shibuya is full of crazy electronic and adult shops.

STAY

K’s House Tokyo For the budget minded, K’s is a clean and safe backpacker’s hostel in Asakusa.

Keio Plaza Hotel Four-star, luxury hotel near Shinjuku station.

Tokyo

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is India’s most populous city with 10 million residents. Hundreds of years ago the city consisted of seven islands loosely strung together by swamps. Over time land was reclaimed from the sea to form the metropolis of Mumbai. The Portuguese were the first foreigners to land on the city’s shores and much of their influence can be felt throughout the culture and food today.

Uber is a cheap way to get around but be smart. Ask the driver to start and stop the ride in front of you. Women should take caution; after daylight, only take short trips. Do not use the old, black Fiat cabs as mosquitoes are common and can increase chances of catching of malaria.

While in Mumbai, consider taking time to see another side of the city, not often accessible to or of interest to foreigners. Reality Tours & Travel offers walking tours of Dharavi, one of the largest slums in Asia. Dharavi is home to over one million people living in just two square kilometers, and has a bustling informal economy with an annual turnover estimated at nearly $1 billion. While some may struggle with the ethics of a slum tour (we still do), Reality Tours is owned by non-profit Reality Gives, who employs local Dharavi guides to run the tours.

If it is your first time to India, we highly recommend adding to your reading list Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger.

EAT

Elco Delicious chaats and pani puri on Hill Road in Bandra. It’s busy but worth the wait. (Also known for its good hygiene.)

Pali Village Cafe Iconic and romantic restaurant in Pali Village near Bandra.

Smoke House Deli This cute, calm cafe in West Bandra is the perfect spot for lunch. Try the veggie burger.

DRINK

Colaba Social Hip, industrial-style bar near the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Colaba.

Tea Villa Cafe A few different locations and over 30 different types of tea. Food is good too.

PLAY

Bandstand Promenade Take a walk along the Arabian Sea at sunset.

The Gateway of India Considered Mumbai’s top tourist attraction.

Shopping Both Bandra and Colaba are excellent neighborhoods for shopping. Our favorites:

Anokhi Well-priced, well-made, block-print clothes and fabrics.

FabIndia Several locations throughout the city. Indo-Western clothes, beauty products, food, textiles and homewares. While it is a chain, most products are made from traditional techniques by rural craftsmen and women.

Global Desi Bright dresses with bold prints. A few locations through out the city.

Parvati Villa This is a friend of a friend’s shop. Handcrafted jewellery and beautiful tribal designs. A few locations around town.

The Shop A sweet spot in Bandra across from the Pali Village Cafe with Indo-western clothes, hand-crafted textiles and homewares.

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel A historic, 5-star hotel across from The Gateway with stunning interiors and exteriors. The hotel was the site of the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

STAY

Bandra is a hip part of town with street art, historic churches and a bit of Portuguese flavor. Great food, shopping and night life.

Grand Residency Bandra A good option for the budget conscious business traveler. Breakfast included and there is a gym.

Taj Land’s End 5-start, modern hotel at the end of Bandstand Promenade.

Mumbai

Galway

Galway is pure, old world magic. A harbor city on Ireland’s west coast, its Latin Quarter holds art shops, Claddagh jewellry stores and medieval pubs pouring tourists and traditional music into the streets.

Shannon is the nearest airport and a one hour drive by car. Buses and trains also run regularly from Dublin to Galway.

While Galway deserves a few days itself, it is also an excellent jumping off point for day trips to the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands and Connemara.

EAT

Busker Browne’s Start your holiday in Galway with a pub lunch.

Cactus Jack’s Decent Mexican food.

Xi’an Street Food Casual restaurant with delicious hand-pulled Chinese noodles.

DRINK

Tig Coili Small, friendly bar with outdoor standing space for watching street artists.

Taafes Pub Super fun pub with traditional, live music.

Pádraicíns Seafood Bar & Restaurant Grab a Guinness at this R336 seaside pub while heading back to Galway after a day in Connemara.

The Quays Bar and Restaurant 400-year-old watering hole with an upstairs music hall featuring live music and DJs.

PLAY

Aran Islands and Cliffs of Mohrer The Aran Islands, known for their ancient villages and stone walls, are a short ferry ride (30-90 minutes) from the village of Doolin. The Cliffs are 15-20 minutes south of Doolin. Book entrance to the Cliffs in advance online.

Salthill Promemade Walk along the ocean and breathe in the fresh, Irish sea air.

Connemara Home to Ireland’s fairy folk. While there stop by the romantic Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian estate, and take an afternoon hike through Connemara’s National Park.

STAY

Any AirBnB within walking distance of the Latin Quarter will be conveniently placed.

Looking for something more authentic and away from the crowds? Salthill is a cute, quiet neighborhood with bed and breakfasts on the water and just a 10-15 minute bus ride from the Latin Quarter.

Galway

LOCATIONS NEARBY