Articles and Reviews

Where to go on holiday in August

Let’s address the elephant in the room: August is a very busy time for travel. It is peak season across much of the world as families set off on their summer holidays. This inevitably means popular destinations fill up while flight and hotel prices spike due to high demand.

If you have the option to holiday outside of August, we usually recommend it to save some money. However, all is not lost if you’re tied to it. Busyness isn’t always a bad thing – it can make typically sleepy destinations feel alive and exciting. And there are amazing experiences to be had in August, from stargazing in a Chilean desert to tracking lions in South Africa.

So, allow us to steer you away from the predictable with our five favourite destinations for a holiday in August.

How to spend 2 weeks in Vietnam

In late 2024, my sister set off on a 4-month trip around the world. In classic sister fashion, I couldn’t let her have all the fun, so we decided I’d join her for a leg of her journey. I could only take 2 weeks off, but I wanted to see as much of wherever we went as possible. Finding a whole country that you can travel around within two weeks is a tall order, but Vietnam ticked all our boxes. With careful planning, we were able to travel North to South in 16 days, filling our boots with all this wonderful country has to offer: epic natural landscapes and crazy cities, delicious food and fascinating history.

If you’re tight on annual leave but want to find a far-flung destination that you can really sink your teeth into, this two-week itinerary for Vietnam is made for you; tried and tested by me.

Little Venice Houseboat - Property Review

The quiet inner-city oases of the inland waterways are London's hidden gems, and few are more enigmatic than Little Venice. This neighbourhood is only a few streets from the bustle of Paddington but feels a world away with its picturesque canal, riverfront cafes and long-standing, laid-back community of boat folk. Their colourful narrowboats line the leafy towpath, where the air feels fresher, the sounds take on a more natural tune, and the pace of life never exceeds 4 knots. This tranquil bubble has provided a simpler way of living in the UK’s busiest city for decades, and this boutique houseboat allows you to peek through the porthole into their world.