Best Countries to Visit in December: Sun, Snow and Christmas Trips

Updated September 2026 For a December holiday combining beaches with time in a city, Thailand would be my first place to look. For Christmas markets, I would choose Germany and travel before Christmas itself. Japan appeals for city lights and a carefully chosen winter excursion; New Zealand offers a summer walking holiday at the opposite

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Best Countries to Visit in February: Beaches, Snow and Festival Dates

Updated September 2026 I would start a February trip with two decisions: whether I want warmth or winter, and which week I can travel. Thailand’s Andaman coast, Pacific Costa Rica and the Maldives make sense for a beach holiday. Japan offers a very different reason to go: snow, skiing and Sapporo’s winter festival. Cape Town

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Thailand Packing List: What to Pack for Your Trip

My starting point for Thailand would be a small, washable wardrobe, a complete outfit for temples, comfortable walking shoes, sun and mosquito protection, and the personal items that are awkward to replace: medicines, glasses and travel documents. Add rain protection, swimwear or warmer layers for the places you are visiting. For a two-week trip, plan

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Waterfalls Near Chiang Mai: Where to Walk, Climb and Enjoy the View

Updated September 2026. For waterfalls near Chiang Mai, my recommendations depend on what you want from the outing. Huay Kaew is the convenient city-edge choice; Mae Sa suits a walk between cascades; Bua Tong offers climbing on its distinctive limestone; and Wachirathan gives you a large waterfall on a Doi Inthanon trip. The nearest pin

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Wat Sri Suphan: My Guide to Chiang Mai’s Silver Temple

I choose Wat Sri Suphan for the metalwork. Up close, the silver-coloured ordination hall gives you plenty to examine: raised figures, patterned surfaces and scenes worked into panels around the building. Its position in Wualai, south of Chiang Mai’s Old City, also makes it an easy temple to combine with the neighbourhood’s silver shops and

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