Editorial · Travel Intelligence · Discovery

The Travel Journal

Ideas, insights and stories that keep curiosity alive — and give you reasons to go somewhere you've never been before.

✦ Curiosity is how every journey begins · Keep reading. Keep discovering. ✦ Curiosity is how every journey begins · Keep reading. Keep discovering.

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A Cook Strait ferry sailing through the forested hills of the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

Destinations

New Zealand: North Island or South Island for a first trip?

New Zealand’s two islands are different holidays. How the volcanic, cultural North Island and the alpine South Island compare, what changes with seven, ten or fourteen nights, and when it is worth seeing both.

16 min read

The City Palace of Udaipur floodlit at dusk on the shore of Lake Pichola, its lights reflected in the water, Rajasthan

Destinations

Jaipur, Udaipur or Jodhpur: which city for a short break?

With two or three nights, one Rajasthan city is the right amount. How Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur differ, who each suits, what fits into a long weekend, and when the weather works.

8 min read

Aerial view of coral reef in shallow turquoise water on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Destinations

Great Barrier Reef: Cairns, Port Douglas or the Whitsundays?

The Great Barrier Reef is about 2,300 km long, so the first decision is where to see it from. What Cairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays each do well, which suits non-swimmers, families and couples, how the seasons differ, and how many nights to give it.

8 min read

Several traditional houseboats moored along a palm-lined bank of the Kerala backwaters at sunset, reflected in still water

Destinations

Kerala for a honeymoon: the route, the stays and when to go

Kerala works for a honeymoon because it asks so little of you: no long-haul flight, no visa, and quiet places to stay. How to choose the bases, where the houseboat night goes, how many nights you need, and the months that suit a post-wedding trip.

8 min read

Snow-covered thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses of Shirakawa-go village among snowy trees in winter, Gifu, Japan

Destinations

Japan in winter: is it worth it, and which winter to choose

December to February gives Japan two very different holidays: deep snow in Hokkaido and the mountains, or cold, clear, quieter cities in Tokyo and Kyoto. What each is like, what books out early, the New Year effect, and who each suits.

8 min read

Limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles standing in the surf below golden cliffs on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia, in evening light

Practical

Australia itinerary for 10 and 14 days: which regions to combine, and how to fly between them

Australia is a continent, and no single itinerary covers it. What ten and fourteen days realistically fit, which regions combine well, where the Great Ocean Road, Blue Mountains, the Reef and Uluru belong, and the flights between them.

9 min read

A two-lane highway curving through the golden tussock hills of Lindis Pass in New Zealand under a broad cloudy sky

Practical

Driving in New Zealand with an Indian licence: rules, roads and when not to drive

New Zealand drives on the left, like India, but its roads are narrower, emptier and slower than the map suggests. The licence and permit rules, the roads, one-lane bridges, weather, rental and fuel, and when a coach or a flight is the better choice.

9 min read

Riders on two camels, led by handlers on foot, crossing the ridge of a large sand dune in the Thar desert near Jaisalmer under a hazy evening sky

Destinations

Jaisalmer desert camps: Sam or Khuri, which kind of camp, and what a night involves

A night in the Thar is the reason many people go to Jaisalmer, and camps range from canvas tents to resorts. What the evening involves, Sam or Khuri, the kinds of camp, the cold, and the questions to ask before you book.

8 min read

The village church of Lauterbrunnen in a green valley between sheer rock walls, with a waterfall and snowy peaks beyond

Practical

Switzerland itinerary for 5 and 7 nights: the bases that work, and the trains between them

How to route a first Switzerland trip in five or seven nights: Lucerne, the Jungfrau region and Zermatt as bases, which excursion each one is for, the trains between them, and the closures that shape an autumn trip.

8 min read

A Tokaido Shinkansen train crossing the plain below snow-capped Mount Fuji on a clear day, dry grasses in the foreground

Practical

Japan itinerary for 7, 10 and 14 nights: day by day, with the trains in between

Three first-trip Japan routes laid out day by day: which nights go where, the train that links each base, which day trips earn their place, and the 2026 fee changes worth knowing before you book.

9 min read

An empty highway running through golden grassland towards Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps under a wide, cloud-streaked sky

Practical

South Island itinerary: 10 and 14 days by road, with the drives in between

Two South Island road trips laid out night by night: Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Wānaka, Milford Sound and Queenstown, then the glaciers on the longer loop. With honest drive times and what to book.

9 min read

Rolling hills covered in clipped tea bushes on a tea estate in Munnar, Kerala

Practical

Kerala itinerary for 5, 7 and 10 days: day by day, with the drives in between

Three Kerala routes laid out night by night: Kochi, the hills, the backwaters and the coast, with realistic drive times, where the houseboat night fits, and the park timetables that decide your mornings.

8 min read

Camels resting and standing on the sandy fairground at the Pushkar Camel Fair, with tents, trees and the Aravalli hills behind

Destinations

Pushkar Camel Fair 2026: dates, which days to go, and how to plan it

The Pushkar fair runs from 17 to 24 November 2026, but the camel trading starts earlier and the holy dip comes last. How the two fairs overlap, which days suit you, where to stay and how to get there.

8 min read

The sails of the Sydney Opera House against a blue sky, with ferries passing on the harbour in front

Destinations

Australia in December and January: weather by region, holidays and how to plan

Australian summer is four different climates in the same fortnight, stacked on Christmas, New Year and the local school holidays. Here is what Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Cairns are really like, and how to plan around the calendar.

9 min read

Cubes of white tofu in a dark pot of hot water, one lifted out on a wire skimmer

Practical

Vegetarian in Japan: what to eat, what to ask, and the fish stock you can’t see

Vegetarian food in Japan is easier than its reputation, once you know the one ingredient that causes most mistakes. What to ask, what to carry in Japanese, and where Jain travellers need more care.

9 min read

The Matterhorn rising above snow-covered chalet roofs and a church spire in Zermatt in winter

Destinations

Switzerland in winter: what it’s really like, and how to plan December to March

Winter Switzerland is two countries: deep snow above the tree line, and grey, quiet lake cities below it. Here is what each month is like, what runs and what closes, and how to build a trip around it.

8 min read

A ruined stone structure and a lone tree on an island in Padam Talao, reflected in still water below the forested hills of Ranthambore

Practical

Ranthambore safari: zones, booking, season and what to realistically expect

Ranthambore permits open months ahead, in fixed windows, and the good ones go on the day. Here is how the official booking works, jeep or canter, how many nights to allow, and what a safari can and cannot promise.

8 min read

The Gornergrat station buildings and observatory above Zermatt, with the Matterhorn and glaciers behind

Practical

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it? How to decide for your Switzerland itinerary

The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses, boats and museums, but most of the famous mountain excursions are only discounted. Here is what it really includes, how it compares with the Half Fare Card, and how to decide for your own route.

9 min read

Cherry trees in full bloom leaning over the moat at Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo, with small rowing boats on the water

Destinations

Planning a cherry blossom trip to Japan: when to go, where to start and how early to book

Cherry blossom is a weather event you have to book months before the forecast exists. Here is how to plan around the average dates, the 2027 calendar in both countries, and a route that still works if the trees are early or late.

10 min read

A traditional Kerala houseboat with a curved cane roof on open backwater, with palm trees along the far bank

Destinations

Kerala houseboats: Alleppey or Kumarakom, one night or two, and what to check before you book

A houseboat night is roughly 21 hours afloat, and most of what makes it good or disappointing is decided before you board: where you start, whether the boat is yours alone, and what you checked.

9 min read

Sydney Harbour Bridge arching over the harbour on a clear day, with the Sydney Opera House on the far shore

Destinations

Australia or New Zealand: which suits your first trip from India

They are neighbours on the map and quite different holidays. Australia is cities, reef and wildlife linked by flights; New Zealand is scenery and the open road. Choosing well starts with which of those you want.

9 min read

The sandstone walls and palace buildings of Mehrangarh Fort rising from a rocky hill in Jodhpur

Destinations

Rajasthan itinerary for a first trip: routes for 5, 7 and 10 nights

Rajasthan is larger than most first plans allow for. The routes that work drop a city or two, run one way between two airports, and never ask for two long drives in a row.

9 min read

White houses of Oia spilling down the red volcanic cliffs of Santorini above the caldera

Destinations

France, Italy, Switzerland, Greece or Spain: which to choose for a first Europe trip

Five countries that suit five different holidays. The useful question is not which is best, but which one matches the trip you actually want — and how much walking you are prepared to do.

12 min read

A red Swiss train crossing the curved stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct with snow-covered mountains behind

Destinations

Europe in 7, 10 or 14 nights: itineraries that survive contact with reality

Four workable routes at each length, built on one rule: move in one direction, never sleep somewhere for a single night, and let the train do the distance.

11 min read

The Colosseum in Rome lit warmly at dusk with the city and trees behind it

Destinations

Planning a first Europe trip from India: how to choose where to go

The mistake is almost never picking the wrong country. It is picking five of them. Here is how to decide how many places a trip can hold, and in what order.

11 min read

The wide laterite ramparts of Bekal Fort on the north Kerala coast with the observation tower and green lawns

Destinations

Kerala beyond Munnar and Alleppey: where to go on a second visit

The standard Kerala circuit is standard for good reasons. But the state carries on for 350 kilometres north of it, and the northern half is where the crowds thin out.

10 min read

Illuminated neon signboards reflected in the Dotonbori canal in Osaka at night

Destinations

Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka: which Japanese city belongs in your first trip

They are ninety minutes apart and completely different holidays. Tokyo is scale, Kyoto is depth, Osaka is appetite — and a first itinerary rarely has room for all three as full stops.

11 min read

A large airport departures board listing flights, destinations and times

Practical

eSIM or international roaming: what actually matters for Indian travellers

The real question is not which is cheaper. It is whether your Indian number stays reachable for bank OTPs while your data runs on something else — and that depends on your handset, not your plan.

10 min read

Rolling tea plantations in the Kannan Devan hills near Munnar under low mist

Destinations

Munnar, Thekkady or Wayanad: which Kerala hill destination suits your trip

Three hill destinations, three quite different holidays. One is tea and views, one is wildlife and spice, one is forest and distance from everything. The right answer depends on your route.

9 min read

Traditional thatched houseboats moving along the Alleppey backwaters in Kerala with palm trees along the bank

Destinations

Kerala for first-time visitors: building a route that is not all driving

Kerala looks small on a map and drives large. Hills, backwaters and coast sit on different roads, and the trips that disappoint are the ones that try to hold all three in four nights.

10 min read

Mount Fuji rising above a field of purple flowers under a blue sky with scattered cloud

Destinations

Planning a first trip to Japan: how to build an itinerary that works

Most first Japan itineraries fail the same way — too many cities, too little time in each. Here is how to decide trip length, pick a base, and get the rail maths right before you book.

11 min read

The bright vaulted interior of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport terminal in Mumbai with travellers and baggage trolleys

Practical

Indian customs when you fly home: what the 2026 baggage rules changed

India replaced its baggage rules in February 2026. The duty-free allowance rose to ₹75,000, jewellery moved to a weight basis, and one new laptop now comes in free. Here is what applies when you land.

8 min read

Three Indian passports — ordinary, diplomatic and official — laid side by side showing the Republic of India emblem

Practical

ECR and ECNR on an Indian passport: what it actually means for travellers

ECR status restricts one thing only — taking up employment in 17 named countries. If you are travelling to see the Burj Khalifa or the temples of Bangkok, it does not apply to you.

8 min read

An empty two-lane road marked with Route 66 shields running towards distant desert mountains

Practical

The International Driving Permit, explained for Indian travellers

An Indian IDP costs ₹1,000, lasts a year, and is not a licence at all — it is a translation of the one you already hold. Here is how to get it, and where it actually works.

9 min read

Photo credits · Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons / Oia and Armeni 01 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence) · Kabelleger / David Gubler / Wikimedia Commons / RhB Ge 4-4 II 614 Glacier Express on Landwasser Viaduct / CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence) · Prathvi Acharya / Wikimedia Commons / Bekal Fort Kerala 2026 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence) · Kristoffer Trolle from Copenhagen, Denmark / Wikimedia Commons / Dōtonbori at night, Osaka (19551420339) / CC BY 2.0 (licence, source) · Rich Lemonie / Wikimedia Commons / Departure Times / CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence) · CookBooc / Wikimedia Commons / Munnar Tea Plantations (38504) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence) · Rabe! / Wikimedia Commons / Backwaters 2018-04-03m / CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence) · Kumiko Nakashima / Wikimedia Commons / Mt Fuji At Lake Kawaguchi (109762227) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence) · Vikassinghhhh / Wikimedia Commons / Indian Passport Type / CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence) · Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Amboy (California, USA), Hist. Route 66 -- 2012 -- 1” / CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)