The Travel Edit

I don’t chase country counts. I return to places — because that’s where the real detail lives. The neighbourhoods you understand on the second visit. The boutique hotels that actually deliver. The meals that make sense once you’ve walked the city properly.

Gastrotravelogue started with food, but it’s always been about travel done well. Today, it’s a mix of repeat‑visit destination guides, boutique hotel recommendations and reliable local food insight across Europe and Southeast Asia.

I’ve spent more than four decades travelling — including years living in Switzerland, South Africa and Zimbabwe — and I’ve watched destinations evolve. That long view shapes everything I write: what lasts, what’s noise, and what’s genuinely worth your time.

My travels are between two worlds: the layered elegance of Europe and the energy of Southeast Asia. After more than a decade of regular trips to Thailand and the region, I’ve built a feel for balance — the design‑led stay one night, a market‑fresh meal the next.

Gastrotravelogue reflects that mix. Not trends. Not lists for the sake of lists. Just travel that feels considered, comfortable and rooted in experience.

How I Choose What to Recommend

I only recommend places that prove themselves — not just once, but consistently. A neighbourhood, hotel or restaurant has to hold up across seasons, visits and context. If it’s in my guides, it’s because it delivered more than a good first impression.

I look for clarity: hotels that understand their purpose, restaurants that know their own identity, and areas that reward wandering rather than box‑ticking. Trend‑driven spots rarely make the cut; places with substance do.

Everything I include is chosen for travellers who want depth without complication — reliable food, comfortable stays and a sense of place that feels earned rather than marketed.

Everything that follows is shaped by that approach — straightforward, experience‑led guidance that helps you get more out of a place without overthinking it.

Start Planning Your Trip

If you’re new here, these are the sections that keep Gastrotravelogue useful — the places to begin when you’re shaping a trip.

• Food Guides — the best places to eat in each destination.
• Destinations — city and region guides with the essentials that matter.
• Where to Stay — boutique hotels and places with character.

Or jump straight into the major hubs:

• London Travel Guide — neighbourhoods, restaurants and reliable places to stay.
• Paris Travel Guide — where to eat, what to see and the best areas to base yourself.
• Florence Travel Guide — must‑see art, good food and the most useful areas to stay.
• Amalfi Coast Guide — the towns, viewpoints and hotels that actually work.

Or dive straight into some reader favourites: