After Bonn in 2023 and Münster in 2024, Dennis and I went further than North Rhine-Westphalia for our 2025 Christmas market in Germany outing. We went to Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate, at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle rivers. Hence the name of the city.
Tag: France
VIDEO | The Longest Train Journey in the European Union: From Finland to Portugal by train in 125 hours and 31 minutes
‘125 Hours – Europe’s Longest Train Journey: From the Arctic to the Atlantic’ 125 hours. 23 trains. 10 railway companies. 6,203 kilometres. From Finnish Lapland to the Algarve. Independent railway commentator and European cross-border rail connections expert Jon Worth has completed the longest train journey in the European Union. His record-breaking journey exposed both the…
Czechia becomes Europe’s only destination where British women outspend men, Belgium second-most gender-balanced market
For the first time in Europe, female tourists from the United Kingdom are outspending their male counterparts in a single destination: Czechia. According to new analysis by Solo Female Travellers, British women spent an average of £722 per visit to Czechia in 2024, compared to £659 for men, a 9.60% premium for female travellers.
THAILAND + MALAYSIA | Questions for a first time in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur
The Philippines in 1996-1997, China in 2000, Vietnam in 2009, Japan in 2013 and 2025, South Korea in 2014 and 2024, Taiwan in 2017 (the starting point of Trip By Trip), Singapore in 2018, Hong Kong and Macau in 2023. I like travelling to East Asia. Yet I never visited Thailand, for many westerners the…
NETHERLANDS | ACM clears Arriva’s plans for direct trains from Amersfoort and The Hague to Paris
Arriva’s plans to launch direct international train services from Amersfoort and The Hague to Paris can go ahead after Dutch regulator the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) concluded that the services would not have a significant negative impact on NS’s main rail network concession.
Italo interested in running trains in / to Belgium and the Netherlands, after conquering Germany
Italian private high-speed rail operator Italo is planning further international expansion after Germany, with Belgium and the Netherlands emerging as potential next markets from 2030–31.
YES TO THE NIGHT TRAIN | A plea for reclining seats and 6-berth compartments
For the first time in half a century, France will launch the construction of brand-new night train rolling stock in 2026. The collective Oui au train de nuit (Yes To The Night Train) stresses the need for multiple comfort levels, from affordable budget options to business-class cabins.
Back On Track Belgium hails return of Brussels–Milan night train as “a real feat”
The return of a direct night train between Brussels and Milan has been welcomed by Back On Track Belgium as an important step in rebuilding Europe‘s international night-train network, although the rail campaign group says the difficulties involved show why a broader European strategy is needed.
ANDORRA | Tourism grew modestly in 2025, with shifting visitor patterns
Andorra welcomed 9,194,340 visitors in 2025, a modest increase of 0.7% compared with the revised 2024 total of 9.13 million. Behind that seemingly stable headline figure lies a notable shift in visitor behaviour. The number of tourists staying at least one night rose sharply by 12.7% to 4,362,733, while the number of day-trippers fell by…
Bonaire bets on quality tourism as visitor numbers reach new highs
Tourism on Bonaire has developed into one of the most distinctive and carefully managed visitor economies in the Caribbean. Unlike mass-market destinations built on large resorts and high-volume arrivals, the island has consciously positioned itself as a niche destination focused on nature, diving and sustainability. Yet it still attracts substantial visitor numbers, and tourism now…