Sadie Whitelocks

A seven-night Cambodian trip compares three contrasting experiences: historic luxury at Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, a strenuous overnight jungle trek on Mount Aural, and a high-end private-island stay at Six Senses Krabey Island. The hotel offers colonial grandeur and cultural history, the trek provides solitude and wilderness adventure, and the resort delivers modern luxury, spa treatments and fine dining. Rather than choosing one winner, the trip concludes that Cambodia’s appeal lies in combining different styles of travel.

Azerbaijan is presented as an ideal “travelmaxxing” destination, allowing visitors to combine Caspian Sea beaches, a major music festival, luxury hotels, Baku’s historic and futuristic architecture, and secluded mountain hiking in less than a week. The journey covers the Sea Breeze development, Dream Fest, Baku’s Old City and landmarks, and the Shahdag mountain region. The writer particularly praises Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage, affordability, hospitality and varied landscapes, while providing indicative flight and accommodation costs.

Rhodes is presented as a lush and unexpectedly quiet destination for travelers who venture beyond its cruise crowds and famous beaches. The feature highlights hikes on Mount Akramitis, Fourni Beach, vineyards and tavernas around Embonas, the historic attractions of Lindos and Rhodes Old Town, and boat trips through clear coastal waters. Local restaurants, family businesses and traditional food are central to the experience, while practical advice covers flights and accommodation. The overall conclusion is that Rhodes offers a compelling blend of nature, cuisine, history and local character.

A hike up Cambodia’s Mount Aural leads to the discovery of a remarkably preserved military aircraft wreck hidden in the Cardamom Mountains. Local guides believe it is a Curtiss C-46 Commando that crashed on Christmas Day in 1974 during the civil war between the Lon Nol and Pol Pot regimes, reportedly carrying 11 people. Aviation investigator David Gleave explains that the wreck may still contain clues about possible engine, fuel, navigation or weather-related problems, although the lack of records, active conflict at the time and difficult terrain prevented a formal investigation. The fate of those aboard remains unknown.

A runner describes taking part in Rat Race’s first 50km ultra-marathon on Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, a remote Chilean territory known for its moai statues and volcanic landscapes. The week-long itinerary included hikes and cultural sites such as Anakena Beach, Puna Pau, Ahu Akivi, Rano Kau and Ahu Tongariki. The race involved steep climbs, difficult navigation and heavy rain, but the runner completed it in nine hours with support from fellow participants. The trip ended with recovery at the Explora Rapa Nui lodge, highlighting the island’s scenery, history and appeal as an adventure-travel destination.

Etihad’s Business Class service from London to Phnom Penh via Abu Dhabi is praised for its spacious lie-flat seats, premium lounge access, attentive crew, excellent Arabic and international dining, and luxurious design. The main drawbacks are that long-haul WiFi costs extra, passengers cannot control overhead airflow, the bathrooms are unusually dark and the entertainment library is somewhat limited. Return fares start at £3,153 per person, and the overall experience is judged to make the lengthy journey feel remarkably short.

A California road trip changes the writer’s negative, Hollywood-shaped view of American motels. A £50 Motel 6 stay in Monterey proves quiet, clean and comfortable, while the Inn at San Luis Obispo offers larger rooms, more amenities and a pool and hot tub for about a third of the cost of a comparable Hilton. The article also traces the motel’s origins to San Luis Obispo’s 1925 Milestone Mo-Tel and concludes that many motels have reinvented themselves as affordable, convenient and appealing options for modern travellers.

Reports of sexual misconduct and assaults on aircraft appear to be increasing, although they remain rare relative to global passenger numbers. Confined cabins, sleeping or fatigued passengers, alcohol, restricted movement and fears about police procedures can make travellers—particularly women—vulnerable and reluctant to report incidents. Cases involving Momade Jussab on a Qatar Airways flight and Nicola Cristiano on an easyJet flight demonstrate the seriousness of the problem, while a compensation dispute highlights legal gaps for assaults on foreign-registered aircraft. Experts advise victims to prioritise safety, alert cabin crew and make informed decisions about reporting without pressure. Airlines and authorities face a growing challenge to improve safeguarding as air travel expands.

Manhattan's Koreatown, once a little-known enclave around West 32nd Street serving mainly Korean residents, has become a major destination for tourists and international visitors. The neighbourhood's restaurants, karaoke bars, beauty businesses and cultural venues have benefited from the global popularity of Korean food, K-pop and K-beauty. Its growth follows decades of Korean immigration after the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, while English-language menus, online access and competitive prices have made the area more welcoming to non-Korean visitors. The piece highlights Koreatown's food, wellness and entertainment offerings and describes its transformation into one of Manhattan's most dynamic neighbourhoods.

A first-person journey on Norway’s Bergen Line from Oslo toward Bergen highlights dramatic fjords, valleys, waterfalls and mountain plateaus along the 471-kilometre route. The writer stops at Finse, a remote, snowbound station on the Hardangervidda plateau, to attend the Expedition Finse festival and explore the area’s polar-exploration history. Finse 1222 hotel hosts adventure events, Star Wars gatherings linked to The Empire Strikes Back filming location Hoth, and an ice music festival. The route is praised for its comfortable trains, scenic views and café service, while practical details cover travel connections, accommodation and ticket booking.

A visit to Skegness and nearby sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path changes the writer's negative expectations of the area. The Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve offers wildlife-rich trails, dunes and quiet coastal scenery, while Huttoft Beach provides peaceful walks, dog-friendly access and opportunities for surfing. Although Skegness retains its kitschy “Skeg Vegas” reputation, locals argue that nearby beaches such as Huttoft and Anderby Creek are overlooked hidden gems.

Monet Elizabeth describes becoming the first American woman to ski solo to the South Pole after 57 days crossing Antarctica while hauling a 250-pound sled. Despite limited skiing experience, extreme cold, whiteouts, physical injuries, menstruation and severe mental strain, she trained for more than two years and financed the expedition at a cost exceeding $120,000. Support from family, coaches and people following her progress helped her persist, and she says the journey taught her that fear and inexperience need not prevent ambitious goals.

Sadie Whitelocks and her friend Jane walk across San Marino in about five hours, beginning near the Italian border and crossing rural landscapes before climbing to the medieval historic centre on Monte Titano. Despite January fog and steep streets, they visit the Guaita and Cesta towers, then complete the descent and celebrate at Ristorante La Locanda with an inexpensive local meal. The trip highlights San Marino’s compact size, preserved medieval heritage, UNESCO-listed historic centre and appeal as an accessible hiking destination.

During a road trip through California’s Central Valley, Sadie Whitelocks and her friend Bill encountered increasingly dense smog near Bakersfield. Visibility became so poor that another vehicle struck their car at an intersection, leaving Whitelocks unconscious with a concussion and a small brain bleed. Her hospital stay highlighted the wider number of crash victims and health pressures linked to the region’s persistent PM2.5 pollution. Although California has reduced pollution through tighter vehicle, industrial, and agricultural controls, the area still fails to meet federal standards, while climate change threatens further progress. Travelers are advised to check air-quality forecasts and avoid driving in heavy smog or at night.

A first-person account follows Sadie Whitelocks’ participation in Rat Race’s 303km Race To The Wreck across Namibia’s Namib Desert to the Eduard Bohlen shipwreck. The four-and-a-half-day event combines cycling over gravel roads, mountain tracks and dunes with long hiking stages through extreme heat, soft sand and steep desert terrain. Despite limited training and a recent ankle injury, Whitelocks completes the race with help from fellow competitors and support crews, concluding that the event is exceptionally demanding but highly rewarding and accessible to both novices and experienced athletes. The article also provides practical travel suggestions for reaching Windhoek, arranging transfers and staying near the race’s start and finish.

Hari Budha Magar, a former Gurkha soldier and double above-knee amputee, has become the first person with his level of amputation to complete the Seven Summits challenge. After losing both legs in an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2010 and experiencing PTSD, he turned to mountaineering for rehabilitation and to inspire people with disabilities. His achievements include Mont Blanc in 2019, Mount Everest in 2023 and Mount Vinson in Antarctica on January 6, completing the highest peaks on every continent. The climbs involved major physical risks, specialized prosthetics, near-death experiences and infections following his Vinson ascent. He now plans to write a book, produce a documentary and establish a foundation focused on creating a lasting legacy of inspiration and inclusion.

A 24-hour trip from Sydney introduces Vanuatu’s Éfaté island and the affordable Hideaway Island Resort, where rooms start at £55 per night and include a short motorboat transfer. The island offers beaches, clear waters, tropical scenery, a restaurant, bar and dive centre, while a local guide named Fred provides a £35 tour of Éfaté. Vanuatu is difficult to reach from the UK but remains relatively uncrowded, with the dry season generally considered the best time to visit and the wet season offering possible bargains but greater weather risks.