Europe Archives - Page 2 of 102 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Hungary and thirsty for a Magyar wine bus tour

12th May 202612th May 2026 funtime65

And as its English name lends itself to fun for punsters we’ve been served with Hungary and thirsty for a Magyar wine bus tour.

The Magyars have launched their first hop-on hop-off wine bus, on the shores of Lake Balaton in the north of the country.

With 22 wineries, two curated routes, award-winning wines and breathtaking Balaton views.

The 46° Balaton zeroes in on the Balatonfüred–Csopak wine region, which lies close to the 46th parallel north.

Which is the same prestigious European wine belt as iconic wine regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley.

Balatonfüred and Tihany have become two of the Mayars‘ most popular summer destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year.

Ferry traffic between Szántód and Tihany recently hit record numbers.

While Balatonfüred alone records more than 1.4 million guest nights annually.

Wine O’Clock

We have oenophile Virág Szabó to thank for the tour.

Virág has spent years of summers in Balatonfüred, yet repeatedly found herself visiting the same wineries.

Because many of the region’s hidden gems are difficult to access without a car.

While even short taxi rides from the vineyards can become surprisingly expensive.

“I saw a similar concept on the other side of the world, and immediately thought: why don’t we have this in Hungary?’ she shared.

The idea felt so simple, yet it solves such an obvious problem,” recalls Virág Szabó.

The Magyar Bus

Red, red wine: And drinking with ‘Red’ Aileen

The service operates four days a week — from Wednesday to Saturday — between mid-May and the end of September.

With a special route also planned for Pentecost Sunday.

Buses depart each morning from Vitorlás Square in central Balatonfüred and return there around sunset.

The “Old Friends” route runs on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Taking guests to some of the region’s best-known wineries across Balatonfüred, Aszófő, Pécsely, Balatonszőlős, Csopak, and Paloznak.

With buses circulating every 90 minutes.

Hidden Treasures

The ‘Hidden Treasures’ route operates on Fridays and Saturdays.

Offering a nearly 60-kilometre discovery journey through the rolling hills of the Balaton Highlands.

This route focuses on family-run wineries in villages such as Pécsely, Mencshely, Óbudavár, Szentantalfa, Tagyon, and Balatonakali.

With buses initially running every 120 minutes.

At the heart of the experience is the bus itself: a unique 1984 retro convertible DAF bus.

It features a covered front section and a fully open-air rear deck.

Just the ticket

For visitors staying in Tihany, a dedicated return shuttle service will also be available.

The transfer route includes five stops — including the Tihany ferry terminal.

Including transporting passengers from Tihany to Balatonfüred in the morning and back again in the evening.

Making the experience easily accessible both for southern shore visitors and guests staying in Tihany.

The 46° Balaton Wine Bus is designed as a full-day experience and is family-friendly, making it suitable for visitors with children as well.

Tickets became available from 8 May via the official website at 46balaton.hu.

Due to limited capacity, advance booking is recommended.

Countries, Europe, Flying

Get off to a flier with twin trips

10th May 202610th May 2026 funtime65

And as our own race across the world continues here’s how to get off to a flier with twin trips.

All of us know that burning curiosity of looking out over to the next field.

Before finding out for ourselves how green it is.

With visitors on our loveholidays odyssey to Rhodes availing of the hop, skip and jump to Marmaris in Turkey.

Symi, see you: And Turkey on the horizon

And sailing into Turkish broadband space in Greek Dodecanese Island Symi.

Just as we found on the Jordan side of the world’s waterway the Red Sea when we entered into Israeli broadband space.

While we looked out over the Jordan river itself at the site of John’s baptism of Jesus to Israel.

Broadening our borders

There are many ways to cross a border, some more hospitable than others.

And we’ve climbed every mountain to walk unopposed through a metal gate from Austria into Germany.

And will walk across the International Bridge from Valenca do Minho in Portugal to Tui in Galicia in north-west Spain on Camino.

With La Raya/A Raia (the border) Europe’s oldest, dating back to 1297.

So now we’ve outlined some of the walkable borders.

We move on to those we can traverse by train and plane.

Now our friends at our local Edinburgh Airport have pointed us in the direction of these top twin trips.

From Berlin to Biarritz

Now Poznan’s charms have naturally long been known to Poles.

But for the rest of us we only came to love the western Polish city at Euro 2012.

With their fans’ backs to the action goal celebration.

Join the Poznan wave yourself by taking a three-hour train journey from Berlin.

While Austria and Hungary are linked by proximity and politics.

And Vienna and Budapest are just two and a half hours apart.

Of course, some countries’ borders are always disputed.

And people on one side share more in common with those across the border than the rest of the country they inhabit.

As is the way of it with the Basque Country, separated by the French and Spanish border.

But, of course, you can enjoy both by train from Biarritz to San Sebastián in just over an hour.

Countries, Europe, Flying

Nothing Toulouse making rowdy fliers pay

9th May 20269th May 2026 funtime65

As you don’t have to wreck the party to have a good time we agree with Ryanair you’ve nothing Toulouse making rowdy fliers pay.

The budget airline changed the face of air travel by making it affordable for everyone.

All of which meant, of course, that everyone had more money to spend on airport drinks.

And even more opportunity when we were required to turn up more than two hours before our flights because of extra security.

Which all led to the staple of a modern holiday… airport drinks.

Merci bien to the French

Of course overgrown big kids will abuse it for the rest of the class.

And flights crews increasingly face the threat of rowdy drunken passengers imperilling everyone’s safety way up in the clouds.

And pilots forced to reroute to protect everyone on board.

With the costs that involves which inevitably get passed on in increased fares.

And what of the miscreants, well this is where our French amis have stepped forward.

Ryanair takes the lead

With Toulouse Criminal Court fining two unruly passengers a combined €10,000 (expensive round) and 10-month suspended sentences.

After they disrupted a flight from London Stansted to Ibiza last year.

Forcing 184 passengers and six crew to divert to Toulouse.

Now all of this feeds into Ryanair’s bold moves to alter our relationship with drinking and flying.

With the airline arguing that bars and restaurants should restrict passengers to two drinks each.

Which may seem draconic but should be enough to get the party started.

While leaving the serving of alcohol at the discretion of flight crew also feels eminently sensible to all.

Happy drinkers

Sobering times: Don’t make a fool of yourself

Of course, we’re no saints, and have to reveal that we circumvented the cabin staff’s rules on a transatlantic flight from London to JFK.

And took shuttles back and forth to raid the crew’s stash behind the curtain next to the loo.

But here’s the rub, we were daft kids and did not disrupt our fellow passengers other than the hundred times we got out of our seats.

So the takeaway is that by civilising airport drinks and airplane drinking we can all enjoy ourselves.

And enjoy our flights and allow cabin staff to do their jobs, which is after all to look after us.

And get us safely to our destination and not hundreds of miles away in a different country.

Countries, Europe, Music

Calvin and Capaldi are acceptable in the Maltese

7th May 20267th May 2026 funtime65

And because pop tourists keep coming back it’s why Calvin and Capaldi are acceptable in the Maltese.

The Scots singing superstars are hitting the Med party island this August.

And yes it is down with the kids, and the old kids.

Oh my Daze

Our Irish holidaymakers friends Cassidy Travel have put together packages for us around the gigs.

SummerDaze is one of Europe’s premier music festivals.

And brings visitors live open-air performances from global stars.

So we guess this is what you came for and who knows Dumfries DJ Cal may even bring Rihanna with her.

While if Lew is someone you loved then you will be happy he’s back since his Glastonbury meltdown.

And ready to give you a bleeding good time in front of the Maltese masses.

Someone Lew loved

Now you can give yourself a single helping of Lew.

And are broken by desire to be heavenly sent, whatever that means.

Then Cassidy will give you four nights of SummerDaze Malta with flights and concert ticket included from August 9.

And you’ll stay at the 4* Bora Bora Ibiza Malta Resort at €499pps.

While because we know Cassidy Travel is always thinking of you and it is summer.

Calvin callin’

You can book yourself a four-nighter around Calvin Harris from August 14 with flights and concert ticket included.

Staying at the 3* Lady Todd Hotel at €599pps.

While if you can’t choose between the two then Cassidy puts on a seven-nighter covering both superstars.

From August 10 with flights and concert tickets included.

Staying at the 3* Lady Todd Hotel at €849pps.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Sustainable Tourism

Lie back and think of Portugal

28th April 202628th April 2026 funtime65

And because the most important thing about a hotel bedroom is its bed then here’s where it’s best to lie back and think of Portugal.

In the south of the country in tranquil Alentejo, near Lisbon.

Where Amazing Evolution are placing sleep and deep rest at the centre of the travel experience.

With Sleep & Nature Hotel and Gandum Conscious Hotel leading the way.

Surrounded by forests and rolling plains, both destinations offer a powerful antidote to modern fatigue.

Which we have experienced first-hand from getting right into the interior in Portugal Centro.

EaZzzzy living

Not that we find sleep easy if Britain’s health service is to be believed.

With reports that the average Briton sleeps just six and a half hours per night.

Well below the NHS-recommended 7–9 hours.

While the 2025 Healthy Ireland Survey, Irish adults average 6.9 hours of sleep on weeknights, with 32% getting six hours or less.

Get some therapy

Sleep & Nature Hotel, located near Montemor-o-Novo, is built around the concept of sleep therapy.

Mentored by specialist Professor Teresa Paiva.

Every guest experience is rooted in in nature, good practices, relaxing therapies and sleep hygiene.

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is among the activities guests can indulge in.

The hotel features 32 rooms and suites, each carefully designed to actively support better sleep.

Natural materials such as cork and wood help regulate temperature and acoustics.

While blackout curtains, and my Snory One has been pitching for them Casa Murty for six years.

Low lighting, and minimal in-room technology reduce sleep disruption.

Pillow talk

Beds are selected for ergonomic support and paired with high-quality linens to enhance comfort and encourage deeper sleep.

The hotel’s spa offers treatments specifically aimed at reducing tension and improving circulation.

While indoor and outdoor pools provide quiet spaces for pre-sleep unwinding.

Even dining plays a role, with balanced, seasonal menus designed to support relaxation.

While overstimulation must be avoided in the evening.

And get this, a pillows menu is available to better adjust ergonomics and rest needs.

Rooms start from €180 per night. For more information visit Sleep & Nature Hotel.

Do the Gandum

Now the Gandum Conscious Hotel has put down roots for sustainability with 50,000 trees planted in an agroforestry environment.

Set within the Alentejo countryside, the hotel blends minimalist architecture with a strong environmental ethos.

Gandum Conscious Hotel promises organic mattresses, natural pillows and comforters.

Made from sustainable materials and breathable cotton linens, all chosen to optimise comfort.

Thermal insulation and natural ventilation keep rooms cool and quiet, even during the warmer months.

While carefully filtered natural light aligns with circadian rhythms helping guests wake and sleep more naturally.

Food for thought

Nutritionally conscious, they follow a farm-to-fork philosophy.

In which mostly only what is available in the vegetable garden, orchard, and henhouse is cooked.

Rooms start from €220 per night. For more information visit Gandum Conscious Hotel.

Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe

Ya dancer Kristina’s Strictly for MSC passengers

24th April 2026 funtime65

And good news for those who like to kick up their heels on a cruise… ya dancer Kristina’s Strictly for MSC passengers.

The fact is that dancing has always been a key part of cruise life.

Long before clubbing became a thing… and yes, I feel a Kinks song coming on.

Anyone for tangoes: With Judy Murray in Portugal

Not, of course, to downgrade the chance to dance with the likes of Alesha Dixon on a Celebrity Cruises launch in the Bahamas.

But ballroom will never go out of style.

And now because of the popularity of Strictly Come Dancing who isn’t lining up for any opportunity to dance with a Strictly star?

With sometimes the chance coming on of all places a tennis court in Portugal with the powerhouse that is Judy Murray.

Tango with Kristina

Of course the opportunity to smash it with the tennis coach cha-cha champion doesn’t present itself to everyone.

But MSC does.

And Kristina Rihanoff will show you how to move it, move it, move it.

She will be holding dance classes on board.

So go easy on the breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, food stations and drink packages.

And even use the ship’s gym facilities.

Because the Strictly professional will turn beginners (that’ll be me) into confident movers.

Tales from the ballroom

And, of course, ballroom dancing is open to guests of all ages.

Kristina will also regale passengers with the stories behind her dance career and life in the spotlight.

And you’ll get the chance to ask her your own questions.

And, of course, meet and greet the great woman for that obligatory photo opportunity.

So you can lead friends and family at home a merry dance about your new-found dancing ability.

From ball to balls

Clinched it: Kristina and Ben in training

Not that Kristina will be the only Strictly star on board.

With England Rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen washing up on board with old team-mates Neil Back and Ben Kay.

Now Ben just happens to be Kristina’s partner away from the dance floor too.

And she will no doubt me making sure that he doesn’t go overboard on rugby rowdiness with his old sporting pals.

And that all the stories the try-scoring trio share with passengers are from the distant past.

They’ll also be holding rugby training for adults and kids.

Cash in on your cruise

So whether it’s a ball, or balls, there’s something for everyone on MSC as we know from foxtrotting around the fjords.

MSC cruise come in at from £1,279pp for a 12-night sailing on MSC Virtuosa to the Canary Islands.

Departing from Southampton on August 8.

With ports of call including Vigo, Funchal, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Arrecife De Lanzarote and Cadiz.

And those Spaniards certainly know a thing or two about dancing.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Flying

Glasgow’s planes like clockwork

23rd April 202623rd April 2026 funtime65

Glasgow’s planes like Swiss clockwork always arrive on time. And its trains.

Because when my birth city’s burghers go upgrading their transport network they sensibly choose Swiss.

Now few of you might put Scotland’s largest city as the third oldest subway in the world.

Built in 1896 they are only behind Budapest, earlier that year, and the Daddy of them all, London in 1863.

Which means they’ve been at it 130 years.

The toblerone underground

And in contrast to the Hungarian capital you won’t get spot-fined by a scary Magyar guard for not validating your ticket.

Today’s Glasgow Subway looks very different from the one my grandparents would have taken.

The witty Glaswegians christening the Subway they have today the Clockwork Orange on account of their orange livery.

And with some driverless trains on the way later this year.

Although our Swiss hosts, at the grand Glasgow City Chambers last night, would not say if our trains would now be toblerone-shaped.

Ca va, we’re having some fun with you here, Swiss trains run, well, like clockwork.

Edelweiss, bless my Swiss home

On the right track: With your Swiss TravelPass

We gathered to mark the opening of the new summer seasonal Edelweiss flight route from Glasgow to Zurich.

Which will launch on May 29, running twice weekly (Mondays and Fridays) until September 14.

And because this is a return arrangement us Scots have put their mark on the Edelweiss planes.

With the Scottish Leather Group, the largest manufacturer of leather in Britain, kitting out the planes and seating passengers in style.

Deal us in

Best seat in house: And they’re Scottish leather

Switzerland, of course, has four seasons like the rest of us although we naturally associate it with winter and falling down mountains.

But having enjoyed its summer charms, walking and yodelling in the valleys.

There’s a whole new summer world waiting for those who travel through Glasgow.

Now you’ll be wanting to know how much you’ll have to shell out and the fares aren’t mountainous.

We found a sample return flight for the first week in June from £215.11.

Countries, Culture, Deals, Europe, Food & Wine, Music

Efharisto Rhodes you are Colossal

21st April 202621st April 2026 funtime65

Efharisto Rhodes you are colossal and as we say Yassas at the end of our loveholidays odyssey we reflect on the legends we have met.

Michael, the pick-up driver who took us on our first night to the Amphitryon Hotel.

May you make enough from your driving and your day building job to realise your ambition to settle down and slow down in your 40s.

Manolis, our bar manager who patiently and smilingly put up with this Bandanaman mangling his language.

To you and those who fed us so fully a Yamas (or cheers).

Over an ouzo with the best Greek traditional band Bouzouki playing in the background.

Yamas to new friends

To the new friends we met, the Three Yorkshiremen and Jay, Cherry and Jane.

And thanks for the offer of your room on the day of your check-out Jane.

Only I am still haunted by another invitation from my Athens odyssey.

And Toy Boy Brian, OK, he’s a fellow Sixtysomething like myself but travels the world selling vintage toys.

And meets celebs and gets the VIP treatment, hence him meeting the Bandanaman.

Then, of course, the army of cats who responded to our cheery kalimera.

Even when noon had passed and it should be a kalispera.

Especially Symi2, our forever friend who took residence of our laps.

And whose picture will now occupy a place on our crowded fridge.

Legends carved in rock

It is back now to chilly North Berwickety in Scotland where Rufus Rules now has a lot of living up to and explaining.

But not before a nod to the legends who come out at night.

Now Rhodes is clearly not shy of gods carved into rock.

But Nicklas and Despina are the god and goddess of rock at the Legends Rock Bar in Old Rhodes town.

Downing shots as they serve and producing a bottle of Bunnahabhain smoky Islay whisky and testing me on my Scottishness.

By asking me to pronounce it which incidentally is Bunahaveain.

And all the time Nikos the singer, of course, belts out the standards from across the rocky lane.

Reading the words perfectly from his screen which is no mean feat when it’s Cher’s warbling.

Kalinihta and dreams of gold

I leave with a kalinihta and breathe a sigh of relief that I have not said anything inappropriate.

As happened when I greeted the concierge in Rome with a buona notte e sogni d’oro.

But come to think of it, good night and dreams of gold does sound a fitting farewell to Helios, the Sun God’s island, Rhodes.

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Sport

Fun and Games in Rhodes

20th April 202620th April 2026 funtime65

And as stadiums go this one has real history, where the locals have been coming for 2,500 years for fun and Games in Rhodes.

And apologies here for breaking with tradition and keeping my kit on at the Rhodes Acropolis.

The original Halieia athletes going commando for the 600ft race in honour of Helios the Sun God.

There was, of course, a time as a Scottish Cross Country champion when I held high hopes of an Olympic future.

But while I puff and pant for picture purposes a local hero barely breaks a sweat circling the stadium.

Unfortunately for Dimitrios there are but one or two in the stone seats today where once 30,000 cheered on their heroes.

The future champions

Greece lightning: Running is in the blood

The Stadium and the Acropolis complex on the outskirts of Rhodes is packed today with future champions.

With the Acropolis the place where Rhodian families come to play on a Sunday.

With kids kicking a ball around while dads dribble a basketball, mums chat around prams and grandparents sit and smoke in the cafe.

We bus it to the Acropolis from Rhodes Town harbour only to do a double take when it circled around past our hotel, the Amphitryon.

You can too take a hop-on, hop-off coach which will cost you €20 of today’s coin which will also take you to the Old Town.

But better still you could show your athleticism by walking the couple of kilometres to the Acropolis.

The stuff of Legends

Passing the baton: She’s relay something

It feels right to spend our last full day cosplaying Ancient Rhodian heroes in the iconic tree-lined Stadium.

Although we are not quite finished with Rhodes yet as we will spend the evening back in Rhodes Old Town with the Legends of today.

But you will just have to wait for the next instalment of our Rhodes odyssey for that.

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Symi, see you, Symi 2

19th April 202619th April 2026 funtime65

And seeing we’ve got Helios the Sun God back on side we’re off Greek island hopping, so SYMI, see you, SYMI 2.

All of which will become as clear in time as the Aegean we’re sailing on to the Rhodes neighbouring island on our loveholidays odyssey.

Where after an hour and a half on the water on our Sea Dreams boat Symi 2.

The pristine blue and white Captains Houses and neo-classical mansions around Gialos harbour and hills hove into view.

We dive into island life though not literally.

Dive straight in

We will leave that to the likes of the moustachioed Stathis Hatzis, the legendary naked diver who stands sentry at the bay.

Who we learn dived to retrieve and tie an Italian anchor, holding his breath for nearly four minutes.

Now did we say that Gialos is breathtaking?

Particularly from higher up, as you can see from the lens of the expert in the family.

We scale the steep steps after calamari and a kalimera and Greek salad at Trata Trawler.

And discover that the best welcome is from a friendly Simi cat we christen Simi 2 after our boat.

The best habits

Alas, the mechanical Symi 2’s hooter reminds us that we must part.

But hopefully our prayers will be answered at our next port of call, a monastery on the north end of the island.

Greek churches as we have all come to appreciate appreciate their icons and you can’t move for them here.

At the Holy Monastery of the Taxiarch Michael Panarmitis.

Again, we bump into a Greek Orthodox priest in flowing black robe.

Now he may or may not know our Archbishop Makarios back at the Alphatron Hotel in Rhodes.

But we imagine he will be waiting near the bar for his liqueur as he has been all week.

Though not necessarily for us.

The cat’s whiskers of a deal

But Socrates, the hotel cat… OK, not the only one but the one we took to first will be.

And he can have the Amphitryon because Simi belongs to Symi 2.

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.