Phil Thomas

The first edition of Five Underrated European Cities – predictably – caused quite the debate.  This was typically from the ‘what about xx’, ‘how could you miss off yy’ and ‘you’re a dick for even thinking zz belongs in that list’.    All fair points – good to see the art of grown-up debate isn’t lost here.       Anyhow, having gone through various photo albums of the last five years to recall memories (yes, I’ve visited all of these – no AI content here, thank you!), here’s round two of what...

Paris is one of those places you can visit a dozen times and still stumble upon something new. The first trip will inevitably be all about the classics (Eiffel Tower, Mona Lisa, escargots that you always wanted to order but chickened out from) and rightly so – Paris is the most iconic city on Earth with good reason. But once those boxes are ticked, the city opens up in more intriguing ways. During your second time in Paris, the city reveals its hidden layers: underground tunnels, whole...

North Carolina isn’t the loudest US state.  It doesn’t have New York’s hype, California’s swagger, or Texas’s brash volume.  But spend a little time here - as I have done repeatedly for the last decade - and you’ll discover a state that quietly consistently delights and overdelivers.  Whether you’re seeking views, brews, sports or culture, you’re in luck.  It has everything I love in a state - mountain hikes and evening bars are separated by a short drive, and every small-town stop feels...