Two Travel Fanatics
The two of us
We travel together, which means every trip is a negotiation: one of us plans, one of us wanders, and we both take too many photographs. We write about cruising - river and ocean - about Hawaii and Italy, and about the practical business of travelling as a pair without falling out.
How these guides are made
Twenty years of travelling as a couple. River and ocean cruise coverage, hotel reviews written from paid stays, and a running interest in whether a gadget is worth the suitcase space.
Editorial standards
- No paid placements. We do not accept payment for a placement, a ranking or a favourable review. Where a link earns a commission, the page carrying it says so.
- No untested claims. We do not say we have tried something we have not. Prices and plan details supplied by a provider are labelled as indicative rather than presented as our own findings.
- No page for the sake of a keyword. A destination gets a page when there is something specific to say about it. That is why the site is small.
- Corrections are made in public. A factual fix is applied to the page and the update date changes with it.
16 pages by Two Travel Fanatics
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The Honolulu Travel Hacks We Actually Still Use After Dropping All the Internet Nonsense
Most Honolulu travel hacks are recycled filler. These are the few we have tested across multiple trips and still use every time we land on Oahu.
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Sleeping Well in a Honolulu Hotel Room When the Air Conditioner, the Roosters, and the Jet Lag All Conspire Against You
Honolulu hotels have specific enemies of sleep: feral roosters, cycling AC units, and brutal jet lag. Here are ten fixes that actually work in Waikiki.
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How We Stopped Taking Too Many Travel Photos and Started Taking Better Ones in Honolulu
We used to take thousands of near-identical Honolulu photos and remember nothing. Here is the simple system that finally fixed it for two photo-obsessed people.
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Puerto Vallarta Beyond the Malecón and Into the Real Town Behind the Sculptures
The Malecón is where you arrive, but the streets behind it are where you stay. A guide to Puerto Vallarta's real neighbourhoods, from Gringo Gulch to the Zona Romántica taco stands.
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Portland in Autumn When the Rain is a Feature and a Perfect Day Looks Like This
Portland in autumn is grey, wet, and absolutely perfect. Here is one ideal rainy day in the city and a weekend that takes you out to the Hood River orchards.
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Hidden Oahu Beyond Waikiki and the Beaten Shoreline
Past Waikiki and the North Shore, Oahu opens into a quieter island of raw western coastlines, local Waimanalo beach parks, and Honolulu neighbourhoods most visitors never see.
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Is Cruising for You After a First Time Out of Honolulu
Boarding a cruise ship in Honolulu for the first time as a sceptic, I found the reality of the embarkation, the cabin, and the rhythm at sea nothing like I expected.
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Planning a Week on Oahu and How We Would Split It Now
A week on Oahu splits best when you stop trying to see it all. Here is how we would divide seven days across Honolulu, the Windward side, and the leeward coast without the rush.
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Whale Watching from Honolulu and Managing Your Expectations
Whale watching from Honolulu depends entirely on the month, the boat, and your tolerance for long stretches of empty water. Here is what the season actually delivers.
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European River Cruising from Nuremberg and Who It Actually Suits
A European river cruise from Nuremberg is not for everyone. Here is an honest look at the pace, the people, and the port logistics to help you decide if it fits your travel style.
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A Nuremberg Christmas Markets River Cruise and the Stops Either Side
A Christmas markets river cruise centred on Nuremberg strings together the Christkindlesmarkt and its neighbours into one Advent journey. Here is how the stops on either side compare.
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Taormina After the Day Trippers Leave and the Greek Theatre Without the Queue
Taormina transforms the moment the last tour bus pulls away. Here is how to time the Greek Theatre, the main street, and the beach for a town that feels yours.
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The Cinque Terre from La Spezia Without the Vernazza Crush
Basing yourself in La Spezia and timing the trains right lets you walk into Vernazza before the crush and see the Cinque Terre on your own quiet terms.
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Choosing a Hotel in Florence Without Getting the Neighbourhood Wrong
A Florence hotel can make or break your trip. We booked wrong so you do not have to, learning which neighbourhoods work and which ones just look good in photos.
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The Iceland Ring Road in Reality, the Weather You Will Actually Get, and the Budget You Will Actually Spend
An Iceland Ring Road trip is breathtaking and breathtakingly expensive. We break down the real budget, the gear the wind demands, and why Reykjavík is just the starting line.
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Prague When the Charles Bridge is Actually Crossable and the Old Town Belongs to You
Prague's centre is unbearable at noon and magical at dawn. Here is the hour-by-hour timing that makes the Old Town, the Bridge, and the Castle feel like they are yours.