I'm ashamed to admit that, apart from a few holidays with a friend's family to the Marlborough Sounds as a youngster, I didn't visit the South Island until I was well into my 30s.

The people who design hotels need to help guests see the light.

Courtesy of MH370 and MH17, last year surely passed all records for the amount of newspaper headlines written around the world about aviation disasters.

A Northland beach provides a sharp test of David Rowe's Hasselhoff skills and his 'TWT' awareness.

We drive too fast, we tailgate, we feel obliged to overtake the minute we see an overtaking lane and we mix alcohol - and text messaging - with driving, writes Winston Aldworth.

Tastes and sounds of travel stay with us long afer the trip, writes Pamela Wade.

Trying to do the right thing to protect our borders is frustrating for Fergus Blakiston.

A few years ago, a couple of mates and I schlepped our way around Italy over four weeks. It's fair to say we were not as organised as we could have been.

There's a plethora of tips out there to make travelling easier, writes Diana Balham.

A recent German court ruling on urination has separated the men from the boys, writes Winston Aldworth ... and it'll save tourists much confusion.

Technology is handy, writes Josh Martin, but local knowledge is better.

A year-long global ed-venture (education adventure) is giving a mother and her young son a year of discovery they will never forget.

Airports go to great - and often expensive - lengths to keep the approach to runways free of birds.

It's buyer beware when booking over the internet, says Donna McIntyre, but travel agents can get it wrong, too.

After the recent spate of tourist-related car accidents making headlines, I set off on a South Island road trip the most hypervigilant behind the wheel I've ever been.

In Vancouver last year, I was struck by the coolness of the Digital Orca sculpture by Douglas Coupland which graces the city's waterfront.

Don't be surprised to see a pet perched at the sharp end of the plane, writes Pamela Wade.

AirBnB isn't for everyone. And it's definitely not for the apprehensive or risk-adverse, writes Lee Suckling.

Elisabeth Easther thinks she's found the perfect solution for a stress-free Christmas.

Herald aviation correspondent Grant Bradley looks at the trends exciting the plane nerds.

We've all been there. Some macadamias are delivered to you in your First Class seat just before takeoff and the nuts are SERVED IN THEIR PACKET INSTEAD OF IN A BOWL!

Nasty latrines are tolerable but a good wash is a must, even on the most basic camping trip, says Diana Balham.

We should ban all vehicles from the summits of Auckland's volcanoes, writes Travel Editor Winston Aldworth.

Verdant Ethiopia surprises Jim Eagles.

It's not often I get sent a pair of undies in the post. But last week, I got a brief taste of how it must feel to be Tom Jones.

The new Kiwi banknotes released by the Reserve Bank last week have brought a mixed response.

Eveline Harvey's family holiday is hit by the tantrum-gastro-injury trifecta.

I don't think I'll ever understand why it costs so much to get basic laundry done when you're staying in a hotel.

Lost without translation on his German journey Mathew Dearnaley finds that sometimes every traveller needs a local hero.

According to an Expedia survey, us city slickers are more likely to try and outdo family and friends when planning our next holiday.