Explore with AB

The destinations

Travel guides to the places I have filmed.

Pick a destination for the best time to visit, what a week really costs, how to get around and the tips that never made the final cut. Every guide below comes from a trip I actually took and filmed.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic · La Altagracia

Punta Cana

All-inclusive Caribbean beaches on the Dominican Republic's east coast — Bavaro sand, Saona catamarans and the Hoyo Azul cenote, easy to do on a mid-range budget.

Tulum & Sian Ka'an, Mexico

Mexico · Quintana Roo

Tulum & Sian Ka'an

Caribbean ruins, cenotes and the Sian Ka'an biosphere — the slower, wilder side of the Riviera Maya.

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Mexico · Quintana Roo

Isla Mujeres

A 20-minute ferry from Cancun to shallow turquoise water, golf carts and the best sunset on the Caribbean coast.

Banff & Lake Louise, Canada

Canada · Alberta Rockies

Banff & Lake Louise

Turquoise glacial lakes, the Icefields Parkway and frozen-canyon walks in winter — Canada's most photographed mountains.

Toronto & Niagara, Canada

Canada · Ontario

Toronto & Niagara

A big Canadian city and the world's most famous waterfall, comfortably combined in three days.

Canadian Winter Road Trips, Canada

Canada · Prairies & Rockies

Canadian Winter Road Trips

Empty highways, frozen lakes and ice-bubble mornings — how to drive the Canadian Rockies safely in deep winter.

Xel-Ha & Riviera Maya Parks, Mexico

Mexico · Quintana Roo

Xel-Ha & Riviera Maya Parks

The Riviera Maya's eco parks — lagoons, cenote snorkelling and cliff jumps that are worth the ticket if you arrive early.

Malaga & Costa del Sol, Spain

Spain · Andalusia

Malaga & Costa del Sol

Malaga is the sunny gateway to Andalusia: a Roman theatre and Moorish fortress above a working port, tapas bars that stay loud past midnight, and beaches ten minutes from the old town. I filmed the old town, the Alcazaba at golden hour and day trips along the Costa del Sol.

Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Gibraltar · British Overseas Territory

Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a slice of Britain on a Spanish rock: one small territory with the famous Rock, wild Barbary macaques, tunnels carved through the mountain and views across to Africa on a clear day. Easy to combine with Malaga or Cadiz.

Budapest, Hungary

Hungary · Central Europe

Budapest

Budapest is two cities in one: hilly, royal Buda and flat, buzzing Pest, split by the Danube. Grand thermal baths, ruin bars in crumbling courtyards, and cozy cobbled streets around the castle - one of Europe's best-value capitals, and one I loved filming street by street.

Vienna, Austria

Austria · Central Europe

Vienna

Vienna is imperial Europe at full volume: Habsburg palaces, Klimt and Schiele in the museums, coffeehouse culture where one melange buys you the afternoon, and Christmas markets that take over the whole city in December. Pairs perfectly with Budapest.

Isla Contoy, Mexico

Mexico · Quintana Roo

Isla Contoy

Isla Contoy is Mexico's most protected island: a tiny national park north of Isla Mujeres where only 200 visitors a day are allowed, with 150-plus bird species, nesting turtles and empty white-sand beaches. No hotels, no shops - just the island.

Cozumel Island, Mexico

Mexico · Quintana Roo

Cozumel Island

Cozumel is the Riviera Maya's diving island: a 45-minute ferry from Playa del Carmen to drift dives over the Mesoamerican Reef, quiet beach clubs on the wild east coast, and a laid-back town that empties when the cruise ships leave.

Punta Sur, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Mexico · Quintana Roo

Punta Sur, Isla Mujeres

Punta Sur is the wild southern tip of Isla Mujeres: cliffs over crashing Caribbean water, a sculpture garden, a small Mayan temple to the goddess Ixchel, and the first spot in Mexico to see the sunrise. The quiet opposite of Playa Norte.

Bahia Principe Grand Tulum, Mexico

Mexico · Riviera Maya

Bahia Principe Grand Tulum

Bahia Principe Grand Tulum is a big all-inclusive resort between Playa del Carmen and Tulum: jungle gardens, a long beach on Akumal bay, pools, and a dozen restaurants - a practical, good-value base for exploring the ruins, cenotes and parks of the Riviera Maya.

Frida Kahlo Museum & Coyoacan, Mexico

Mexico · Mexico City

Frida Kahlo Museum & Coyoacan

Coyoacan is Mexico City's bohemian heart: cobbled streets, a leafy plaza and the Casa Azul - the cobalt-blue house where Frida Kahlo was born, lived with Diego Rivera and died, now holding her clothes, studio and art.