A few weeks ago, I received an unexpected message from TourBox. They offered me their latest model, the TourBox Elite, along with a USB cable and a travel bag, free of cost. The only request was that I share my honest experience and write a review. Initially, I was both excited and skeptical.

Northern Morocco is where Africa meets Europe, where the Mediterranean kisses the Atlantic, and where history, culture, and landscape collide in vibrant harmony. This region is known for its rich cultural tapestry, rooted in centuries of Berber, Arab, Andalusian, and European influence. From Phoenician traders to Roman conquerors, Islamic dynasties to Spanish and French colonial powers, each era has left behind its imprint in the architecture, art, and spirit of the north.

Chefchaouen, dubbed as the ‘Blue City of Morocco,’ is a picturesque town nestled in the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. It is a haven for photographers, artists, and seekers of serenity. What truly sets it apart is its iconic blue palette. Painted in calming shades of sky, azure, and indigo, the town’s medina is a maze of narrow alleyways, staircases, and doorways drenched in layers of blue. With a slow pace, friendly locals, artisanal handicrafts, and unmatched scenery, Chefchaouen is more than a destination - it’s an experience carved in cobalt and tranquility.

Tucked along Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Asilah is a town where history, art, and the sea meet in poetic harmony. Its whitewashed walls, accented by bright blue doors and colorful murals, make it one of the most photogenic towns in the country. Originally settled by the Phoenicians as early as 1500 BCE, Asilah has seen a parade of rulers - Romans, Idrisids, Portuguese, and Spaniards - each leaving behind a unique architectural and cultural footprint. The Portuguese built the city’s ramparts in the 15th century, parts of which still encircle the medina today. In the 20th century, Moroccan authorities restored the medina, making it one of the cleanest and best-preserved in the country.

Nestled between the Rif Mountains and the Mediterranean coast, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Tetouan carries an identity shaped by its location, history, and cultural soul. Known as La Blanca or The White Dove, the city gleams with whitewashed buildings that reflect purity, elegance, and a deep connection to its Andalusian past. Tetouan flourished in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries when Muslim and Jewish refugees crossed from Spain, bringing with them a legacy of art, architecture, language, and craftsmanship that continues to define the city’s atmosphere. Their influence is visible in the medina’s delicate wooden balconies, tiled courtyards, and intricate carvings that mirror the traditions of Andalusia.

Tangier, perched at the meeting point of Europe and Africa, has always been a city that sparks curiosity and imagination. With Spain visible across the Strait of Gibraltar, the city has for centuries served as a natural bridge between continents. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Portuguese, and Spanish all shaped its character, leaving traces of their civilizations in the streets, squares, and fortifications that still define the urban landscape. Its strategic location allowed Tangier to become a bustling port city where merchants, travelers, and diplomats gathered, creating a multicultural identity that continues to thrive today.

During the tenth labor of Hercules, which was to retrieve the cattle of Geryon, a fearsome giant, he had to pass through the Atlas Mountains, then thought to be the edge of the known world. Legend has it that instead of scaling the mighty mountain range, Hercules smashed through it with his superhuman strength, creating the Strait of Gibraltar and separating Europe from Africa. The Caves of Hercules are said to be the place where he rested after this heroic act before moving on towards his eleventh labor, i.e., stealing the Apples of the Hesperides.

A British Overseas Territory on the southern tip of Spain, Gibraltar is a strategic gateway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Despite being only 6.7 square kilometers in size, it holds immense geopolitical and historical significance. For centuries, it has stood as a sentinel guarding the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow waterway that separates Europe from Africa and connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. The Rock itself rises dramatically from the sea, its limestone cliffs concealing both natural wonders and secret wartime tunnels.

The Dutch have a knack for throwing a good party. The nation celebrates everything life has to offer with an amazing number of festivals every year. There is an event to suit every taste and mood, whether you enjoy music, art, or cuisine!

Towering 30 meters (100 feet) above the Forth and Clyde Canal in central Scotland, and weighing more than 300 tonnes each, The Kelpies are the largest equine sculptures in the world. These twin horse-head statues, designed by Scottish sculptor Andy Scott, stand as a modern tribute to Scotland’s rich mythological and industrial heritage. Unveiled in 2014, The Kelpies have since become a symbol of the country's artistic spirit, a beacon of local pride, and one of Scotland’s top visitor attractions. But these aren’t just horse statues. They are living steel metaphors - part myth, part machinery, and entirely mesmerizing!

Edinburgh, the enchanting capital of Scotland, is a city where centuries of history seamlessly blend with a modern, vibrant spirit. Perched on a series of volcanic hills and dominated by the iconic Edinburgh Castle, the city has been Scotland’s capital since at least the 15th century. However, its roots run far deeper - archaeological finds reveal human settlements dating back to the Bronze Age. During the medieval period, the city became a royal residence and a center of political and religious power. The Old Town, with its narrow wynds and cobbled streets, tells tales of the Reformation, witch trials, and Jacobite uprisings, while the neoclassical grandeur of the New Town reflects the Enlightenment era, when Edinburgh earned the nickname “Athens of the North.”

Belfast, the vibrant capital of Northern Ireland, is a city steeped in history, culture, and resilience. Nestled on the banks of the River Lagan, Belfast evolved from a small 17th-century settlement into a thriving industrial powerhouse during the 19th century. It became famous for linen production, rope-making, and shipbuilding, with the Harland & Wolff shipyard constructing the legendary RMS Titanic in 1911.

Dublin, the vibrant capital of the Republic of Ireland, is a city where history, culture, and modern energy blend seamlessly. Nestled on the banks of the River Liffey, Dublin is a city of storytellers, where every cobblestone street and historic building holds a tale from the past. Originally founded as a Viking settlement in the 9th century, it quickly grew into an important trading hub.

Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is a vibrant city brimming with history, culture, and modern charm. With its origins dating back to Roman times, Cardiff has evolved from a small settlement into one of the most important cities in the United Kingdom. Today, Cardiff is known for its lively arts scene, stunning architecture, and world-class sporting events. The city seamlessly blends its rich historical past with modern attractions, making it an exciting destination for travelers.

Nestled in the heart of Gloucestershire, Bibury is often hailed as one of the most picturesque villages in England — a timeless gem of the Cotswolds that has captivated artists, writers, and travelers for centuries. The village’s charm lies in its honey-colored limestone cottages, rolling green meadows, and the gentle flow of the River Coln, which meanders gracefully through its center. Bibury’s most iconic landmark, Arlington Row, dates back to the 14th century, originally built as a monastic wool store before being converted into weavers' cottages in the 17th century.

London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a city steeped in history, culture, and innovation. Founded by the Romans as Londinium in AD 43, it quickly became a thriving trade hub. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city evolved through Saxon, Viking, and Norman rule, with landmarks like the Tower of London symbolizing its medieval strength.

Today, I’m going to tell you an epic story - a tale of roads and waters, of windswept cliffs and timeless isles. It’s the story of a cruise and road trip that began in the heart of the Netherlands and carried us across all five countries of the British Isles during the magic of Christmas.

Born as a Roman city, renowned as the birthplace of cologne (as in the perfume), and home to the world-famous twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) along with twelve other Romanesque churches, the love lock Hohenzollernbrücke (Hohenzollern Bridge), the historic Altstadt (Old Town), Rheinauhafen (Rhine harbor district), museums, murals, festivals like Christmas Markets and Carnival, and a unique local beer (Kölsch) scene, Cologne (Köln in German) serves as the perfect European city break for travelers of any age.

Welcome to a magical frosty wonderland where ice crystals melt your heart; where world’s top 45 ice artists (also known as ‘carvers’) from 16 different countries come together to transform 550 tons of ice and snow into 100 breathtaking artworks. Welcome to the Dutch Ice Sculpture Festival!

With rolling valleys, Romanesque cathedrals, and towering peaks nestled between France and Spain, the Principality of Andorra boasts the best ski slopes and resort amenities in the whole Pyrenees. With an area of 468 sq. km (181 sq. miles) and a population of 79,034, Andorra is the world's 16th-smallest country (and 6th-smallest European microstate) by area and 11th-smallest country by population.

Every year in November, the otherwise industrial city of Eindhoven transforms into a magical fairy tale of light, known as GLOW Eindhoven. This annual light art festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world who come together to enjoy the breathtaking open-air exhibition of innovative light artworks created by international artists using new media technologies, such as computers, sensors, animations, and projections. The fusion of art, technology, and architecture creates a bewitching experience for visitors of all ages.

To me, Switzerland is all about mountains, lakes, waterfalls, alpine villages, and historic towns. So you need to choose an itinerary combining one or two of each of the above to experience the beauty of Switzerland in its entirety. Also, having too many of each of these may be overkill and turn out to be a very expensive Swiss drama. So, in our itinerary, we chose the best of each of the above to ensure we capture the true essence of Switzerland in our hearts forever, while keeping the itinerary cost-effective.

The annual Amsterdam Light Festival (ALF) fills the Dutch capital's canals with magnificent works of light art every winter. Designers, architects, and artists from all around the world submit hundreds of concepts each year, out of which 20 to 30 artworks are chosen for display in the festival by a selection committee.

If you plan to stroll incessantly through gorgeous winter landscapes and enchanting Christmas decors, you need to be at Kerststad Valkenburg. Having seen a lot of Christmas Markets around the globe, I can safely proclaim that Valkenburg Christmas Market is hands down the best Christmas Market in the Netherlands and one of the most unique Christmas Markets on the planet. After all, it's not every day that you get to a Christmas Market within a marlstone cave!

While the whole world is already busy shopping in Advent Markets from mid-November, the Dutch have yet to set up a Christmas Tree! Strange but true, the country starts brimming with Christmas joy only from the second week of December when the town squares convert into grand markets selling food, trinkets, glühwein, oliebollen, and all kinds of gifts that bring smiles to the faces of your friends, family, and folks you care about.

I've always been intrigued by the fascinating season of autumn. To me, autumn is a grand manifestation of the ultimate reality on earth that one day everything has to perish just to be reborn again. And as the tree leaves turn into vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red, one last time before they return to Mother Nature, the mushrooms start emerging, chestnuts lay all around, and soft rays of the sun kiss your face as you take a leisurely walk on the rustling dry leaves, autumn shows us that the end can also be beautiful. And during this beautiful season in the Netherlands, what are the things you can see and do? That's precisely what I'm going to tell you today. So let's begin!

The Netherlands is not known as a popular winter destination, as characteristically, the country receives a few days of snow every year. With climate change, the number of days is reducing with each passing year, and the day’s not far when we will narrate our grandchildren about the merry times we spent with our friends, ice-skating over the frozen lakes and canals.

Being Dutch citizens ourselves living in the Netherlands for many years, and having traveled to 100+ cities, towns, and villages across all 12 provinces of the country, we’ve discovered many hidden treasures that are not featured in any travel brochures or websites, and many of our Dutch friends aren’t even aware of them, making them perfect for crowd-weary travelers.

Being Dutch citizens ourselves living in the Netherlands for many years, and having traveled to 100+ cities, towns, and villages across all 12 provinces of the country, discovering many hidden treasures on the way that are not featured in any travel brochures or websites, I can safely proclaim that we’ve seen this country more than many of the locals.

Christmas in Stockholm is a time of coziness, shimmering lighting, copious amounts of food and drink, and a few unique traditions ranging from solemn to hilarious. Stockholm's Christmas markets await exploration, with a million Christmas lights adorning the streets and a chill in the air filled with seasonal cheer.