Our travel options are still quite limited so time must be filled in other ways. In my case, that’s through writing which has led to the creation of DI Carson. DI Carson is the ‘star’ of my latest novel Misadvertised, a gritty crime thriller set in London. Here’s what you need to know: ‘Yes’. A perfectly harmless message. Except for when it is written in the blood of an innocent man. In the heart-pounding thriller Misadvertised, DI Carson is thrust into a grisly murder case that sends shockwaves through London. When a young man is found brutally murdered, his head severed with an axe, DI Cars ..read more

Unusually we managed to catch both boys at home and in a good mood, so we arranged another family trip – The Illusionist escape room hosted by Escape Basildon. Because of the relatively short notice, we had to book by phone (not a problem) and pay over the phone (big problem). The escape room itself is located close to the pedestrianised city centre of Basildon opposite one of the more run-down looking buildings. Once inside however, the shop itself is fine, looking very much like any of the other games arenas we have visited over the years.  After a shortened introduction and safety brie ..read more

What’s the best way to celebrate Mother’s Day? Chocolates? Breakfast in bed? Flowers? Meal out? No. It’s a trip to Twilight Manor. As Linda’s recovery from her hip replacement operation continues apace, we decided to have a family day out to try a new escape room – Twilight Manor. Hosted by Cluetopia, this is a ‘haunted house’ style room housed in an old building down near Ipswich Marina. From the blurb: You managed to buy Twilight Manor at a fraction of its true cost. You knew it needed some work. However, you didn’t know it was HAUNTED! A local urban legend states the only way to rid the hou ..read more

Everything you need to know about catching a National Express Coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal. Can I catch a coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal? No, not directly. National Express Coaches stop at the bus station in Southampton town centre. All four cruise terminals are a short distance away on foot or by taxi ( approximately 1 mile). Which is the nearest hotel to Southampton coach station? Both the Premier Inn and the Moxy are a short walk away. Can I catch a taxi from the coach station? Without pre-booking, probably not. There is a taxi rank just out the front of the coach statio ..read more

Journey into Darkness is a travel blog. However, I am also a professional writer – I even have to work on the road sometimes. But that’s just part of having the best job in the world. In between family life, customer projects and this blog, I have also managed to complete my first ever novel, The Warsaw Gambit. It only took 45 years. From the blurb: Russia has invaded Ukraine. Europe is in chaos. NATO refuses to get involved.  Faced by overwhelming military might and dwindling support from its allies, Ukraine is about to fall. And the rest of Eastern Europe could be next.  Then ..read more

An email from British Airways this morning announces a genuinely useful change to the Executive Club frequent flyer program. From 1st April 2025 all club members will operate according to the same tier point earning period dates. Earning tier points should be rewarding – and simple. Earning tier points should be rewarding – and simple. Earning tier points should be rewarding – and simple. So what? With British Airways, frequent flyer status is earned by collecting ‘Tier Points’ (not to be confused with Avios). Tier Points are awarded based on the flights flown with British Airways and esse ..read more

Which is the nearest airport for Sunny Beach? It’s a common question asked by visitors to the Journey into Darkness blog. TLDR; it’s Burgas. Also known as Slynchev Bryag, Sunny Beach is a Magaluf-like resort on the Black Sea in Bulgaria. It is a popular destination for bargain hunters who want to enjoy nice, warm weather without the negative connotations of the Balearics or Costa Brava. Nesebar is a must-see when you visit Sunny Beach Nesebar is a must-see when you visit Sunny Beach Nesebar is a must-see when you visit Sunny Beach And because Bulgaria has retained the Lev, your holiday mon ..read more

Visit any travel advice website and you will find dozens of articles extolling the virtues of packing cubes. But the reality is that these luggage organising contraptions may be a very expensive mistake. What are packing cubes? Packing cubes are a way to organise and compress your clothes so that they fit more neatly into your suitcase. Typically they are a collection of small, zippered bags into which you roll (or neatly fold) clothing. There are two reasons why packing cubes are useful: You can arrange your belongings however you like, making them easier to unpack. They provide additional c ..read more

It’s January 1st and normally we would have some kind of travel plans for 2024 in place already. A gig abroad, a city break with our boys etc etc. However, 2024 is set to be a little more unpredictable. Linda’s hip replacement is scheduled for mid-February which is great news. But it also means we won’t be travelling before then – or for some weeks after either. Currently our travel plans for 2024 are quite limited Currently our travel plans for 2024 are quite limited Currently our travel plans for 2024 are quite limited We do have a Princess cruise booked for July, sailing from New York t ..read more

How to reduce stress when travelling? It’s an important question. Travel should be fun, inspiring, exciting and, to some degree, relaxing. But for many people, including Linda, the airport is an incredibly stressful place. How to reduce stress? Get rid of the other passengers, obviously. How to reduce stress? Get rid of the other passengers, obviously. How to reduce stress? Get rid of the other passengers, obviously. So it was quite interesting to see Condé Nast Traveller publish a top 10 list of ‘Least Stressful Airports in Europe’. More interesting still is what their choices tell us abo ..read more