The Top Travel Destinations with Kevin Flanagan

Kevin shares his memories of his favourite Christmas market, recalling the sights, sounds, flavours and moments that made it special. A personal journey into the pleasure of travelling at Christmas, the people we share it with and the memories we bring home.

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations X: @becreativekev

Discover some of Europe’s most atmospheric Christmas markets, from Salzburg and Vienna to Nuremberg, Bath and Manchester. Kevin explores why we love these festive escapes—the lights, food, traditions and time together—and shares practical advice for travellers from Ireland and the UK, including 2026 market dates, choosing your destination and planning a winter break.

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations X: @becreativekev

Where should you go to experience Halloween at its most atmospheric? Kevin traces the celebration from Ireland’s Samhain traditions to four very different autumn breaks: Derry’s citywide festival, Edinburgh’s firelit Samhuinn performance, York’s ghost walks and Whitby’s Dracula connections and Goth Weekend. It’s a journey through history, folklore and places that come alive after dark.

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations X: @becreativekev

As the world seems to verve from one disaster to another people ask me more and more: how can I get away from the mayhem. What is the ideal destination for a bit of peace and tranquility?

I have one simple answer!

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations X: @becreativekev

Kevin takes a searching look at why some airfare prices are going through the roof! And how to still get value in these troubling time.

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations X: @becreativekev

Kevin has always loved the heat — forty years of it, from Cairo to Bangkok. But standing at the Trevi Fountain with his grandchildren and battery powered electric fans, something changed for the first time.

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations X: @becreativekev

Kevin looks at why record heatwaves are sending travellers away from the traditional Mediterranean hotspots and towards cooler shores — and what that means for how, when and where we'll all be booking our next holiday.

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations X: @becreativekev

Kevin visits his old friends Bimbi and Spencer and finds life in the idyllic countryside of Abruzzo is sometimes challenging as climate change impacts

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: 

Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin, Kuba & Maya stay in one of the most legendary hotels in Europe: the Hotel Eden in Rome, part of the Dorchester Group. What he finds there is beyond belief! 

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: 

Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin visits The Eternal City after a long gap and is surprised to find the city mightily changed and not all for the better

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: 

Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev