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Academic travel articles, written by our expert tour leaders.
The Academy Journal
Written by our specialist tour leaders, these articles explore hidden gems, historical events and artistic masterpieces, enriching your upcoming travels with their unique perspectives.
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What is the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair?
Darwin hosts two very important cultural events in the same week: the largest and most important annual event for Indigenous Australian art, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF); and Couture to Country, the leading space to highlight the rise of Indigenous fashion and textile design. It is a unique opportunity for over 1,500 artists from more than 70 Indigenous owned Art Centres to showcase
Abruzzo
In an era of mass tourism with Italy amongst the world’s most popular destinations, it can come as a surprise to find that there are still entire regions in the country which are virtually unknown to the international traveller. But such is the case with the region of Abruzzo, nestling in the centre of the peninsular to the east of Rome. I first came to Italy in 1980 with the usual expectations of a place
Alexander Mcqueen at the NGV
‘Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse’ is the latest sparkling fashion blockbuster at The National Gallery of Victoria. A collaboration between the NGV and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), it is a striking example of a value-adding fashion and art exhibition, as it combines fashion with a wide range of paintings, textiles, sculptures, porcelain and even furniture, including many masterpiece-gems
Small is beautiful
Hasn’t travel had some ups and downs in the past few years? It’s no wonder that, as the world reopens for exploration, that we’re increasingly interested in quality over quantity, small instead of crowded, and putting safety first. We’ve looked forward to the 2023 travel year (and beyond) and identified five trends to consider when planning your next adventure. How many of the five fit for you?
Some delightful suggestions for Paris
French historian Dr Michael Adcock remembers ten of his favourite places in Paris that he enjoys sharing with travellers… One of the greatest of touring rewards occurs when a traveller comments that they had just been introduced to an aspect of Paris they did not know about, and would never have discovered
Top Ten Cultural things to do in Vienna
The once imperial city of Vienna, often described as Europe's cultural capital, is steeped in history and a wealth of experiences for the cultural traveller. Vienna is city of palaces and gardens, museums, tradition and modernity. For more than 400 years it was the jewel in the glittering imperial crown of the
Beyond Botticelli - 10 things to also do in Florence
You’ve waited in line to see Michelangelo’s David and you’ve sighed over Botticelli’s Birth of Venus – so what else shouldn’t you miss in Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance? Here’s 10 things to add to your to-list next time you’re in Florence
Packing tips from Academy Travel
A recent article in the New York Times has us thinking about packing again, a subject that’s never far from our minds here at Academy Travel. We’ve canvassed for opinions, learnt from your on-tour suggestions, and without further ado offer our top ten tips for efficient packing.
Single Supplements: Fair or Unfair?
There are few things more annoying than paying for something, thinking that other people are paying less for exactly the same thing. The single supplement, an additional payment that single travellers pay for joining a group tour, seems designed to penalise those who choose to travel on their own.
How To Decide If Group Travel Is Right For You
No frills or uber-luxury? Five days or five weeks? Group of fifteen or group of 50? Once spurned for their bland ‘one size fits all’ approach, many group tours are today increasingly tailored towards specific kinds of travellers with specific interests. But the fundamental questions remain – is group travel right for you?