The Juniper Journal · Page 4

More travel stories
from our specialists.

Side by side: soft green Irish farmland and hedgerows under grey cloud on the left, a steep Scottish glen with a loch and a single road under a breaking sky on the right.

Ireland or Scotland: Which Trip Are You Actually Describing?

Ireland or Scotland? Ireland drives in 60-90 minute days and works in 7 nights; Scotland needs 10 and 2-3 hours a day. An honest side-by-side comparison.

Side by side: the vermilion pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera above autumn maples in Kyoto on the left, the Seoul skyline at dusk with N Seoul Tower on the ridge on the right.

JapanSep 22 · 12 min read

Japan or South Korea for a First Trip to Asia?

Japan or South Korea for first time visitors? Japan is deeper and dearer at ~$215/day; Korea is faster, cheaper and easier in English. An honest comparison.

A historic Irish castle hotel at dusk, Ireland

Sep 17 · 5 min read

7 Reasons To Go to Ireland on Your Honeymoon

When it’s time to discuss your honeymoon plans with your partner, don’t forget to add Ireland to the list. Here are seven reasons to make the trip.

Green aurora curling across a star-filled night sky above snow-covered coastal mountains in northern Norway, its light reflected on still dark water.

Sep 15 · 12 min read

Best Time to Visit Norway: Northern Lights or Midnight Sun

Norway runs on two clocks and they never overlap. Aurora season runs late September to late March; the midnight sun in Tromsø runs May 19 to July 26. Here is the month-by-month case for picking one.

A red timber rorbu cabin on stilts at the edge of a Lofoten fjord, a sharp granite peak and snow-streaked mountains rising across the water under heavy cloud.

NorwaySep 15 · 11 min read

How Much Does a Norway Trip Cost? (2027)

How much does a trip to Norway cost? A private 10-day trip runs $5,000-$15,000+ per person for 2027. Full price tiers, daily costs in NOK and USD, and where to save.

A row of red rorbuer on wooden stilts curving along a sheltered Lofoten inlet, snow on the surrounding hills and clear shallow water in the foreground.

NorwaySep 15 · 11 min read

Is Norway Good for a Honeymoon? An Honest Answer

Is Norway good for a honeymoon? Extraordinary for couples who want drama and solitude, wrong for warmth and nightlife. Winter aurora vs summer fjords, and costs.

The view forward from a small boat down the Nærøyfjord in autumn, steep golden-birch walls on either side mirrored in glassy water with a single vessel ahead.

NorwaySep 15 · 12 min read

The Norwegian Fjords Without a Cruise Ship

How to see the Norwegian fjords without a cruise: the Bergen Railway, the Flam Line, small electric boats into the Naeroyfjord, and where to stay in the fjords.

A table of regional Italian dishes and wine, Italy

Sep 10 · 5 min read

The Ultimate Guide To Eating Your Way Through Italy

The idea of eating your way through Italy has probably lived on your bucket list for years. It’s time to get busy planning the most delicious itinerary.

Aerial view over Cusco at golden hour, terracotta rooftops filling the valley floor with the cathedral and Plaza de Armas at centre and Andean peaks beyond.

PeruSep 8 · 11 min read

Cusco Altitude: An Honest Guide to Your First 48 Hours

How to deal with altitude sickness in Cusco at 11,152 feet: real elevations, why the Sacred Valley comes first, acclimatization timeline, and when to see a doctor.

A llama standing on the grass terrace above Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel's stone ruins below and the peak of Huayna Picchu rising into low cloud behind.

PeruSep 8 · 12 min read

Machu Picchu Permits 2027: What Sells Out, and Exactly When

When do Machu Picchu tickets sell out for 2027? Circuits, the 4,500-5,600 daily cap, Huayna Picchu vs Huchuy Picchu, Inca Trail permits, and real lead times.

Best time to visit Peru — the Andes under clear dry-season skies

Sep 6 · 6 min read

The Best Time to Visit Peru: A Month-by-Month Guide

May to September for the Andes, April and October for value — and Lima runs opposite to the highlands, which changes how you build the route.

Machu Picchu citadel and Huayna Picchu at sunrise

Sep 5 · 7 min read

How to Visit Machu Picchu: Circuits, Tickets & Timing (2026/2027)

Entry is capped at 4,500 a day (5,600 on high-season dates), tickets name one of three circuits, and re-entry is not allowed. What that means for how you book.

More travel storiesfrom our specialists.