Cheap flights to Madrid: one airport, two worlds inside it, and the month the city walks away
On one of my early transcontinental trips, I booked a self-transfer connection through Madrid-Barajas Airport, arriving on a legacy carrier from North…
Regional Guide
Countries
Explore the best of Countries: sights, culture, routes and travel tips from PenguFly, plus cheap flights to plan an unforgettable trip to Countries.
The Reality of Antigua Guatemala: The Capital the Earthquakes Took
For over two centuries, this city—then known as Santiago de los Caballeros—served as the formidable seat of Spanish imperial power for a…
Cheap flights to Brussels: the “Brussels South” that’s an hour away, the train under the terminal, and the weekend hotel trick
On an early trip to Belgium, I booked a bargain flight advertised as flying to Brussels, only to realize after boarding that…
The Reality of Bukhara: Two Thousand Years of Bazaar
Samarkand is the conqueror's showcase—Timur's capital, built strictly to awe. Bukhara is something else entirely: a merchant city that simply kept trading…
Cheap flights to Phuket: direct or through Bangkok, the monsoon calendar, and the arrival card to sort out first
On an early trip to Thailand, I booked a flight to Phuket with a self-transfer connection through Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving a…
The Reality of Valparaíso: The Port the Panama Canal Forgot
In the age of sail and steam around Cape Horn, Valparaíso was one of the great ports of the Pacific. Heavily settled…
Cheap flights to Buenos Aires: the EZE–AEP split, the seasons that run backwards, and the long haul south
On my first trip to Argentina, I booked a long-haul flight landing at Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) and a separate domestic flight…
The Reality of Granada: The Last Emirate of Europe
In January 1492, the keys to the city of Granada were handed over on a hill outside the walls, bringing the final…
Cheap flights to Milan: three airports, the “Milan” that’s actually Bergamo, and the train that decides your morning
On one of my first trips to Italy, I booked a remarkably cheap ticket to "Milan" on a budget carrier. It was…
The Reality of Mexico City: The Megacity Built on a Lake
Stand in the centre of the Zócalo and the immediate assumption is that you are standing in a grand colonial square. In…
Cheap flights to Hong Kong: how the HKG hub works, the 24-minute train, and the season the fares drop
On one of my early transpacific routes, I booked a self-transfer layover in Hong Kong, arriving on a legacy carrier and departing…
The Reality of Siem Reap: The Megacity Behind Angkor
Almost everyone who flies into Siem Reap arrives specifically to see one building, but Angkor is not a building. It is the…