Places we’d confidently recommend to friends
A trusted collection of hotels, restaurants, walks, itineraries and experiences that are genuinely worth your time and money.
Worth The Trip
We only recommend places we’d happily revisit ourselves and confidently suggest to our friends and family.
Every recommendation must pass The Cross Water Standard: exceptional experiences, fair value and something we’d happily pay for again ourselves.
Every recommendation earns one verdict: ‘Worth The Trip’ or ‘Not Worth Your Time’
>No sponsored rankings
>No paid placements
>No tourist-trap nonsense
Recently Judged ‘Worth The Trip’
Lake District Sunset from Helvellyn summit
Worth the effort, stunning views for miles. Helvellyn is the third-highest mountain in both England, standing at 950 meters (3,116 feet). Located between the lakes of Thirlmere and Ullswater. There are many ways to summit this mountain, but only a couple in the dark.
Traditional Ryokan in Shibu Onsen
Wafu No Yado Masuya is a traditional ryokan that delivers authentic Japan without luxury Tokyo prices. The location is excellent, the Japanese Kaiseki dinner is genuinely memorable, and access to Sahib Onsen’s historic bath houses makes the whole experience feel very special.
Overhyped Tourist Trap - Dekasan, Osaka
A social media sensation that didn’t live up to the hype. Long queues, expensive sandwiches and an experience that left us feeling regretful. This is not worth your time or money, there are much better options locally.
