Colm Hanratty

Colm Hanratty

Colm first got the travel bug when he went to Australia in 1999 on a working holiday visa. Since then he hasn’t looked back. He travelled all around Australia in 2000, and over the following years visited many major European cities, glaciers in South America, ski resorts in North America, safaris in South Africa, islands in South East Asia and everything in between. He once visited every continent other than Antarctica in less than 2 years! When he gets to a destination he likes to dig deep, discovering local secrets, top tips and doing everything he can to experience a destination like a local.


Posts by this author

Written by Colm Hanratty

Hidden Rome – 10 Attractions You Might Not Have Heard Of

Everyone knows the popular tourist spots in Rome but do you know the unknown ones? Find the hidden gems of Rome's tourist trail with our Homestay.com local guide.

Written by Colm Hanratty

For a real taste of Vancouver try the food the locals eat

One the things I love most about travelling is finding out what the locals eat and trying it for myself. In Vancouver, it’s an Asian-inspired hot dog...

Written by Colm Hanratty

The best little wine bar in London

When I travel to cities, I like having my favourite places I return to on each trip. These can be attractions, neighbourhoods, bar s or restaurants. In London I have many, one of them being a wine bar that isn’t so much a local secret, but it feels like it every time I visit...

Written by Colm Hanratty

Bars in Prague – go where the locals go

Do your socialising around Wenceslas Square or the old town square and you’ll find out drinks here are considerably more expensive than some of their not-so-central counterparts. But take my advice and locate one (or all) of these five gems and you’ll see how the locals spend their evenings while saving quite a few koruna at the same time!

Written by Colm Hanratty

The perfect way to spend one day in Lisbon

Lisbon isn't mobbed by crowds like some other European cities and a visit to the capital of Portugal can be as relaxed or as hectic as you want. Thanks too to its compact size, you can squeeze a lot into 24 hours. If I only had one day in Lisbon, here’s what I’d do…

Written by Colm Hanratty

How to Experience the Best of Sydney in One Day

If you’re making your way to Australia’s most famous city and your time is limited, this dawn (well, almost) till dusk guide should help you get the most out of one day.

Written by Colm Hanratty

Boston – a tale of two cities

When speaking to the locals in Boston, they talk about the area north of the Charles River, Cambridge, like it’s a different city. So when you visit, it's like getting two for the price of one.

Written by Colm Hanratty

Five views in Cape Town to be savoured

It’s seldom that a city leaves me speechless with its beauty, but Cape Town did. It really is awe-inspiring – everywhere you look there’s a mountain, beach or landmark to gaze at. Here are five very special views that will leave you gobsmacked.

Written by Colm Hanratty

15 of the Best Cafés in Ireland for an Indulgent Pitstop

Find the best cafés around the country with the expert guide from Homestay.com. Explore Ireland one cake slice at a time with these local favourites.

Written by Colm Hanratty

The perfect way to spend a day in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires has something that other South American cities don’t. It has the energy of some of its counterparts, yet it looks like some of its European ones. Traffic is hectic, nightlife is electric, there’s lot of open space and shopping is...

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