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Natasha Bazika

Natasha Bazika

Travel writer

Natasha Bazika, an Italy-based travel writer, isn't just about ticking destinations off a list. She's a storyteller who uses food and local encounters to bring the heart of a place to life.

Lake Bled.

A surprisingly affordable hotel near one of Europe’s most beautiful lakes

Hotels near the Slovenian beauty spot have long been pricey or uninspiring, until this new lodge arrived.

  • Natasha Bazika
Pliva Waterfall in the historic fortified town of Jajce.

This beautiful, wild nation showed me a Europe I didn’t know existed

Croatia’s coast might be the summer siren, but we’re here to see another side of The Continent that most don’t bother to see.

  • Natasha Bazika
Tea room.

Like your hotels predictable? This quirky Dublin hotel isn’t for you

Don’t be fooled by its prime, Victorian exterior. The Wilder Townhouse lives up to its moniker, and makes for one memorable stay.

  • Natasha Bazika
Cruising through Norway’s fjords with Havila.

No buffets or entertainment – just an incredible cruise experience, period

Most cruises are a blur of activity – buffets, crowded pools, and predictable entertainment. This journey is very different.

  • Natasha Bazika
MS Silja Serenade.

I took this ferry to save on an airfare. I had no idea what I was in for

A quiet overnight trip from Stockholm to Helsinki was what I expected. Instead I found myself on board a debauched Vegas on water.

  • Natasha Bazika
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Italy’s newest bus company, Itabus.

I loved Europe’s trains, until I found a bus better than first-class

For three comfortable hours, rolling hills and mountain scenery unfold like a cinematic experience – and by not getting the rail equivalent, we saved $360.

  • Natasha Bazika
A bar mleczny, or “milk bar,” is a uniquely Polish institution.

Where local ‘milk bars’ feel more like Soviet IKEAs

No-frills state-subsidised canteens dish up hearty Polish fare at prices that haven’t budged much since Stalin.

  • Natasha Bazika
Vienna’s Hotel Motto.

Behind the queues at the bakery, this Vienna boutique hotel is perfection

Pastries so exquisite people queue up outside are just the start of what makes this whimsical hotel so special.

  • Natasha Bazika
The hubs fit together like Tetris.

At this antisocial hostel, rooms fit together like Tetris blocks

If you’re looking for an affordable stay in one of the world’s most expensive cities, this hostel offers a great price – and solitude.

  • Natasha Bazika
One of the unorthodox pizzas at Seu Pizza Illuminati.

I went down a dodgy backstreet and discovered Rome’s best pizza

Forget tight cobblestone streets and pretty piazzas. The best pizza is hiding in a grimy laneway – and requires an open mind.

  • Natasha Bazika