Thinking of a beautiful Mediterranean island for your next holiday? Perhaps one that sits off the toe of Italy? Seductively beautiful and perfectly placed in the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily should be at the top of your list.
Sicily is the largest of the Italian islands, and has long seduced travelers with its natural wonders and cultural treasures. It boasts wonderful weather, and a diverse range of culinary influences. Natural wonders abound here, and the juxtaposition of sea, volcano and mountain scenery makes a stunning backdrop for outdoor activities. The island is full of history, bursting at the seams with ancient artistic and architectural gems. When it comes to ancient Greek architecture, Sicily actually rivals Greece.
There are many incredible reasons to visit Sicily. The following are to name just a few.
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The Igorots of Sagada, Philippines have been participating in an extremely unique burial ritual for thousands of years.
The elderly members of the community will carve their own coffins out of hollowed out logs prior to their death. They are then placed into a coffin which is then hung at the side of a cliff as high up as possible.
One of the most common beliefs behind this practice is the belief that the bodies of the dead will reach their ancestral spirits. They choose to place their family members in the foetal position as they believe it is important to depart the world the same way you entered.
This tradition is slowly dying out as the new generation in Sagada is influenced by modern culture. There is also fear around breaking the bones of their loved ones after death. This may be a tradition that disappears soon.
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Europe offers up well over 40 countries to travellers, and with so many nations to explore, one of the most frequently asked questions from our readers is what is the best way to get around. Of course, “best” can mean different things to different people though!
Your ideal transport will depend on a number of factors like whether you’re looking for the cheapest routes, the fastest routes, or those with the most flexibility. So it’s important to weigh up all your options.
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Hot tub vacations; perfect for when you want a break from hustle and bustle of everyday life, to enjoy a romantic getaway with your partner, or perhaps pop the champagne having left your partner with the kids for a well deserved mom break!
While hot tubs have often been seen as a bonus inclusion of accommodations, or that extra luxury touch, now the’ve become a holiday style in their own right.
Looking for a romantic place that comes with a hot tub in the UK? Whether you’re considering a free standing indoor tub, or an outdoor tub with a view, these properties have you covered.
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Canada is one of the world friendliest countries; Canadians themselves have a well earned reputation for being friendly and polite, and the country is one of the most welcoming and safest places for travelers.
Being a laid back nation, there are many freedoms in Canada which can’t be enjoyed just south of the border; the drinking age is 19, unlike 21 in the USA, and there’s publicly funded health care.
But there are a few weird laws.
We’re not sure of the reasoning behind each of these, but some of them are so bizarre that we would definitely love to hear the story! Note that some of these are province / town specific.
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Devonport has been called the Gateway to Tasmania, but much like the island’s first European explorers did, it is often bypassed by travellers who make a quick dash for Hobart, Cradle Mountain, or the beaches of the East Coast.
But The Cove oceanside retreat is ready to put Devonport on the tourism map and make it more than just a gateway, finally offering up a level of luxury accommodation that the city has always lacked.
With a prime central position along Tassie’s northern coast this is the perfect base for exploring all the famous Northwest has to offer. And whether you plan on sailing in via Spirit of Tasmania, or flying into Devonport Airport, you’re just minutes away from Northern Tasmania’s best luxury accommodation.
Set in a sheltered bay in-between Don Heads and Lillico Beach, The Cove is blessed with what are arguably the best ocean views in Tasmania’s north.
For generations, this large full working farm known as Cheviot Dale was enjoyed by its founders and descendant’s of the Lillico family. But now Bruce and Kim Robinson have decided to share their slice of heaven, and welcome all adults to check-in at The Cove!
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If you’re looking to observe African wildlife in the wild, it’s hard to beat Tanzania in terms of its sheer numbers and variety of animals.
Home to more than three dozen national parks and game reserves, Tanzania is said to boast a fifth of Africa’s large mammal population. The country is of course home to big name destinations like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro as well as national parks like Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tarangire, and the Mahale Mountains.
You have the chance of seeing every iconic African animal in Tanzania including the Big Five, the big cats, hippos, crocodiles, and all kinds of antelope species. You can even seek out reserves that are home to African wild dogs and chimpanzees.
The country’s control of poaching has enabled its wildlife to flourish and with so many animals on offer it’s hard to put a spotlight on just a few. That being said, here are seven animals that are often on every safari-lover’s bucket list.
For the best chance of spotting wildlife, I recommend traveling during the dry season which runs from roughly June to October or attempt to time your visit during the Great Wildebeest Migration.
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The pandemic has forced many of us to swap real life travel for binge watching shows like Outlander to feed our wanderlust.
Now, it finally looks like international travel is set to return, with Scotland confirming that fully vaccinated travellers visiting from non-red list countries will not even have to provide evidence of a negative test result before travelling to Scotland.
Millions of people around the world have fallen in love with the WWII nurse who gets transported back to 18th century Scotland and finds herself falling in love with a handsome Highlander and in the middle of the Jacobite uprising.
Adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s famous novels, the TV series’ 5 seasons to date have been filmed at many locations in and around Edinburgh. And, now that travel is back, fans can finally transport themselves to Scotland and the many famous places seen in the series.
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Canada’s indigenous peoples are made up of three distinct groups which include its First Nations people, Inuit, and the Métis.
Well over one and a half million Canadians identify as indigenous and many are eager to share their history and culture with visitors.
Canada’s indigenous groups all have their own unique histories, languages, and spiritual beliefs. From First Nations Reserves to important historical sites and celebrations that recognize the aboriginal people of the country, there are many ways that travelers to Canada can learn about and appreciate these unique cultures.
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They say “Virginia is for Lovers” but it seems like more than just affectionate couples are relocating to this beautiful Atlantic Coast state. Virginia offers something for everyone whether you’re a retiree, student, or family looking for a safe place to raise your kids.
If you’ve been contemplating a move to Virginia, you’ve likely done a fair amount of online research, looking up things like Arlington real estate or other notable regions within the state to get an idea of available housing.
And you wouldn’t be alone, as Virginia seems to be attracting people from all across the US, most coming from states like Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, California, and New York according to some of the latest data.
Of course when considering a big move to another state, you often want to weigh up the pros and cons. Thankfully, Virginia seems to provide a great deal more pros than cons no matter if you’re looking at moving to Arlington for a job in nearby Washington DC or live seaside in Virginia Beach.
Here’s a look at the many things Virginia has to offer, along with a few of the drawbacks you may experience when relocating to the state.
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When people plan for travel in America, they tend to lean towards places like New York and D.C. on the East Coast, California on the West Coast, the theme parks and beaches of Florida, or Vegas’ endless entertainment.
But if you’re after a quiet, relaxing, and natural escape, the Pacific Northwest offers the perfect place for a detoxifying road trip through nature.
America’s Pacific Northwest centers on the states of Washington and Oregon. There is so much natural beauty in these two states including national parks and rugged undeveloped coastline. Best explored via a road trip, there are plenty of charming towns to pass through and accommodation options to suit any type of traveler.
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The US is by far one of the most successful nations when it comes to a range of sports. Sports have become an integral part of America, and often define many cities throughout the nation both in terms of college and professional sports.
Sports tourism is big business in the US, with the Super Bowl alone bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to the selected city that hosts it each year.
Attending a major sporting event is of course a great way to embrace your love for sports, but there are also countless other attractions across America that are geared to sports lovers.
Read on for some of the unique sports attractions in the US fueling this roughly $70 billion industry. These are some top attractions for each of America’s top 4 sports which includes American football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.
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If you’re tired of simply staying at home during Halloween, dishing out loads of candy to an onslaught of children for hours on end, how about getting out to enjoy the festivities yourself. It should come as no surprise that America is the place to be during Halloween, with cities from coast coast hosting a variety of events.
Your years of trick or treating may be over but being and adult with money means you can now book a trip and that’s a real treat. Countless cities across America go all out every October, offering up everything from hay rides and costume parties to haunted houses and full-on Halloween festivals.
As an added bonus, traveling during the Halloween season is great for your bank account since you avoid both the September Labor Day and the Thanksgiving travel spikes. So don’t be a country bumpkin and get out and embrace your inner pumpkin this Halloween with a trip to one of these great US Halloween destinations.
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We are set to hit over 8 billion people by 2025, but we have seen a migration away from many of the world’s largest cities lately, somewhat spurred on by a recent eagerness for more personal space.
While many cities throughout China and Europe, as well as big name cities like Detroit, Hong Kong, and Tokyo have seen population declines in recent years, other regions are seeing large spikes in population growth.
While there are many cities experiencing slow growth, others are booming throughout regions like Central Africa and parts of Southern Asia, giving travelers the opportunity to explore cities they may have never heard of.
In fact, 17 of the world’s 20 fastest growing cities are in Africa and it will be interesting to see if this translates into increased tourism for this region.
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Considered to be the cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore is a walled city known for cultural and historic sites, in the province of Punjab (in fact it’s the capital). This is a metropolitan city rich in culture, where you’ll find plenty of traditional shopping, architecture, and Pakistani cuisine, and an energetic local spirit, where locals often flash mob dance in the rain!
Pakistan might be considered an off the beaten path destination, but much of Lahore is incredibly accessible; Urdu might be the national languague, however most signs are bilingual, and locals are typically fluent in English. Getting to Lahore is easy too, with direct international flights, and can be quite affordable with deals frequently sold on dxb to lahore flights when you’re traveling from Dubai.
So, from history, to culture, and Pakistani food, what are some of the specific things to do in Lahore? Plan for 3-4 days so you can fit in everything there is to do!
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Casinos are an integral part of Oceania. It’s considered one of the most popular and heavily used forms of entertainment in the region, especially amongst tourists.
The islands and their climate make them a perfect destination for gambling in casinos or cruise ships, and many of the flagship casinos here are tourist attractions in their own rights. So if you’re headed to the Pacific and wondering where to roll the dice, the following countries have the best casino tourism options.
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In the Anglosphere, and the wider world, attitudes towards betting vary a lot. After historically being puritanical, the USA is opening things up, while China retains a hardline opposition to betting (Macau excepted), despite card games having been invented here.
But from dicing in the streets of Greece and Rome, to Baccarat in France, and a horse-betting obsession in Britain, it’s Australians who may just be the world’s best gamblers.
Just as prolific travelers as they are bettors, watch out for the Aussies returning to international casino tourism now that international borders have been announced to reopen.
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Of the dozens of casinos situated along the Vegas Strip, none seem to receive as much attention as the Bellagio. The most expensive hotel ever built when it initially opened, it’s hard to believe a time without its famous dancing fountains.
However, truth is the Bellagio is only slightly above gambling age itself, looking to celebrate its 24 birthday this coming October.
In addition to its famous choreographed water feature, the Bellagio attracts high-end boutique shoppers looking for a bit of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, or Gucci, and the casino of course also attracts plenty with its 5,600 square-foot BetMGM Sportsbook, and high table limit poker rooms. But despite its worldwide fame, there are many secrets and fun facts about the Bellagio that a lot of Vegas visitors don’t know about.
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I’ve written a lot about how climbing Mt Kilimanjaro changed my life; it pushed me to discover my physical and mental abilities, and transformed my whole perspective on life.
Oh, and I returned home from Kili with a husband (husbands not included in this March 2022 all female tour!).
But as I was climbing the mountain for my own personal development, I didn’t stop to notice that there was not one single female porter or guide. This was 2010, and fastforward 11 years, guiding trekkers to the summit of Kilimanjaro is still a male dominated world; fewer than 1% of the total guides being female.
Glory Thobias founded Tanzania Women Guides Foundation to change this by providing training and showing a career in guiding as a viable option for women. And to support these efforts, Solo Female Travelers is climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro on an all-female guide, porter and trekker team, to celebrate International Women’s Day 2022.
Will you join to climb to the top of Africa this coming March?
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There are very few things in this world that can overwhelm your senses like a visit to the frozen frontier; although Antarctica may seem cold and unwelcoming, it’s actually one of the most interesting and strikingly beautiful places on planet Earth.
An expedition to Antarctica was once an arduous journey, reserved for only the most adventurous explorers, though today anyboy can join a cruise and experience the continent in luxury and comfort.
That said, the cost and logistics mean that most people expect to plan the Antarctic cruise only once in their lifetime, so it’s important as a first timer to know what to expect … and perhaps, more importantly, what not to forget!
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Spain is a geographically and culturally diverse country, which allows for a trip full of different adventures. And each region has a significantly different identity to the next.
Blessed with a beautiful Mediterranean climate, sun-kissed beaches, incredible food, and a history that runs from as far back as the Roman Empire, Spain is one of the richest countries in the world for culture, history, and nature.
But there are a total of 17 different regions, each fiercly proud of their own regional culture and heritage. And from mainland Spain to the Balearic Islands, from the cities to the coast, the region you choose to visit will have a big impact on your trip.
To ensure that you get the most out of your trip to Spain, the following are our 5 favorite Spanish regions to tick off your travel bucket list. That’s not to say that the other 12 aren’t just as noteworthy, though these are our favorites:
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You don’t often think of Africa as being a big horse racing destination, but in countries like South Africa, it has been taking place since the late 18th century.
While races like Australia’s Melbourne Cup and England’s Royal Ascot tend to get most of the world’s attention, here are some notable African horse racing destinations and their famous annual races to check out in-between going on safari.
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Seoni is one of India’s smaller districts, but it’s also one of the most beautiful. Set in the State of Madhya Pradesh, the dense jungle, wild animals, and natural wonders of the area were the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s famous novel The Jungle Book.
Named after the Seona trees that populate the forest, many of The Jungle Book’s locations can still be visited today. The following are locations in Senoi and greater Madhya Pradesh which bring The Jungle Book to life!
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You may have heard the old saying “life is about the journey and not the destination”. Well, train travel is regarded by many to be a far more romantic, nostalgic, and sophisticated way to travel, no matter if you’re boarding a commuter train between major cities or opting for a scenic off the beaten path rail journey.
Demand for high-end scenic train journeys is growing in the U.S. Many American’s are looking to travel a bit closer to home in the era of Covid and are looking for a way to avoid the chaos and congestion of airports altogether.
American rail companies boast new state-of-the-art rail cars and are restoring first-class carriage full meal service in a bid to lure eager travelers, especially along the East Coast with its wide array of popular sightseeing cities steeped in American heritage and incredible natural scenery.
Whether you’re looking to book a rail trip from Washington, DC to New York City or want to pass through the Great Smoky Mountains, seeing the East coast of America by train provides a safe, reliable, economical, and comfortable way to travel. Here are five unique East Coast train journeys you should consider.
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Most travellers to Tasmania are likely to include a visit to the Tasman Peninsula. It is after all where many of the island’s most notable natural wonders, endemic wildlife, coastal walks, and historic sites come together including the island’s number one attraction, Port Arthur.
With so much to do, it’s far better to base yourself here to discover the region than to take continual day trips driving back and forth from Hobart. And, set in Tasmania’s Eaglehawk Neck (which also goes by its dual Aboriginal name Teralina), The Wayfarer’s prime position places it right in the middle of all the Tasman Peninsula has to offer.
This is a luxury beach shack overlooking the water of the famous peninsula, allowing you to experience Tassie beach shack culture – an escape to a private cottage, vacationing like the locals do.
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