A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
The best aspect of European spa breaks is their indulgent nature, offering a perfect escape for relaxation and pampering. With various options throughout Europe, you don’t need to travel far to enjoy a blissful spa experience.
Good, quiet, scenic roads; sleeping in out-of-the-way places; the chance to go wherever the mood takes you. There are few better ways to explore New Zealand than by campervan. High summer might seem best for a road trip; however, hiring a camper outside peak season can be up to 50% cheaper. Autumnal May offers lower prices but still pleasant conditions and better driving circumstances compared to winter.
Whether you’re bearing witness to a colossal procession of icebergs floating out to sea in Canada, staring at starry skies and dazzling sunrises in Australia’s outback, tracking dragons in Indonesia, or watching Italy’s alpine region reawakening into spring, May is a spectacular time to soak up some of the planet’s natural offerings.
For a long time, the cuisine of Iceland was spoken about in hushed tones, if at all – they eatwhat?Fermented shark? Sheep’s head? However, these days, travellers looking for fine food experiences are spoiled for choice: super-fresh seafood, succulent free-range lamb, and creamy, innovative dairy products are among the treats being showcased in a burgeoning foodie culture.
As the former HQ of the Hapsburg Empire, the Austrian capital has a flabbergasting stash of cultural and art treasures—more than you could ever hope to see in a lifetime. However, with 48 hours at your disposal, you can easily take in some of the city’s trophy sights: baroque palaces bejewelled with Klimt’s golden wonders, grand concert halls, and contemporary art in the born-again imperial stables.
Ask anyone who has used a tour operator, and they will tell you it’s the only way to travel. Whether embarking on a truffle tasting excursion in Tuscany, sailing through the Cyclades in your own schooner, or cycling in style through Napa Valley, a tour operator takes the hassle out of planning a luxurious getaway. The world’s best focus on the finest details to create unparalleled experiences — and memories that last a lifetime. Each year, GoTravelDaily surveys travelers to weigh in on their experiences around the globe — sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, and airlines. Readers rated tour operators on their staff and guides, itineraries and destinations, activities, accommodations, food, and overall value. Many of the winners focus on active cycling or walking vacations. Debuting for the first time ever is DuVine Cycling & Adventure Company, which arranges bicycle trips in Europe, North and South America, Africa, and the Middle East. Readers raved about the No. 2 company’s attention to detail and the flexibility of their guides, allowing extra time to explore local areas. “We love biking with DuVine,” says a reader. “What a way to see the wine regions of the world, with expert guides that felt like family by the end of the journey, top-notch accommodations, and fabulous food.” Mountain Lodges of Peru, the No. 5 winner, offers a seven-day Salkantay trek along the Inca Trail, with stops at small lodges in remote villages. The end point: Machu Picchu. “Standing at the top of a pass with nothing around us but llamas and the beauty of the land was an experience I will never forget,” shared another reader. Rather than planning your next vacation entirely by yourself, consider these premier tour operators, including the No. 1 winner, recognized as one of the most exclusive in the business.
The enduring pleasures of Greek myths, thousands of years later, owe much to the high drama played out by the dwellers of Mount Olympus. However, as anyone who has ever been in a romance knows, setting is key. Consequently, it’s no surprise that when it comes to voting on the best islands in Europe, our readers gave four out of the top 10 spots to Greece. The winners are all destinations where ancient history is ever-present, and each sunset seems to be more epic than the last. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.
Rhodes and the Dodecanese, Páros, and Crete are all places where you can choose your own adventure: ruins or lazy basking in the sun, with a spectacular meal of fresh fish at the end of the day regardless. However, Santorini is another animal altogether, which is why it’s claimed the number one spot in this category an astounding 14 times. Sunset hero shots may have become a cliché on Instagram—and here, as everyone gathers in the cobblestoned town of Oía just before evening falls, you can see why. Hotels built into the steep cliffs offer views out over the sea that are so captivating, there’s no reason to leave your suite and its private plunge pool until dinnertime.
Italy, another perennially popular destination, claimed two spots on the list. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, boasts Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, as well as ruins from the Greeks and the Romans and a plethora of vineyards. Even more popular among our readers is Ischia, a volcanic island that combines history with elegant hotels and restaurants, and has appeared in the works of Truman Capote and Elena Ferrante. But for some, it’s not always about warm-weather destinations. Scotland’s Skye and the Hebrides, an archipelago famous for its cliffs, moors, and moody, dramatic landscapes, broke into the list for the first time ever — proving that even in a destination as well-trammeled as Europe, there are always new discoveries waiting to be had.
Maybe it’s because the Cubs finally won the World Series, or the fact that it’s Obama’s hometown: Chicago is red hot right now. Last year, more than 54 million people visited the city, an all-time record. To keep up with the demand, several new luxury hotels have opened — and many of the established properties underwent multimillion-dollar renovations to stay competitive.
Seattle’s closest beach is a Pacific Northwestern riff on the popular beaches of Southern California. Along this two-mile stretch of coastline, you’ll find numerous volleyball courts, ample tidepooling opportunities, and a variety of restaurants, bars, and cafes perfect for a visit at any time of day.
Get a vacation-worthy night’s sleep every night.
Gazing into the deep brown eyes of an endangered mountain gorilla is a precious experience: perhaps only 700 or so individuals survive, of which around half roam the dense forests of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It’s an experience you’ll need to earn, tackling steep, muddy trails in altitudes up to 3000m, possibly for several hours. However, if you snag one of only eight permits available for each of the park’s nine habituated families, the rewards are luminous: an hour in the company of these gentle giants (a silverback male can reach 180 kg) is unforgettable. Moreover, the rest of the country holds its own, too. Nearby Queen Elizabeth National Park is renowned for tree-climbing lions, while you can track chimpanzees in Kibale National Park; beyond the far tip of Lake Albert, the Nile thunders over Murchison Falls, and there’s fine trekking in the Rwenzori Mountains.
Despite its rich history stretching back thousands of years, Iran still lies off the beaten track for most travellers. The joy of travelling in one of the friendliest nations on the planet is the feeling of its yet-to-be-discovered uniqueness.
A vital lifeline in war and peace, Vietnam’s 1000-mile long North-South Railway provides an all-in encounter with the country’s incredible beauty, people, and history.
Think you’ve seen it all? Refresh your bucket list with these incredible new openings and experiences coming in 2018.
The humble Yorkshire pudding may be its greatest culinary claim to fame, but England’s largest county is becoming increasingly sophisticated and experimental in the kitchen. Yorkshire’s award-winning produce is grown amid the dales and plucked from the North Sea to supply fiercely local delis and Michelin-acclaimed gastropubs and restaurants. Food markets are sprouting like mushrooms in fertile soil. Wash it all down with a bevy of craft beers or home-grown wines, and you’ve got the recipe for the UK’s best food break.
Cities abound with sights, tours, and activities for travelers to enjoy. However, not all of them deliver an authentic experience, affording a real insight into the soul of a place. Therefore, we asked a team of GoTravelDaily local writers across the globe to give us tips on how to get under the skin of their own cities.
In northern Chile, a short drive south from the local capital of San Pedro, you’ll find one of the world’s most alluring treasures: the Atacama Salt Flats. This region is recognized as one of the driest areas in the world, receiving hardly more than 1 mm of rainfall in an entire year. Its unique geography includes the Andes mountains to the east and Cordillera de Domeyko to the west, alongside various volcanoes such as Aguas Calientes and Lincancabur. Historically significant, the salt flats were central to the War of the Pacific, a conflict fueled by valuable mineral-rich territories desired by Bolivia and Peru, along with shaping Bolivia’s economic identity and wedging Chile between the borders of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
Before she had even left, Tiffany Dowd was planning her next couples escape to The Brando, an exclusive resort on its own private atoll in the South Pacific. “I kept asking my husband over and over when we could come back,” the global luxury hotel expert shared. During their stay in a beachfront villa, with its private infinity pool and outdoor soaking tub, Dowd and her husband snorkeled, enjoyed spa treatments, and took part in Polynesian cultural activities (she learned to palm weave; he learned to play the ukulele). “It’s one of the few places in the world I have truly felt away from it all,” she remembered. “You feel like you are in a postcard-perfect setting and it’s just the two of you.” Although it’s not just the two of you, of course. The Brando has 35 villas catered to by a staff of 200. However, good design — and that whole private island aspect — make everything and everyone else drift away. “The Brando feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you must experience again and again,” Dowd added.
On 16 February 2018, China marks a new year in the lunar calendar: the Year of the Dog, the 11th animal in the Chinese zodiac. Otherwise known as the spring festival, Chinese New Year is a time for Hongkongers to eat, drink, catch up with family, and give red packets –lai see– filled with money (and to receive them if you’ve been good).
Do you know yourwaakyefrom yourfufu? Or yourJolloffrom yourred-red? Not a worry. Here we lay bare the secrets of Accra’s best local food and tell you where to find it. The bottom line – it’s a fulfilling proposition, and your stomach will love you for it.