Tag: best places to travel

The Ultimate Travel Bucket List for 2019

Life is short: eat the cake, wear the swimsuit, buy the shoes, travel as much as you can, TAKE THE TRIP!  2019 could be your year; one full of new experiences and adventures that keep being put off in the name of work, kids, responsibilities.  Lucky for you, Forbes has compiled the ultimate 2019 travel bucket list and we condensed it to our top faves.  If you take any trips on this list it is sure to change you internally and bring you on the wildest ride of your life.  Keep reading!

1.    African Safari:    East Africa’s Mara, Crater & Serengeti Migration

The definitive East Africa adventure, this superb 8-night luxury fly-in safari combines the four most celebrated game reserves in Kenya and Tanzania.  The tour encompasses the vast open plains of Kenya’s Masai Mara, the delightful diversity of Tanzania’s Lake Manyara, the extraordinary Ngorongoro Crater, and the rolling grasslands of the Serengeti. Arguably the most spectacular game viewing itinerary in Africa, this is the journey of a lifetime.  Ideal for seasoned travellers and first timers alike, this wildlife and gourmet adventure combines easily with a romantic Indian Ocean island getaway to make a perfect honeymoon itinerary.

2.    The Northern Lights

The most reliable chances to see Alaska’s northern lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis) are in Fairbanks, and above the Arctic Circle. The aurora belt in Alaska’s great Interior and Arctic regions is among the most active in the world, and there are few other places on earth so suited for an Aurora Borealis vacation.

While there are no guarantees that the northern lights show will happen on any particular night, Northern Lights trips are typically best made in late fall and winter/early spring, though they can be seen throughout the winter months on nights with clear skies. If you visit Alaska in November, December or January, you will experience a very short period of daylight providing a unique experience in the high northern hemisphere.  In February and March, there are longer daylight hours for you to enjoy with evenings that still offer maximum viewing chances. No bucket list is complete without experiencing Alaska’s Northern Lights!

3.    Maldives

A 45 minute seaplane ride away from Male International Airport is Adaaran Prestige Water Villas located on the exclusive Meedhupparu Island in Maldive’s Raa Atoll Area. This is frequently the site of filming when the movie calls for a tropical oasis.  And tropical oasis it is! Despite its remote location, this resort features an outdoor pool, private spa baths, personal butler and chef service, not to mention the air-conditioned over-water villas are built over the Indian Ocean with glass panel floors. Each room boasts all the technology that one would need such as flat-screen TVs, DVD players and high-speed internet access.  Make sure to take advantage of an in-room massage and fitness center. Bathrooms come with a hot tub. Water sports activities and diving are offered. International fine dining is available on the 5 restaurants on the island. Guests repeatedly rate this resort higher than it’s competitors.

4.    The Grand Canyon

Vast and stunningly beautiful, the Grand Canyon is easily one of the world’s most famous landmarks and a natural wonder you have to see to believe. 277 miles from end to end with mile high rocky crag walls stretching from the top of the craters to the canyon’s floor, it is truly a sight to behold.  The gargantuan Colorado River follows a swift course southwest. There are tons of ways to see the canyon and a variety of places to stay such as Historic lodges, hotels and even rugged campgrounds, but be sure to book early as internationally, it is one of the top visited places.  You can even choose to see the canyon from the air by booking a helicopter tour!

5.    Great Barrier Reef

Encompassing around 3,000 individual reefs and almost 900 islands and cays, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most unforgettable natural treasures. With an unparalleled array of marine life such as thousands of different varieties of fish, birds, and clams, hundreds of types of birds, seaweed, and turtles, it’s understandable why snorkelers and certified divers often place the reef at the top of their bucket lists. Since experts expect that the reef will be hugely negatively impacted by external causes such as climate change in the next decade, there’s never been a better reason to plan a visit to this natural wonder.

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10 Trips to Take In Your 30’s

Looking for some of the best trips to take? More and more 30 somethings are prioritizing travel time amidst the busy family time and career-building. You’re older and wiser. And hopefully more financially secure. Where to travel now that you’ve got your life together? (Relatively-speaking, of course.) Here are 10 trips that deliver the perfect mix of excitement, intrigue, adventure, luxury, and most importantly—fun!—from an off-the-grid getaway in Alaska to a bucket-list safari in Africa.

  1. Costa Rica

    Cheap travel and world-class swells brought you to Costa Rica in your twenties. Now, experience some of the country’s more grown-up pleasures—namely, its jaw-dropping natural scenery, inspired cuisine, and wellness-focused attractions—at the adults-only Oxygen Jungle Villas. The boutique hotel is nestled within a plot of protected Costa Rican rainforest and perched above the Pacific Ocean, so you truly feel like you’re living in the wild. You’ll spend your days lounging in your Balinese-style villa, going on countless outdoor excursions (hiking, whale watching, scuba diving), and exploring the restaurants and storefronts of neighboring town Ojochal.

    2.    Lanserhof Tegernsee, Bavaria

    Vacation days—and we mean real vacation days, sans work and family commitments—are hard to come by in your thirties. Which is why it’s important to truly relax, re-center, and recharge when you do get a few days to yourself. Enter the legendary Lanserhof Tegernsee detox resort in the Bavarian Alps. Here, spa-goers are retaught how to chew and sleep, forced to cut sugar and alcohol from their diets, and if the specialists deem it necessary, subjected to futuristic medical evaluations including sleep assessments. The amenities make up for the rigors of the program: we’re talking an 18-course golf course, a saltwater swimming pool, nightly classical music concerts and a monastically beautiful setting (all glass and stone and embowered by the forest).

 

  1. Stockholm, Sweden

    Your thirties are all about cultivating a distinctive sense of taste and style. And in Stockholm, you’ll have world-class museums, galleries, design stores, and concept boutiques at your fingertips. A few must-stops: Sven Harrys-Art Museum, a slick new art space that houses the private collection of collector Sven-Harry Karlsson; Malmstenbutiken, a storied Swedish brand known for its furniture and textile designs; and hotel At Six, a boutique high-rise with an art collection that includes big names like Sol Le Witt and Jaume Plensa.

 

  1. Amalfi Coast

    You’ve dreamt about Amalfi’s pastel-hued villages, cobbled streets, and cerulean waters for as long as you can remember. Now that you have disposable income to spend and (hopefully) more vacation days, it’s time to make those dreams a reality. Stay in Amalfi at the five-start Hotel Santa Caterina, set in a 19th-century, liberty-style villa above the sea. When you’re not lounging by the private pool or the beach club, explore the town’s charming maze of narrow streets, whitewashed buildings, precipitous steps, and bustling piazza.

 

  1. Sri Lanka

    If you’re celebrating a big anniversary or birthday, there’s no better place to do so than Sri Lanka. The exotic island offers out-of-this-world Indian Ocean coastlines, lush tropical vegetation, elephant-filled national parks, and plenty of luxury resorts like the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, spread across a 21-acre former coconut plantation on the southernmost coast of Sri Lanka. Splurge on a private villa—which comes with a private plunge pool, expansive deck, butler pantry, tiled rainfall shower—and you may never want to leave your guest room. But we’d recommend peeling yourself away for at least a few hours to indulge at an authentic Ayrvedic treatment at the spa, learn the ropes of Sri Lankan cooking at Anatara’s popular Spice Spoons Cooking school, or take part in a traditional high-tea service.

    6.    Chile

    With age comes wisdom—plus, an affinity for the finer things in life. And at Chile’s Viña Vik Hotel, a design-forward retreat and spa located two hours from Santiago, in Chile’s Millahue Valley, you’ll find plenty of amenities that will appeal to your refined tastes. We’re talking an award-winning spa, infinity pool, two restaurants, and high-design guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, original artwork, and curvilinear furniture (an homage to the property’s undulating titanium rooftop). Want to get outside and take in some of that jaw-dropping scenery? There are seven horses on standby that can whisk you around the property’s vineyard.

 

  1. Alaska

    There will come a time in your thirties when you just need to get away from it all (the job, the bills, the responsibilities) with a back-to-nature trip. And for this kind of escapist getaway, we’d recommend Alaska—a land of impenetrable forests, vast tundras, towering glaciers, and some of the world’s most awe-inspiring animals. To see the region’s wildlife up close and personal, hop on a guided glacier or wildlife walk with Salmon Berry Tours, where you might spot Dall sheep, mountain goats, and caribou as you explore the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet. Then it’s on to the Kenai Fjords National Park, the smallest national park in Alaska, to see The Harding Icefield (almost 714 square miles of ice up to a mile thick) and Resurrection Bay. Make your home base The Hotel Alyeska, a rustic mountain lodge with direct access to hiking and biking trails.

 

  1. Shanghai, China

    It can be easy to fall into a bit of a vacation rut in your thirties, returning to the same hotels and destinations over and over again. To rediscover your love of travel—and immerse yourself in an intoxicating foreign environment—pack your bags for Shanghai. The cosmopolitan city has it all: sleek skyscrapers, high-end shopping, innovative restaurants, and cultural landmarks, from the French Concession and Nanshi to the riverfront Bund. Check into The Puli Hotel and Spa, a serene urban hideaway with a central address in city’s Jing’An district and Zen vibe.

    9.    Douro Valley, Portugal

    You did Lisbon and Porto in your twenties. Now, it’s time to see a different side of Portugal by spending some time in Douro Valley—a landscape of sun-drenched vineyards the blanket steep mountainsides, with the majestic Douro River as the centerpiece. Visit the historic Six Senses, a 19th-century manor house restored for the 21st century by New York-based firm Clodagh Design. Guests can unwind with treatments in the spa. Take a break from your education in viniculture at the property’s magnificent infinity-edge pool, which looks out over the winding river.

 

  1. Newfoundland

    If you’ve been to Canada, chances are it wasn’t to Newfoundland. The sleepy Atlantic Canadian province doesn’t exactly have the uh, international appeal as cities like Montreal or Toronto. What it does have? Quaint fishing villages, arctic wildlife, jaw-droppingly beautiful national parks, and plenty of Maritime charm—all things you likely have more of an appreciation for now that’s you’re older. Start your adventure in the capital city of St. John’s, a colorful little town with steep streets and clapboard houses.  Then hit the road in the direction of Fogo Island. The tiny, salt-tanged isle offers fewer than a dozen restaurants and cafes, but makes up for it with a burgeoning art scene and plenty of design-forward accommodations—like the 29-room Fogo Island Inn.

 

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Britain’s Best Hidden Paradise: The Scilly Isles

The Scilly Isles are a little cluster of islands off the tip of Cornwall and they are truly astonishing. There are five inhabited islands and they are like little English villages stranded out in the ocean. They’re the kinds of places where everybody knows everybody but it rarely feels claustrophobic. There is plenty of room, the opposite of crowded beaches full of colorful umbrellas and loud boomboxes.  You could hike for miles and not see another person. They boast Britain’s most beautiful white sand beaches, miles of walking trails through gorgeous forest, and best of all, though strange, its own climate. With daytime highs barely reaching 57°F and rarely dipping below 50°F at night in the fall, it’s a welcome escape from Britain’s hot, muggy weather if you’re visiting that time of year. With such a comfortable temperature, you’d be a fool not to take advantage of the many shore-side restaurants and coffee shops.  Take a seat, relax, slow down to the pace of the locals, and watch the waves crash and the ships tug by while partaking in some fresh-caught fish and seafood. At Adam’s Fish & Chips, the only diner, it’s Adam himself who will catch your dinner from the ocean and then prepare it in the kitchen: pollock and lobster tails fresh from the ocean.

Though the islands aren’t easy to reach, even for the Brits, that’s part of the appeal, and the journey is an adventure in itself. From London, you take the sleeper train then transfer by bus to a nearby airport where a twice-daily helicopter and a fleet of tiny planes serve the islands. An added bonus- from the air, the islands are tantalizing.

Slow travel is the name of the game here, as even getting between the islands isn’t as simple as hopping on the next boat. Times and pick-up locations are dictated by the tides.  While the Scilly Isles might be hard to get to, it seems they’re equally hard to leave.

 

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The Top 10 Ultimate Bucket List

What’s on your travel bucket list? Antarctic Expeditions? Sailing Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands?  What made the cut?? We have compiled the ultimate Top 10 travel bucket list for any willing globetrotter. One could consider themselves lucky to do even one of the trips on this list.  Have you done any?

  1. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Nestled far away from bustling Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan in the Guatemala Highlands of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range is a majestic place where you can relax and be immersed in your natural surroundings. Consider staying at Casa Palopo, where you’ll have sweeping views of the lake and the volcanoes. Don’t forget to bring home plenty of the beautiful textiles from the local markets.

  1. Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Take the flight into St. Thomas and then hop on the ferry over to the idyllic island of Tortola. Book a stay through Airbnb with a group of friends, rent a car so you can get around the island with ease, and enjoy sunshine, sparkling blue waters, and forget about the struggles of life until it’s time to check in for your return flight.  Truly paradise!

  1. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Head to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming for some of the most spectacular natural settings in America.  Camping will be your best, most affordable bet, but you had better start booking a campsite now.

  1. Santiago, Chile

Travelers have often overlooked Chile’s capital city in favor of more popular South American cities like Lima or Cartagena but the city is attracting more world-class chefs than ever, and has more and more design-centric boutiques and breathtaking views of the surrounding Andes.

  1. Lofoten Islands, Norway

Thanks to budget airlines like Norwegian Air, getting to Norway is more affordable than ever. Make the journey to the Lofoten Islands, north of the Arctic Circle, and stay in a fisherman’s cottage for a few days of majestic landscapes, tasty fresh fish, and more.

  1. Isla Holbox, Mexico

This under-the-radar island off the Yucatan Peninsula is a must this year. Stay at Casa Las Tortugas (super affordable), and unwind on the beach for a few days of good food, yoga, and sunshine.

  1. Chefchaouen, Morocco

Make the trek to the majestic Blue City of Morocco, Chefchaouen. Situated in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen was painted blue by Jewish refugees in the 1930s and has stayed that way ever since. It’s no wonder Instagrammers are flocking to this blue gem.

  1. Kyoto, Japan

As one of the best-preserved cities in Japan, Kyoto is home to hundreds of Shinto shrines and thousands of Buddhist temples. Spend a few days in Tokyo and then head to Japan’s imperial capital.

  1. Bocas Del Toro, Panamá

An archipelago made up of nine islands, Bocas Del Toro is a true sanctuary. Full of tropical rain forest, empty beaches, and beautiful coral reefs, this rugged retreat is a great place to escape from it all. Stay at the stylish Sarani Resort, and spend your days eating the fresh local catch and enjoying the area’s natural wonders.

  1. Jaipur, India

You’ll want to head to the Pink City — widely thought of as one of the most beautiful places in the world — with an empty suitcase and a full wallet. The goods and textiles are all still made by hand. How much is it to check 10 suitcases full of handmade Indian goodies?

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