For a visit to Amsterdam starting with a free walking tour is a great way to get great insider knowledge and local anecdotes. The Sandeman’s guide is great, and doesn’t hold back on talking about local issues as well as the city’s history. One thing to note is that although they’re free, you’ll still have to pay a €1.50 “entertainment tax” per person.
For a different approach to the canals, we recommend trying a rental boat.
Now, lots of folk might want to visit a coffee shop or two while in Amsterdam. Things have changed slightly since pre-pandemic, and now most of them operate as take-away only.
Google Maps tells you which ones are “dine-in”, so you should have a good idea where you can chill before you get there.
A “must see” are those windmills. Getting to Zaanse Schans from the city takes half an hour by train, then you have a short walk through a cute little Dutch town with the scent of chocolate from the factory wafting over you.
Other highlights include endless samples in the cheese shop, trying on traditional clogs, sitting in a giant clog, and catching the “ferry” across the river.
You can catch it from beside the last windmill on the trail, and you’ll quickly realise it’s just a little motorised boat operated by a cute older Dutch couple.
And if you’ve got time on the way back, it’s worth stopping off in central Zaandam
Paddleboarding requires different conditions to surfing – you’ll probably be looking for calmer waters and fewer waves.
And Costa Rica is rightly famous for the quality of its surf and sealife, but it’s also a very convenient consideration for getting the water conditions just right, since its two coastlines will see favourable water conditions at different times of the year.
The western coast, exposed to the Pacific Ocean, will see powerful waves during the ‘green season’ (May-November), while the eastern coast, facing the Caribbean, will perk up from December-March for the dry season. So simply pick your coast depending on your sport – or do a cross-country trip to get a bit of both.
On the western coast, Tamarindo is well-known as one of the country’s most popular spots for watersports, with plenty of surf schools and paddleboarding classes or beginners – and just as many crowds.
But instead we’d take a trip over to the trendy town of Montezuma on the slightly more remote (and thus, less busy) Nicoya Peninsula. It’s got a huge nature reserve, a ton of reliable beaches, world-class restaurants, and a beautiful-but-possibly-haunted cemetery island if you happen to be into that sort of thing.
From there, head south along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and eventually you’ll come to the Osa Peninsula – and the waters of the sheltered Golfo Dulce.
This extraordinary ecosystem (actually one of the world’s few tropical fjords) offers calm waters for paddleboarding, as well as visits from humpback whales, whale sharks and more.
Those peaceful vibes are perfect for testing your mettle with a bit of paddleboard yoga, too. Just be careful not to drop the downward dog if a friendly whale bumps into your board.
While you’re in the vicinity, check out the absolutely stunning Golfo Dulce Retreat – it’s a fully-sustainable eco-lodge operating on its own power grid, only accessible by boat and sitting in a plum position between the rainforest and the beach.
Seljalandsfoss – one of the world’s most stunning sights, and a waterfall that you can actually walk all the way around
When to visit: Iceland is legendary for its unpredictable weather patterns that keep locals and visitors alike on their toes. Price-wise, you’ll find that flights tend to get most expensive during the summer-holiday peaks of June-July and the Christmas period, before dipping again in February. Our cheap flight alerts are generally £40-60 for a return from London airports, and they do come up relatively regularly, so keep your eyes peeled! The country is warmest in June-August (we’re talking highs of 20C), although you’ll also be looking at 13-20 hours of sunlight during these months. Hotels should have blackout blinds, but you might want to invest in a sleep mask just in case. This isn’t just worth considering for the sake of your comfort. During the winter snows, you’ll have fewer options for hiking, and driving conditions might be a bit more stressful (Rough Guides have some great tips more generally for flying, driving or cycling across the country.) But visit in the winter, and some very different options will open up: you’ll be able to enjoy skiing and snowboarding, and check out Iceland’s awesome glacial ice caves. Northern Lights tours also generally won’t start running until September-October, when the ample darkness opens up more opportunities for seeing those elusive colours in the sky. While it’s never wise to plan your trip entirely around seeing the Lights (even with the best planning around weather conditions, you’re never guaranteed to see them), it’s definitely something to consider.
If you aim for September, you’ll just about catch the start of the Northern Lights season, and the end of the whale-watching season, with temperatures hitting highs of 15C and maybe 11 hours of daylight. Iceland boasts a wide variety of live multi-genre music festivals across the calendar year – from summer solstice raves to deep-of-winter parties.
The Westfjords region is home to magnificent black lava landscapes, but also running events, blues festivals, and much, much more
Reykjavik is one of the safest cities in the world, with free wi-fi pretty much on tap, you can get a Reykjavik City Card for free admission to galleries, museums and swimming pools across the city (here’s a guide to the best pools), as well as free bus travel and extra discounts on restaurants, tours and more. It’s also worth checking out Reykjavik’s many trendy coffee joints – which offer board games, roasting workshops, DJ booths and more. Guide To Iceland also has the scoop on the city’s regular weekly events (scroll right down), many of which are free to enter – from stand-up comedy (sometimes in English) to live music. The City Library has a regular schedule of art, photography and social media workshops, too. We’d single out the quirky indie Bio Paradis cinema, which reopens on July 1st, and shows a mix of edgy cult classics and fan-favourite films with English subtitles. Anything else to know? While you can expect a lot of English-fluent Icelanders, it’s always useful to have some key phrases prepared. (Famously, Icelanders don’t often use ‘please’ except in formal situations – you can generally substitute ‘takk’, or ‘thanks’ when ordering food or drink.) Guide To Iceland has some great advice on saving money. A lot of websites warn against visiting 10-11, one of the country’s most widespread but expensive supermarkets – with a nasty habit of apparently jacking up their prices at night. Here’s a beards-and-bellies-filled demonstration of glima, Iceland’s belt-tugging Viking martial art. If you book a car, Two Wandering Soles has some good advice around affordable rentals
Dubrovnik’s stone walls, Diocletian’s Palace in Split, the island of Hvar, the Pula Arena, Zagreb’s Upper Town and Plitvice Lakes National Park are some of Croatia’s main attractions tourists flock to every year.
But Croatia is full of hundreds of gems around the country and there are many attractions tourists aren’t sometimes familiar with. Below are just 10 interesting spots to check out away from the main attractions.
KLIS
Klis
Klis Fortress is located just northeast of the Dalmatian city of Split. When the Ottoman wars were raging through Europe the ancient Illyrian stronghold was expanded into Klis Fortress. The 2,000-year-old medieval fortress served as a defense spot in Dalmatia.
It was also the seat of many Croatian kings and dukes, from the 9th century Duke Mislav, under the reign of Duke Trpimir to the first Croatian king, Tomislav. It was later ruled by the famous Šubić family. The fortress is best known because of the 16th-century defense against the Turkish invasion that lasted for more than 20 years. At one point in history, Klis was under the control of the Templar knights.
Klis
Because of the great historical value, today the fortress is a museum. The beautiful fortress follows the natural structure of the hill and is of great value as an example of defensive architecture. Its spectacular position, overlooking the surrounding area, the town of Split and the sea, was used as a part of Meereen in the filming of the HBO series Game of Thrones.
SOLIN
Solin
Solin is a small Croatian town with a wealth of cultural heritage. It is located just outside of Split on the Jadro river. First known as Salona, is an archeologists and archeology enthusiast’s paradise.
Solin developed on the location of the ancient city of Salona which was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and the birthplace of Emperor Diocletian. The town is home to the largest archaeological site in Croatia, surrounded by gorgeous gates, temples, and an amphitheater. Many other historical locations can be found in Solin.
WALLS OF STON – STON
Ston (Photo credit: Lubenica/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Known as the “European Wall of China”, the Walls of Ston in southern Croatia are the longest preserved fortification system in the world after the Great Wall of China.
The Walls of Ston protected the city from Ottomans for more than 500 years. Settled on the hillside, the walls and forty defensive towers look over the beautiful Adriatic sea.
PAPUK NATURE PARK – SLAVONIA
Papuk Nature Park (Photo credit: Highonsteep/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Papuk is the largest mountain in Slavonia, near the city of Požega. It is a protected area and Croatian Geopark. It is perfect for recreation – mountaineering, hiking or horse riding because its highest peak is 953 meters high. Visit Ružica grad which is the biggest Medieval fort in Slavonia and one of the biggest in Croatia.
Glamping is a retreat to the great outdoors, but with a proper bed, running water, cooking facilities and all with unique personal, quirky features. It’s comfortable, cosy and the atmosphere glamping creates is honestly unbeatable. It is truly magical; we love it and trust us, if you give it a chance you will too.
What’s a glamping pod?
Glamping pods are simple wooden or canvas huts. With beds, table and chairs and even a wood burner, it’s camping with some special extras. They range in size. But most have extra room for amenities that your standard tents do not have.
What guests loved the most:
“The pod is great! Unreal how much space you actually have, despite us being a family of 5! The sofa bed isn’t like a normal sofa bed, king size and very comfy.”
Featuring garden views, Glampods Glamping Pod – meet Highland Cows and Sheep Elgin features accommodation with a patio and a kettle, around 1.8 miles from Glen Moray Distillery. Located 3.1 miles from Elgin Cathedral, the property provides a garden and free private parking.
This holiday home is equipped with 1 bedroom, a kitchen with a microwave and a fridge, a flat-screen TV, a seating area and 1 bathroom equipped with a shower.
Located in Selfoss, Hotel South Coast features a restaurant, fitness centre, bar, and free WiFi throughout the property. Each accommodation at the 4-star hotel has city views, and guests can enjoy access to a spa centre and a sauna. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, a concierge service and organising tours for guests.
Featuring a subterranean spa, a geothermal lagoon and a restaurant that re-imagines Iceland’s culinary traditions, this 62-suite luxury hotel is encircled by the Blue Lagoon’s mineral-rich waters.
Located in the heart of an extraordinary volcanic frontier, the Retreat offers all guests unlimited access to the Retreat Spa, the Retreat Lagoon, the Blue Lagoon and Blue Lagoon Ritual, as well as skin care amenities. Designed to erase the boundaries between hospitality and well-being, each suite becomes the foundation of a relaxing, rejuvenating and exploratory experience.
Units are equipped with a kitchen with a dining area, and a shared bathroom with slippers and hot tub. A microwave and fridge are also featured, as well as a kettle and a coffee machine.
Arnarnes Paradise also features a spa and wellness centre, where guests can make the most of facilities like a hot tub.
Featuring a restaurant and cafe on site, Blabjorg Resort is in the fishing village of Borgarfjordur Eystri, 71 km from Egilsstadir. This property offers sea-view rooms with access to a fully equipped shared kitchen. WiFi and on-site parking are free.
Don’t assume that your airport is going to look or feel the same as it did before.
Don’t take out your frustrations on the people who work at the airport, hotel, etc.
Remember that we are all in this together; it is not designed to frustrate only you.
Do extra research on travel/government websites at your destination country to see what their current rules are. They are likely not quite the same as the rules in your home country.
Continue to check those websites right until you depart. Also check your home country rules and practices for when you return. Do you need a proof of vaccination? Do you need a Covid test before flying?
If you only have a paper, hand-written vaccination card, you need to go online where you received the vaccinations and get an electronic card with QR code for travel.
Don’t assume the hotel staff will know how to help you with local Covid requirements. Have a Plan B (and C & D) at the ready.
Remember, you are choosing to travel for the pleasure of it, so enjoy that pleasure even when it comes to you disguised as something else.
Most of all, enjoy the scenery, the people, the culture of where ever you go, starting in your home airport or train station.
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