Travel Destination Bucket List

The ultimate destination for your travel bucket list!

Top Luxury Holiday Destinations

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Are you thinking about booking a holiday for later this year or into next year but you aren’t sure where to go? Maybe you want something a bit more luxurious but exotic at the same time and need some interesting ideas on destinations that offer the perfect blend of both. You might be surprised at the places you can go that combine serious exotic travel with touches of luxury throughout. If this sounds like the kind of thing you’re looking for this year, read ahead to learn more about some of the best locations in the world that allow you to experience a truly unique culture without skimping on luxury.

India

Believe it or not, India is one of the top countries where you can score luxurious travel deals for cheap. India is home to some of the world’s most weird and wonderful sights including the city of Jaipur, the Taj Mahal, Varanasi and more. While many people come to India for cheap backpacking trips, many others come for the luxury side of things – often allowing luxury seekers the opportunity to really get a lot of bang for their buck. Many of the old colonial hill stations have been transformed into beautiful, luxury accommodations – providing visitors with a historical and beautiful experience that is likely to rival many others around the world. 

Morocco

Morocco may not sound like the type of place where you can find luxury travel, but nothing could be further from the truth. Whether you want a city break in the likes of Fez or Marrakesh or you’re interested in getting out into the wilderness a bit more, Morocco has something for everyone. In terms of luxury travel, Morocco has a bit of everything ranging from high class beautiful traditional guesthouses known as riads – often with gorgeous decor that rivals impressive hotel chains right up to luxury beachfront resorts that offer yoga and surf lessons along with luxury accommodation that rivals some of the top resorts in the world. 

Japan

When it comes to luxury, Japan is one of the best places for it. Whether you want something seriously modern, bordering on futuristic or you are looking for something more traditional, Japan has something for everyone. Ryokans are the best option for luxury traditional Japanese travel – with sliding rice paper doors, dinners on tatami mats and roll out futon style beds, all topped off with usually an onsite onsen (traditional mineral bath) that brings the whole thing together perfectly. 

Tanzania

Whether you’re on Zanzibar or you’re traversing the African bush on safari, Tanzania is one of the most ideal places for luxury travel seekers. Resorts on the island of Zanzibar can be truly exquisite and provide ample offerings in terms of luxury accommodation and catering, often with private resort pools, private guides for safari and truly immaculate and impressive rooms to stay in. Most offer restaurants on site, even out on safari with high quality, world class cuisine, alcohol and all the trappings that befit a luxury getaway. 

So whether you’re looking for a simple holiday or a getaway to celebrate something impressive such as a ten year wedding anniversary, hopefully these top ideas for surprising luxury holiday destinations. Enjoy!

Planning An Action Packed Trip To Kenya

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If you asked someone what their dream trip would be, a lot of people might say kicking back on a beach in Tahiti or whiling away the hours on some Caribbean island. While both are great ideas, many more people might opt for doing something a bit more adventurous such as planning an action packed trip to one of the African countries. Kenya is one of the hottest countries that welcomes travellers and the potential to have one of the most memorable holidays ever. Here are just a few of the things you should consider doing when you visit Kenya.

Mount Kenya

Mount Kenya is the highest peak in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, second only to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Mount Kenya is a challenging climb for those who want to flex their mountaineering muscles while in the country and it’s a fantastic addition for any itinerary if you’re adventurous. In recent years, accommodation has been added to the mountain to make it easier for climbers to acclimatise to the altitude, resulting in more successful summit attempts.

An interesting point of note is that Mount Kenya actually directly provides water for over 2 million people as a result of runoff that comes off the mountain. During your ascent you can see examples of this in some of the beautiful rivers and waterfalls that don the routes.

The Serengeti and Maasai Mara

The Serengeti in Tanzania is one of the most famous African plains where safaris are a popular and common activity. The region in Kenya north of the Serengeti is known as the Maasai Mara National Reserve and is home to numerous small Maasai tribal villages as well as just about every type of animal you could wish to see on safari. The whole area is home to numerous types of flora and fauna and is also a popular spot for many to watch the annual wildebeest migration in which millions of wildebeest flock across the plains in a terrific display of numbers on their migration path. This particular region is insanely popular for safari-seekers, so it’s a good idea to book yours well in advance of your stay to ensure you get the lodges and packages you’re after. Best times to visit are June to October in the dry season, which is also the height of wildebeest migration.

The Beaches

Head over to the coast for a bit of rest and relaxation after safari – something you will highly enjoy after spending a few days tracking game through the wilds of the Maasai Mara or other safari reserves throughout Kenya. The coast is to die for – with beautiful resorts, beaches and ample opportunity to just kick back and relax with nothing to disturb you except the waiter bringing you another cocktail. Don’t take it from us though, come and see for yourself. Flights to Mombasa from other areas of Kenya are the quickest way to get right onto the sand, so check them out ahead of time.

With so much to see and do throughout the country, we’re sure you will have no problem planning an action packed trip to Kenya. But don’t take it from us – come and see for yourself just what this unique, beautiful and welcoming country has to offer its visitors.

The Ultimate Must See List In Tanzania

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When you first start thinking about places you’d like to go in Africa, it’s inevitable that the usual suspects make their way into your mind. Things like taking the challenge by the horns and climbing Kilimanjaro or joining a world famous safari group on the Serengeti. But what about the other things that you can do, and since Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania, what specifically should you not miss in this large and amazing country? Here are the top things you have to check out when you’re in one of Africa’s greatest gems, Tanzania.

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Kilimanjaro

Of course climbing one of the world’s most famous mountains is a must for many people during their trip to Tanzania. Climbing Kilimanjaro can be an awe inspiring, challenging but life changing and affirming experience. Many who choose to climb this spend the previous months preparing as the climb can be gruelling depending on the route you take. Some routes are suitable for children and families but a general rule of thumb is that children under 10 aren’t permitted due to the terrain and difficulty of the climb.

The highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro is actually a dormant volcano with three volcanic cones. Standing at a height of over 19,000 feet, it’s imperative to climbers to spend the night over several days on the mountain in order to acclimatise to the elevation changes and to lessen the discomfort and sometimes dangerous effects of altitude sicknesses that can be a problem at further heights. Typically most of the routes up Kilimanjaro take around a week. To enjoy the trek and allow for a day or two where you might need to take it a bit easier due to altitude, consider booking a trip that is around eight days in length, depending on your chosen route.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

This conservation area is a wide swathe of land in the north eastern part of Tanzania, about 180 kilometres west of Arusha. The region is known for the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders which is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera, the result of a huge volcanic eruption and subsequent collapse between two to three million years ago. The highlands of the crater vary in climate depending on what side of the crater you find yourself – it covers over two hundred and fifty square kilometres of land – with one side of the crater receiving more annual rainfall that the others. The inner portions of the crater are primarily grassland and provide excellent areas for animals of all kinds to find water, food and shelter from the elements.

The Maasai people here have used the fertile land of the inside of the crater to subsistence farm for generations and are today struggling to retain claim to this land. After the Serengeti was made a national park, the Maasai people were moved by the government to the crater region as an attempt to rehome them. There was also a drought and other issues plaguing their former lands at the time, such as infestations of certain pests and widespread illnesses. Today the continued fight to create a more protected status for the crater means that the rehomed Maasai are again facing expulsion.

Believed to be the spot that humans first inhabited, hominid remains have been found that date back three million years. It’s also believed that one of the first footprints of man is found in the crater, making this not just an important place for animals, but also for mankind.

The Serengeti

One of the most famous safari and national parks in the world, the Serengeti National Park sits in the northern part of the country and is home to some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing options available. The park extends into southern Kenya in an area known as the Maasai Mara, a popular destination for those looking to experience both wildlife as well as village life. Serengeti is literally derived from a Maasai word meaning ‘endless plains’ and is rated as one of the Seven Wonders of Africa due to it being the site of the largest mammal migration in the world to take place on land. The Serengeti, being a hugely sought after safari site boasts numerous camps, lodges and companies which vary in class and rating from basic tent based safaris all the way up to five star lodges with private safari tours.

While the Serengeti is one of the most popular and sought after safari experiences in Africa, one thing has come to light in recent years and that’s the fact that overcrowding can be an issue. To avoid overcrowding, try to go in the shoulder seasons right at the beginning or ends of the rainy season. The bonus is you are likely to score a decent deal as well if you phone in advance and book last minute.  

Zanzibar – An Island

Located off the east coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean, the island of Zanzibar stands out like a pearl in the turquoise blue seas. The island is fairly large and takes awhile to get around by car but is home to not just perfect beaches but idyllic corners of quiet solitude and small local villages where the coconuts are fresh and the smiles are plentiful. Nungwi on the very north coast is said to be the party town for those looking to mingle with other backpacking travellers and those who want to get their dance on, but nearby Kendwa offers a similar vibe, but much, much quieter with beach bars selling all the latest and greatest in cocktails, mocktails as well as local and international beers. Accommodation on the island ranges from modest and rustic bungalows all the way up to ultimate 5 star resorts with private beach access and even – get this – your own butler.

Stone Town

Stone Town is the capital of Zanzibar and as a result is a bustling little urban area with a surprising amount to see and do. The harbour is a lovely little thing, with brightly painted boats set against the turquoise backdrop of the Indian Ocean. Peddlers of food and trinkets line the streets, as do taxi drivers who call at you asking if you need a ride somewhere. As a general rule of thumb circa 2014 a taxi ride from Stone Town to Nungwi kind of distance was around $30USD. Stone Town is also home to the famous lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury and you can even tour his home, something any fan of Queen will have high on their to do list. Stone Town overall is a great place to just check out a museum or two, take some cash out (ATMs are few and far between over the rest of the island) and possibly stock up on any snacks, medical supplies and the like that might be harder to find in the rest of the island. You can also arrange fishing trips, snorkelling trips, and spice tours to numerous plantations throughout the island to see how things like nutmeg and vanilla are grown.

 

So there you have a couple of great places to check out in Tanzania, a country that will both challenge and surprise you at every turn and leave you breathless and thrilled. So come to Tanzania – you won’t regret the choice, especially with so many other countries to head to from its well connected airport as well.

World Cruises – The Best Experience Ever

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Carnival-Freedom-Cruise-Ship

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It’s coming up to that time of year that the summer and all its fun and frivolity is nothing but a fading memory into the colours and chill of the autumn air, and so you might start finding yourself fantasising about travelling somewhere warm and sunny with some sea and sand rolled into one. If you aren’t sure where to head off to, why not consider a few places by way of a cruise? The perfect answer to those who are looking for a bit of luxury and a little taste of a number of places!

The Ultimate World Experience

If you’re an avid traveller already but you’re looking for something containing a bit of luxury with everything you need taken care of, you might find that a round the world cruise is exactly the kind of thing that is up your street. With a number of options for routes, the only question left to ask yourself is “which one?”. You can embark on a world cruise by way of several routes: London to Singapore, London to Hong Kong or London to Auckland to name but a few. What could be better than jetting off for 60 to 120 nights aboard a world class luxury cruise liner?

On Board

You might be wondering what types of things are included in a trip around the world on a cruise liner, and that’s an excellent question. You would be surprised to know that most cruise lines offer full board on their ships, including self serve tea and coffee and snacks throughout the day (including late night!). Also included are shows and entertainment, and occasionally (on some cruise liners) even your alcoholic drinks are included – but check prior to boarding to see if this is the case with your specific package.

Ports of Call

Ports of call vary from route to route and liner to liner, so choosing the right route for you and what you want to experience is the best bet. Some routes take smaller cruise liners due to interest or the ports that they will be calling into, so booking well in advance is essential for some cruises. A lot of companies also offer early bird discounts, and other fantastic benefits for booking early. Additionally excursions while in port are a fee on top of your booking, so make sure you take this into consideration when booking your cruise. The benefit though is that you can add them on after you’ve made your initial booking in many cases, so don’t think you need to pay for everything in one shot up front. That’s the benefit to cruises as a whole, usually – the ability to create a booking account and add to it in advance of the trip so that you can essentially make payments toward the trip.

So overall, taking a world cruise is a great way to see a number of the amazing sights of the world without having to pass up luxury and quality. Cruises are fast becoming a favourite mode of travel for many people around the world, and you can easily see why. So take a chance on your next trip and book a cruise – you won’t regret it.