Travel - page 2

You may be wondering what is glamping and how does it differ from camping? Glamping is essentially glamorous camping, which means it combines the allure of being in nature with the luxury of a curated experience. This means that there is no necessity to bring your own tent, sleeping bag or camping supplies because everything is thought of and carefully selected by the facility owners. That is an enormous plus right there. 

Time spent in nature is time well spent. A walk in the woods, a swim in the sea or a picnic in a meadow are all activities we can enjoy while glamping and are all positive mood boosters. It is proven that going for a walk outside surrounded by natural beauty, can help clear the mind and reduce anxiety. While glamping, you become part of nature. Your senses and awareness of how the world changes throughout the day increase, as you spend a great deal of your time outside embracing the elements. We have outlined some key benefits of why an escape to the great outdoors is beneficial, not only for our mental well-being but also for our physical health.

Ever feel totally overwhelmed by the thought of work, house chores, and socialising with friends, while also promising yourself you will make time to sit and start that fascinating book waiting for you on your coffee table? 

Glamping will give you the time and space to explore not only nature but allows you the emotional and mental freedom to think about what is happening in your life.

Other positive aspects of glamping include:

Reducing stress levels

The charity Mind advocates that spending time in green spaces or out in nature benefits our mental and physical wellbeing. They suggest that spending time outdoors reduces the feeling of stress and anger, helps you to feel more relaxed, and improves your confidence and self-esteem while allowing you to create connections with other like-minded people. An ever-growing, popular activity to enjoy in nature is wild swimming. There is nothing like stepping into the cold water to distract your mind from your every day worries. You have to focus on the moment, take deep breaths and really be present. 

Rising with the sun

There is something so magical about being awake at dawn. The rest of the world still sleeps, and you can truly feel the natural world around you starting to come to life. Everything is quiet until the dawn chorus begins to sing. The ground feels cold until the sun slowly starts to rise. The dreamy morning glow sparkles on your soft, sleepy skin. The world, just for a moment feels so pure and peaceful, calm and quiet. It invites you to be present in the moment.

While glamping, your body becomes fully aware of your surroundings and it is recommended that you embrace this. Turn off your phone and avoid the constant need to check the time and your emails. Allow your day to flow smoothly with nature. Wake to sunrise and rest when the sun begins to fade. Sleep while the moon shines brightly and begin the cycle again once the new dawn arrives. Permit your mind, body and soul to be fully immersed in nature, to become part of the natural cycle of the day and enjoy that well-needed time away from phones and electrical devices.

A good night’s sleep

One of the key differences between glamping and camping is that when glamping you are almost assured a good night’s sleep. There are no musty sleeping bags or rocky grounds to rest your head upon, hideaways have comfortable, proper beds. However, this is not the only reason why you’ will achieve a restorative nights sleep. You are resting in nature with no noise from busy roads and no light sneaking in through the blinds from outdoor street lamps. Once your head hits the pillow there will be no unwanted interruptions to prevent you enjoying a blissful nights sleep.

Enjoyable in all seasons

Unlike camping, which is not ideal in cold weather or extreme heat, glamping is designed to be enjoyed in all seasons. Accommodations are most often built to sustain any weather conditions, and may include floor heating, space heaters or even a fireplace to keep you warm even in the cold weather. 

When camping in the summer, you may experience uncomfortable heat in the early morning. However, when glamping, you are most often provided with fans or other ways to keep cool in warmer temperatures. 

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Glamping means you can have all the facilities of a traditional holiday whilst being able to participate in the outdoor activities associated with camping. For example, you can have a refrigerator and electricity whilst having an open fire to BBQ your favourite sausages or toast marshmallows. You can walk and get caught in the rain, but return to a warm cabin with welcoming dry clothes. You can step outside your cosy bedroom and look up to see nothing but the night sky. Having the facilities of conventional accommodation, as well as the authentic nature of a camping holiday is a huge selling point.

Wonderful way to Relax

Glamping is a fun and relaxing thing to do. It is a modern twist on the traditional camping experience, enabling families to recharge their batteries without stressing about packing and unpacking all the camping equipment. For couples seeking some romantic time together, glamping provides quiet surroundings, beautiful views and unlimited possibilities to reconnect. It’s hard to find a better place to spend time with people you care about. And for anyone who wishes to get inspired and bond with nature, glamping balances the mix of rural delights and hotel comforts in the wilderness – a perfect combination.

Our holiday and travel choices are constantly increasing. In the UK or abroad, as travellers, we have a multitude of options. 

What is clear is that glamping is becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons: being closer to nature, a more sophisticated version of camping or simply a unique holiday experience.

Ambitious for Gibraltar Tourism

Jo Ward chats to Kevin Bossino, CEO of the Gibraltar Tourist Board, about how he has found his new role since he took on the position in September 2022 and asks what his vision is for Gibraltar tourism. 

“Hitting the ground running is an understatement,” Kevin says. “The tourism umbrella is quite wide ranging and there is a lot to look after; from the Cruise Line industry, the Airline industry, Hotel and Hospitality, the MICE sector, travel agents, tour operators and wholesalers, OTAs (online travel agents), corporate sector, sports and cultural sectors, marketing including digital marketing and social media, plus all the day to day challenges, so it has been hard work but very exciting.”

Asked how he is dealing with the repercussions of tourism in a post-pandemic world, Kevin says that the market has gathered momentum and is similar to pre-pandemic levels. “The silver lining is that that is without having China and most of Asia returning to their full capacity and when they do start filling up the gaps, we will have the full spectrum of the recovery – we are well on track.”

Tourism is a vital part of Gibraltar’s economy, and Kevin stresses that whenever a tourist spends a pound in a certain place, it has a multiplier effect and it ripples amongst the wider economy.

In a competitive market, does Gibraltar provide enough for tourists, whether that is the day tripper from Spain, the cruise liner tourists or the longer term holidaymaker?   “It is important to showcase what Gibraltar has to offer, which is an incredible amount,” he comments. 

“Of course you can always do better,” Kevin states. “What we already have on offer is incredibly interesting, including a whole variety of tours and different experiences, but I think that there is plenty of room to expand and enhance this greatly. We have ambitious plans for Gibraltar tourism.”

Plans to open up the Northern Defences are underway and this is an area of immense importance and could be yet another of the unique and top tourist attractions available on the Rock. There is also Parsons Lodge, which sits next to the old victualing yard, which is earmarked to open as a Natural History museum and an extension to the Gibraltar museum in town.

“The maritime sector is another area that can be explored, especially at the likes of Rosia Bay where in 1805 Nelson’s body was placed in a casket filled with brandy and transported on HMS Victory into the bay, after his demise in the Battle of Trafalgar. The potential for story telling has no end,” Kevin explains. He gives further examples of the Stay Behind Cave and Operation Tracer. “Whenever I tell anybody that 007 author Ian Fleming was involved in the Top Secret operation whereby a team was recruited to hide in the cave and spy on the Nazis in the event of what was considered to be an imminent invasion during WWII, they are astounded.” There are other interesting stories to be told such as the fact that the acclaimed author of the famed Game of Thrones series, George RR Martin, has said he was inspired by the Rock when developing his ideas on the mythical Casterly Rock. 

“We need to use immersive technology, featuring all the senses such as audio, visual, smell and touch, to create a special experience and enhance what we have to offer,” Kevin says. 

Although the history of Gibraltar stretches back all the way to the Neanderthals there is a huge amount of modern day history that can be incorporated into visits for tourists. Kevin gives an example of how even in unexpected areas such as the development of Gibraltar’s water system there are hidden treasures of information. From Nun’s Well traced back to the Moorish occupation to the water catchments area constructed in 1903 at the East side which was a system unique in the world and considered an engineering achievement of considerable merit. “Then you have the narrative around the mass evacuation of the civilian population during the Second World War,” he states.

Special interests is an important area that the Tourist Board is exploring. “Bird watching is an example – Gibraltar is a really amazing place for bird watchers because this is where the channel lies for migrations from Africa into Europe, so if you are into bird watching this would be one of the places you would want to be.” Kevin is also keen to remind tourists about scuba diving with 34 wrecks around the Rock and of course, there is the ever popular dolphin safari where it is almost guaranteed that some of the hundreds of these friendly animals that reside in the bay area will pay your boat a visit and put on a masterful display. “If you fancy a swim from one of our lovely beaches, where else can you swim in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean on the same day?”  

“We are reliant on the relevant stakeholders for some of these projects,” Kevin explains, going on to say that the job of the Tourist Board is primarily to market our product. “We need to make sure that we shout the Gibraltar name as loud as we can.”

These new initiatives sound exciting, but I ask Kevin if Gibraltar’s infrastructure can cope with them? “At the moment we have around 10 million tourists coming to our shores annually, and we can cope, but we are constantly looking into improving the logistics and transportation network.”

“My desire is to push Gibraltar into the premium level,” he says. “The important volume market is what we get from the land border crossings and from the cruise liners, and I say that with the utmost respect because people from the cruise liners, especially the smaller, luxury liners, are in that boutique space and need special attention and more bespoke tours.”

Kevin tells me that one of the things he experienced a couple of weeks ago was the Eisenhower Room, housed in a data centre deep inside the Rock where General Dwight Eisenhower directed the successful invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. “It is not open to the public at large at the moment but we need to see how we can develop bespoke tours for small groups of people,” Kevin comments.  

“We can become a niche destination because we don’t have massive capacity in terms of room stock or meeting spaces etc. so we need to go for what we can comfortably provide to ensure that we can provide the best service possible to our visitor,” he states. 

“You have got to plant the seed and then let it grow – and sometimes it grows organically if you plant it properly.”

Asked in the absence of a Treaty how it will affect tourism, Kevin admits that it remains to be seen. “If we get a Treaty then obviously there will be a fluid border, if we don’t get a Treaty we need to be prepared to ensure that we can still have tourism without that total reliance on the border, which is why the cruise business is so important.” 

Kevin says that together with the Hon Vijay Daryanani, the Minister for Business and Tourism and the Port, he has been working very hard to try and promote Gibraltar wherever and whenever possible. 

“It is sometimes hard to imagine that such a small destination can pack in so much but once people visit they have that ‘Aha! Moment’ and therefore it is very valuable to have people in the trade responsible for selling the destination to experience and understand it, which is why we are looking at boosting our familiarisation trips as an area that we need to push and invest in. 

Event led tourism has achieved success over the years by bolstering off-peak season activity. Gibraltar has become a destination of choice for a much wider clientele, from sport enthusiasts and culture lovers to superyacht owners, history buffs and birdwatchers. Kevin explains that they are working with different departments in both the Government and private sector to promote these type of events. 

“We have the Rugby Sevens coming up at the end of June and we want to see it gain some traction and become a mini version of the Rugby Sevens held in places such Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai where it is a big event,” Kevin comments. 

“People coming in on the cruise liners want to have different experiences, whether that is the rugby, the literary festival or the recently held European Division 3 Squash Championships.”

Weddings are another crucial sector that Kevin thinks could be expanded. “We are working on The Mount, the former residence of the Royal Navy’s senior officer, which is an amazing piece of land and venue, so if we can get that right that could be a perfect environment for weddings.”

As well as promoting Gibraltar as an experiential destination, Kevin says they are also working on attracting more super yachts, private jets and boutique luxury cruises. “The hotel scene is developing as we speak in a calibrated fashion to make sure everybody is looked after in an appropriate way,” he says. “Sometimes we do need assistance from the retail sector to ensure that they are kept open when we are busy during the weekends and after hours as well, because in many destinations they are kept open later, but it is a bit of a chicken and egg situation because if that doesn’t happen you can’t attract evening or weekend tourism and we want to encourage the retail sector to do that.”

In Kevin’s view Gibraltar could be a boutique destination because of its size, quaintness and the convenience of getting around. “You can walk everywhere, whereas in other destinations you can’t – the convenience is next to none.”

Kevin’s closing words are: “Gibraltar is a unique and experiential destination which can be made into a premium destination.”

When thinking about how to reduce our individual carbon footprints, one of the simplest ways to cut back on emissions is to fly less often. For those who want to see the world, there are ways to make trips more sustainable, including where you go, what you pack and how you decide to get there. 

Sustainable tourism is defined by the UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organization as ‘tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.’

From Greta Thunberg sailing to the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in New York on a racing yacht, to hotels not using single-use plastics, sustainable travel is all around. 

There has been considerable talk recently about sustainability in the travel industry. Questions like what does it mean to travel sustainably? How can I reduce my company’s carbon footprint regarding business travel? These issues have been troubling individuals as the realities of climate change start to sink in for all of us. The pandemic stimulated a kind of collective consciousness on the importance of sustainability. We, essentially, are guardians who need to preserve our way of life and our planet. Travel, whether for business or pleasure, has a key role to play in mitigating the environmental impact we have on our world.

The issue in practical terms

Whether we are talking about business travel or sustainable tourism, the practical applications of the principles of sustainable travel are the same. The bottom line is to do what you can to reduce the negative impacts of any trip on the environment, society, and economy as you travel. 

Impact on the environment

What do we mean when we talk about sustainable travel in relation to the environment? Well, can you picture those giant cruise ships pulling up into Dubrovnik with tens of thousands of Games of Thrones fans pouring out all over the city, chips bags and candy wrappers on the floor, and literally tons of sewage being spilled into the bay? It’s not that. 

The way we travel and our travel experiences have a huge impact on our ecosystem. According to a recent study, travel accounts for around 5% of global warming as a result of the C02 emissions that come from air travel, among other things. However, it is not simply about emissions. Travelling can also lead to overuse of water, degradation of land, improper waste disposal and greenhouse gas emissions

Respecting local communities

Respecting the culture of local communities conserves cultural and artistic heritage is absolutely pivotal.The interaction with locals is one of the most rewarding things of sustainable travel and preserves traditions passed down from generation to generation. It is essential to respect traditions as they form the identity of the local community and create a sense of unity among people.

Social and economic dimension 

There is considerable focus on responsible travel for the environment. The social and economic aspects of this can easily be overlooked. The travel and tourism industry is one of the few that has a direct impact on virtually all of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The social dimension of the travel industry’s sustainable responsibility focuses on supporting local culture, cultural heritage, and local economies. This is achieved by ensuring that the money spent on travel in a certain country remains within its borders. Another important factor is protecting local people and local businesses, celebrating culture, and promoting good health and wellbeing. 

Simple changes to the way we travel can make a significant impact in this area. Encouraging travelers to eat at locally-owned restaurants is a great way to ensure that money stays in the local community. Working with travel management platforms, tour operators, or other travel providers that contribute to social causes can also make an enormous difference. 

Shopping 

While it can be tricky to tell the difference between locally crafted traditional items and things that have been imported from China, avoiding shopping malls and large markets outside tourist destinations is a positive first step. If you devote a little time to research you can usually find one or more boutiques that specialise in supporting traditional craft and help local businesses.

Pack reusable items

The best way to reduce your waste output is to produce less. It makes perfect sense to pack light and purposeful. Stick to the basics and take reusables like a water bottle, coffee cup, steel or bamboo straw, food container (collapsible ones are great for travelling) and bamboo cutlery or a spork so you can avoid single-use plastics. Take a reusable shopping bag and produce bags so you can shop plastic-free, and take zero waste toiletries, such as shampoo bars, deodorant and tooth tablets. You will create a lot less waste and you won’t have to worry about liquids and aerosols.

Local travel

Once you have arrived at your destination, consider whether there is a more environmentally friendly way to enjoy the city: 

• Consider bike or walking tours.
• On the water? Sail instead of taking a power-engined boat.
• If you are renting a car, think about an electric vehicle or maybe the smallest car that suits your family’s demands 
• Use public transit where possible. This is also a great way to meet local people.
• Contemplate carsharing. It can save money and emissions.
• Think about activities that combine experience with environmental benefits, such as cleaning up our coastlines
• Our world has finite resources. There are only so many beautiful and untouched places on our planet and mass tourism threatens their existence. Nature, culture and history should be preserved, not commodified. It is our responsibility to look after our world while we enjoy the wonders of it.

Animals

Bioparc Zoo Fuengirola

You may not feel comfortable visiting zoos, but Bioparc Zoochampions a new animal park model based on respect for nature and the preservation of its species, a model that has already become a benchmark at European level. Bioparc is characterised by its architectural design called zoo-immersion, which immerses the visitor in the environment of the animal. Although not large, there are a diverse selection of animals ranging from crocodiles to tigers and gorillas to orangutans, as well as many more, including pygmy hippopotamus and Malayan tapirs. Wander through some of the most amazing tropical forests in the world, from the island of Madagascar, Equatorial Africa, Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific islands. Get up close as you walk through the lemur house where you will see the primates playing around an ancient Baobab tree or if you are feeling brave enter the abandoned mine full of bats. The most important thing is that the animals look happy, healthy and relaxed in their naturalistic enclosures. 

Selwo Parks

There are now three parks under the Selwo brand. The original, Selwo Aventura Estepona, consists of three large habitat areas with lush tropical and subtropical vegetation, lakes and a huge variety of animals. Experience an authentic off-road African Safari with an expert tour guide and then if the kids want to let off some steam there are trampolines, archery, and a 65-metre long and 15-metre-high suspension bridge. Ziwa, which means “flying over the lake” in Swahili, is a 116-meter zip line suitable only for those brave enough to slide down it and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the great lake, but be aware that the minimum weight to use the zip line is 40 kg and the maximum weight is 90 kg.

Selwo Marina Benalmadena 

Set over four different areas: The Antilles which emulates a Caribbean landscape and where the dolphinarium is located; The Hollow where you will see exotic birds brought in from the Amazon and South America in their natural environment; Icy Island, the first icy penguinarium in Andalusia with the most complete collection of penguins of European zoos that replicates their natural environment where you can observe how these penguins live, both outside the water and under; and The Amazon, an area dedicated to the Amazon rainforest with both flora and fauna brought in from this abundant river. Apart from all that Selwo Marina offers unique live experiences with dolphins, an encounter with penguins or a swim with sea lions.

Teleférico Benalmadena
(Benalmadena Cable Car)

The third attraction that comes under the Selwo brand is the cable car at Benalmadena. Enjoy exclusive panoramic views of the coastline of Malaga as you head up to the top of Monte Calamorro where there is a presentation of birds of prey. 

Sealife Aquarium Benalmadena Marina

Although small, this walk-through underwater park is educational and has different interactive zones where you can get your hands wet and touch some of the sea creatures. Jurassic Tunnel is where you’ll be able to see black-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles and other colourful species. Don’t forget to go to Otter’s Oasis for feeding time where you will meet two Asian Otters. 

Butterfly Park Benalmadena

Located next to the Buddhist Stupa, Mariposario de Benalmádena is the largest butterfly park in Europe. Here more than 1,500 exotic butterflies from around the world fly freely in a tropical paradise between waterfalls and flowers.

Water Parks

Kids love a water park and there are threealong the coast that feature wave pools, water play areas, paddling pools and slides: the largest is Aqualand Torremolinos, then slightly smaller isAquamijas(was Mijas Water Park) and in Cadiz province you will find Bahia Park Algeciras. 

Adventure Parks and Other Activities

Aventura Amazonia located in Elviria has 103 tree challenges and 24 zip lines distributed over 6 adventure circuits. It also includes the longest treetop zip line in Andalusia, with a length of 240m.

Costa Jump San Pedro de Alcántara

The Coast’s first trampoline park offers an enormous indoor arena filled with 50 interconnected wall-to-wall trampolines and lots of different zones. Opening hours 4 – 9 pm weekdays and from 11 am at the weekend. 

The Automobile Museum Malaga

This was a great place to take our grandsons aged 10 and 6 recently. View a private collection of vintage cars said to be worth around €25 million in the Antigua Fábrica de Tabaco (Old Tobacco Factory).  During you’ll visit you’ll get the chance to see more than 90 amazing cars including the Antique 1898 Winner automobile (USA), one of the first vehicles with an engine, to the hydrogen prototype of 2010, as well as impressive Jaguars, Cadillacs, Rolls Royce, Bentleys, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Porsches and Bugatti’s. Alongside the cars there is a selection of designer fashion through the ages from the top fashion houses as well as some 300 vintage hats.

 The MIMMA Interactive Music Museum Malaga

This museum located in the 18th-century Palacio del Conde Nava houses over 1000 instruments from all over the world and, unlike most others museums, instead of saying ‘please do not touch’ it actually encourages people to play and experiment with the instruments in their ‘Please to play’ rooms.  

The Pompidou Centre Malaga 

Maybe taking the kids around an art gallery isn’t top of your list, but for a little bit of down time, The Pompidou Centre situated in amulti-coloured glass cube welcomes children with open arms and there is an exhibition area open to all artistic disciplines where children and their families can take part in workshops.Each year, the Galerie des Enfants presents two new exhibitions devised by contemporary artists. These are interactive and fun, enabling children to explore the world of the visual artist, architect, dancer, designer, musician or writer and share their approach and creative practices.

Aviation Numbers

Did you know that there are 61,000 people in the air over the USA at any given time on any given day and that one-third of the world’s airports are located over there?

According to official numbers released by the Airports Council International (ACI), Atlanta has reclaimed its crown as the world’s busiest airport in the world. Nearly 94 million passengers passed through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2022, a 24% increase from the prior year. For 22 years Hartsfield-Jackson held the title but was surpassed by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China in 2020, only to regain it after the end of the pandemic.   

Highest Statues

The tallest statue in the world is the Statue of Unity located in Sadhu Bet, Gujarat, India at 182m high. It was inaugurated in October 2018 to commemorate the 143rd birth anniversary of Indian statesman and independence activist Vallabhbhai Patel, who was the first deputy prime minister and home minister of independent India. 

The Spring Temple Buddha, located within the Fodushan Scenic Area, Henan Province in China comes in at second highest at 128m. The statue represents the Vairocana Buddha in a standing position on a lotus-shaped throne. 

The third tallest statue in the world is the Laykyun Sekkya with a height of 115.8 m. located in the Khatakan Taung village, Sagaing Region, Myanmar. The Laykyun Sekkya Statue unveils a standing Buddha just beside a reclining Buddha statue. The construction of the statue took 12 years to complete starting in 1996 and was completed in 2008.

Largest Island

You might think that Australia is the world’s largest island at nearly 3 million square miles. However, the proper definition of an island is a landmass that is entirely surrounded by water and is smaller than a continent therefore Australia, as a continent of its own, is ineligible for consideration as an island. Greenland is the world’s largest island with an area of 822,700 square miles. Despite its enormous size, Greenland is one of the most sparsely populated regions in the world and currently its population stands at 57,046.

Beaches

Australia has almost 12,000 beaches along its 60,000km (37,282mi) coastline. If you visited one per day, it would take more than 32 years to see them all! 

Swimming Pigs

You can swim with pigs on the island of Exuma, one of the hundreds of islands in the Bahamas. Pig Beach located on Big Major Cay is uninhabited and the pigs are not native to the island. Some say they were left by a group of sailors, who planned to come back and cook them.

Leaning Big Ben

Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) in London is leaning over so much it can now be seen with the naked eye and may eventually become unstable if left uncorrected. In 4,000 years it will be at the same angle as the Leaning Tower of Pisa 

Least Visited Country

The least visited country in the world is Tuvalu, located halfway between Australia and Hawaii in the west-central Pacific Ocean. It’s a coral atoll nation, which means it sits on a ring-shaped coral reef encircling a lagoon, with islands along the rim. The country is a stunning oasis, but the UN included the islands in a list of places that could completely disappear due to rising sea levels in the next century. Tuvalu has a population of nearly 11,000 and only receives around 4,000 visitors a year. 

Monaco vs Central Park 

Monaco is smaller than Central Park in New York. With an area of just 0.78 square miles and a population of 38,300, Monaco is one of the densest countries in the world. Central Park is about 840 acres or 1.31 square miles in size, making Monaco roughly 60% of the size of the world-famous park.

What does North Yorkshire conjure up for you? Maybe it is the rolling landscape of the valleys and the vast expanses of heather-covered moors together with beautiful areas of unspoiled wilderness. Maybe it is the image of times gone by with the cotton mills and its rich textile heritage. 

Whatever you think about North Yorkshire, the largest county in England, it is definitely a beautiful location that is often referred to as “God’s Own Country,” which is no wonder seeing that it incorporates the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors National Parks. 

The historic city of York traces its history back some 2,000 years to AD 71 when it was founded by the Romans. The first mention of its Roman name, ‘Eboracum’ can be traced back to around AD 95 and over 200 years later, Roman emperor Constantine the Great was declared emperor here in AD 306. The Saxons followed the Romans and knew it as ‘Eoforwick’ and the Vikings, who followed them, named it ‘Jorvik’. 

With its rich history, it is strange that the city centre of York has only just gained UNESCO World Heritage Status. As you wander around the city you will notice a huge variety of ancient buildings, architecture dating back to medieval times, magnificent Georgian town houses and its Victorian railway station, as well as the longest stretch of intact city walls in England, small parts of which date back to the Romans. 

A layer of history is unpeeled at every turn, from the Norman castle to the ruined Benedictine monastery, but there are two locations that should not be missed. The first is the Gothic splendour of York Minster, one of the largest cathedrals in northern Europe, situated in the heart of the city.  Look out for the incredible stained glass Rose Window that commemorates the end of the War of the Roses and the beautiful ‘Heart of Yorkshire’ which sits in the Great West window where legend says that if you kiss your partner beneath the window you will stay together forever.

Shambles is the second must-see on any visit to York. This medieval street consists of mostly timber buildings that date back as far as the 13th Century. With its cobbled streets, overhanging buildings and maze-like alleyways it is believed to have been the inspiration behind Diagon Alley from the film adaptation of the Harry Potter series. This is the place to go to find quirky boutiques and cafes as well as gift and sweet shops. 

If you want to venture a bit further from York, head to the ancient market town of Pickering and hop on a train to Whitby on the Yorkshire coast. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a world-famous heritage railway that runs through the North York Moors National Park. Owned and operated by a charitable trust, the line runs for 24 miles with the whole journey taking around 1 hour 50 minutes. 

The fishing port of Whitby is situated at the mouth of the River Esk and during the Middle Ages it was the home to herring and whaling fleets, but it still has a thriving fishing industry today. Whether you’re looking for some delicious seafood or traditional fish and chips, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from along Whitby’s famous harbour. 

Captain Cook learned his trade as a seaman in Whitby and it was here that the ship that took him on his voyage of discovery to Australia, HMS Endeavour, was built. Another person of note was Bram Stoker, and it was whilst staying in Whitby that he got much of his inspiration for the novel Dracula, a rare signed copy of which can be found in Whitby Abbey.  The 13th-century Gothic Abbey, maintained by English Heritage, dominates the skyline above Whitby. There is plenty to discover, both in the Abbey grounds and in the visitor centre, located in a 17th century mansion. 

Robin Hood’s Bay is a small fishing village and bay on the coast not far from Whitby and Scarborough. Situated within the North York Moors National Park on the Cleveland Way national trail and also the end point of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walking route, it is an ideal place to go for walking, hiking, cycling, and exploring everything that the area has to offer.  Known to the locals as ‘Bay Town’, there is no evidence that the village has ties with the Robin Hood who robbed the rich to feed the poor. Consisting of a maze of tiny streets, there is reputed to be a network of subterranean passageways linking houses and used by smugglers in the 18th century to hide their contraband.

For more info  chris@visitnorthyorkshire.com

Gibraltar has long had close links with Malta and a Maltese community has existed in Gibraltar since shortly after the British conquest in 1704. Nowadays, over a third of Gibraltarians have Maltese roots going back to the days of Maltese migration in the last half of the 19th century and early 20th century. A proportion of Maltese surnames can be found in Gibraltar today, with many notable Gibraltarians being of Maltese descent. Another similarity is that Malta is known by locals as ‘The Rock’, due to the fact that everything is carved in stone and the golden hue of limestone is evident everywhere on buildings, churches and city walls throughout the islands.

Malta is comprised of seven tiny islets with only the two largest islands, Malta and Gozo, being inhabited, while the third biggest, Comino, is a bird sanctuary and a nature reserve. It has been suggested by geographers through the ages that the Maltese Islands were not only part of one whole land mass, but that they also used to be connected to what is known as modern day Sicily through a land bridge, now 330-feet below sea level. 

Malta, 27 kilometres (17 mi) long and 14.5 kilometres (9 mi) wide and home to half a million people, has been shaped by many different cultures over the years. There are suggestions that teeth discovered in Għar Dalam (‘Cave of Darkness’) complex in 1917 may prove Neanderthals once roamed the island, as they did in Gibraltar, but the island was definitely invaded by Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, the British and others over a long and difficult history. 

During a four day trip to Malta our first stop was the capital Valletta, a fortified city located on a hilly peninsula between two of the finest natural harbours in the Mediterranean which has an intriguing history that spans for centuries. The Knights of Malta built Valletta in the 16th century following the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. Its name derives from Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, whose vision went beyond fortification and who wanted it to become a grand European centre of culture and commerce. We started our visit at the beautiful and impressive St John’s Co-Cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist built between 1573 and 1578, taking over from the Church of St Lawrence in Vittoriosa as the place where the Knights would gather for communal worship. The interior was revamped in the 17th century in ornate high Baroque style by Mattia Preti and other artists. Make sure to step into the Oratory to see the huge painting ‘The Beheading of St. John the Baptist’ by Caravaggio, which is the painter’s only signed work. If you want to visit the Cathedral a good tip is to book online to go straight into the building and avoid long entrance queues. After coffees and patizzis (traditional phyllo-like pastries filled with ricotta or peas) at Caffe Cordina, located in an old palazzo on Republic Street and worth a visit just for the beautiful interior, we took a sightseeing train ride around the streets which was a really good way to explore the area.  Our last stop in Valletta was to the Lascaris War Rooms, buried deep underneath the Upper Barracca Gardens. They consist of an underground complex of tunnels and chambers that housed the War Headquarters from where the defence of Malta was conducted during the Second World War.

Day two took us to Vittoriosa (Birgu), Senglea and Cospicua, known as the Three Cities of Malta. Again a fun train trip enabled us to get an overview and was a really good way to see the cities without too much walking whilst giving us some unbeatable views across the Grand Harbour towards Valletta. As the first home to the Knights of St. John, the Three Cities’ palaces, churches, forts and bastions are far older than Valletta’s. We strolled through the narrow alleyways and admired the classic architecture then stopped for a mid-morning snack at one of the many cafes along the marina waterfront.  

On our third day we took a ferry from Ċirkewwa, the northernmost point of the island, to Gozo. The trip takes around 25 minutes and ferries run up to 74 times every day of the week. There is also a fast ferry service that takes roughly 45 minutes from Valletta. On arrival at Ċirkewwa harbour we followed the signs to where the cars queue, and if you are a foot passenger you can board the ferry immediately via the terminal. You do not need to buy a ticket on your trip to Gozo from Malta, as tickets are bought on your way back to Malta from the Mgarr terminal in Gozo. A ticket booth is allocated just before the car queue to the boat. Gozo is the quieter sister to Malta, with around 40,000 inhabitants. After heading to capital city Victoria, or Rabat as it is called by the locals, we went up to the Cittadella Visitors Centre. It’s worth getting the combination ticket that includes the visitors centre and four other museums.  The Citadel was originally planned and built to provide shelter for all the inhabitants of the island during the age of coastal piracy. The views from the walls of the fortifications are spectacular and you can walk around the full perimeter. 

On our way back to the ferry we stopped off at Ġgantija Temples, a megalithic temple complex from the Neolithic era preceding Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, one of three UNESCO World Heritage sites on Gozo. The temples are officially recognised by UNESCO as the oldest freestanding buildings in the world and more information can be found in the small museum before you enter the site. 

Our final day took us to the medieval city of Mdina, once the capital of Malta, built on a flat plateau with wonderful views from the fortifications, especially when we stopped for lunch at the popular Fontanella Tea Garden and sat on the top terrace. This restaurant is so popular people queue to be seated, but don’t let that put you off, you will always get a table if you don’t mind a short wait! 

From Mdina we walked to the town of Rabat and visited St. Paul’s catacombs representing Christian, Muslim, Pagan, and Jewish burials side-by-side with no visible separation. These subterranean burial grounds are worth a visit but be aware that access is steep with lots of stairs, narrow passageways and low ceilings. 

There is, of course, a lot more to experience in Malta, from the nightlife culture in St. Julian’s and Sliema, to the resort areas built around harbours. Malta’s coastline is mostly rocky but the water is an amazing turquoise colour, especially in the Blue Lagoon on Comino Island, and there is plenty of opportunity for swimming, snorkelling, diving, and boat trips. Enjoy Malta… we did!

I’ve been writing travel guides for a few years now, which has got me into a good habit of making sure I plan my holidays properly and that I’m getting the most of my experience abroad!

Unless you’re going on a really complex trip and you’re the type of person who likes everything planned for them, 9/10 times you don’t need a travel agent to book your trip for you. Here are my recommendations for planning the best holiday, as well as some tips for saving money and getting the most out of your experience.

1. Use incognito mode when searching for flights

This is one that a lot of people know about but some are still surprised by! When you search for flights on the likes of Skyscanner on your browser, your ‘cookies’ are tracked meaning that you might even find that the price increases in price the more you look at it. My advice is to open your browser in ‘incognito’ mode to avoid this, and you’ll likely find that prices are cheaper.

2. Combine destinations

When planning your trip, it is also a good idea to see how much it would be to travel to a neighbouring country. Sometimes you’ll find that the cost of flying home from a completely different city or country, is cheaper than flying back from your original destination! It’s a great way to see multiple places on one trip. As an example, Bratislava in Slovakia is less than an hour coach away from Vienna, and a Flixbus ride will only set you back 10 euros.

3. Store everything in a cloud

If you’re travelling with other people, the best thing I recommend is using something like Google Drive to store all the documents for you and the rest of your passengers. This means that it can be quickly accessed from anywhere and by the people you choose. I always put a copy of the itinerary here, boarding passes, tour tickets and of course, passport copies just incase!

4. Create your itinerary on Google Docs

Anyone who’s ever travelled with me knows how obsessed I am with google docs. You get real time updates on a document, multiple people can edit it online at the same time and of course it’s great for jotting down all the details of your trip. I usually put the dates of travel in, add the flight details and then usually get my friends to put down all their ideas on there for us to come up with a plan for our trip.

5. Use social media

I can’t remember a time where I just went on holiday without having any idea what to expect. I know that is sometimes the beauty of discovering somewhere new, so I try not to look into too much detail on what to expect in a new city. I do however love to use Pinterest and TikTok to find ‘the best local eats’ or ‘photo spots’ in a place.

6. Pin your landmarks on Google Maps

I swear this article isn’t sponsored by Google, but their products are very handy when it comes to trip planning! If you open google maps you are able to ‘create a trip’ and then save all the points of interest. Whether it’s restaurants, your hotel or landmarks you want to save. The good thing is you can also view these without data and you will still be able to navigate around.

7.
Make the most of bank-holidays to extend your trip

If you have Gibraltar bank holidays, then March/April is the best time to have an extended holiday. Last year I went to Thailand for 3 weeks and only had to take 10 days of annual leave thanks to the Easter holidays, May Day and Workers Memorial Day. If you’re short on days for the rest of the year, then why not plan a trip over the New Year? That way you can also pull days from the following year.

8. Find free things to do

One of my top activities to do in Europe is a ‘free walking tour’ of a city. These are always a great way to see and learn about a place and get your bearings. Even though most of these are usually free to take part in, it is expected that you give some sort of tip at the end of it.

9. Plan your activities before hand

My go to for activities and excursions is either GetYourGuide or Klook, and it’s great for removing the hassle out of organising outings. A lot of the activities listed on here come with free cancellation just in case your plans change, and you can also see customer reviews below to see whether the activity is worth doing.

10.  Don’t overplan

As much as I love doing things in advance, there is also such a thing as planning too much. We know things can always go wrong, so It’s important to go with the attitude that if something doesn’t go as planned, it’s ok and most of the time these things are usually funny to look back on. It’s also good to just leave some time to get lost around a city and see what hidden gems you discover yourself!

Travel is one of life’s greatest teachers. It pulls you out of your comfort zone and plunges you into the unknown. It reveals a world of cultures to explore and people to meet. It helps you develop virtues like patience and humility. So whether you explore a new neighbourhood or a new country there are numerous positive and inspiring moments that we can learn from.

Travelling can provide you with the best life experiences. It teaches you things that you can never learn in a classroom or a textbook. Travelling helps in opening your mind to new cultures, traditions, and experiences. It is the best way of expanding your perspective and connecting to the world. You can look at the lives of people living on the other corner of the earth and feel inspired and blessed. 

Here are some things you can learn and experience through travelling.

Leaving Your Comfort Zone

Traveling means abandoning the comfort of your home and familiar environment to take a leap of faith. You pack your bags and leave a familiar environment and go to a place that is entirely new to you. It is essential for expanding your horizons. Once you take the plunge and go to a new location, you will find no better feeling. Taking on unfamiliar territory is an excellent feeling, and it will give you timeless stories.

Appreciating Other Cultures

You can be judgmental about other cultures because they are different than yours. When you travel, you get to live in other cultures and experience their traditions. You cannot get the best experiences by just reading about them in a book. Residing in the society helps in experiencing the things in their true essence. It helps in better understanding other cultures. It helps in going through a new language, clothing, cuisines. You will only appreciate something when you have firsthand knowledge about it. Before going to any place, you can make use of travel tips archives and look up the places you should not miss.

Learning to Live in the Moment

Whether you are looking at the wonders of the world like the pyramids in Egypt or marvelling at Niagara Falls, remember to enjoy the experience. Living in the moment is essential for living a happy and content life. While travelling, you will know that you have a little time to spend in each place and you should learn to make the best of it. It teaches you to savour every single moment. Looking at new places fills you with wonder and awe and it is a feeling that you do not want to let go. Travelling teaches us to capture the moment and make it an important part of your life.

Live Simply

It is entirely possible to survive on little – travelling teaches you that. You cannot move comfortably if you have heavy bags. To move freely without any inconvenience, it is important to travel lightly. You learn to live even in the humblest conditions like small hotels and guest houses. You will also find yourself looking to lower travelling costs. Travelling is not about luxury and comfort; it’s about experiencing everything the world has to offer. It makes you appreciate the luxuries you have in your life and home.

Learning how to Adapt 

When you travel, you need to learn how to roll with things. It is possible that your flight gets delayed or canceled or you lose your luggage. It can be a little frustrating for you, and you will enjoy your travels more if you quickly learn to adapt to an evolving situation. It will make you carefree, and you will find it easier to enjoy one adventure and move on to the next. You can learn to stay calm while facing delays if you travel. It equips you to deal with these situations.

Appreciating the Value of Experience 

Once you get the taste of travelling, you will understand that the skills gained are much more expensive than any material object that you could own. Gazing at the Grand Canyon or the Eiffel Tower is priceless and more valuable than any merchandise. It is better to invest in a traveling trip instead of a luxurious car.

Every city and country has its unique way of life, and you can have a first-hand experience of their distinct cultures, practices, beliefs, food, etc. and learn and experience new things by investing in travelling trips.

Gratitude 

You will be in the priceless position to actually experience things again for the first time – something that gets harder the older you get. Being in a new environment lets you appreciate the little things that make life so exciting and memories so unforgettable: Travelling reminds you to walk through life not only with open eyes and ears but, most of all, with an open mind.

Think Creatively 

Sometimes it takes a little thinking outside of the box to get by. No wifi for directions? The restroom you entered is merely a hole in the ground? The buses to your next planned destination are all booked? There are always alternatives, and bumps in the road should never keep people from traveling. Studies show that people who travel think more creatively and are better at adjusting to new situations. There will always be something to overcome, forcing us to be creative.

Embrace and appreciate nature 

One of the best aspects of travel is exploring the natural beauty of the world. Conversely, you will also witness the fragility of our planet. You may visit destinations where clean drinking water is a luxury or where natural disasters have caused mass destruction. When you travel, you learn to appreciate every natural wonder, every drink of clean water and everything else that our wonderful planet offers us.

There is no denying that travel is back in 2023, thanks to an understandable demand for those well deserved holidays that were put on hold during the pandemic.  

Whether it is specific locations, certain countries, particular festivals or outstanding areas of natural beauty, the world offers us a rich variety of desirable locations to visit.

These are just a few suggestions:

Fes, Morocco

Fabulous for foodies and culture vultures

The most complete medieval city of the Arab world, Fes’ old town feels magically suspended between the Middle Ages and the modern world.

There are around 9000 amazing alleys buzzing with living history and traders, it’s a place to lose — and find — yourself in.

The oldest part of the city, walled Fes El-Bali, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its mosques, medersas and fondouks, plus a mile-long labyrinth of souks, there are enough sights here to warrant several days exploration.

Fes is also a feast for the senses. Head to Souk el Attarine to savour the aroma of spices, herbs, and incense, and buy traditional Moroccan crafts. Given that some traders are set up in beautiful old mansions, you’ll most likely find yourself exploring a regal riad while shopping.

To add to the enticement, Fes is also the culinary capital of Morocco so navigate your way through the captivating tastes and aromas.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Green and clean, Slovenian capital Ljubljana – a place voted one of the most beautiful countries in the world – has an abundance of scenic charm. Caressing the Ljubljanica river and overlooked by a castle, this city is the epitome of picturesque. 

To add to the attractiveness, Ljubljana has the EU’s biggest pedestrianised area, plenty of parks to stroll in, and is a beautiful base from which to visit a variety of Slovenian attractions. 

Under an hour from the capital, Lake Bled is simply a must-visit. A fairy tale island juts from its expanse of clear water, with a cliff-top castle and mountain backdrop adding to the magic. This destination is at the forefront of sustainable travel practices. It can be argued it is Europe’s greenest destination.

More rocky wonders await at sixteenth-century Predjama Castle. Built into elevated cave entrance in the heart of an unforgettable karst landscape, it defies the imagination. Your assumptions about engineering will be turned on it’s head.

Northern Cape, South Africa

The biggest and most dispersed of South Africa’s provinces, the Northern cape is also one of its least visited regions. This fact is terrific news for travellers who like to go your own way.

Boasting a landscape of dramatic red dunes, South Africa’s longest river, and desert miracles in the form of Namaqualand’s flower carpets, it is a breathtaking vision of nature.

With landscapes in mind, they seldom are more marvellous than Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. Tucked in a loop of the Orange River, it is the world’s only arid biodiversity hotspot, and fascinatingly, home to almost 5000 plant species.

Nature-lovers will also want to experience the mighty Aukoerebis waterfalls, which is South Africa’s largest in the Augrabies Falls National park.

Imotski lakes, Croatia

Explore the Dalmatian lake district

Thirty minutes drive east from the Adriatic resort of Baska Vida is one of Croatia’s loveliest inland regions. Eleven lakes dot the karst landscape surrounding the town of Imotski, with the most dramatic, Blue Lake, bordering the town. Scrub-covered limestone cliffs rise from an enormous sinkhole filled with vivid blue water. This lake is swimmable by those who follow a serpentine path to the valley bottom. Along with Biokovo nature path, Imotski’s lakes are a contender for gaining Unesco status in 2023.

There is a huge amount to do here: kayaking the Vrljika River, hiking the hills, taking in views from Imotski’s medieval Topana Fortress and touring vineyards. 

Copenhagen, Denmark

Architecture, art and food

Fans of sustainability, livability and design should head to Copenhagen. In 2023 it will be Unesco capital of architecture. You can revel in a variety of events, showcases and talks which will take place throughout the year. An inspirational place to start is the Danish Architecture Centre which hosts a new exhibition on Danish architecture from 24 March. On the harbour, public pavilions will showcase the work of architects specialising in sustainability. Also by the water will be Opera park, an urban green space designed for climate resilience. 

Namibia

Are you an adventure lover searching for an off-the-beaten-path. If so, s truly exhilarating experience is Namibia. This country in southern Africa is the perfect place to travel to reconnect with nature and escape the modern stresses of life. On the wildlife front, you may see lions and cheetahs, possibly giraffes and elephants. It is also home to strong populations of both black and white rhinos. Other activities range from climbing the world’s tallest sand dunes at Sossusvlei to discovering the stark beauty of the windswept Skeleton Coast.

Japan

Japan in all it’s astonishing mixture of tradition and futuristic vision finally reopened to all travelers at the end of 2022.The beauty of Japan is that if offers experiences totally unique to the country and can offer a traveller whatever kind of experience they are seeking.

Kyoto, the cultural and historic heart of Japan, will present its famed Gion Festival in summer 2023, the first time visitors can attend since before the pandemic. Based on the indigenous Shinto faith, this festival features two processions of floats, a wealth of food and drink vendors and the Gozan no Okuribi, a Kyoto-based bonfire culmination of the Obon festival that will also be ramping up excitement levels. 

Vail, Colorado

Vail is one of those mountain towns that creates a wonderful fairytale atmosphere. It was built to replicate the charming mountain towns in Bavaria, it features gingerbread trim and lots of wood in the town’s two main villages, Vail Village and Lionshead, which are delightfully pedestrian-only, so it really evokes a time gone by.

The area is known for its winter skiing and year-round mountain scenery. New for 2023 is something even more impressive: the newest national monument in the United States. Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument honors the 10th Mountain Division, the Army’s first and only mountain infantry division, which helped liberate Europe during World War II. You can explore the expansive new monument (the first President Biden has named) with Nova Guides, an adventure tour company that offers tours and activities in the area, including ATV adventures.

Prague

Prague is understandably one of the most appealing places to travel for charm and culture. The perfectly preserved city has bright red trolleys traversing original cobblestone streets lined with charming stone buildings. In every direction, you will discover a new treat, like the Charles Bridge lined with majestic stone statues, Michelin-starred restaurants and fabulous pilsner bars. Looking for another highlight? an entire “castle district” centered around majestic Prague Castle.

To entice travellers in 2023, this ancient kingdom meets modern times with William Rudolf Lobkowicz, the 14th prince of Bohemia, who is modernizing the way philanthropy takes place with NFTs. New technology can assist proving provenance of historic art and also help fund its restoration. This is of understandable interest to a family that lost its kingdom of treasures twice, first to the Nazis, and then to the Communists. It is possible to view many of these works of art and hear about their “Non-Fungible Castle” project at the lovely Lobkowicz Palace, totally stunning.

Whatever you are looking for in a travel experience, there are a multitude of exciting, inspiring and conversely calming and reflective destinations to choose from. The important point is to enjoy yourself and soak up the experience. It will stay with you for a lifetime.