Wolfgang Busch

Visitors eagerly flock to Portugal throughout the year to bask in the glorious sunshine and relax on its award-winning beaches. Many opt over and over again for the magical city of Porto or for the colorful Lisbon. But whether you’re planning your first holiday in Portugal or returning for another great getaway, Jet2holidays has ways that you can make your trip even more special. 

Jet2holidays has hand selected a range of five-star hotels in Portugal’s the Algarve and on the Portuguese island of Madeira for its ‘Indulgent Escapes’ collection, where you’ll find only hotels with unforgettable settings, excellent facilities and fine dining options, so that you’ll enjoy a Portugal holiday that’s a cut above the rest.

Famous for having no less than 69 Blue Flag-winning beaches, it’s easy to be lured in by the Algarve but very difficult to leave, especially if you spend your stay at the Tivoli Marina in Vilamoura. Situated in the marina, you’ll also have direct access to the nearby Puro beach and be in close proximity to numerous golf courses, and the choice to relax and enjoy a treatment at the on-site Angsana Spa by Banyan Tree or just lounge by the pool. This way, you are sure to enjoy your Algarve Portugal holidays to the max.

The Hilton Vilamoura Hotel will draw you in too, situated in five acres of manicured gardens and offering all the quality that you’d expect from a Hilton and Jet2holidays.com's Indulgent Escapes. The unique Moorish architecture of the Hilton Vilamoura looks particularly striking against the greenery of the surrounding golf courses, but if golf isn’t your game you can spend your time instead in the spa, gym, one of the five large pools or on the hotels’ private Falesia beach.

Winston Churchill’s favourite haunt, which he described as a ‘floating garden’, is every inch as stunningly spectacular as that definition would suggest. To experience the Portuguese island of Madeira at its best, take your pick of one of Jet2holidays’ Indulgent Escapes properties in the Old Town of Funchal.

Perched atop a natural premontory, the Cliff Bay hotel offers views of the Atlantic Ocean as far as the eye can see, as well as being enclosed by palm trees and benefiting from a lavish spa and world-class cuisine. The Reids Palace Hotel has an enviable location too, on a cliff-top and set among sub-tropical gardens, with weekly gourmet dining events taking place in the hotel and champagne served with afternoon tea, and direct access to the sea and a private sunbathing platform exclusively for guests’ use. 

The Pestana Carlton Madeira Ocean Resort Hotel, selected for the Indulgent Escapes collection for its dramatic views of the mountains and the ocean, has also been recently refurbished and offers guests the delights of show cooking, a spacious garden sun terrace, Turkish bath and even a diving school. For a holiday in Portugal that you’ll remember for years to come, it has to be an Indulgent Escape from Jet2holidays.com.


About the Author: This article is brought to you by Jet2holidays.com. They offer a wide and exciting range of great value package holidays to over 40 beach and city destinations. Visit Jet2holidays.com and choose from over 1,600 hotels and apartments to suit all budgets.

Image 1 via Flickr Creative Commons, by AiresAlmeida

Australia is more than the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef and cute koalas. One of the first nations to become a member of UNESCO back in 1947, nowadays it has no less than 19 sites listed in the famous heritage list, including the two acclaimed ones mentioned above. 

However, from my traveling experience, I gather that simply making it to the list doesn't guarantee any international fame to a place. Not to mention that it is very much possible to visit a place without even knowing it is actually an UNESCO site. It happened to me many times in the past and I'm sure it happened to you too. Because usually there is no plate attesting the site's inclusion to the list, many people would say they've only visited a couple of heritage sites in their lives. Truth is, that's what I thought too, till I went through the UNESCO list pen in hand and I came up to the conclusion that I've actually visited no less than 53 heritage sites so far. 

If you’re staying at one of the hotels in Port Douglas, Cairns, or any other major city in Australia, you can easily visit many of the UNESCO Heritage sites. Following are three natural wonders you might have visited or plan to visit without even knowing they are part of the UNESCO list. 

Kakadu is one of the very few mixed world heritage sites, as it is valuable from both a natural and a cultural point of view. The area has been continuously inhabited for the last 40,000 years. The first humans to set foot here were the hunter-gatherers of prehistoric times. However, once these lands were discovered, the ancient man apparently enjoyed them so much that they were never human free again; the Aboriginal people still living here today, in this unique archaeological and ethnological reserve. Noteworthy are the cave paintings, stone carvings, and the rare or endemic species of plants and animals. Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometers of exceptional natural beauty, unique biodiversity, and a wide variety of landforms, Kakadu is one of the world's largest national parks.

The protected area of Shark Bay includes Shark Bay Marine Park, Francois Peron National Park, Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, Zuytdorp Nature Reserve and numerous islands. The site comprises the largest and richest sea-grass beds in the world. It is also famous for its sea cow population and its stromatolites (colonies of algae which form hard, dome-shaped deposits). The region is a meeting point of three major climatic regions and it's a habitat for plant species that are unique and considered new to science. Five of Australia's 26 endangered mammal species are to be found here, as well as 35 percent of Australian bird species.

The Wet Tropics is renowned for its scenic panoramas of rainforest canopy. From giant trees and ferns to rivers that carve through rugged gorges and cascade into freshwater swimming holes, they offer habitat to Australia’s greatest diversity of animals and plants. The site is actually a living record of the ecological and evolutionary processes that shaped the flora and fauna of Australia over the past 415 million years and is the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforests on earth. The Wet Tropics also contain an almost complete record of the major stages in the evolution of plant life on earth. In some coastal regions, the Wet Tropics shares a boundary with the Great Barrier Reef. 

This post is brought to you in association with Turquoise Holidays. Please contact them for more information on luxury holidays to Australia and wide range of other fabulous luxury honeymoon destinations.

The term "tropical vacation" has had a difficult time shedding the heavy price tag stigma attached to it. But in an age of Internet deals and discount flights, traveling to a place like Oahu on a budget is certainly possible, and you won't have to avoid luxury to do it! With the proper amount of planning, a bit of creativity, and an open mind, you'll be able to take in the best of what the Islands have to offer, and all while keeping your bank account intact.

Oahu is rich with natural beauty - it's no secret. People travel from far and wide to lay eyes on the beaches, jungles, waterfalls, and volcanos that desktop backgrounds have made famous, and for those traveling on a budget, having your jaw drop at the sight of these natural spectacles won't cost you a dime! Hikes are a perfect way to break a sweat after a long day relaxing on the sand, and with a comprehensive bus network available to you, you'll be able to see the best of the best without paying a premium.

There are plenty of Oahu hotels that offer luxurious accommodations at affordable rates, and more importantly, locations that facilitate fun due to their proximity to marquee activities. With the well-being of your piggy bank in mind, here are a few of the best hikes to take on this truly dynamic island.

It may seem impossible to tire of the beaches, but sometimes a change of scene can go a long way. Strap on your hiking shoes and hit the trail!

A short walk from a number of budget-friendly Waikiki hotels is one of the island's most famous attractions: Diamond Head crater. The hike itself costs only a dollar, and with the views awaiting you at the top, it’s an absolute steal. Depending on your pace, this hike usually takes a bit over an hour. There is a bus stop at the trailhead as well, should you decide that you'd like a lift back to town!

For a refreshing walk along a beautiful river towards a spectacular payoff, make your way out to Kailua for the Maunawili Falls trail. You'll traverse through the forest under the canopy for much of the way, and when you emerge at the end, you'll find a beautiful pool that is perfect for a post-hike dip. If you're feeling adventurous, there is even a place where you can leap off from the waterfall into the pool below!

Traveling east along the Southern coast of the Island, you'll wind up in Makapu'u, where the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse awaits. This hike features paved trails, so any type of footwear will do. The views for the duration of this trek are spectacular, and should you be there at the right time of the year, you may just spot some migrating whales! On a clear day, you can see all the way out to Molokai as well, ensuring that you pack a lot into one excursion! 

Honolulu and Waikiki pack big city budget prices into a luxurious environment, allowing you to get a tasty, authentically Hawaiian meal and cocktail after a long day on the trail! For the budget conscious, the natural beauty of this island paradise will have you feeling like royalty wherever you go.

About the Author: This guest post was written by Leslie. Obsessed with new adventures in new places, great food and good company, she describes herself as a simple girl from a big city looking to assert her imaginative vision against the creatures of the common place, in hopes of finding something extraordinary in the process.


Photos by Phillie Casablanca, Eric Tessmer & smilygrl via Flickr Creative Commons

Canary Islands, with its eternal blue skies and away from it all attitude, are perfect for lazy days and fun filled nights. The Canaries used to be the main stopover for Spanish galleons on their way to America, but in the meantime they became well established destination for the sun seeking tourists that flock here year round. Between the most interesting facts that seem to pass unperceived for the majority of travelers to the archipelago is that it has two capital cities - Las Palmas and Santa Cruz - and a name that basically means "Island of the Dogs" - apparently because back in ancient times the islands were heavily populated by Monk Seals aka sea dogs, a critically endangered species no longer present in the Canary Islands.

The second most popular carnival in the world - after the one in Rio de Janeiro - it is the pick of any Canaries holidays. Held every year in February, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival aspires to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The carnival is a combination of colorful parade of extravagant dresses and dance till you drop street parties. Though the carnival officially finishes in a mourning atmosphere on the night of Ash Wednesday when the burial of the sardine takes place, the party starts up again the following week. For me, however, the most impressing part of the carnival are the fancy dresses, so heavy and elaborate that they have actually to be transported on wheels. Some of the costumes reach hundreds of kilos and the contestants are often left with bruises from carrying them around the stage.

El Teide Volcano and its surroundings comprise the Teide National Park, part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, and one of the most visited National Parks in the world. El Teide is one of the best places in the world for stargazing and wishing upon a star and one of the best observatories is located here.  El Teide is the third highest volcano in the world and it's summit is the tallest in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic (3718m). While El Teide still is an active volcano, the last eruptiuon occured in 1909. Though it was a sacred mountain to the aboriginal Guanches, just like Mount Olympus was to the ancient Greeks, nowadays the only sacred thing about it are the breathtaking views and amazing hiking trails.

Maspalomas Lighthouse & Sunset

The beaches

Looking for somewhere to whisk away your sweetheart on a romantic city break? See our three swoon-worthy suggestions below…

Why go? It’s Europe’s city of love, silly! Canals, art, crumbling palazzos and miles of winding alleys to get lost in make Venice a dizzying sensory overload – in a good way.

Where to stay: Hotel Canal (Via Santa Croce 553) is intimate and charming, with parquet floors and antique beds. It’s a short walk from the train station and Piazzale Roma (where you will have to park if you’re driving in to Venice), and the Grand Canal vaporetto stop is right outside your door. A garden opens in summer, and there’s a bar open all day for coffee or wine. Double rooms start at €32.25pppn (or see a full selection of cheap hotels in Venice). 

Where to eat: Bacaros are Venetian wine bars, where you can accompany your tipple with some tasty Cicchetti – a kind of Italian version of tapas. Typical Cicchetti consists of crostini toast with seafood or meatballs. Bacaros are found all over the city, but a popular choice would be Cantina Do Mori (Calle Do Mori) in San Polo, which has been open since 1462.

Other romantic things to do: Rather than doing the prescribed ‘romantic’ gondola ride (anything but: canals are busy and noisy, plus it costs €80), do the things that interest you most – whether that’s viewing Titians or drinking wine in a bacaro - and romance will follow. For art, head to the Galleria dell’Accademia for Old Masters and the Peggy Guggenheim for modern stuff. Climb the Campanile in St. Mark’s Square for the highest views of the city, and enter the Doge’s Palace to walk over the famed Bridge of Sighs.

Why go? Never considered Split before? That’s the point! Croatia’s unspoiled, super cheap city on the Dalmatian coast is ripe for exploring hand-in-hand.

Where to stay: Goli & Bosi (Morpurgova poljana 2) is a modern and minimalist hostel with private ensuite rooms perfect for design-loving couples on a budget. Converted from a 19th-century warehouse turned department store, there’s a lot of space to play in here, including a cinema room and a coffee house with seating on the square outside. Rooms have striking modern design, and breakfast is included in the rate of €32.61pppn. 

Where to eat: As a coastal city, Split specialises in seafood: go to sample the best of local cooking at Nostromo next to the city’s fish market. Super-fresh fish kebabs, soups and lobster go down a treat.

Other romantic things to do: Explore Diocletian’s Palace, a marvel of Roman architecture next door to Goli & Bosi. Built by a Roman emperor in the 4th century, this complex of buildings is at once a historic artefact and a working city-within-a-city with homes, shops and restaurants still found within its walls.

Where to stay: Kex (Skulagata 26) means ‘biscuit’ in Icelandic, and appropriately enough Reykjavik’s first boutique hostel occupies an old biscuit factory. Couples will love the stylish and comfy private double rooms, but it’s the public spaces that give the hostel its edgy vibe: a gastropub serves local and organic dishes at a perch-up bar, there’s a gym that turns into a cinema room by night and free Wi-Fi is available throughout. Double rooms start at €49.65pppn.

Other romantic things to do: Romantic things to do in Reykjavik often blend urban life with nature. Go on a whale-watching tour off the old harbour and in three hours you’re almost guaranteed to see a minke whale or a humpback if you’re lucky. There are also plenty of outdoor geothermal swimming pools to lounge around in – Laugardalslaug is the largest and most popular, with two large outdoor pools, several ‘hot pots’, a water slide, a seaweed bath and a steam bath. It has the same kind of social atmosphere as a bar, and your skin will feel all glowy afterwards.

About the Author:  Isabel is a travel writer for the Hostelbookers blog. You can follow her @Isabel Clift


Photos by Alaskan Dude, Lena_Ni & neate photos via Flickr Creative Commons

The world is shrinking; and with it, we are a gaining and loosing something every day. We are challenged to reinvent our own cultural identity almost on a daily basis, and with it we are forced to redefine who we are, or the show can't go on.

We surely are living in the most dynamic period in the human history. No brick is left unturned. The way we interact with one another, the way we do business, the way we travel, communicate with our peers, and even the way we do our groceries has changed so much that I guess that a person from only a century ago would have a really hard time to adapt to our living speed. On the other hand, any of us would probably die of boredom and lack of stimuli after only a few months living in the 19th century. Our psychology is changing at a fast rate. We don't think the same way past generations did.

We use the term “modern” in a variety of ways, often very loosely, with a lot of implied associations of new, contemporary, up-to-date, and technological. We know the difference between a modern country and a third world country and it usually has less to do with art and more to do with technology and industrial progress, things like indoor plumbing, easy access to consumer goods, freedom of expression, and voting rights. Therefore we ignore big part of what culture really means, while perceiving the world in terms of comfort and civil rights.

We live in a world with huge differences between its people. Uncontacted tribes still exist in the Amazonian rain forest, while we've been paying taxes in the name of civilization for centuries. Neither has every third world person access to basic education, clean water and electricity as we do. And even if you think a flat world means having a McDonald's in almost every corner of the world, then remember that McDonald's and similar companies always take into consideration the local preferences and they adapt their menu accordingly.

When people are walking for miles in search for a well, stilt fish for the family dinner, and fight epic battles with dangerous sharks, for in the end their loved ones to die of common cold, how on earth can we say that the world is flat? I of course asked myself why do they still do it, what is actually worth facing all this life threatening dangers? But no matter how much we would like to complicate things, the answer is simple - that's how it's been done for centuries & this is a lifestyle they inherited from many generations ago. And then, ladies and gentleman, we must take into consideration that holding on ones cultural identity might be a matter of life and death. 

Mursi woman, Ethiopia

As English is spoken almost anywhere, the language barrier many times falls down. If you want to feel home even half way across the globe, when you do the your next holiday booking you can choose a hotel chain you are familiar with and even eat at the same restaurants you would at home, or at least the same type of food, anyways. And then your will go back home at the end of a week or two and be under the impression that the world is leveling out. Why? Because it will all be a big bad world outside your comfort zone that you don't understand and therefore are afraid of; because you never took the chance and never risked anything to prove yourself wrong.

I once had a hometown and a country. But my travels changed me so much that now Europe is my hometown. And I expect, the moment I set food outside the old continent for my 'hometown' to grow even larger, because all the many experiences I will have will eventually end up having something in common. And thought I might try to simplify the world I'm living in by ignoring some details, the truth is, the world is not flat. It is me, the traveler, who gets flattened!