Blogs

Craig Stanfill

A British Overseas Territory with a land area of just 21 square miles – the size of a middling city anywhere in the world – and a population of 73,000, Bermuda is named after its original discoverer, Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez. It has been settled for 412 years and has been a popular tourist destination – especially for those in the United States, for whom it´s a flight of just over two hours from the East Coast – since the 1880´s, when the Hamilton Hotel (now the Fairmont

cCEphoto, Uwe Aranas

When planning a trip to Thailand, the images that often spring to mind are those of golden pagodas; buzzing markets and nightlife in Bangkok; and the busy beaches of Phuket. But " the land of smiles" holds many more secrets waiting to be unearthed in its lesser-known cities and towns. They´re all safe for travelers; accessible via the country´s efficient network of air routes, roads, and trains; and offer a range of accommodations; The best time to visit them is during the

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One of West Africa´s smaller countries – a bit more wee than Scotland and a smidge bigger than Delaware plus West Virginia – the landscape of Sierra Leone (pop. 8.9 million) is a tropical mix of rainforests and savannahs. It was originally founded by the British in 1808 as a refuge – like next-door Liberia – for freed slaves (although its curious name dates back to 1462, when explorers sailing the coast from Portugal dubbed the mountains they spotted the “Serra Leoa,” which means Lion Mount

Khalid Almasoud

 
This oil-rich little emirate (pop. just under nine million) on the Persian Gulf was last big in the news as the object of invasion by Sadam Hussein´s Iraq just next door. And though its far less touristed than most of its Gulf neighbors, Kuwait does offer a nice selection of travel experiences both traditional and modern, as well as cultural and outdoorsy; many – but far from all – are to be found in the capital, Kuwait City (pop. 3.4 million). Here are its top eight musts:

Apart from appealing colonial towns and excellent ecotourism (most notably volcanoes) (LINK) Central America´s smallest country is bathed by the Pacific Ocean along 300 kilometres (186 miles) of coastline, and is blessed with around 50 fetching beaches. The best time to visit is November through April, when the rainy season has ended, and here are five of the most appealing. Ready to dive in?

El Zonte

One of this country´s most popular playas is located in La Libertad, just under an hour´s drive

Michael Van den Burg

This rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, about an hour and a half south of Cape Town, is a popular spot for visitors to the Mother City, especially for its beautiful scenery and compelling wildlife (it´s also part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cape Floral Region). And here´s a look at the top attractions at the Cape of Good Hope, nearby False Bay, and on the peninsula in general:

Peter Chovanec

Simon´s Town

On the eastern shore of False Ba

VisitTobago.gov.tt

The smaller of the two main islands which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago lies 22 miles northeast of larger Trinidad (a 20-minute flight away, as well as with direct service to/from Barbados, the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany).It´s known for its unspoiled natural beauty; gorgeous beaches (such as Buccoo, pictured above); rich history (dating back to 1654); and vibrant culture (which besides numerous current ways to experience it is particularly on dis

When most people think of beaches in this small South American country between Argentina and Brazil, Punta del Este and other strands along its "Gold Coast" most readily come to mind. But two hours north, among the charms of Uruguay´s appealing capital (pop. 1.8 million) are several beaches of its own, bathed in the waters of the Río de la Plata (River Plate), an estuary which empties into the South Atlantic and is so huge that locals refer to it as el mar (the sea). So in addition to admiring

Le Domaine de la Réserve

This archipelago of 115 islands and  just over 100,600 Seychellois in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa (some 1,314 miles east of Kenya) was a British colony from 1794 to 1976 – having been uninhabited before it was first settled by the French beginning in 1770  – and while a bit remote but treasured especially by nature lovers and honeymooners for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, lush tropical forests, and spectacular marine life. Both English and Fre

With nearly 26,000 kilometres (more than 16,000 miles) of coastline, this continent unto itself, surrounded by three of the world's great oceans: the Pacific, the Indian, and the Southern Ocean. It´s most famous for the surfing culture along its eastern coast but also offers an incredible array of aquatic adventures, from adrenaline pumpers to simply bathing off gorgeous beaches in crystal-clear seas. And here we focus on a quintet of places that all marine mavens should have on their bucket l

Matt Kieffer


One of the “ABC” islands* of the Dutch Antilles, just 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela, this 111-square-mile island is a welcoming and tranquil trove of eco-adventure (which they play up with the tourism tagline “It´s in Our Nature”), and it´s known especially for its diving and snorkeling. For a nice, laid-back slice of the old Caribbean (albeit a pretty arid one, so please don´t go expecting luxuriant greenery), many travelers in the know very much appreciate this off-the-beaten

SPC Gibran Torres


Haiti, really? You´re no doubt wondering. Well, yes, the Americas´ most impoverished country has been an abject basket case for many years, and its current tragic vicissitudes with violence and instability approaching near collapse make it seem unlikely to recover any time soon. But here´s a reminder of what a fundamentally beautiful country this is, how rich is its history, how vibrant its culture, and how friendly its people – as I can attest when I visited way back in 26 y

Paul Sableman

The northern part of the island shared with Dutch Sint Maarten was colonized by the French in the early 17th century, and today Saint-Martin (population just over 39,000) is a “collectivity” of France, an overseas territory with considerable autonomy. This side of the island is known for its French influence, gastronomic delights, and beautiful beaches.

Marigot

The capital of French St. Martin (pop. 5,700, above and top) is a laid-back blend of French and Caribbean culture filled

Josh Duncan

The smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands – just seven miles long and three miles wide (roughly 11 by five kilometers) and with a permanent population just under 99,000 – is the favorite of some because it´s less developed and more pristine-feeling than St. Croix and St. Thomas. Some of its highlights include:

Matt Wade

Cute, Laid Back, Welcoming Towns

On its west coast, St. John´s largest settlement is Cruz Bay (above pop. around 4,200), where  Mongoose Junction and Wharfsi

Among the many allures of the City of Angels are its beaches, serving up a Baywatch vibe of "endless summer" all year round, and here are eight choice examples, from Malibu to South Bay.

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David Stanley


This southern African country´s mostly arid coastline runs 994 miles (1,600 kilometers) along the Atlantic Ocean, so that leaves plenty of room for a bevy of beautiful – even stunning – strands. They range widely in amenities, from full service to wild and practically deserted. Here are the top 11 worth noting, running from nearest to farthest from capital Luanda:

Ilha Luanda

Can´t get closer than this! Extending out into Luanda Bay and just a few minutes from downtown, Lua

urbanwide


Esconced on the lower Pacific ¨Emerald Coast¨ in the state of Oaxaca, the town of Puerto Escondido (which means ¨hidden port¨) was up until the 1960s barely a pinprick on the map, with dirt streets and just a handful of residents mostly devoted to fishing. Then in 1960 a coastal road reached the village, making it accessible to the outside world, and a village hall was built. Most consequentially for tourism, it was during that decade that surfers (pioneered by a group of Venezuelans

burdem

Its name pronounced “Kiribass,” this nation comprised of 33 atolls and reef islands (population around 121,000) is spread over more than a million square miles out in the central Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and Australia (some 3,107 miles southeast), as well as 2,175 north of Fiji (in fact, it´s served internationally by Fiji Airways and Qantas, and its currency is the Aussie dollar). Kiribati is known for its laid-back vibe, stunning waters and marine life, as well as the culture