Tag Archives: South Africa

Brilliant Trip Ideas to Pass Twixmas

If you are wondering what Twixmas is, it is the gap between Christmas and New Year. There are people out there who hate this time of year as the days feel long and there is often nothing to do. If you are off work during this time then there are some fantastic places to go.

Choosing a destination can be a bit tricky, think about the time it takes to get there and what you can do while traveling. If you enjoy films then you may be wondering where to watch Twilight and other films on the plane. 

If you want some winter sun then take a look at the article below, it is filled with great destinations to pass twixmas.

Caribbean 

One place you could go to for some winter sun is the Caribbean, there are some gorgeous islands to choose from. One of the nicest to visit is St.Lucia with its wonderful beaches and rainforests. Be sure to pack your swimsuit as you will need it, temperatures never dip too low in St.Lucia. However, be sure to watch out for any rain storms that hit while you are away. They are the warmest rains you will experience but it can be dangerous to be out in. If you stay on site then you will be safe on the grounds of your accommodation.

Thailand

If you are looking for a nice budget-friendly vacation then there is nothing better than Thailand. With its cheap drinks and accommodation, you won’t need to splash the cash too much. Thailand is filled with gorgeous turquoise beaches and amazing people to chat with and get to know. Did you know that flowers can be found all year round in Thailand, especially up in the mountains of Northern Thailand. Make sure you check out various accommodations, you don’t want to stay anywhere as some of them aren’t as safe as others.

South Africa

Have you always wanted to go on safari? South Africa is the place where you can do this. You may have heard that South Africa isn’t a very safe place to go on vacation. However, there are things you can do to ensure you are always safe and well. Staying in your accommodation complex is one thing you can do to stay safe, this will have everything you need in one place. If you want to head out of the complex, on safari for instance, then it is best to use an excursion company recommended by the hotel.

Mexico

If you want to get away from reality and onto beautiful beaches sipping Pina Coladas then head down to Mexico. You may not have heard wonderful things about Mexico, but there are fantastic resorts that are safe. These will have their pools, bars, and access to private beaches that nobody else can use. There are places around Mexico that remind you of old cities, they have cobbled streets and quaint little boutiques. You could even take some surf lessons or other excursions, speak to the guest relations at your accommodation to find out more.

London

Somewhere that is truly magical around Christmas and New Year is London. If you have never been then you are in for a treat. Head onto Oxford Street and look at the beautiful lights that it has to offer. Better yet, take a trip to Hyde Park and visit Winter Wonderland. Make sure you have some cash on you as there may be stools and shops that don’t take cards. Thinking about accommodation, it might be easier to rent an AirBnB rather than pay hotel prices. 

Staycation 

Finally, if you don’t have the money to jet off to a far away land then you could always stay at home to pass twixmas. Christmas can take its toll on your wallet and you’re not the only one. A staycation can be awesome as you are close to home if anything happens. This is especially useful if you have pets or older children that you are worried about leaving. There are some caravan parks or holiday homes dotted around your country so take a look and see which one suits you best.

Hopefully, you found this article helpful and that it gave you some top places to visit this Twixmas. Some places you may have already been, others might have been on your bucket list. Remember, there is no harm in going away to places you have already been. There are quite a few people who always book the same destination and accommodation.

The Best Travel Destinations for 2018

The Best Travel Destinations for 2018

Len Rutledge

The travel and tourism industry is booming as more and more people take advantage of low airfares and increased opportunities to see new places. While there has been some resistance to increased visitor numbers in some European destinations, much of the world is still welcoming visitors with open arms.

Here are some suggestions for places to travel and activities to experience in 2018.

The Philippines

Brilliant green rice fields, teeming cities, colourful jeepneys, stunning beaches, and smiling, happy-go-lucky people are all part of the Philippines scene. With more than 7000 tropical islands to choose from, you can find what you are looking for. Divers have long known about the country’s underwater attractions while Northern Palawan is perfect for sea kayakers, and Boracay is a world-class kiteboarding and beach destination.

The Philippines was colonised for 400 years and vestiges of the Spanish era can be seen in exuberant town festivals and centuries-old stone churches while huge shopping malls, fast-food chains and widespread spoken English come from the influence of the Americans.

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Boracay Beach. Credit: Philippines Tourism

Manila, the capital, is a pulsating hub that blends the quaint with the modern, the mundane with the extraordinary. Cebu is a choice tourist destination with balmy weather, pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and luxurious resorts. Banaue is a place for nature adventures and cultural immersion and the rice terraces are quite extraordinary. Palawan has thick green forest, white-sand beach, sparkling water and magnificently sculpted jade islands.

Philippines Airlines operates from most continents to Manila and there are some direct services to Cebu.

South Africa

Go almost anywhere in South Africa and you can experience a combination of nature, wildlife, culture, adventure, heritage and style. During these tough economic times, it’s good to find a bargain destination where you can even afford luxury and have spending money left over. There is natural beauty in mountains, forests, coasts and deserts and world-class facilities.

It is not possible to talk about South Africa without mentioning wildlife. Everyone wants to see the Big Five, but there are also whales, penguins, meerkats, wild dogs, birds and much more. If you are looking to experience wildlife viewing in luxury, Tintswalo Safari Lodge, in the pristine private Manyeleti Game Reserve could be the answer. It shares an unfenced boundary with the renowned Kruger National Park and suites are decorated to reflect colonial times.

Tintswalo Atlantic Resort. Credit: Tintswalo Atlantic

The same company has beach-side Tintswalo Atlantic, a 5 star, award-winning boutique lodge nestled at the base of Table Mountain National Park near Cape Town. This is one of the city’s hidden gems. The views of a wild sea crashing below contrasting with a roaring fire and fabulous welcome drinks will set the tone for a memorable stay.

For a city location, the all-suites Michelangelo Towers in Sandton, Johannesburg appeals because it is directly connected to the Michelangelo Towers Mall and the Sandton Convention Centre, and is located directly opposite Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square in the in heart of South Africa’s  Richest Square Mile.

Monaco

Situated at France’s southeastern corner near the Italian border, occupying an area of just 2.8 sq. km, Monaco might be the second smallest country in the world (after the Vatican), but what it lacks in size it sure makes up for in attitude and variety.

There is an ornate opera house, Michelin-starred restaurants, and casinos, palaces, cathedrals, supercars, mega yachts, deluxe hotels and designer boutiques. There are also museums and galleries, festivals, nightclubs, and gardens with exotic plants and sea views.

Monaco. Credit: Monaco Government Tourist Bureau

The country is one of the most surprising and rewarding destinations in Europe. It is just 30 minutes by car, bus or taxi from Nice Airport through hairpin bends and along rocky cliffs. Monaco enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year and a temperate climate.

Berlin

As most readers will know, Berlin has had a chequered history in recent decades. It is now emerging as one of Europe’s leading centres of culture. The modern Mitte district has the Museum Island UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also two opera houses and six major theatres, as well as museums, innumerable galleries and arts venues. Now, many new major cultural projects are locating here, just a few minutes’ walk apart.

Opened earlier this year, the new Pierre Boulez Saal is a major international concert hall with the elliptically-shaped hall regularly presenting concerts and chamber music. A complete contrast is provided by the 1740s Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin’s first opera house, which reopened in October 2017. Unfortunately, Berlin’s most popular museum, the Pergamon, is partially closed but from mid- 2018, visitors can view part of the Pergamon Altar’s treasures at a temporary exhibition building directly opposite Museum Island.

The James-Simon-Galerie will be the Museum Island’s new central entrance and visitor centre with central ticket office, cloakrooms and facilities, cafés and a museum shop when it opens in 2019.

Berlin-Ansichten. Credit: Visit Berlin

To complement all this development, several major hotels have opened in 2017 and more are scheduled for 2018.

The Berlin City Centre Alexanderplatz, opened in May offering 344 rooms with a modern design over nine floors. Later, The Yard,  4-star boutique hotel with 55 rooms opened, followed by the Orani Berlin, a classy hotel with 42 subtle but rather luxuriously furnished rooms. Between now and year’s end the 60-metre-high Motel One Berlin-Alexanderplatz with 708 rooms, The Meininger Hotel Berlin East Side Gallery with 245 rooms and the Hilton Berlin City East with 254 rooms will all open.

Bargain rooms may well be on offer during the European winter.

Los Angeles

Many readers will have been to Los Angeles, USA but most will not be aware of the wide range of museums, art galleries and concert halls that are spread throughout the city. In the downtown area, the futuristic Walt Disney Theatre is an architectural masterpiece and is right next door to the city’s newest cultural and design showpiece, The Broad. L.A.Live is another vibrant entertainment complex offering restaurants and live music venues.

Walt Disney Theatre. Credit: Discover LA. Photo by Matt Marriott

The Westside perhaps has even more attractions. There is the Getty Center located atop the Santa Monica Mountains then on Museum Row, there is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pettersen Automotive Museum, the Craft and Folk Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. In Century City you will find the Annenberg Space for Photography.

Hollywood, known as the entertainment capital of the world, is an essential part of the L.A. experience. Film enthusiasts will love the renovated TCL Chinese Theatre and you can tour the Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars. Not far away is Universal Studios Hollywood with its rides, shows and tours.

If you consider L.A. nothing more than a gateway to the USA, you had better re-think. It is one of the top picks for places to visit in 2018.

The Best Travel Destinations for 2018www.LenRutledge.com

www.LenRutledge.com