Adventure

You probably haven’t heard of it but Ishigaki, a small Japanese island, has just been named TripAdvisor’s top-trending travel destination for 2018. Once virtually ignored, even by the Japanese, this banjo-shaped isle is currently being compared to Hawaii thanks to its heartbreaking white-sand beaches, translucent waters and epic marine life.

In Mexico you discover new worlds through timeless connections.  There are cities here that haven't been populated in over thousand years, and yet when you visit you come to know the people who lived there, from their art, their hopes for corn and rain, their plans for harvests and burials.  There are Colonial centers where you can trace globalization from Persia to Arabia to Africa to Spain in the arabesque of a balcony, the pomegranates in a sauce, the gold lavished on a church.  But these cities are showcases of the New World: its native craftspeople and farmers, its unfathomable wealth, its artists who decorated alters with angels as their forebears had with feathered gods.  The heritage sites of Mexico tells a story; come, let us share them with you.

Being driven around the bustling, cobbled streets of Havana in an ancient, but beautifully preserved 1950s Cadillac, Chevrolet or Oldsmobile, you feel like you have entered a different era.  It’s not just the unusual combination of grey Soviet-era brutalist architecture juxtaposed with gems such as the Gran Teatro (lit up at night it is a marvel).

CUBA is one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations – and with its diverse mix of vibrant urban nightlife, relaxing beaches and spectacular natural vistas, it’s not difficult to see why.  The country is attracting more visitors than ever before and even the Kardashians gave the island (the largest in the Caribbean) their seal of approval when they drove around capital Havana in a hot pink convertible Cadillac. Havana, the countries capital, with a population of two million,  recently got its first luxury hotel, the Grans Hotel Manzana Kempinski, which occupies an entire city block.

With beautiful beaches, blue skies, and blazing temperatures, escape the post-Christmas chill with a trip to the largest of the Canary Islands.  There is a lot to say for a holiday haven which mixes familiarity with notes of the exotic. Tenerife is just such a destination. The biggest of the Canary Islands has long been loved by generations of British tourists-who know it to be a perfect possibility for winter sun.

Where are you having dinner tonight? Instead of trudging home to eat a takeaway in front of the TV, you could be enjoying a four-course meal in your cosy chalet in the French Alps with free-flowing wine (and no washing up after).  After a day on the slopes, you'll have worked up an appetite, so there is nothing more welcoming than a home-cooked meal along with some great conversation to get you in the mood to party.

What are you doing this evening? Bet they won't be as memorable as catching a glimpse of the magical Northern Lights after a day cross-country skiing through stunning scenery or after tackling a World Cup slalom in a frozen forest.  Unlike the Alps, Scandinavian countries can add more to your winter experience.  The snow here last for up to six months, and it offers more than a day on the piste, with some amazing adventures.

Going to Indonesia? Let us help you plan your break. With five islands offering distinct holiday charm you might want to plan how you enjoy them, along with the amount of time you spend on each. The is Java for culture and Moyo for sea lovers, with a rich wildlife and unique flora and fauna is Sumba, plus the others you would definitely want to see.

Skip the beaten path and explore the overlooked sights of western France on the way to Bordeaux. The country’s fifth largest city, tucked away in the south western corner, is an eight-hour drive from Calais. Fortunately, there are countless stops along the way, all easily accessible by car, helping to break up the trek.

Your first destination has to be the state road 741, where you’ll wind through Floridian fields and forests to the eerie beauty of Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. You can get some surreal snaps here, then head back north to the sunny city of Stuart to capture the nearby woodland at sunset. And don’t miss out on the brilliant blue water of The Florida Keys while you’re in town – an amazing sight to behold, dotted with small islands and bursting with marine life.