Europe: Our 5 Favourite Beach Destinations

It’s that time of year again! Yes, it’s time to plan a summer holiday. Being the over planners that we are, we have already got ours in the bag. July will see us heading The Balkans – Montenegro, Croatia and Albania to be precise. We are of course looking forward to exploring the cities, towns and villages of these countries, learning about the culture, eating the local food and drinking the local beer but we are also looking forward to lying on the beaches we find along the way. We traverse the world, sometimes at lightning speed, therefore when we get the opportunity to lay back on a golden sandy beach and soak up the sun’s rays, we grasp it with both hands. Everyone needs to take a bit of time out every now and again.

England: Head To The Med, The Top Places To Visit For A Mediterranean Holiday

When planning a holiday to southern Europe, you’re practically spoilt for choice. For those wanting the best balance of sun, culture, nightlife and scenery, here are some of the top all-rounders worth visiting.

10 Dream Travel Destinations For The Next 10 Years

After posting yesterday’s post – Top 10 Travel Destinations Over The Last 10 Years, it got me thinking where the next 10 years would take Mr ESLT and I if we are lucky enough to be able to carry on travelling the world the way we do now. Over the past 10 years we have travelled to over 40 countries, I wonder if in another 10 years that figure will have risen to 80 countries travelled together, possibly even more? Back in October when we visited Malta, we indulged in a few pints of the local fizzy stuff and complied a list of places we want to visit and soon. So here is the list of the 10 dream destinations for the next 10 years. I wonder how many we can tick off within that timescale?

Greece: Romance in Lovely Lindos, Rhodes

Greece is one of those countries we haven’t really explored yet. I’d only ever been with a friend to Faliraki on the island of Rhodes around 12 years ago, and Mr ESLT to Kavos on the island of Corfu on a boys holiday when he was 17. Both of the islands we visited are party towns, where the streets are lined with late night bars, night clubs and take away shops – not really the traditional beautiful whitewashed buildings that Greece is famed for. Therefore, when Mr ESLT and I were invited to our friend’s wedding in Lindos, a notoriously stunning town on the island of Rhodes, we jumped at the chance! 

View of the Acropolis from our apartment, Lindos, Rhodes

View of Lindos town from the Acropolis, Rhodes

Greece: Athens on Tour

Greetings from Sunny Greece, we are at the moment on the beautiful island of Rhodes. I’ll be honest I haven’t explored Greece very much at all and feel that this is something I need to address over the next few years. Top of my list is certainly Athens, and has been for quite a while. So when Giwta Markou, an Athens local got in touch offering information regarding touring the city I jumped at the chance of featuring her as a guest writer. She has certainly sold Athens to me and hopefully her information will inspire you to visit too.

Watersport Lovers Should Visit This Amazing Island

If you love being active, then chances are you love the idea of an active holiday. Sure, you may want an afternoon or two relaxing and sunbathing. But the opportunity to try or master new sports can be a very appealing part of any holiday. After all, it beats sitting around the office all day! And if you love being out on or in the water, then the little Greek island of Paros could be your perfect holiday destination.

Wakeboarding is one of the most extreme water sports you can try. You use a single board rather than waterskis, much like surfing. The difference is you are towed behind a motorboat that will create wake waves for you to surf as you go. Wakesurfing can be done too if you dare to let go of the tow rope!

Image provided by Flickr

Of course, there are many different water sports to enjoy when you stay on Paros. Kayaking and Paddleboarding require a lot more upper body strength than some of the others. On Paros, there are specialist schools to help you train and learn how to get the most from these sports.

You don’t need to stay on the surface of the water when you’re enjoying the island of Paros. Snorkeling is one of the easiest ways to enjoy everything that goes on beneath the surface. The waters are warm almost all year round. This means you don’t really need any special equipment or protective wear to get the most out of being in the waters around Paros.

If you love snorkeling, why not take some scuba or diving instruction while you stay on Paros? There is plenty to see under the water around this island. The red star fishes are extraordinary. They are certainly worth learning to dive to see. Of course, there are dozens of beautiful species to see. Paros is one of the best islands for it!

Inland, you can find some great walks. The temperatures can be a little warm for hiking and climbing. But you can still enjoy pleasant strolls along the coastal paths without overdoing it. The beaches are extremely good, so it might be worth exploring some of the sports and activities you can do on the sand.

Image provided by Flickr

Mountain bike touring is very popular on this island. You can tour the entire island during your holiday. There will be plenty of photo ops. The landscape on Paros is very pretty in places and provides enough challenges to enjoy cycling here, no matter what your fitness level. Choose a led tour, or hire a bike and set off on your own.

Staying on the island provides you with a wide choice of accommodation. One of the most choices are the Paros luxury villas that are dotted around the island. You can enjoy all your favourite creature comforts. Then choose to cater for yourself, or enjoy some of the best eateries on the island each evening.

Al fresco dining is very common due to the heat. The best part is definitely the view while you eat and the refreshing sea breeze. And after all that watersport activity, a great meal is just the thing!

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