Dream Travel Destinations
With a new year here, it’s the perfect time to start dreaming up your ultimate travel destinations you’d like to visit. There’s nothing better than planning a trip, making vision boards and printing out the pics to put ALL over your house. Whether you’re more a European city break girl, a beach loving babe, a backpacking explorer, or a long haul-tropical-bali-loving-girly, we’ve curated a list that covers something for everyone. Featuring Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, South America & The Caribbean, read on to find out the places we are desperate to visit in 2019.
COLOMBIA
BEST TIME TO GO:
Between DEcember - march.
Due to its proximity to the equator, the country enjoys a tropical weather resulting in stable temperatures throughout the year. However, due to topological differences, the climate variation is characterised more by regions than by seasons. December to March is the dry season with sunny days and warm weather which is ideal for exploring the cities and beaches. - Holidify
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THINGS TO EXPERIENCE IN COLOMBIA via Lonely Planet:)
VIsit beautiful Cartagena
Cartagena de Indias is the undisputed queen of the Caribbean coast, a historic city of superbly preserved beauty lying within an impressive 13km of centuries-old colonial stone walls. Cartagena's Old Town is a Unesco World Heritage site – a maze of cobbled alleys, balconies covered in bougainvillea, and massive churches that cast their shadows across leafy plazas.
hike through Ciudad Perdida
What could be more intriguing than an ancient abandoned city? Ciudad Perdida (literally 'Lost City') disappeared into the jungle around the time of the Spanish Conquest and was only 'discovered' again in the 1970s. Deep in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, it remains accessible only on foot in what is easily one of Colombia's most exciting and breathtaking hikes. Known locally by its indigenous name of Teyuna, the city was built by the Tayrona people on the northern slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Today it's one of the largest known pre-Columbian towns in the Americas, and the focus of Colombia's most popular multiday hike. Doing the hike is a fantastic experience, and you don't need to be particularly strong or experienced to do it, either. The landscapes and the sense of remoteness will stay with you long after you return.
explore the breathtaking waterfalls at CAÑo cristales
Caño Cristales, a series of remote rivers, waterfalls and streams inside the wilderness of Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de La Macarena, has been called everything from 'The River of Five Colors' to 'The Liquid Rainbow.' This is due to a unique biological phenomenon that takes place for a couple of months between July and November when an eruption of algae forms an underwater blanket of bright red. This transforms the crystal-clear water into a river of cabernet that contrasts magically with the lunarscape of ancient, hollowed-out riverbed rock and the surrounding savannah landscape.
visit the city, Medellín
Situated in a narrow valley, Medellín packs the punch of a city twice its size. Its skyline reaches for the heavens, setting high-rise apartments and office buildings against a backdrop of jagged peaks in every direction. Its pleasant climate gives it its nickname – the City of Eternal Spring – and the moderate temperatures put a spring in the locals' steps, at work and at play. It's a bustling place of industry and commerce, especially in textile manufacturing and exported cut flowers. On weekends Medellín lets its hair down, its many discos attracting the beautiful people.
Guatemala
BEST TIME TO GO:
Between November - April.
Like most tropical nations in Central America, seasons are defined by the rain. The dry season runs November through April, and you’ll enjoy clear blue skies and warm sunshine. Be warned though, religious holidays like Christmas and Holy Week tend to attract greater crowds for festivals, and hotels can be booked out far in advance. - The Discoverer
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THINGS TO EXPERIENCE IN GUATEMALA via Lonely Planet:
Visit the ruin of an ancient city, Tikal, and visit the Tikal Temple.
The most striking feature of Tikal is its towering, steep-sided temples, rising to heights of more than 44m, but what distinguishes it is its jungle setting. Its many plazas have been cleared of trees and vines, its temples uncovered and partially restored, but as you walk from one building to another you pass beneath a dense canopy of rainforest amid the rich, loamy aromas of earth and vegetation. Much of the delight of touring the site comes from strolling the broad causeways, originally built from packed limestone to accommodate traffic between temple complexes. By stepping softly you’re more likely to spot monkeys, agoutis, foxes and ocellated turkeys.
Explore Antigua and it’s pastel streetscapes
Antigua's beguiling beauty starts to seduce the moment you arrive. Once capital of Guatemala, its streetscapes of pastel facades unfold beneath the gaze of three volcanoes, and beautifully restored colonial buildings sit next to picturesque ruins in park-like surroundings. The city's World-Heritage listed status means that even fast-food chains have to hide themselves behind traditional building facades.
Check out Chichicastenango
Surrounded by valleys with mountains serrating the horizons, Chichicastenango can seem isolated in time and space from the rest of Guatemala. When its narrow cobbled streets and red-tiled roofs are enveloped in mist, it's downright magical. The crowds of crafts vendors and tour groups who flock in for the huge Thursday and Sunday markets lend it a much worldlier, more commercial atmosphere, but Chichi retains its mystery. Masheños (citizens of Chichicastenango) are famous for their adherence to pre-Christian beliefs and ceremonies, and the town's various cofradías (religious brotherhoods) hold processions in observance of their saints around the church of Santo Tomás.
Lago de Atitlán
Nineteenth-century traveler/chronicler John L Stephens, writing in Incidents of Travel in Central America, called Lago de Atitlán 'the most magnificent spectacle we ever saw,' and he had been around a bit. Today even seasoned travelers marvel at this incredible environment. Fishermen in rustic crafts ply the lake's aquamarine surface. Fertile hills dot the landscape, and over everything loom the volcanoes, permeating the entire area with a mysterious beauty. It never looks the same twice. No wonder many outsiders have fallen in love with the place and made their homes here.
Amsterdam
BEST TIME TO GO:
DURING SPRING & SUMMER: MARCH - JULY
Tulip season runs from about mid March to early May, and marks the beginning of tourist season. April is an ideal time: flowers, medium tourist traffic, and a high chance of good weather. However, make sure to scoot out by Queen’s Day weekend if you want to avoid large crowds and a spike in hotel prices. - Eurocheapo
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THINGS TO EXPERIENCE IN GUATEMALA via Lonely Planet:
Visit the Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is among the world's finest art museums, packing works by local heroes Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh as well as 7500 other masterpieces over 1.5km of galleries. To avoid the biggest crowds, come before 10am or after 3pm. Prebooking tickets online provides fast-track entry. Start on the 2nd floor, with the astounding Golden Age works. Intimate paintings by Vermeer and De Hooch allow insight into everyday life in the 17th century, while Rembrandt's The Night Watch (1642) takes pride of place.
look round the Van Gogh Museum
It's a moving experience to visit this museum, which traces Van Gogh's life and development via the world's largest collection of his work, both familiar paintings and wonderful little-known pieces. It's fascinating to see his work change, from tentative beginnings to giddily bright sunflowers, and on to his frenzy of creative brilliance towards the end of his life. There are also paintings by contemporaries Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet and Bernard. You must choose a time slot and prepurchase tickets online.
Stroll around Jordaan & the West
A former workers' quarter, the Jordaan teems with cosy pubs, galleries and markets crammed into a grid of tiny lanes. It's short on conventional sights, but it's a wonderfully atmospheric place for an aimless stroll. It abuts the West, industrial badlands that have transformed into an avant-garde cultural hub.
take a picnic to vondelpark
A private park for the wealthy until 1953, Vondelpark now occupies a special place in Amsterdam's heart. It's a magical escape, but also supplies a busy social scene, encompassing cycle ways, pristine lawns, ponds with swans, quaint cafes, footbridges and winding footpaths. On a sunny day, an open-air party atmosphere ensues when tourists, lovers, cyclists, in-line skaters, pram-pushing parents, cartwheeling children, football-kicking teenagers, spliff-sharing friends and champagne-swilling picnickers all come out to play.
CINQUE TERRE
BEST TIME TO GO:
BETWEEN APRIL - SEPTEMBER
Book your flight during the prime months of April through September to experience everything Cinque Terre has to offer. The summer months will be met with more tourists, but the weather is perfect for hiking and swimming in the sea. You might want to check out some festivals too, especially the ones that revolve around food: Lemons in May and Anchovies in September. Also, each town honors its own patron saint, with celebrations throughout the summer. - The Discover
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Hike Sentiero Rosso
Just a few kilometres shy of a full-blown marathon, the 38km Sentiero Rosso (Red Trail; marked No 1 on maps) – which runs from Porto Venere to Levanto – dangles a tempting challenge to experienced walkers who aim to complete it in nine to 12 hours. For every 100 people you see on the Sentiero Azzurro, there are less than a dozen up here plying their way along a route that is mainly flat, tree-covered and punctuated with plenty of shortcuts. An early start is assured by an efficient train and bus connection to Porto Venere (via La Spezia), while refreshments en route are possible in a liberal smattering of welcoming bars and restaurants.
drink in La Conchiglia
A fantastic find: down-to-earth, friendly and unflustered staff; a fantastic well-priced local wine list; absolute waterfront positions and a menu of big, healthy salads, panini and burgers if you've missed lunch or dinner service elsewhere. The shaded waterfront terrace upstairs is a delight.
Punta Bonfiglio, the best Viewpoint in Manarola
Manarola's prized viewpoint is on a rocky promontory on the path out of town towards Corniglia where walkers stop for classic photos of the village. A rest area, including a kids' playground, has been constructed here and there's also a bar just below. Nearby are the ruins of an old chapel once used as a shelter by local farmers.
visit the church Convento dei Cappuccini, in monterosso
Monterosso's most interesting church and convent complex is set on the hill that divides the old town from the newer Fegina quarter. The striped church, the Chiesa di San Francesco, dates from 1623 and has a painting attributed to Van Dyck (Crocifissione) to the left of the altar. The convent welcomes casual visitors but also has a program of spiritual retreats and workshops.
Greece
BEST TIME TO GO:
BETWEEN SEPTEMBER & october
The best time to visit Mykonos island really depends upon your preferences. If you want to go to Mykonos when the place is packed wall-to-wall with people, both in Mykonos Town and at the beaches, then August is the best time to go. But that’s also when prices, particularly for accommodation are highest. Many people consider September and October the best time to visit Mykonos because the August crowds are gone, the sea is still warm and perfect for swimming, and the island has a mellow, laid-back vibe as the tourist season starts winding down.
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visit Agios Sostis, the top beach in mykonos & FOkos
Wide, gorgeous strip of white sand that receives far fewer visitors than the south coast. There's a legendary taverna here, plus a sheltered cove directly below // Little-visited sandy beach – a nice break from crowds. There's a good taverna here, but you'll need an ATV to tackle the rutted road.
Visit the stunning church, Panagia Paraportiani
Mykonos’ most famous church, the whitewashed, rock-like Panagia Paraportiani, comprises four small chapels – plus another on an upper storey reached by an exterior staircase. It’s usually locked but the fabulously photogenic whitewashed exterior is the drawcard.
visit the Archaeological Museum in Hora (Mykonos)
Peruse pottery from Delos, dating back to the 9th century BC, and grave stelae (pillars) and jewellery from the island of Renia (Delos’ necropolis). Chief exhibits include a statue of Hercules in Parian marble
or check out Aegean Maritime Museum, top choice museum in Hora (Mykonos)
Amidst the barnacle-encrusted amphorae, ye olde nautical maps and navigation instruments, there are numerous detailed models of various famous sailing ships and paddle steamers. You can also learn the difference between an Athenian trireme, a Byzantine dromon and an ancient Egyptian seagoing ship. There's an enormous Fresnel lighthouse lantern in the courtyard.
