spring-break cancun

Spotlight on Cancun’s Spring Break

Guides & Tips

Where do you begin with Spring Break? Decades of Hollywood teaching us the importance of this yearly tradition for American students has planted it firmly in all of our heads as a concept, whether or not we’ve actually experienced it, or even bothered to do a bit of research on it. Whilst it isn’t always parties and scantily clad young people tasting freedom – real freedom, the kind you only get when you’re away from your parents and of the legal age to indulge in all sorts of other fun activities – when it comes to Spring Break in Cancun, the caricature is more than accurate. If you’re the sort of person who loves meeting new people and having a good old knees up, or you’re looking for where to party in Cancun over Spring Break, then read on: this is the ultimate guide to Spring Break in Cancun!

palazzo

Clubbing Cancun Style

See & Do

Cancun is most certainly a place to let your hair down, in every sense of the term. For some, that means lazing around on a sandy beach with the soft lapping of the sea lulling them to sleep. For others, especially most of those who visit this beautiful city, it means cutting loose with a drink or five. Cancun nightlife is famous around the world for a reason: laid back vibes, late night clubs, and stunning sunrises earned through staying up all night are just a few of the things that make this such a great place to go out. It’s also incredibly convenient, with the vast majority of clubs and bars located in the aptly named “Party Zone” (inside the Hotel zone). With so much choice, it can be difficult to figure out where to head for the night, but with our Cancun nightlife tips you’re sure to have an amazing clubbing experience.

scuba-diving-cancun

Dive into Cancun: our scuba diving and snorkelling guide

See & Do

Scuba diving and snorkelling are the sorts of activities where the memories stay with you for decades, and nowhere in the world is there a better place to dive in than the crystal clear, calm waters of the Caribbean. Cancun and the surrounding areas have a whole host of excellent dive sites, whether you’re a novice or a dive master, and diving culture is very much embedded in the local scene, so there’ll be no trouble finding likeminded souls. The area also has the benefit of having gorgeous scenery close to the shore, for those who are keener on donning a snorkel as opposed to a wetsuit and tank. There is so much to see, both in terms of scenery and local wildlife, that it can almost feel like another planet down there, and no matter what your diving aim, you’ll definitely surface with a renewed appreciation of just how gorgeous the deep blue sea can be.

Santorini

Destination

Whether you’re in town for Barcelona’s impressive structures – Sagrada Familia or Camp Nou, you’ll want to pop by some of the city’s other memorable sights too. Here, we could start listing Gothic architecture, Roman walls and some sort of UNESCO World Heritage rundown. But you’re too Google-savvy for that. No, we’ll point you towards achingly cool coffee shops or Barcelona tattoo artists that can do incredible things with ink. Because this is the stuff that makes or breaks, well… a city break. Antoni Gaudi may well have littered Barcelona with some showstopping landmarks – but if your baristas can’t rustle up a more than passable espresso, we’re just not interested.

Santorini with kids? It can be done…

See & Do

If your holidays tend towards kids’ club and theme park territory, you might be looking for something a little more grown up. It’s at this point we’ll recommend Santorini. And while Cliff-perched quaint villages awash with art and historic ambience might be a world away from a primary-hued ball pit. Honestly, the kids will love it. Castle ruins once romped through by pirates, beaches with the strangest sand colours and volcano craters that really don’t mind if you have a little peer in. What’s not to enjoy about that – at any age? Some pursuits (we’re talking hiking and jet ski safaris) will suit teens more than toddlers. And, yes, you might have to swerve the lengthy wine tasting tours. But there’s nothing to stop you nipping to the winery to stock up your suitcase. For a glimpse into what Santorini with the kids could be like, read on…

el-viento-villa

Say ‘I do’ to our Santorini wedding guide

Guides & Tips

Santorini weddings are romantic, sea-scaped and sunset filled days of joy. And we don’t say this lightly. Those among you who’ve always imagined your perfect day to be something approaching a fairytale wedding – this is your island. Ice white terraces gleam in the sunshine – providing the perfect blank canvas for your colour scheme. Caldera views and – sorry for the cliche – sparkling seas are your backdrop. Plus Santorini’s wedding venues come with everything from on-site accommodation to firework displays and gourmet food. But it’s not all glitz and bridal glam. Santorini beach weddings are no less impressive – but there are venues where the main focus is a chilled out vibe and, of course, the after party.

A wine tasting tour of Santorini

Food & Drink

Wine lovers, get ready to wax lyrical about bouquets, finish and perhaps even throw in a comment on malic acids, if you’re feeling fruity. Santorini’s vineyards are ready to welcome you with open arms – and, of course, a cheese platter. If you’re not quite up to speed on mouth-feel, ageing and tannins, fear not. On a wine tour, you’ll rarely be far from a sommelier or two to clue you in to the good stuff. And on Santorini, almost any wine is the good stuff. Depending on your palette, of course.

Bangkok

Destination

Bangkok is a city of extremes: come in from the airport via the MRT and you’ll see the politest and most reserved of Thai culture, as everybody stands in neatly formed queues to wait for the workers to clean the carriages. Being spat out into the bustling heat of the Phra Nakhon district is the opposite: a kind of chaotic freedom as locals and tourists eat, drink, and banter away. Although it may all seem disordered at first, you eventually begin to see the rules by which this city operates, and soon you’ll be crossing roads as scooters beep and drive around you without a second thought.

Roll up, roll up! A guide to Bangkok’s markets

Guides & Tips

Markets are where most of the people of Bangkok get their shopping done. The hustle and bustle of these sprawling commerce centres might be a more intense experience than a peruse through a supermarket, but markets are so much more than a place to buy and sell things; wander through one and you’ll get a real sense of how life is lived in the Thai capital. There are hundreds of different specialist markets to choose from, but we’ve rounded up some of the best for you to have a stroll through. So, get your haggling pants on and prepare for your market tour of Bangkok!

gym bangkok

Get Fit Bangkok Style

See & Do

While most people use their holiday time to slip into a world of cocktails, rich meals, and lounging around, those who find joy in a more active lifestyle can often be left feeling short changed, especially in urban environments where exercising in public isn’t too viable thanks to less than stellar roads and excessive heat – not the best running or cycling conditions. The same issue applies to expats, who may want to maintain their regular lifestyle despite being in paradisiacal surroundings. Bangkok is lacking in consistent green space, so if you’re looking to get the blood pumping your best bet is a local gym; this is doubly the case if you’ve come to Thailand to learn about and practice the national sport of Muay Thai. There are hundreds of gyms in Bangkok, but some are most definitely better than others. Here are our top picks for the budding gym rats and Thai boxers.