Thanks to the Netherlands' compact size and superb transport links, visitors to Amsterdam are spoiled for day trip choices that complement a city break in the Dutch capital. Encompassing everything from Den Haag's standout museums, Zandvoort's sandy beaches, and Zaanse Schans' working windmills, these are six of the best day trips within an hour of Amsterdam.…
Paula Hotti explains how a train journey through Uzbekistan offers a wonderful way to discover the ancient Silk Road. As I sit in the refreshingly cool Urgench railway station, ready to start my Silk Road train journey in Uzbekistan, a woman holding a sweeping brush approaches. Despite the language barrier, her purpose is clear: to…
Making big waves in the Australian culinary scene, UK-born Chef Nelly Robinson is ready to join the culinary team at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort this September. The luxury resort in…
Despite all the hills and cobbles, Lisbon is an easy city to navigate. Its impressive and intuitive system of buses, trams and suburban trains, and an efficient metro, make it easy to travel between major points of interest. To conquer the famous seven hills of Lisbon, you can rely on funiculars and elevators – the…
When was the last time you rode a three-storey mechanical elephant? Or treated yourself to a deliberately burnt pastry? Nantes, where American ragtime jazz first landed on European shores, is not your usual city. Birthplace of Jules Verne, Nantes transformed itself from France’s major slavery port, to a youthful, energetic, art-loving city where tradition, a…
The riverside sandbank by Ribeira das Naus in Lisbon is a tempting spot to lay down your towel and dip your toes in the Tagus River, but it’s not officially considered a beach. Fortunately, the Portuguese capital is a short trip away from plenty of golden stretches of sand for you to soak up the sun,…
Vakkaru Maldives is thrilled to announce that its wine cellar, Vakkaru Reserve, has once again been recognised by the esteemed Wine Spectator magazine with the Best of Award of Excellence…
The Maldives has today welcomed the 1 millionth tourist for the year 2023. The 1 millionth tourist arrival figure was achieved on August 12th last year, making this year's achievement…
The Algarve hits all the right notes when it comes to seaside getaways. Inviting beaches and great weather are the just beginning of a long list of the region’s many charms. This southern pocket of Portugal also has castles, historic cobblestone centers and sleepy cliff-top villages overlooking wild stretches of coastline. Whether you’re traveling solo, heading…
One of Europe's true jewels, with its Golden Age canals bordered by slender gabled buildings and spanned by arched bridges, Amsterdam might be small, like the rest of the Netherlands, but it has an outsized reputation. From exceptional art, architecture and innovative design to nightlife, you'll find it here. Amsterdam's condensed layout means even on a short…