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Relaxation

Relaxation

Hope springs eternal

As always, hope springs eternal.  Mankind will always correct its errant ways and will always achieve its highest aspiratiions.  And, humans keep trying to make that so. In 1900, Ida Hofmann, a German pianist, and her companion Henry Oedenkoven, the 25-year-old son of a businessman from Antwerp, purchased a hill in Ascona which had been known…

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Just close your eyes – it’ll be fine

Sometimes when we stay at a hotel, we're miffed when it doesn't have our favourite brand of coffee, or the pillow is too stiff, or it took three minutes to have more towels delivered.  Sheesh! But, it could be worse . . much worse. Is this Britain’s WORST hotel? Inside filthy seaside spot with dirty kitchen &…

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Much to gain in Ukraine

How many of you have been to Ukraine?  We're betting not nearly enough.  And that's a shame. Ukraine is one of the least explored countries in Eastern Europe. This is a fact. But there is so much to see in the country and Ukraine is definitely an overlooked destination. Many Americans have heard about Kyiv, Lviv…

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Nutmeg Grenada

As much fun as it would be to wax on about this classy ride  from the 1970's (assuming that there are even any left that have not rusted their way back to Mother Earth.) No, this article is about a savoury Grenada of a different kind - Grenada, where more than 20% of the world’s…

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Crash landing on you! *

No, we are not casting any aspirsions on Korean Air with the title of this article.  Quite the opposite.  We love all things Korean, especially the films and movies.  Our first exposure was "Crash Landing on You" (on Netflix.)  We recently watched "Psychokinesis" which is absolutely bonkers.  Hilarious.  Do yourself a favour. No, this article and…

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I’m still standing

Yeah, yeah yeah. We love old.  Old places, old things, old ideas, old values. And we love the fact that there's stuff  even older than us. So it thrills us to let you know (if you don't already) about Historic Hotels Worldwide.  As you might guess, they're exactly what it says on the label:  hotels of note…

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Tommie can you hear me?

It's always fun to see a new hotel opening, especially since designers have access to new and exploratorive materials with which to build them.  Bends and twists and supple to the touch, it never gets boring. So, please welcome Hyatt's new tommie Hollywood hotel (yes, small t.) Discover a hotel in the heart of Hollywood that…

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Right, said Fred again

We've featured Fred. Olsen cruises here -  they're one of our affiliate friends.  One of the reasons we like them is that they seem to come from a different angle than other cruise lines - a little playful, a little artistic. They also travel to places that are not frequented by other cruise lines.  And, in…

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Just itching to go

If you're a regular of our site, you'll know that we're fans of Sir Richard Branson, he of the Virgin empire.  Yes, he's wealthy, but we feel like his heart (and wallet) are in the right place. Well, hold your breath and have a look at Moskito Island.  Sir Richard owns the entire island, near Virgin…

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Message in a bottle

Sending out an SOS . .  Some things are just not meant to be. The beautiful island of Montserrat is known for many things - breathtaking - almost otherworldly - scenery, surrounded by glorious seas, world-class architecture and, at one point, one of the top recording studios in the world. George Martin (probably the fifth…

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Low-key Smokys

The Great Smoky Mountains, popularly known as the Great Smokies or the Smokies, is a mountain chain in the Southeastern United States that runs along the North Carolina-Tennessee border. This mountain chain is one of the subranges of the Appalachian Mountains and is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains forming the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. Read more…

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Dive light in

Deep blue waters that glow in the dark come night-time sound like something out of a fairytale. However, that's exactly what the world's bioluminescent bays offer, and they make for a pretty spectacular sight. The eye-catching effect is actually the result of a high concentration of plankton which, when they move, causes the waters to light up…

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Distinctive and immediately recognizable

The architecture of Japan is one of the things that sets the country apart from others. It's very distinctive and immediately recognizable, and something whose charm beckons out to many tourists. While in cities like Tokyo, where landscapes change continuously as older buildings give way to new and modern ones, there are areas where you can take a look…

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Liechtenswhere?

One of the only two doubly landlocked nations in the world, the ‘Principality of Liechtenstein’ is unquestionably a European country worth exploring. As of July 2010, the nation accommodates a meagre population of 35,002. It is widely acknowledged as a tax haven and was accused of assisting wealthy Germans in tax evasions involving millions of Euros. Liechtenstein…

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Red Sea spree

The Middle East is a hotbed of activity and promise, that's for sure.   And it seems like every day something new that's exciting, innovative and - in some cases - larger-than-life is underway in the region.(Have a look at some of our articles here for more.) In this case,  the Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has…

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Where blue equals orange

We're uncomplicated, here.  Some of the most simple things make us the happiest.  In this case, we're really excited about a new joint venture that's just been announced. Canada's Air Transat and the UK's Easyjet have created a new cooperative to combine Air Transat and EasyJet flights to open up travel to over 130 additional…

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