Newlyweds seek alternative Honeymoon destinations

When it comes to honeymoons there are certain choices which are going to be inevitably popular.

A honeymoon in the Seychelles, Paris or Rome are classic romantic destinations which make the ideal spot for a couple to share their first luxury holiday together as man and wife.
However, the trends are changing to find a unique experience for a honeymoon which breaks the mould and offers something exciting and different. Here are a few quieter, undiscovered gems of honeymoon exploration to give some ideas for honeymoon bliss.

The Italian island of Sicily is a great alternative to the overcrowded tourist hotspots in the north around Tuscany. The region is rich in history and culture along with some of the finest wines the country has to offer.

The cuisine at the Sicilian restaurants is a delight; they don’t call it “God’s Kitchen” for nothing. Sicily is famous for its orange and lemon orchards and nothing could be quite as romantic as a gentle walk among the fruit trees.

If you were enchanted by the idea of sprawling hills and glacial lakes from The Sound of Music then Austria is an unusual getaway for a honeymoon which can guarantee incredible mirror-like lakes and quiet, unhindered exclusivity.

The lake of Traunsee in the north of the country is a wonderfully serene place to escape the hustle and bustle of mainstream tourism.

Finally, there are many Caribbean destinations which are easily overlooked in place of the popular choices for honeymoons in Barbados or Jamaica. Dominica is just one of the less toured islands mainly because its beaches are not as silvery white as some of its Caribbean brothers.

However, Dominica does offer some amazing walking, snorkelling with the marine life and incredible natural beauty.

If you want to find a hotel in other alternative cities in Europe, go to www.medestino.com.

Malawi, the warm heart of Africa

Flick through the glossy tourist brochures and the clichés come thick and fast. Malawi is ‘the warm heart of Africa’, or ‘Africa for beginners’; and its lake ‘the lake of stars’. It all seems too good to be true, but, with stunning and varied scenery and supremely friendly locals, along with the relative ease of travel here, Malawi really does live up to the hype.

Malawi’s big draw is the lake: a magnificent shard of crystal water stretching some 500km along Malawi’s eastern border, separating it from the wild and mountainous coast of Mozambique and Tanzania. Isolated villages pepper the northern lakeshore and the beautiful Liwonde National Park rests at its southern tip. Around 500 species of fish inhabit the lake and the freshwater diving and snorkelling here are excellent. Malawi’s not just for water babies and sun worshippers though; there’s plenty here to keep you active and Malawi’s landscape is surprisingly diverse. Head for the misty heights of Mount Mulanje or to the Nyika National Park, where you'll find sheer escarpments, dramatic peaks, endless rolling grassland and some of the most enjoyable hiking routes in the whole of Africa.

Many travellers only pass through the country for a couple of days, intent on racing through to Africa’s ‘bigger’ attractions. This is a shame, as Malawi has much to offer. Take time to explore the highland wilderness, dive and swim in the lake’s warm waters, or simply soak up the vibrant local flavour and you’re sure to find yourself seduced. Tempted to go to Malawi? Go to www.medestino.com and book your hotel.

Not convinced yet? Below you can find more information about the major cities in Malawi:


Lilongwe

Lilongwe is hardly awash with excitement; it’s a sleepy little city that while perfectly pleasant, isn’t particularly interesting or memorable. The quiet buzz of the Old Town, with its craft stalls, market, a nice little cafés and drinking holes, is at its heart, and this is where you’re likely to spend most of your time. The more modern city centre has little to offer – it’s a soulless collection of banks, office buildings and embassies.

Blantyre

Blantyre – the commercial and industrial capital of Malawi – is a more happening city than Lilongwe, although that’s not saying much. It stretches for about 20km, merging into Limbe, its ‘sister city’. Most travellers stop only for a few days to send or receive mail, buy maps and books or pick up a visa for Mozambique. This is probably long enough to check out some interesting sights, the most global selection of cuisine in Malawi, several enjoyable bars, and a fair selection of places to stay.

Mzuzu

Mzuzu is the largest town north of Lilongwe and the transport hub for all north-related activities. The town is centred around a grand tree-lined avenue. It has banks, shops, a post office, supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations and other facilities, which are especially useful if you’ve come into Malawi from the north.

Authentic Destinations!

National Geographic Traveler Magazine places Ghent third in its global ranking of authentic destinations!

National Geographic Traveler Magazine is a reference for anyone who enjoys travel, fine photography and insightful journalism. At the end of November 2008, the magazine published a top 109 of the most authentic destinations worldwide. The historic city centre of Ghent ranked third!

What a surprise! Not that Ghent is an authentic, real city filled with excellently preserved buildings, monuments and art treasures, but the real surprise is that the city is recognized for these qualities! And there’s more. Ghent is praised for its “brilliant mix of a wonderful past and a contemporary, vibrant city”.

Ghent can boast the title of highest-ranking city, being preceded only by Austria’s Wachau Valley and the area around the Rideau Canal in Ontario, Canada. In Ghent’s wake are prestigious destinations such as Lyon, York, Dublin, Istanbul, Cape Town, Munich and many others.

Below you can find the top 10 of the global ranking of authentic destinations:
1. Austria: Wachau/Melk Abbey (score: 88)
2. Ontario: Rideau Canal corridor (score: 84)
3. Belgium: Historic Center of Ghent (score: 81)
4. Japan: Nikko historic areas (score: 81)
5. Austria: Graz (score: 80)
6. Sweden: Stockholm's Gamla Stan (score: 80)
7. France: Aix-en-Provence (score: 80)
8. Germany: Potsdam historic areas (score: 80)
9. France: Dijon and Bourgogne region (score: 80)
10. Argentina: Mendoza wine estancias (score: 79)
If you want to visit one of these beautiful authentic cities, you can easily book a hotel on www.medestino.com.

Bratislava, capital of Slovakia

Not only is Bratislava the largest city in Slovakia, it also serves as the state capital. Furthermore, Bratislava is the seat of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, the Government of the Slovak Republic, national ministries and the other central bodies of the state administration of the Slovak Republic. It is situated in the centre of Europe in the southwestern part of Slovakia.

Bratislava is one of the youngest capitals in Europe and few people know that during the time it was called Pressburg. It was one of the most important cities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Bratislava was a mixing pot of various nations and nationalities who lived together in peace and harmony. There is a saying that a true ‘Pressburgian’ speaks four languages: Slovak, German, Hungarian and Mishmash. Even as recently as the 1980s you might hear how older Pressburgians in the street would say two words in German, two in Hungarian and two in Slovak all in the space of one sentence. That is what we mean by “mishmash”.

Bratislava’s location on the banks of the River Danube and at the crossroads of ancient trading routes right at the heart of Europe predestined it to become a meeting point of various cultures. It was the home of the Celts, the Romans, and the Slavs ... The reign of Maria Theresa is regarded as a golden era in the city’s history. She was crowned Queen of Hungary in St. Martin’s cathedral in Pressburg, just like the 10 other kings and 8 royal partners over the course of 300 years when Pressburg was in fact the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary.

The rich mix of cultures and nations not only left its mark in the language spoken here, but also in the customs, cuisine and lifestyle. Just like the Viennese, the people of Bratislava also enjoy promenading through the streets of the city centre, taking time out for a coffee in any of the many cafes. This part of the city is referred to as the Korzo and combines elegance with charm. Visitors say that the city has a relaxed Mediterranean type atmosphere. Bratislava is a seaside city without the sea.

Nowadays Bratislava is experiencing a boom once more. Buildings are popping up, deals being made, people studying, and everything is on the move. Experts regard it as one of the most dynamically developing and most prospective regions in Europe. It welcomes tourists, business people, and investors, who are attracted to this blooming city and its lively atmosphere. There are many cities in Europe that can boast their own special unique charm, and Bratislava is definitely one of them.

The old city and the castle are the best parts of Bratislava. The old city is packed with museums and palaces. The castle, built above the Danube, was a frontier post of the Roman Empire from the 1st to the 5th century. Climb up for the great views and to check out the very interesting Slovak National Museum expositions within. The Natural Sciences Museum of the Slovak National Museum and the Slovak National Gallery on the river are also worth a visit.

Hviezdoslavovo nmestie (square) is a convenient orientation point, with the old town to the north, the Danube to the south, and Bratislava Castle to the west. The Old Town offers numerous good places to eat and a rich nightlife.

If you are planning a trip to this beautiful city, go to www.medestino.com where you will find a large variety of hotels at reasonable prices.

Hostels: The cure for expensive, lonely travel

If you want to save money while travelling, consider hostelling. Several thousand hostels provide beds throughout Europe -- in cities, towns, and the countryside -- for $20 to $40 per night.

For this rock-bottom price, you get "no frills" accommodations in clean, stark dormitories. The good news for couples and families is that many hostels have a few doubles and some family rooms. It's a great way to enjoy some privacy while saving money.

You may assume hostels aren't for you because, by every standard, you're "old." Well, many countries have dropped the word "youth" from their hostel organization's name, and for years Hostelling International has given "youths" over the age of 54 a discount on membership cards. Even the last holdout, the German state of Bavaria, finally dropped its youths-only restriction. If you're alive, you're young enough to hostel anywhere in Europe.
Somebody told me: "My partner and I stayed in a 'youth' hostel for the first time by Lake Como and thought we'd be the oldest people there. Not so! At our table was a 60-ish couple from Sydney and a 79-year-old British woman who was backpacking alone through Europe. All three were a delight, but especially the backpacker, who said she stays in hostels for the evening company."

Solo travellers find a family in every hostel, and can always find a new travel partner. The hostel's recreation and living rooms are most people’s favourite hangouts. People gather, play games, tell stories, share information, read, write, and team up for future travels. The lights may go out by 11 p.m., but bunk-bed conversation rages long after. You'll find yourself propped on your elbows staring intensely into the darkness, passing around travel tales like a bucket of popcorn.

Some hostels serve hearty, super-cheap meals, often in family-style settings. A typical dinner is fish sticks and mashed potatoes seasoned by conversation with new friends from Norway to Namibia to New Zealand. The self-service kitchen, complete with utensils, pots, and pans, is a great budget aid that comes with most hostels. Larger hostels even have a small grocery store. International friendships rise with the bread in the kitchens.

Still, hostels are not hotels -- not by a long shot. Many people hate them. Hostels can have strict rules. Some lock up during the day (usually from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and a few may have a curfew at night, when the doors are locked.

Unless you snare a double or family room, you could have lots of company. Dorms have from 4 to 20 beds. Many independent hostels have both segregated and mixed dorms.
School groups can turn hostels upside down, typically on weekends during the school year and weekdays in the summer. The sounds you'll hear just after everyone's turned in might remind you of summer camp -- giggles, burps, jokes, and strange noises in many languages. Snoring is permitted and practiced openly.

Theft can be a problem in a few hostels, but try this simple safeguard: Wear your money belt and don't leave valuables lying around. Use the storage lockers that are available in most facilities. Other typical hostel services include Internet access and a self-service laundry.
Hostels come in all shapes and sizes, and some are sightseeing destinations in themselves.

There are castles (Bacharach, Germany), moored ships (Stockholm), alpine chalets (Gimmelwald, Switzerland), huge modern buildings (Frankfurt), lakefront villas (Lugano, Italy), former prisons (Ljubljana, Slovenia), medieval manor houses (Wilderhope Manor, England), former choirboys' dorms (St. Paul's, London), country estates (Loch Lomond, Scotland), and former royal residences (Holland Park, London).

Young backpackers can overrun big-city hostels. Rural hostels, far from train lines and famous sights, are usually quiet and frequented by a more mature crowd. If you have a car, use that mobility to leave the Eurail zone and enjoy some of Europe's overlooked hostels.
Some travellers love them and will be hostellers all their lives, regardless of their budgets. Hostelling is a philosophy. You trade service and privacy for a chance to live simply and communally with people from around the world.

Go to www.medestino.com to find out more about hostels in and other forms of accommodation in Europe.

Best of Moscow in ....

Best of Moscow in 3 to 10 days


Moscow is one of the oldest and most beautiful Russian cities. The emperors, or tsars, made the city their base of rule until 1712, when the capital was moved to Saint Petersburg. Moscow was restored as Russia's capital in 1918, and it served as the capital of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1922 until 1991. Since then Moscow has been the capital of the Russian Federation.

Moscow has a long and dramatic history. The city has been completely destroyed and rebuilt again many times throughout the years. Its most ancient wooden buildings disappeared in fires. Each time the city was resurrected from the ashes, it became more and more beautiful. For every rebuilding, the most talented and famous architects were invited from around the world to restore Moscow.

This history of reconstruction Moscow has undergone is part of the reason she has absorbed the many different and diverse styles that visitors experience here. Stalin's epic and monumental buildings neighbour with small two-store nineteenth century town houses, while splendid cathedrals peer out from behind modern skyscrapers. Even in the heart of Moscow, in the Kremlin, old churches compete with the immense Congress Palace for space.
To see all of the main sights of Moscow and its environs you need at least two weeks. Add another week to that if you want to do a thorough job of exploring the city's many museums along the way. If your time is limited, you'll have to be very selective in planning excursions.

If You Have 3 Days


Start with a stroll across Red Square, a tour of St. Basil's Cathedral, the shopping arcades of GUM, and, if you're a devoted student of Soviet history and/or embalming techniques, the Lenin Mausoleum. Then walk through Alexander Garden to reach the tourist entrance to the Kremlin. Plan on spending the better part of your first day exploring the churches, monuments, and exhibits within the grounds of this most famous of Russian fortresses. On the second day, spend the morning sightseeing and shopping on Tverskaya ulitsa. In the afternoon, head to Kitai Gorod; this neighbourhood has churches and historic buildings on Varvarka ulitsa, which extends from the eastern edge of Red Square, just behind St. Basil's. Try also, toward the end of the day, to squeeze in a stroll across Teatralnaya Ploshchad to see the Bolshoi and Maly theaters. Devote the third morning to the Tretyakov Gallery, which has the finest collection of Russian art in the country. In the afternoon stroll down the Arbat, where you can find plenty of options for haggling over Russian souvenirs.

If You Have 7 Days

Follow the three-day itinerary above. On the fourth day explore Bolshaya Nikitskaya ulitsa, with its enchanting mansions. Devote the fifth day to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and an exploration of some of the streets in the surrounding Kropotkinsky District. Come back the next day and walk from the Russian State Library to the Kropotkinsky District. Be sure to include the Pushkin Memorial Museum and a walk along the Kremlyovskaya naberezhnaya (the embankment of the Moskva River) in the late afternoon for the spectacular views of the cupolas and towers of the Kremlin. Depending on whether your interests tend toward the religious or the secular, you could spend your last day visiting either the New Maiden's Convent and the adjoining cemetery or Gorky Park and the Tolstoy House Estate Museum, where Tolstoy once lived.

If You Have 10 Days


After following the seven-day itinerary above, plan on traveling farther afield on day trips to visit the cathedrals and museums of Arkhangelskoye, Ostankino, Kolomenskoye, and the Golden Ring towns. Depending on your interests, you could also use this extra time to visit some of the numerous smaller museums devoted to the lives and accomplishments of prominent Russians, such as Pushkin Apartment Museum and Lermontov House Museum, the former homes of the writers Pushkin and Lermontov, respectively.

Tirana

Tirana is the capital of Albania. It enjoys a beautiful setting between the ranges of Dajti mountain from one side and the coastal plains on the other one. Tirana was founded in 1614 by Sulejmen Pashe Bargjini, feudal lord of that time from this region and proclamated capital in 1920. However the area has been inhabited as early back as the Neolitic period. The ruins of the castle of first century A.D. which is likely to be the castle mentioned with the name Tirkan by Byzantine historian Procop (VI century) have been unreathed in the foot of Dajti mountain.

Still rapidly growing Tirana is a busy commercial and administrative center with several comfortable hotels, restaurants, discos, pubs as well as modern facilities for conventions and conferences.

City attractions include the monument of National Hero G.K.Scanderbeg in the busy Scanderbeg square, the Mosque of Ethem Bey (1798 – 1823) and the Clock Tower (1830) , 35 meters high . From its top the visitor can observate a wide view of Scanderbeg Square.
Worth mentioning are also the monuments of Tabakeve Bridge ( first half of XIX century) , and the monument of Mother Albania at the Cemetery of National Marthyrs.

It is always nice to have a walk in the Grand Park, lying in the southern part of the city and extanding over an area of 250 hectars with an artificial lake included. It has 120 kind of plants, decorative shrubs and flowers of various colours.
Tirana hosts several museums, artistic and scientific institutions, among which the most important are National Historical Museum, Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Nature Sciences, Opera and Balet Theatre, Drama and Variety Show, the Gallery of Fine Arts, the International Center of Culture, The Palace of Congres and Exhibition Halls.

Only a short drive east of Tirana there is Dajti mountain (25 km). It offers numerous opportunities all year round for excursions and recreation. Its unspoilt nature attracts many visitors during all seasons. Dajti is also a National Park, rich in diversity of flora and fauna.
One of the most interesting places to see round Tirana is Petrela village with its fortress. Only 15 km southeast of Tirana, Petrela has been known as a dwelling place as early as back 2000 years ago in the ruins of the Illyrian town of Presqopi. In that time the town is supposed to be used as a residential place for Illyrian King, Glauk. The most interesting object is the medieval castle, rising on a rocky hill. This castle has been under the command of Mamica Kastrioti, the Scanderbeg sister. The area round Petrela offers a unique landscape of broken hills covered by olive trees. In the south east direction from Tirana near the gorge of Erzeni river there is a carstic cave, colled the Black Cave or the Dove Cave. It is located only 18 km far away from the capital.

If you want to book a hotel in this lovely city, go to www.medestino.com.