People thought I was crazy, going to Istanbul with my husband for shopping in only one day. Yes, Why not. I booked a 1 day trip in November with Pegasus airlines that left Beirut in the early morning and returned at night. I only visited 1 outlet mall: the Viaport Asia outlet shopping and what a mall. It is Turkey’s largest shopping and entertainment center and it is only 10 minutes away from Sabiha Gökçen Airport. I planned my visit earlier by checking every single shop in the mall and I found out that I don’t have time to visit other malls. My concern was the luggage but I contacted the hotel that is a part of the mall and asked them if I can leave my items there and have breakfast in their restaurant and they accepted. The mall opens at 10 AM and my journey of shopping begun. The time flied and I realized that some shops on my list was not visited yet. From the shops that I visited: U.S. Polo Assn, Soobe, Twist, Ipekyol, Koton, Joker, LcWaikiki, Mango, Mavi….
Going to Istanbul for shopping was worth it as I bought all my Christmas gifts for cheaper prices but realized that for next time 2 days would be better.
Santorini is the most popular island in Greece with beautiful beaches, spectacular scenery, best sunset and an active volcano. Spending 3 nights here would be enough so I wanted to share the best things to do in Santorini on your next trip.
Explore the capital Fira
Staying in Fira is the top place to stay in Santorini as it has gorgeous views, picturesque churches and cobbled streets. Fira has the most restaurants, shops, and hotels and is the center of Santorini’s nightlife. If you want to be close to the action of Fira but don’t want the crowds then Firostefani or Imerovigli are great. I stayed in Cori Rigas Suites, Fira
One of the ultimate adventures you can experience in Santorini is to join a volcano tour. There is a wide selection of volcano tours that offer the opportunity to admire the island from the sea, a totally different point of view, as well as visiting various places. You can reach all the shores, especially those inaccessible by car, land at the nearby islands and at the famous volcano with its healing hot springs and, finally, go on a tour of the whole island. Most of the tours are accompanied by interesting activities and, of course, lots of swimming and diving. Set sail right away!
Mykonos is popularly known for its summer party atmosphere.
Beaches such as Paradise and Super Paradise have restaurants and bars with
impressive music. I stayed at Elias beach in Myconian Imperial hotel. It
is far from the town but the Hotel does run a shuttle bus into
Mykonos Town. Elias beach is the longest sandy beach of Mykonos organized,
offering a wide choice of taverns and bars as well as water sports facilities. It is a quiet beach unlike Paradise,
Super Paradise and others.
Top things to do:
Little Venice
The windmills
Matoyianni Street
The view from my room
The Windmills
Little Venice
In front of the hotel waiting for the free ride to the town
The view from the hotel
The view from the hotel
Stayed in: Myconian Imperial Resort & Thalasso Spa Center
Dubrovnik was the main filming location in Croatia for King’s Landing, a fictional city in Game of Thrones, the famous television series. Seeing Dubrovnik from the medieval walls is the first thing to start with. It is a wonderful experience to walk down the Walls and taking amazing pictures from Tower Minčeta since it is the highest point of the ancient city walls. Then, it is time to stroll in the old town and its narrow streets. I recommend having lunch or early dinner in Dubravka restaurant, picking a table overlooking the walls and the sea. I recommend: King Prawns, sea bass and pork steak. I stayed in Valamar Argosy Hotel that I recommend if you want to stay far from the old town but with facilities of transportation to the town.
Day 2: Dubrovnik
Start the day with a walk along the Stradun with small shops and then visit fort Lovrijenak. If you want to go out of the city, take a short ferry ride to Lokrum Island. One of the must see attractions in Dubrovnik, travel by cable car to Mount Srd to see the old town from the top. I recommend taking the cable car before sunset to capture wonderful photos. There is also a museum and buggies to hire.
Stradun
The top of Mount Srd (Cable Car Ride)
Day 3: Motenegro
Due to Dubrovnik’s location right on the tip of Croatia, it is relatively easy to pop over the border further south into Montenegro. I took a full day guided trip to Montenegro from Dubrovnik, including Kotor and Budva. Montenegro, with its Bay of Kotor and medieval towns, is amazing.
Day 4: Bosnia and Herzegovina
While in Dubrovnik, head to another country for the day to see the best of Bosnia and Herzegovina on a guided day trip. Discover Mostar’s Old Bridge as well as its multicultural heritage monuments, like the Mosque of Mostar and the Turkish House. Then head to Medjugorje, an important pilgrimage location for the Catholic world.
Mostar Bridge
Medjugorje
Day 5: Dubrovnik last day
It is now the time for relaxation. If you really want to go
for a beach in Dubrovnik, the most popular and centrally located
is Dubrovnik’s Banje Beach. Cococabana
is a private beach club for parties and sipping cokatils in a cabana.
If you are planning your first trip to Italy, My itinerary
is a great place to start. With 9 days in Italy, you can visit the highlights: Rome,
Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre and Milano. Visit ancient historical sites,
cruise the canals in Venice, walk through the heart of Rome, take a boat ride
on Lake Como and watch the sunset from the Cinque Terre. Based on my
experience, it’s the trip of a lifetime.
DAY 1 Milan
I recommend getting to the Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) early morning but it depends on the flight time. The cathedral is one of the largest and most surprising in the world but don’t forget to climb to the cathedral’s terraced rooftop. You can take an elevator or walk up the stairs which is the cheapest and fastest way up, as the elevator is more expensive and you will have to queue to go up. Then, I suggest heading to the Piazza del Duomo and going for a walk in the area, visiting also the street Via Dante and the Piazza della Scala. Shopping is a must in the capital of Lombardy. Head to the Quadrilatero Della Moda where the most luxurious brands and boutiques are. The most important commercial streets are Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga. You should also see the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Duomo Di Milano
Cathedral’s terrace
Day 2 Lake Como
There are several ways of getting to Lake Como from Milan.
The trip from the capital of Lombardy to the Lake District is very enjoyable if
you decide to hire a car, since the roads offer stunning views of the
lakes. If you do not want to drive, you can catch a train or book a guided
tour. I recommend the following guided day trip that takes 10 hours: Lake Como,
Bellagio & Lugano Switzerland from Milan. Lake Como has numerous charming
villages. These are the most popular: Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo, Menaggio,
Como.
Lake Como
Day 3 Venice
To maximize your time in Venice, take the earliest train with the shortest travel time from Milan. Spend the day exploring Venice: Tour the Doges Palace, climb the Campanile, visit St. Mark’s Basilica, and cruise the canals. A gondola ride is expensive and touristy, but a ride on the Vaporetto, the water taxi, is the best cheap way to cruise the Grand Canal in Venice.
Day 4 Florence
The next day, you can visit Murano and Burano on half day tour or leave early to your next destination: Florence. A great thing to do on your first day in Florence is to visit the Duomo and climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome for one of the best views in Florence. Spend the rest of the day strolling through Florence. I recommend seeing the Accademia Gallery, the Uffizi Gallery and then visiting the San Lorenzo Market, Mercato Centrale, and Palazzo Vecchio on the way. At the end, watch the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Ponte Vecchio
Day 5 Cinque Terre
In the morning, take the train from Florence to the Cinque Terre. Direct trains take less time but there are many more options that have a transfer in Pisa if you would like to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I recommend taking the tour from Florence for more fun: The Cinque Terre Hiking Day Trip from Florence. Five colorful, gorgeous towns are perched on the dramatic coastline of Italy: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Each town offers something a little bit different than the others.
Cinque Terre coast
Day 6 Rome
In the Afternoon, heading to Rome by fast train from
Florence and taking the free Rome walking tour is the best way to know more the
town.
Day 7 Rome
In this day, you should see the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori. In the afternoon, you should visit the colosseum. It takes about one hour to tour it but I honestly skipped that since it needs to be booked earlier to avoid the crowds. At the end of the day, you can visit villa Borghese with its beautiful gardens and lake.
Day 8 Vatican City
To avoid the crowds, get here at opening time or even before opening time around 7:00 AM. I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance to bypasses the lines and to see the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Keep the afternoon for shopping and visit the streets of: Via Del Corso Via Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina.
Antalya makes a great vacation spot for the entire family. You’ll find great dining options for the adults and plenty of fun things for the kids in Antalya. The combination of entertainment for all audiences is what has made this such a popular city amongst visitors.
A magnificent resort situated at one of the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean in an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. Delphin BE Grand Resort offers unrivalled luxury superb cuisine elegantly furnished rooms excellent conference facilities and a wide range of outdoor and in door leisure amenities: There’s a ball room, on-site doctor, shops which include a photographer, cinema, night club, Irish bar, Lobby bar, arcades, fun fair, aqua park, 3 outside swimming pools, gym, football pitch, tennis, table tennis, water aerobics, bowling , 1 indoor heated swimming pools, private beach…
15 km to city center 11 km to airport located on 112.000 sq m area with 400 m private sandy beach in Botanik Exclusive Resort Lara you will experience more than what you expect from an Ultra All Inclusive holiday concept.
This beachfront hotel in Antalya features 8 à la carte restaurants and spa with Turkish bath. The Barut’s restaurants serve rich international and local cuisine, both indoors and al fresco. There is also a patisserie serving sweet delicacies and 5 bars for drinks. Just 10 km from Antalya Airport, it offers indoor and outdoor pools with water slides. The large rooms at Barut Lara include spacious balconies with tables and chairs. Guests can relax at the Tuva Eurasian Spa & Thalasso Center, which has saunas and a beauty center. For the active ones, there are also tennis and squash courts, gym, mini golf and a water sports center.
Entertainment shows are organised by Lara’s animation team and live music can be enjoyed in the evenings at the on-site nightclub. Lara Barut Collection offers a unique concept that provides thoughtful touches for the comfort and convenience of families with infants. With the Bary Star Baby Concept, infants (0-3 years old) are comfortable, and families enjoy the perfect holiday. Kids Club offers many activities, carefully designed for two groups: The 4-8 age group and the 8-12 age group, with a unique entertainment environment for children. Your children will be delighted by a range of special events organized by a professional team in safe play areas.
Set in exotic gardens in Ataturk Culture Park, this 5-star hotel near Konyaalti Beach overlooks sea and Taurus Mountains. It offers 4 dining outlets, a lagoon-style pool and a free shuttle to the beach. Konyaalti Beach is 400 meters away. For those who like to work out, the luxurious Rixos Downtown provides a modern gym and 2 tennis courts. There is also a spa where guests can unwind in the Turkish bath, or with a relaxing massage treatment. The Rixos Lounge features a panoramic terrace and serves upscale international cuisine in chic surroundings, while the Beach Bar & Restaurant is located on Konyaalti Beach and offers an a la carte menu.
Rixi kids club is available for all ages. The hotel offers free shuttle and entrance to the Land of Legends.
Warsaw, Poland’s capital city, is a thriving modern metropolis with outstanding history. Aside from the impressive city skyline and the famous old town, there are so many things to do. The polish capital is one of the cheapest destination in Europe.
Old Town
Benefit now from the direct flights starting June 15,2019 with LOT Polish airlines.
Guideforadvice.blog 