Travel Wish List: Luxury Holiday Destinations
For my birthday this year, the big 3-0, my sister really pushed the boat out and took me away for a week in gorgeous Montenegro where we spent many happy hours exploring the Bay of Kotor, sunbathing and relaxing. Most of my holidays are quick weekend jaunts to European cities so this holiday really made me start thinking about other luxury destinations I want to visit. Here are the ones at the top of my travel wishlist:
The Maldives
When I asked my sister where she might like to go for her reciprocal 30th birthday holiday she said The Maldives, an archipelago of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean with a rich culture, fascinating history and an extensive marine wildlife ecosystem. Once renowned for cowry shells, The Maldives boasts an impressive offering for tourists with stunning beaches, clear blue lagoons, whale and dolphin watching, water sports and exciting venues such as ‘Subsix’ which is astonishingly a restaurant submerged six feet under the Indian ocean with a good chance that parrotfish, moray eels and butterflyfish will swim past while you eat! Most visitors arrive by way of Malé International Airport, on Hulhulé Island, adjacent to the capital Malé but there are a number of cruises to the Maldives allowing passengers the chance to explore the inhabited and uninhabited islands.
Tuscany
Is there anything more luxurious than the promise of a holiday in a Tuscan villa, looking over beautiful rolling vineyards interspersed with cypress trees, whilst enjoying having delicious local wine, bread and cheese on tap? Known for its landscapes, traditions, history, artistic legacy and its influence on high culture this central region of Italy has so much to offer from the sights of the area’s Capitol Florence to the famous Pisa Cathedral bell tower, great natural and architectural beauty in the Tuscan towns, beautiful beaches, mountain thermal bath towns like Montecatini Terme (which my husband and I were lucky enough to visit on our honeymoon along with Florence and Pisa), and of course astonishingly good Italian food! If you’re a real foodie then a Tuscan cooking class would be the perfect way to pick up some new skills and enjoy the produce of the region.
Istanbul
It might sound a bit pathetic but I actually fell in love with the idea of visiting Istanbul after reading a fictional book set in the City. The book was a bit like the Da Vinci Code with the two main characters running all over the city to find clues to solve a mystery and although the plot was really great I was more taken by the description of the places they visited with the Hagia Sophia being my favourite. Istanbul has such an extraordinary wealth of culture and history, albeit a lot of it having come from dark times, and I would love to explore the architecture and museums to learn more about this amazing place. As well as the Hagia Sophia I would love to visit the Basilica Cistern, the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar. Check out some other Istanbul sights here.
Morocco
When I think of Morocco I think of terracotta, spices and marketplaces. This North African country is characterised by a rugged mountainous interior, stunning coastlines and large portions of desert boasting both ancient Roman and Islamic sites which draw in large numbers of tourists every year. There is a huge wealth of culture due to the turbulent history of the country with influences from all over the globe due to the peoples who invaded: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Jews and Arabs, Sub-Saharan Africans, Romans, Vandals, Andalusians and Moors. Marrakech is very popular with visitors enjoying excursions to the city to revel in the souks, mosques, hammams, museums and gardens. I don’t think I would get bored!
What luxury destinations do you want to visit?
