Mauritius

Picture Mauritius. We’re going to be a tad presumptuous and say you saw long, sandy beaches, a palm-dense shoreline and waters some would describe as azure. And for the most part, that’s not a bad shout. The Mauritius PR engine has done a grand job. But we’ve got great news. They missed out the mountains, forests, tea plantations, national parks, waterfalls and some intriguing endemic wildlife. We could go on – but there’s no fun to be had in finding out everything before you land. We’ve saved some surprises for you.

phuket Wat Khao Rang

The best temples in Phuket

The sheer number of Phuket temples and shrines can be a bit daunting if you’re an amateur anthropologist keen on learning about the religious and spiritual history of the island. But let’s face it, the simple fact is that unless your holiday is based only around seeing all Phuket temples, you won’t be able to. With that being said, you can definitely see a wide range of designs and motifs that show off the sheer breadth of amazing places of worship without having to scour the entire island.

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A Guide to Phuket’s Ethical Animal Sanctuaries

Part of what makes Thailand, and Phuket, such an incredible place to visit is the abundance and variety of wildlife that calls the region home. Of course, the best way to see any animal is in the wild or on a proper reserve, but that isn’t always possible or safe. Moreover, many animals have been horribly exploited for both labour and tourism, so can no longer survive without human help either: that’s where sanctuaries come in. However, when you are choosing which sanctuary to visit you have to be careful, as there are a number of unscrupulous and even downright abusive businesspeople masquerading as sanctuaries.

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A guide to Muay Thai in Phuket

If you’re keen on attaining the eye of the tiger and getting more involved in the sport of Muay Thai during your Phuket break there are ample opportunities to do so. From singular sessions at Muay Thai gyms to full on, monthlong camps, there’s plenty of chances to see why so many people love it.

Lisbon

Despite being a capital city,and a very beautiful one at that, Lisbon has somehow managed to avoid the crushing numbers of tourists that flock to other major European cities. Don’t let that fool you, though; there’s plenty on offer for the savvy travellers that do visit. It’s budget-friendly, has a mild climate, and provides Insta-worthy views at almost every turn; even a ride on the city’s iconic trams is an amazing sightseeing experience.

Corfu

Corfu is the island equivalent of those people who just seem to excel at everything. Gorgeous weather, beautiful beaches, and inhabitants who have contributed as much to our global history and culture as any others in the world; the small island certainly packs a big punch, and they’ve been welcoming visitors for millennia, so they know how to make tourists feel welcome.

Dubrovnik

Let’s start by getting the obvious out of the way, shall we? Guinness. Its distinctive stamp on the city can be in danger of overshadowing Dublin’s best bits. Handily we’re here to cast that dark and brooding pint aside in favour of the city’s other attractions. Ok, so maybe it’s a good idea to just pop in the Storehouse for a quick sip – if only to tick that particular must do off the list. That done, you’re free to forage out Dublin’s art, culture, music and cuisine. And, at times, forage feels like the right word. Temple Bar and the distillery tours get most of the headlines, but this city is awash with things to do. If you know where to look.