Only The Best Travel
Only The Best Travel
Arguably, the most well-known and sought-after charter destinations in all of the Mediterranean, for many charterers, the question is not when to book a charter in the South of France, but rather where to begin a charter along the Côte d’Azur. The famous stretch of …
International travel has become more flexible than ever. Remote work, extended vacations, and multi-country trips mean that many travelers no longer book simple round-trip tickets months in advance. Instead, they often prefer to keep their plans open until they decide where to go next. While …
Hotels come with rules, even the ones with five stars on the door. You buy a ticket for a dream vacation, but you still end up waking up early just to lock down a sunlounger by a pool packed with shouting kids, or rushing down before nine just because the breakfast buffet closes. Crete is far too massive, raw, and beautiful to be experienced through a rigid, pre-packaged resort schedule. To actually catch its real, slow pace, you need a key to a gate that belongs only to you.
That is where you stop being just another room number and actually start living the island life. Teams like BlueVillas The Luxury Concept don’t deal in massive, identical blocks of concrete or crowded holiday complexes. They seek houses with a distinct character, built out of the rough local stone, having large open windows and wide terraces that face directly the sea. You aren’t staying in just another double room, instead you are renting the estate which treats the local landscape with absolutely no respect whatsoever and gives you space to breathe.
Ditching the hotel lobby isn’t about status, it’s about simple peace of mind and reclaiming your time. When you have your own front door, your own kitchen, and zero strangers walking around, your days on the coast look completely different:
You get actual, absolute privacy. It means having your own grass, your own pool, and zero strangers staring at you while you drink coffee on the steps at noon, wearing whatever you want.
There are no stupid resort rules here. When you are planning a Greek summer, picking luxury villas in Crete lets your friends completely ignore annoying things like formal evening dress codes, checkout stress, or breakfast buffets that close at nine.
Instead of squeezing into noisy, packed tourist tavernas every single night, you can just get a local guy to grill fresh fish right on your private terrace while the sun goes down.
The layout is just better for groups. You have these massive, messy kitchens where everyone can day-drink or talk together, but there is always a quiet, isolated bedroom down the hall when you need to escape and disappear for a nap.
These slowly moving creatures make holiday time totally different. Years later you will forget the marble tile of a hotel bathroom and the uniforms worn by anyone in a cul de sac, but not how you grew by getting to know yourself. You will recall both the dry wind in the olive trees and the stone on your unveiled feet at midnight when you should be swimming, and the utter stillness.
Real comfort always means space, silence, and no schedules. Finding a personal base on the coast lets you see Greece without the usual tourist filter, moving at your own speed with the people you brought along. This creates a rare, peaceful atmosphere where every moment belongs entirely to your own unique rhythm and deep relaxation.
The method of travel is evolving into different ways. Travelers who have evolved beyond modern-day expectations will now seek additional amenities beyond traditional hotel accommodations. The majority of them prefer private accommodations, offering much greater comfort and familiarity than ever before. The rise in travelers …
If you’re planning a move to the UK then first of all, you’ve made a great decision. The United Kingdom is full of opportunities, has a strong education system and is home to some of the world’s best cities. But choosing where to live in …
Whether you’re looking for family friendly trips or a romantic getaway, the holiday season is the perfect time to take in a new city. Cities both big and small take on a different look and feel around Christmas time, and no country quite does the festive season like the UK. With cold winter nights and ancient architecture adding to the Christmas cheer, we’ve picked out the best UK cities to visit during the holiday season.
It’s by far the most visited city in the UK, but there’s good reason for that, and we simply couldn’t overlook England’s capital. In truth, there’s no bad time to visit London and the city offers something for everyone whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, as a family or with friends.
But there’s no denying that London is extra magical around Christmas, with iconic lights dotted around the city and a whole range of Christmas markets to choose from. The most visited Christmas event is Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, an enchanting Christmas world featuring delicious food, child-friendly attractions and so much more — perfect for a festive date night or an evening with the kids!
The only downside of London over the Christmas period is the sheer volume of people flocking to the city, which can lead to busy crowds and even busier roads. Familiarise yourself with London’s reliable tube network before visiting, and research your nearest car park in London to make things easier.
Manchester is quickly becoming a mini London. With tonnes of things to do and see, different areas complementing each other and a handy tram network to get around, it’s easy to see why more and more tourists are choosing to head north. In comparison to London, Manchester also offers a nice balance in terms of business, with enough hustle and bustle to generate a vibrant atmosphere without the infamous London traffic.
That said, expect Manchester crowds to double if not triple over Christmas. This is in large part due to the city’s fantastic Christmas markets. With a few locations all within walking distance of each other, you’ll find everything from street food to handmade souvenirs.
If you’re planning to work in an afternoon of Christmas shopping into your trip, Manchester has you covered as well as one of the UK’s best shopping cities. In the city centre, you’ll find the Arndale Centre, home to over 200 stores. While a short drive/tram journey outside of the city centre, you’ll find one of the UK’s biggest shopping malls in the Trafford Centre.
If you’re looking for a cosy winter night spent wandering ancient cobbled streets against the backdrop of ancient buildings, look no further than Edinburgh. The Scottish capital is one of the UK’s most historic and picturesque cities, which lends itself perfectly to a Christmas trip.
The bulk of Edinburgh’s festivities occur in the centre of the city, where you’ll find traditional Christmas markets, funfair rides and food & drink stalls. From the 20th of November, you’ll also be able to take in the sights of Edinburgh on skates thanks to a temporary ice rink for the festive period. If you’re travelling with small children, of course there is an opportunity to meet the main man himself via Edinburgh’s Santa’s Stories.
In 2024, Liverpool was named Which?’s best large UK city for a break, so it’s no surprise to see the northern powerhouse make our list. While commonly associated with a thriving nightlife scene, that’s not to say that Liverpool doesn’t cater for families too. In fact, Liverpool’s North Pole Experience is one of the best child-friendly days out to get your little ones into the Christmas spirit.
That said, if you are looking for a boozy getaway with your friends over Christmas, Liverpool won’t disappoint. Known for its fantastic live music scene and lively late night bars, Liverpool is a great location if you’re looking to arrange a Christmas meetup with friends or relatives.
With such a diverse mix of cities in the UK, it’s hard to narrow down the best festive cities. It also depends on what you’re looking for, so here are a few extra options that may suit your needs.
York: A historic, picturesque UK city with charming medieval streets that make for a romantic, festive getaway.
Cardiff: The Welsh capital and home to the popular Winter Wonderland, which features things to do for all ages.
Bath: Voted the best UK city according to Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, it’s definitely worth paying Bath a visit over Christmas.
Durham: Quieter than larger cities, which may suit some travellers, but only a short train journey to the lively city of Newcastle, Durham offers the best of both worlds over Christmas.