Gdańsk Poland Activities

Apart from the picturesque old town and excellent eating venues, Gdansk is home to a top-class selection of interactive museums. You'll need at least 3 days to do justice to these as well as the other Gdansk Poland activities on offer.

Staying at the Liberum hotel in the heart of the old town,

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/gdansk-poland-activities/

Paradise Inn, Sigiriya 🐃 Sri Lanka

Sigiriya is a captivating destination in central Sri Lanka that seamlessly blends history, nature, and culture. Known for its iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers breathtaking panoramic views and a glimpse into ancient civilizations. Here you can immerse yourself

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/paradise-inn-sigiriya/

Rome Hotels & Guesthouses

We often use Rome as our launching pad for long-distance flights to Asia. Many of the bigger airlines offer a variety of flight options starting or ending in Rome. As a result, prices are often cheaper than flying out from other European airports, since many Rome hotels & guesthouses can be

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/rome-hotels-guesthouses/

What to Do in Boquete Panama

Boquete is one of the highlights of a trip to Panama, showcasing the diversity of this unique country. Not really a town as such, Boquete is a huge district spanning 488 square kilometers. However, most of the action is centered around a short but busy central high street: It is here you'll start

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/what-to-do-in-boquete-panama/

Girona in Giro - What to see & do in Springtime

What can you do in Girona if you have just 5 or 6 hours to spare?

Actually, quite a lot.

Our hotel was located in the center of Girona, next to the Onyar river. We started out early after breakfast and followed the river northwards - passing the brightly painted façades of the houses - and he

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/girona-ingiro/

Cathay Pacific Inflight Experience

Despite our recent underwhelming experiences with Qatar and Turkish Airlines, we were still cautiously optimistic about our forthcoming Cathay Pacific flights to Hong Kong and Bali. In fact, we were hoping our Cathay Pacific inflight experience would be something to savour.

We had purchased

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/cathay-pacific-inflight/

Kuantan by Taxi 🚖 from Mersing

Our 3-week journey through Malaysia and Borneo included some tight connections. One such was our lightning visit through Kuantan in order to catch our connecting flights to Kota Kinabalu in Borneo.

Having spent 4 nights in Tioman, we planned to take an early ferry back to Mersing, and then

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/travelling-tioman-kuantan/

Our Karimunjawa Indonesia Travel Plan

Under €1200 all-inclusive for a 3-week trip to a secluded tropical island? Our Karimunjawa Indonesia travel plan also included a couple of days in Rome and flights with top-rated Qatar Airways.

This seemed like an unbeatable deal to us when we first started to plan this trip. It all started w

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/karimunjawa-indonesia-travel-plan/

Tangalle Beaches - Tantalizing Tangalle

Following our stay high in the mountains around Haputale, we took a morning bus for the 7-hour journey down to Tangalle, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. For this part of our journey we were winging it, with nothing booked in advance. We were just looking forward to those fantastic Tangalle be

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/tangalle-beaches/

Coffee Tours in Boquete ☕ Panama

Get ready to awaken your senses and embark on a caffeinated adventure in Boquete - Panama's coffee capital. Nestled in the lush highlands of this Central American gem, Boquete boasts a reputation as a coffee lover's paradise.

Join us as we embark on a journey through one special coffee

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/coffee-tours-in-boquete-panama/

COVID-19 - The New-Normal Flying Experience

Already, for several years before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we'd become disenchanted with our long-haul flying experiences.

As aircraft companies expanded their fleets with planes adapted to cram in more passengers, the cost of flight tickets came down and the surge of new

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/covid-19-new-normal-flying-experience/

Malta Saint Julians Penthouse for Sale - Seafront with Roof Garden

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Malta Saint Julians Seafront Penthouse for Sale
South-facing luxury penthouse apartment overlooking the fishing boats of Spinola Bay - on sale for the first time.
€1,790,000

Contact U

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/malta-saint-julians-penthouse-for-sale/

Malta Saint Julians Penthouse for Sale - Seafront with Roof Garden

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Malta Saint Julians Seafront Penthouse for Sale
South-facing luxury penthouse apartment overlooking the fishing boats of Spinola Bay - on sale for the first time.
€1,790,000

Contact U

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/malta-saint-julians-penthouse-for-sale/

Inspiration for Some Unique Activities

Fancy a city-center infinity pool over 50 floors high? How about some Desert Dune Bashing, or a 4½ km zip line tour over the Panamanian jungle?
Whether you're into water rafting in Borneo or beach combing in Goa, for inspiration check out these accessible, inexpensive & unique activities at S

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/free-independent-travel/inspiration-unique-activities/

Malta Saint Julians Penthouse for Sale - Seafront with Roof Garden

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Malta Saint Julians Seafront Penthouse for Sale
South-facing luxury penthouse apartment overlooking the fishing boats of Spinola Bay - on sale for the first time.
€1,790,000

Contact U

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/malta-saint-julians-penthouse-for-sale/

7 Must-Do Valencia Activities

Although there's certainly no shortage of things to do on a short trip to Valencia, the trick is to get organized in advance so that the must-do Valencia activities can be as diverse and fun-packed as possible.

We had booked a self-catering apartment in the Campanar district, north-west of the

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/must-do-valencia-activities/

Amsterdam Layover Hotel & Activities

Our incredibly low-priced Lufthansa flights from Europe to Panama departed from Holland. We therefore needed to find budget flights to get us to Schiphol airport, and spend the night close by before taking our flight the following day. For this we decided to include an Amsterdam layover hotel in

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/amsterdam-layover-hotel-activities/

Tenerife Siam Park Sensation

If you are planning to spend some time in the south of the island, then the Tenerife Siam Park sensation is something not to be missed. Siam park is a large, clean, beautifully landscaped and well organized water park, officially the No 1 water park in the world.

If you come to Tenerife, this

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/tenerife-siam-park-sensation/

Rebak Island, Malaysia ⛵ Paradise for the Soul

Located just off the coast of Langkawi, Rebak Island is a hidden gem in Malaysia that offers a serene and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. As avid travelers, we were looking for a destination that would offer us peace, relaxation, activities and natural beauty. Rebak

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/rebak-island/

Rebak Island, Malaysia ⛵ Paradise for the Soul

Located just off the coast of Langkawi, Rebak Island is a hidden gem in Malaysia that offers a serene and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. As avid travelers, we were looking for a destination that would offer us peace, relaxation, activities and natural beauty. Rebak

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/rebak-island/

Istanbul Leather Shopping 🧥

One of the bonuses of a short stay in Istanbul is the opportunity for shopping. There are some great bargains to be had in the bazaars and highstreets of the city, and if its leather you're after, look no further. You'll find that shopping for leather in Istanbul can be a very social

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/shopping-for-leather-in-istanbul/

The Kovalam Lighthouse Beach Experience

Our west-coast journey through India started in the far south at Trivandrum, where we had booked a hotel in Kovalam. One week before arriving at Kovalam Lighthouse Beach, I sent an email to our hotel requesting an airport pickup. The fact that I got no reply should have been an early warning

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/kovalam-lighthouse-beach-experience/

Lufthansa Longhaul Inflight Experience

Our journey from Europe to Panama involved a 3-leg flight with Lufthansa, starting from Amsterdam. Having flown little with Lufthansa beforehand, we were curious to discover how a Lufthansa longhaul inflight experience would pan out.
Our Lufthansa Longhaul Inflight Experience
The Lufthansa

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/lufthansa-longhaul-inflight-experience/

Kuala Lumpur First Impressions - the delicious aromas of food...

Following a short transit through a decidedly chilly Holland and Belgium (see If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium), we were ready to take a flight to warmer climes. Our KLM flight went non-stop from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, departing at 20:50 in the evening and arriving at 15:45 the following

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/kuala-lumpur-chinatown/

Jepara ATM woes - down & out in the suburbs

This marked the low-point of my trip to Indonesia 🤕.

Events had spiraled relentlessly downhill from our arrival at Semarang airport, on a domestic flight with Lion Air from Jakarta.

Following the loss of a credit card at Semarang airport (see Honey, the ATM ate my card) we continued with ou

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/jepara-atm-woes/

Palm Paradise Cabanas Tangalle

Palm Paradise Cabanas Tangalle is a medium-sized beach and garden resort located a few kms west along the coast from Tangalle. My last visit to Palm Paradise - 19 years previously - was very enjoyable, so I was keen to return.

The highlights I remembered from my first trip were the beautiful ca

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/palm-paradise-cabanas-tangalle/

Rome Film Festival & Attractions in Autumn

Autumn is a great time to visit Rome. Although Rome is always busy, at this time of year you can count on shorter queues and better prices. Even so, for a short 2-3 day break in the Italian capital you need to be extremely selective. There are just so many Rome attractions to see, and to see the

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/rome-attractions/

Booking a Venice Hotel

Choosing the Ca ’Fortuny Hotel Venice was the result of some precise online research. Finding a good, reasonably-priced hotel in Venice - that’s not too far from the center - can be a challenge in itself. It's therefore always a good idea to scrutinize the best deals that are currently on off

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/ca-fortuny-hotel-venice/

Lembongan Island 🦐 Eating Out

Looking for a culinary adventure in the breathtaking Indonesian paradise of Lembongan? Look no further! This comprehensive guide to eating out in Lembongan is your ticket to exploring the island's vibrant food scene.

From delectable seafood dishes to authentic Indonesian delicacies, we'll take

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/lembongan-island-eating-out/

Avianca from Bogota to Panama Tocumen Airport

The final leg of our 3-flight journey from Amsterdam to Panama was an Avianca flight from Bogota, Columbia to Panama Tocumen Airport. This involved more security screening, but thankfully not as inanely intense as in Amsterdam and Frankfurt.

Our arrival at Bogota airport was definitely a 'habla

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/avianca-bogota-panama-tocumen-airport/

The Windswept Cliffs of Varkala, Kerala

Our 1,000 kms west-coast India travel plan continued from Kovalam in the South, slowly working our way back up north - using buses and trains - as far as Goa.

Our next destination travelling north up the coast from Kovalam was Varkala. The cliffs of Varkala are famed for their dramatic,

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/cliffs-of-varkala/

10 Best-Value Pubs & Restaurants in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a great place for pub food, but there are some pretty good restaurants too. Following several stays in the capital, here is our list of the 10 best-value pubs & restaurants in Edinburgh - in no particular order.
Usquabae Whisky Bar and Larder
Usquabae is a place we find

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/pubs-restaurants-edinburgh/

Girona City Stopover - Where to Stay & Eat

Our Girona city stopover allowed us just one night in the city, before heading south to Barcelona-El Prat airport later the following day.

We therefore needed a hotel that was close to the bus and train stations, and still within easy reach of the attractions and restaurants that the city has

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/girona-city-stopover/

Transit between Manila Airport Terminals 2 & 3

Following an overnight stay in Rome, the first stop on our 20-day trip to the Philippines was Manila. However, in order to keep our city-stays to a minimum we had decided to skip Manila completely on our way in. Our plan instead was to arrive at Manila airport, clear customs, then take the first fl

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/manila-airport-terminals/

Malta Saint Julians Penthouse for Sale - Seafront with Roof Garden

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Malta Saint Julians Seafront Penthouse for Sale
South-facing luxury penthouse apartment overlooking the fishing boats of Spinola Bay - on sale for the first time.
€1,790,000

Contact U

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/malta-saint-julians-penthouse-for-sale/

Ubud Bali Hotels & Airport Transfers

Following an overnight stay in London and a short break in Hong Kong we were keen to reach the relative peace and tranquility of a 4-night stay in Bali. We had chosen two very different styles of accommodation for our Ubud Bali hotels:
A family-run guesthouse and an upmarket Spa and Gallery

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/ubud-bali-hotels-airport-transfers/

Tenerife North - Puerto de la Cruz

Tenerife comprised the second leg of our 14-day Spain and Canary islands itinerary. After spending 3 days at Golf del Sur in the south of the island, we headed up by coach to Tenerife North - Puerto de la Cruz.

We planned to stay 1 night at a small hotel close to the bus station in the center,

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/tenerife-north-puerto-de-la-cruz/

Juara Beach - Tioman Island, Malaysia

When we first planned our 21-day round trip around Malaysia, the place we kept reading about was Tioman island, located 30 kms off the east coast of the Malay peninsula. It’s quite a journey to get there, but if we could stay there a few nights, it might be worth it. We were looking for a beach l

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/juara-beach/

Hong Kong Activities for a 2-day Stopover

With just a short one or two-day break in the city, its a good idea to have a plan if you want to experience some of the best Hong Kong activities that are on offer. Our 2-day stopover was just enough time to pack in half-a-dozen quality excursions, as well as hitting the shops on Nathan

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/hong-kong-activities/

Malaysia & Borneo Travel Plan ☪️ Highlights & Costs

If you're looking for an adventure-packed trip to Southeast Asia, then look no further than Malaysia and Borneo. This incredible region offers a perfect blend of breathtaking natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, and exciting activities that cater to every kind of traveler.

From exploring

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/malaysia-borneo-highlights/

Backtracking to Semarang City by Minibus

Our 3-week Indonesia travel plan had started to unravel on just the 2nd day after our arrival in Java.

Following our misfortunes in Jepara, we were heading back to Semarang city to try to rescue our vacation from disaster.

With no credit cards and insufficient cash, we wouldn't be able to

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/backtracking-semarang-city/

Kandy Lake Comfort

No trip to Sri Lanka is complete without a visit to Kandy, so we decided to spend 2 nights here on our way down to the southern coast.

From Sigiriya, we travelled the short distance to Dambulla by tuk-tuk. We were in two minds whether or not to visit the Dambulla Cave Temple. The deciding

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/kandy-lake-comfort/

Short Breaks & City Stops

 
With the popularity of budget airlines, smart planning with hotel & restaurant costs can make short breaks & city stops highly affordable.
Take a look at our short-break budgets for flights, hotels & restaurants in a variety of European and Asian cities and

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/short-breaks-city-stops/

Dubai Dune Bashing & Desert Safari 🐪

Dubai is a city that needs no introduction - it's a glittering metropolis that exudes luxury and opulence, from its towering skyscrapers and designer shopping malls to its world-class dining scene and vibrant nightlife. But there's more to Dubai than just glitz and glamour - this fascinating city

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/dubai-desert-safari/

Bordeaux Break 🍷 Sublime French Gastronomy

The advent of low-cost flights to Bordeaux from various European locations is the perfect excuse to make a short trip to this gastronomic region. We combined our trip with visits to Limoges and Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat for a one-week mini-tour of Bordeaux and some of its surrounding a

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/bordeaux/

Gdańsk Poland 4-Day Break

If you're based in Europe and are looking for an inexpensive long weekend away, you might want to consider a Gdansk Poland 4-day break.

The beautiful old town of Gdansk offers plenty of excellent hotels and restaurants, but the real attraction is the culture and epic history of this town and

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/gdansk-poland/

I'm a Celebrity - Get me out of Fort Kochi!

Our 3-week west-coast India travel plan started in Trivandrum, continuing on to Kovalam and Varkala – using buses and trains.

From Varkala, we took a train to travel the 169 kms up to Kochi. In Fort Kochi, we expected more of a cultural experience than our previous destinations.

We a

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/fort-kochi-india/

Panama City Hotels - Avoid Slum Areas

Our Panama Travel plan started with 4 days in Panama City on arrival, and another 2 days there at the end of the trip.

When choosing a place from your shortlist of Panama City hotels, you really need to make sure you're locating yourself in the right area. If you search away from the centre -

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/panama-city-hotels/

London Airport Transfers Via National Express

With a variety of large international airports dotted in and around the city, its both time-efficient and cost-effective to plan your London airport transfers in advance.

We had booked a multi-stop flight to Hong Kong and Bali with Cathay Pacific, travelling from London Gatwick.

Our plan was

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/london-airport-transfers/

Sri Lanka Central and South

Our Sri Lanka travel plan was designed as a 21-day rollicking rollercoaster of a ride to the World’s End and beyond. It promised to be an eventful trip, taking in the central highlands around Kandy and Sigiriya. followed by Haputale - the largely Muslim town above the clouds. After that we'd be hea

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/plan-your-travel/sri-lanka-central-and-south/

Limoges 🏰 UNESCO Medieval French City

Limoges in South-Western France is a little out of the way for the majority of tourists on a short visit to France. This in itself is an excellent reason for making a detour to this area to appreciate the unhurried culture and gastronomy of the region.

We combined our trip to Limoges with

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/limoges/

Sri Lanka Top 10 Activities

Sri Lanka has it all - beaches, mountains, wildlife, cuisine, culture and history.
Our Sri Lanka Top 10 Activities list is just the start…
No 10 - Eco Living
Try out a tree-top cabana. Everywhere you look in Polwaththa, you'll see a wealth of fascinating insects, butterflies, giant squirrels an

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/sri-lanka-top-10-activities/

Cebu City Guesthouse - New Era Pension Inn

The first real experiences of our 20-day trip around the Philippines was our Cebu city guesthouse, since we had decided to skip Manila completely on our way in, and take an ongoing domestic Philippines Airlines flight to the islands.

We would spend just one day in Cebu City, before leaving ea

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/cebu-city-guesthouse/

Ubud Bali Eating Out 🍛 Favourite Warungs

Our Bali and Nusa Lembongan 2-island itinerary would last 18 days and include stop overs in both Hong Kong and London.

So with just 4 of these days in Ubud, we were keen to discover the best food that Bali has to offer. To this end, we did a little research in advance to ensure that our Ubud

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/ubud-bali-eating-out/

Into the Tioman Rainforest

Malaysia has some beautiful islands, and Tioman is no exception, located 30 kms off the east coast of the Malay peninsula. It’s quite a journey to get there, but if you stay just a few nights, it's well worth it.

One of the nicest beaches on Pulau Tioman is Juara beach on the eastern coast. T

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/pulau-tioman-rainforest/

Malta Saint Julians Penthouse for Sale - Seafront with Roof Garden

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Malta Saint Julians Seafront Penthouse for Sale
South-facing luxury penthouse apartment overlooking the fishing boats of Spinola Bay - on sale for the first time.
€1,790,000

Contact U

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/malta-saint-julians-penthouse-for-sale/

Qatar Airways Inflight Experience

With their elitist tv commercials and tip-top rating in the World's Best Airlines, we were expecting great things from our Qatar Airways inflight experience.

This is why we snatched up the opportunity to fly with them from Rome to Jakarta for around €500 per person, economy class.

We could ha

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/qatar-airways/

Chateau Maleplane - Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat

After taking in the culture and gastronomy of Bordeaux and Limoges, one of the highlights of our visit to South West France was a short stay in the remarkable heritage site of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat.

Here, we had arranged a 4-night stay in Chateau Maleplane on the outskirts of the

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/chateau-maleplane/

Bohol Ferry ⛴️ From Cebu, Philippines

When it comes to transport in the Philippines, there are a variety of options to choose from depending on your budget, comfort level, and travel plans. From modern air-conditioned buses and trains to traditional jeepneys and tricycles, getting around this archipelago can be an adventure in

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/bohol-ferry/

Roundtrip Panama City to Bocas Del Toro

Apparently, Panama is among the top 5 best-rated countries in the world in which to retire. Facts like this, together with the attractions of a tropical climate and the buzz of a Latin American country are hard to ignore. Throw into the mix really cheap flights with Lufthansa from Europe and we’re

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/plan-your-travel/roundtrip-panama-city-to-bocas-del-toro/

Mumbai City Fort Area 🇮🇳 India

Mumbai, the bustling city on the western coast of India, is acclaimed for its cultural diversity, stunning architecture, and street food. One of the most historic parts of the city is the Fort area, which is home to many colonial-era buildings and monuments.

The area gets its name from the old

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/mumbai-city-fort-area/

Phuket Thailand - Welcome to Russia

Our Malay West Coast journey started in Phuket Thailand – just north of the Thai-Malaysian border. We wanted to use the flexibility of an open-jaw flight ticket to pack as many destinations as possible into our round-trip. Since we would be ending the journey in Kuala Lumpur, Phuket seemed to be a

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/phuket-thailand-welcome-to-russia/

Loro Parque Tenerife 🦜

Our 14-day Canary islands itinerary included stays in both North and South Tenerife. So after 3 days in Golf del Sur in the South, we traveled by bus to Puerto de la Cruz on the northern coast of Tenerife for a 3-night visit.

The town and waterfront areas in Puerto de la Cruz are pleasant e

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/loro-parque-tenerife/

Hotel Elim & Minibus to Jepara

Our 3-week Indonesia travel plan included an 11-night stay in the secluded tropical island of Karimunjawa.

We planned to stay in Semarang long enough to take a shuttle bus onward to Jepara. It is from here that we were hoping to take a boat to our final destination - Karimunjawa, a paradise

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/hotel-elim-minibus-jepara/

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

No trip to Sri Lanka is complete without a visit to Kandy, and there is plenty there to see and do including Kandy Lake, the famous Temple of the Tooth, and the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

The Elephant Orphanage is located halfway between Colombo and Kandy.  We decided to take a train from the

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/pinnawala-elephant-orphanage/

Venice Osteria and Trattoria

Considering that Italy is pretty much one big restaurant, there’s never any difficulty finding somewhere to eat. Whether it's an osteria, trattoria or pizzeria, there are plenty of places to choose from. In our experience, the overall quality of food in Italy is generally good to very g

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/venice-osteria-trattoria/

Central Java & Karimunjawa, Indonesia

Under €1200 all-inclusive for a 3-week trip to a secluded tropical island? Our Central Java & Karimunjawa  travel plan also included a couple of days in Rome and flights with top-rated Qatar Airways. However, things didn't all go quite to plan... Be sure to first check out our Plan, Maps and Bu

Read more... https://www.sandspice.com/plan-your-travel/central-java-karimunjawa-indonesia/