Although Costa Rica is a relatively small country, road travel can prove very time consuming so it’s essential that you fly into the correct airport at the beginning of your trip. There are two international airports located at Liberia (LIR) in the Pacific north-west and at San José (SJO), the nation’s capital, in the country’s central belt.
Costa Rica is home to more than 1200km of coastline running along the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. Whilst many visitors to this Central American country come to explore its volcanic national parks and cloud forests, others arrive with the sole intention of enjoying a relaxing beach vacation.
A short drive north of San José leads to the Poás Volcano National Park which is the country’s most active volcano and a great excursion from the capital. Standing at 2,708 metres this imposing volcano erupted as recently as 2017 but hasn’t seen a major eruption since 1910. As well as viewing the volcano’s two crater lakes visitors can enjoy any number of hiking trails around the national park which offer spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.
The last few months have been difficult for international travellers, and even though restrictions are slowly being lifted, there’s no denying that for some of us the disappointment of not being able to visit certain countries is going to be hard felt. With some of the best holiday destinations in the world still being off-limits, a really great way to take yourself there (at least in your heart and mind) is through the cuisine.
Macau’s heritage as a former Portuguese territory for three centuries lends this autonomous region of China a genuine diversity to its exciting and vibrant culture. Today it’s renowned for its glitz, glamour, gambling and luxury (earning it the moniker of the ‘Vegas of China’), but that certainly hasn’t dulled down its traditional character in the process.
It is great news to hear that travel restrictions are slowly being lifted, but China is one of the many countries that we can still not holiday in. Do you love a Chinese takeaway or are desperate to get to China and tick it off your ‘must do’ travel list?
South Korea, also known officially as the Republic of Korea, maintains a bit of an air of mystery about it – although more and more travellers are discovering the merits of its rich culture, progressive cities and diverse landscape. Often described as a country of extremes, that reputation is borne out by the skyscrapers and technology industry of Seoul that exists alongside well-preserved temples, palaces and historical sites of the city.
The Gulf Kingdom of Bahrain, to give its full name, is an archipelago made up of in excess of thirty islands strewn in the Persian Gulf. While it’s long been a place to ‘do business’ (it is extremely rich in terms of natural oil and gas reserves) it’s not really a place on many people’s holiday hit list. But in fact there are plenty of reasons it perhaps should be, and more and more people are discovering them.
Doha is the capital of Qatar which is one of the richest countries in the world. Until about 30 years ago the city was little more than a pearl fishing village which means that it is late to the party in terms of Middle Eastern tourism. It was only after 1995 when Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani took power that the country began to develop at an impressive pace thanks to revenue from its natural gas production. Today the city lags behind Dubai and Abu Dhabi as a tourist destination but continues to move quickly towards being a global centre of travel and tourism. November 2022 is a major date in the country’s diary as the eyes of the world will be on it when Qatar hosts the FIFA World Cup. A good time to visit for general tourism purposes is February when temperatures little over 20C are bearable. The summer months are an impossible time for tourism due to soaring temperatures which are in excess of 45C on some days.
While it seems like we might be slowly easing our way out of the lockdown we have all been experiencing over the last few months, travel abroad may still be a little way off. Luckily, by getting creative in the kitchen you can bring the traditional tastes of some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations to your home – and sample some foreign flavours to get you in the mood.
Standing on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade looks across Victoria Harbour towards Wan Chai and Central on the north of Hong Kong Island. Hotel rooms with views over this iconic waterway are highly desirable but come at a price. More affordable options can be found away from the waterfront in the Hong Hum and Mong Kok areas of Kowloon along with the Tin Hau, Causeway Bay and Admiralty neighbourhoods of Hong Kong Island.
Sailing into Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour is one of the cruise world’s great experiences. This natural deep-water harbour which separates the Kowloon Peninsula from Hong Kong Island is home to two major cruise terminals which cater for vessels large and small. Passengers arriving at the Ocean Terminal are within a stone’s throw of many of the city’s main attractions whilst those arriving at the Kai Tak Terminal can get around by means of the excellent public transport network. As well as enjoying the sights around the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade visitors can also hop on ferries across the bay and to outlying islands or head off to Macau to discover the Las Vegas of the East.
Overlooking Victoria Harbour from the Kowloon Peninsula, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade should be the first stop for visitors to Hong Kong. It runs from the former Clock Tower of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Station in the west to the residential district of Hung Hom in the east. The promenade is home to many shops and restaurants as well as some of the city’s top tourist attractions including the Avenue of Stars, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. A great time to visit is in the evening when a spectacular light show illuminates the whole harbour.
