CAPRI
an island in Italy’s Bay of Naples, is famed for its rugged landscape, upscale hotels and shopping, from designer fashions to limoncello and handmade leather sandals. One of its best-known natural sites is the Blue Grotto, a dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, the result of sunlight passing through an underwater cave.
LUXURY VILLA EXCELSIOR PARCO HOTEL
(Highly recommended for Honeymooners and for discerned People with luxurious taste)
https://www.excelsiorparco.com/en/location
A small villa of 11 gorgeous Rooms built in 1906 and continuously renovated. Known for its luxurious amenities, and above all impeccable and personalized services. For honeymooners, the hotel offers welcome drink, a bottle of sparkling wine, private jaccuzzi if available and stunning views.
The Excelsior Parco is located halfway between Marina Grande and Capri town’s Piazzetta. The port is a five minute walk, and the center of Capri town can be reached in just 15 minutes by foot.
Hotel’s free shuttle service: 9:00am and 9:00pm to the Piazzetta, port, beaches of Marina Grande, Bagni di Tiberio.
What to do in Capri?
- Island Boat Tour & Grottoes e.g. White, Elephant Arch, Red & Coral Cave, Fishemen Grottoes, Grotto Verde, Blue Grotto
- Capri’s Piazzetta
- Marina Grande
- The Faraglioni Rock Formations
- The Punta Carena Lighthouse
- The Tragara and Pizzolungo Trail
- Villa San Michele
- Mount Solaro
- Full Day in Ischia & Mortella Gardens
- Via Camerelle
Link: http://www.capri.com/en/ferry-schedule
POSITANO
a cliffside village on southern Italy’s Amalfi Coast. It’s a well-known holiday destination with a pebble beachfront and steep, narrow streets lined with boutiques and cafes. Its Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta features a majolica-tiled dome and a 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary. The Sentiero degli Dei hiking trail links Positano to other coastal towns.
PASITEA ART HOTEL POSITANO
https://www.hotelpasitea.it/?lang=en
In the very heart of Positano ….
Protected by the Goddess Pasitea, looking straight at the island of the Gauls, the fabulous island of the sirens of Ulysses, the Positano Art Hotel Pasitea offers its customers scents and flavors of the divine coast. Located in the most popular area of Positano, this property is very popular for sightseeing on the Amalfi Coast or to enjoy the fabulous and relaxing sea of the city. The hotel, offers its guests 30 rooms distributed on 4 floors accessible by a lift, each with its own peculiarities. Ask for the “Renovated Section”
What to do:
- Amalfi Coast tour: Amalfi Coast Experience: Positano, Amalfi and Ravello tour (Amalfi Drive: Iconic corniche with epic coastal views… Vertiginous, cliff-hugging highway with world-famous views of the Amalfi Coast and the sea far below.
- Church of Santa Maria Assunta
- Amalfi Cathedral
- Fornillo Beach
- Paths of Gods hiking
- Positano Spiaggia beach
- Bagni d’Arienzo Beach Club
- Arienzo Beach (reached by stairs)
- Grotta dello Smeraldo
- Cantine Marisa Cuomo
- Isola Ligalli -boat trip
- Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius from Positano
Athens: Off-the-beaten-track
ATHENS: Discover Athens under a new light
Venture off the beaten track to Mount Lycabettus, Philipappos Hill or the Kastella neighborhood, and discover some amazing views of Athens and surrounding areas.
Another viewpoint from the top of MOUNT LYCABETTUS
Legend tells us that when Athena brought a boulder to strengthen the fortifications of the Acropolis, 2 black crows appeared in the sky, as bad omen. Surprised, the goddess dropped her block of stone which then formed into Mount Lycabettus. This myth explains the presence of the highest of the seven Athenian Hills.
From Kolonaki Square, a 30min walk through stepped back streets and tree-lined paths, leads you to the 277-meter Lycabettus hill; and offers you unrivalled view of the entire city as far as the Port of Piraeus.
Or reach the summit by funicular in 3 minutes, where stands the stunning white-walled Saint-George Chapel, built in the 19th century.
A rural walk and view of the Gulf of Aegina
The Hill of the Muses, aka PHILOPAPPOS HILL. Set off from the church of Agia Marina all the way to Socrates’ prison, a maze of rooms carved into the rock. During the Second World War, items from the Acropolis and the Greek National Archaeological Museum are said to have been hidden here. Resume your hillside climb to the ruins of the Sanctuary of the Muses. where artists leave offerings. At the top of the hill the PHILOPAPPOS MONUMENT, 12-meter high.
A well-deserved rest at the top of PROFITIS HILL
In the residential neighborhood of Kastella, right next to Piraeus, visit Profitis Ilias hill. On the way, wander through the maze of narrow streets, hidden stairways surrounded by palm trees and lush vegetation. Admire Mikrolimano small port, where hundreds of small colorful caïque fishing boats bob up and down.
Source: https://www.airfrance.com.lb/LB/en/common/travel-guide/from-the-hilltops-athens-in-a-new-light.htm
Welcome to the pride of the Hungarian nation, 18th century monument located on the Eastern bank of the Danube River. The 3rd largest parliament in the world spreads over 18,000m2. A masterpiece of 691 rooms also showcases Renaissance and Baroque influences. The excessiveness of the project, can be found in the 40 kilos of gold used, stained-glass windows, 242 sculptures that adorn the place, cupolas, frescoes that dress up the ceilings.
The 96-metre high dome is visible all around town.
A guided tour will present you ornamental stairs, House of Magnates, Holy Crown of Hungary, displayed in the Main Hall.
www.parlament.hu/en/web/house-of-the-national-assembly
With over a hundred hot springs, Budapest is a spa city par excellence. As a cure or for relaxation, take the waters in these spas where well-being is the essence. Five thermal baths for five different tastes in Budapest.
1) Széchenyi Thermal Baths: Your Must-Visit Thermal Baths
2) Király Baths
3) Gellért, Luxury, calm and sensual delights
4) Rudas Baths, rooftop experience
5) Palatinus, with Family
SZÉCHENYI
SZÉCHENYI THERMAL BATHS are without a doubt the most famous in the capital, known throughout the world for their exceptional Renaissance Revival architecture, sheer size and, quality of their calcium- and magnesium-rich waters.
The spring lies 1246 metres underground and when the water spurts up at the surface, it reaches 76°C. …around the 18 pools, 3 outdoors and 15 indoors. Some of the indoor pools are used for back-muscle-building exercises, others are just for aqua-fitness classes. … in winter, the water temperature varies between 27 and 38°C in the outdoor pools.
www.szechenyibath.hu/
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KIRÁLY BATHS
A 16th century exterior that looks like oriental ruins. In fact, the baths date back to the era when the Ottomans ruled over the city. The dome of the main bath filters the daylight and only lets a few beneficial rays pierce through….All around, there are stone alcoves, 3 indoor pools. Unlike other spas, Király Baths were not built near a spring. The water comes from a larch-wood aqueduct. You then adventurously try the cold-water pool located near the whirlpool bath. Or maybe, you would prefer the wooden sauna which can accommodate up to 60 people.
en.kiralyfurdo.hu/
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GELLÉRT
Part of Hungary’s heritage and worldwide fame. Located at the foot of Gellért Hill, which has stunning views over the city of Budapest. Large glass roof sitting on top of the Art Nouveau gallery, Elegance is the essence here. The indoor baths are decorated with porcelain and ceramic mosaics from the famous Hungarian company, Zsolnay. The patterns and colors on the stained glass are impressive. Marble statues dotted here, there and everywhere remind you that this place is dedicated to well-being. Over the decades, the baths have expanded and new services been added. You can choose a hot-stone massage, balneotherapy, chocolate treatment!
www.gellertbath.hu/
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ROOFTOP EXPERIENCE AT THE RUDAS BATHS
There are two sides to the Rudas Baths. The first echoes the history of Hungary which was under Turkish rule in the 16th century. The architecture alone is worth the detour. Immersed in these baths, you will benefit from the soothing waters, known for their healing properties for joint and muscle pain. Treatments on offer include firming and moisturising massages with aromatic plants, scrubs, pedicures and much more.
The other side to the Rudas Baths is much more contemporary, in evidence in the Wellness and Sauna area and especially on the roof of the baths. Sit in a bath at 36°C with views over the city and the Danube which are second to none. The spectacle is even more magical in the evening as the lights of Budapest come on one by one.
en.rudasfurdo.hu/
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Palatinus: en famille
Enfin, si vous voyagez en famille, partez à l’aventure dans les Bains Palatinus. Le complexe s’étend au cœur d’un cadre verdoyant. Les piscines extérieures permettent à tout un chacun de s’amuser ou de se reposer: toboggans, vagues, bassins d’apprentissage pour les jeunes enfants, piscines thermales avec des températures différentes…
en.palatinusstrand.hu/
https://www.airfrance.com.lb/LB/en/common/travel-guide/five-thermal-baths-for-five-different-tastes-in-budapest.htm
The France of the imagination remains undimmed. The romantic boulevards and cobbled streets of Paris. The sparkling waters of the Cote d’Azur. The slow-paced villages of Provence. Each is enough to make travelers swoon. Yet while these hotspots will always be popular with Francophiles, it’s the sheer diversity of the country that makes it so alluring to millions of tourists every year. Whether it’s skiing in the Alps or Pyrenees, surfing in Biarritz or cycling through the greenways of Dieppe, France has got it all. Throw in some of the world’s finest food and best wine, whether in a three-star Michelin restaurant or local brasserie, and it’s hard to think of a more perfect destination.
We combined and compiled a list of the 10 best French restaurants in Paris (courtesy of CNN) and Conde Nast and we came up with the below:
Down-market food trucks and pop-up restaurants have invaded Paris just like other cities around the world. But when looking for the best French restaurants in Paris, we want the kind of classic tables that make French dining a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Item.
To find the most memorable food and drink experiences, CNN turned to Meg Zimbeck, brainchild of the extensive online food guide Paris by Mouth. Zimbeck and her colleagues lead walking tours in the capital of France and have been seeking out the best tables in the city for years. With her help, CNN compiled a list of 10 best French restaurants in Paris:
1. Bistrot Paul Bert: classic bistro experience, a gut-busting traditional French meal at its finest (there’s no escaping a food coma following a meal here)
2. Septime: inventive innovative cuisine
3. Chez Casimir: where locals go for high-caliber affordable tasty bistro food
4. Relais d’Entrecôte: steak served with secret sauce and crispy fries
5. Le Chateaubriand: no-choice menu, morning ingredients put together in interesting ways
6. Verjus: the best fried chicken dishes in the city
7. Semilla: open kitchen, distinguished M.O.F. chef, the highest French honor for craftsmen, wine obtained from the nearby Derniere Goutte wine shop
8. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon: Started by legendary French chef and restaurateur Joel Robuchon
9. Les Papilles: copious 4-course fixed menu, plate of cheese that change daily. A lot of chefs come here
10. Breizh Café: authentic Breton sit-down creperie, an authority in Paris
Others by Conde Nast:
11. Allard: duck with green olives, frogs legs, duck foie gras
12. Epicure: 3-Michelin-starred restaurant… a meal experience that borders on religious
13. Clamato: inventive seafood
14. Tannat: real emphasis on seasonality and wine stories …
15. Benoit Paris: classic bistro (which opened in 1912): escargots, cassoulet, pate en croute, Scottish salmon with Bearnaise sauce, scallops, cheese, crepe Suzette
16. Dersou: Taku Sekine has become the chef0around-town with artfully plated dishes, edible flowers…
17. Le 52: for diners serious not only about food but high good-time quotient
18. Le Grand Bain: Brit Edward Delling Williams, the tall blond handsome chef
19. Anahi: steak, steak and more steak, an Argentine institution (so it is more ole than ohlala)
20. La Coupole: typical French brasserie food with strong seafood emphasis. A living memorial to Paris’ Art Deco legacy. La Coupole has seen more than its share of Parisian Who’s Who (Henri Matisse, Marc CHagal,, Jane Birkin ….)
21. L’Ami Jean: the food is star of the show, refined, adventurous and surprising
22. Ellsworth: people come here to eat well. Don’t skip the fried chicken – it’s what they’ve become known for
23. Le Train Bleu: one of the most dignified restaurant, an icon of Parisian dining… every inch drips with Parisian opulence
24. Chez La Vieille: reinvented bistro and his genious Chef Daniel Rose
25. Pierre Sang: creative, unexpected, fresh and full of diverse flavors (with Korean touches)
26. Bouillon Chartier: opened in 1896 with a simple mission: French food at an affordable price for the masses
27. La Dame de Pic: Anne-Sophie’s hyperseasonal cooking is bold and delicate.
28. Vivant: spirited, confident cooking
29. Le Servan: novel flavour pairing
30. Le Vieux Belleville: live music, performers walk among the tables with accordion singing French Classics including Edith Piaf
31. Le Baratin: simple, authentic dining experiences