adventure Archives - A Million Lives

July 10, 2019 by Greg Underwood

Top European Countries To Visit This Year

When it comes to picking the right holiday destination, it can be a bit daunting to find the perfect place that fits everyone’s desires, needs, interests and budgets. If you’re travelling with friends, you want to be sure to pick the ideal place to go that has a bit of everything to suit everyone in your party, and if you’re travelling with kids, you want something that will be family friendly. That’s why we’ve put together this handy travel guide to Europe with the best countries for awesome getaways for anyone from ages eight to eighty. You can score cheap flights to Europe easily as well, making it a perfect, budget conscious place for all. Check out our favourite countries in this useful list.

France

France is a beautiful country with some amazing food and wine. If you like trying different dishes, France is the place for you. Think fresh baguettes with real butter and fresh ingredients on sandwiches. Paris, the capital, is a bustling, sprawling city with numerous sights to see and areas to explore. One of the most unusual is the Parisian catacombs, located under the city. The usual haunts of the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur church and the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées are popular tourist attractions and are likely to be busy and crowded, but worth it if you like doing the tourist thing.

Outside the city, try to get out to Bordeaux for some wine tasting, or head down to the French Riviera for sun, sea and sand. The beaches at Normandy in the north will herald some seriously interesting World War 2 history to learn about, but if you want something a bit more… intense, check out the village of Oradour sur Glane, a town which the Nazis razed, leaving only a handful of survivors.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic (sometimes known as Czechia) is a beautiful country with amazing things to see and do. Prague is the most popular spot for many travellers, with castles, museums and beautiful squares to just sit back, relax and enjoy people watching. Karlovy Vary in the country’s northwest is a beautiful, alpine spa town that is a fantastic respite from the demands and crowds of the big city.

Want something unique and a bit weird? Catch the train out to Kutna Hora to see the Sedlec Ossuary – a church which was said to have soil from the Holy Land spread through its graveyard, increasing its popularity for burials to such a degree that mass exhumations of skeletal remains were conducted and the bones stored in parts of the church until it reached such a point they began to make decorative chandeliers, wall hangings, pillars and more from the bones of those formerly buried here.

Greece

When it comes to amazing places to visit, Greece is top of our list. With dozens of stunning islands to explore and a mainland that is rich and rife with history, you can’t go wrong with this amazing place. For the best islands, check out Kefalonia’s stunning azure waters, rugged hillsides and lush greenery; Crete for interesting historical palaces full of myth and mystery as well as beautiful beaches and quaint little towns with charming back streets; Corfu for delicious food including olives and seafood with a backdrop of fortresses in Corfu town and the likes of Rhodes, Zakynthos and Kos for a mix of hectic nightlife and laid back beach afternoons.

On the mainland, don’t miss the incredible historical sites of both Delphi where an oracle used to be questioned about the future, and the strange but beautiful Meteora with its monasteries on sheer cliffs overlooking the valley floor below. Food wise, don’t miss souvlaki – we promise you will love it as much as we do. Think Greece is expensive? Don’t worry – you can definitely do it on a budget!

Spain

Spain is a beautiful country with amazing weather and so many unique cities, towns and villages to visit. Rent a car and go on a road trip to visit as many as you can. The Costa Brava is a particularly beautiful region with the likes of Tossa de Mar being ideal for those looking for a bit of resort life without the resort crowds. Visit the castle on the hill overlooking its beaches and bay before strolling through the back streets of the old town, stopping along the way for paella, delicious Spanish beers or wines and a spot of people watching. Head to Barcelona to take in its artistic streets and the impressive Parc Guell, Gaudi’s house and the Sagrada Familia.

So if you’re looking for a great area to visit this year (or any time in the future!) consider Europe. The nice thing about Europe is that with so many of the countries being only a short flight away from each other, you can easily visit more than one place on a trip that is a couple weeks in length. So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets booked today!

March 19, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How to Plan an Adventure Vacation

Adventure means something different to everyone, whether it’s traveling to a new country, hiking a woodland trail or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. One thing’s for certain, however: adventure travel has many physical and psychological benefits, so if life is getting you down and you’re craving a natural high, it’s time to plan your next excursion.

The world’s most stunning natural environments make for ideal adventure playgrounds for travelers of all ages, but less traditional vacations require a fair amount of planning. Here are five handy tips to help you plan your next adventure.

Set a Goal

Before you set off on vacation, it’s a good idea to have a goal in mind for your trip. Decide what you want to get out of your time away. Do you want to learn to surf in Hawaii, are you keen to conquer the Great Himalayan Trail, or would you simply like to try as many new activities as possible? Set a loose itinerary for your trip and try to make your goal the primary focus of your stay.

Choose a Beautiful Location

An adventure vacation is only as good as the setting you choose. Whether you’re looking for steep mountains, calm canals or the biggest waves, you need to make sure you choose a spot with city amenities as well as natural beauty. St George Utah is perfect for action-packed holidays because of its small-city vibe offset against endless trails, stunning views and sprawling national parks. For more information, see the Visit St George website.

Pack Your Essentials

If you’ve never been on an adventure holiday before or you’re going to be trying a new sport, spend some time researching how to pack for travel so you know what to take. Forums dedicated to travelers are particularly useful, as you can gain insight from other people who’ve done your trip before. If you’re backpacking, you’ll need a map or compass, water bottles, snacks, repair kit, first aid kit and extra insulation for overnight camps. If you’re heading abroad for a particular sport or activity, you may need specialist kit to take part.

Get Outdoors

No one’s saying you can’t book that luxury hotel, but you’ll get more of an authentic experience if you camp outdoors. Whether you travel with kids, as a couple or on your own, there’s nothing more grounding than snuggling up in a sleeping bag in front of roaring campfire after a day of adventure sports. Just don’t forget to pack a portable stove and some basic camping equipment to keep you cozy.

Roam Free

While adventure vacation are all about thrill seeking, be careful not to overload your schedule. By all means sign up to do that hike or abseil down a cliff, but make sure you leave yourself or your family some time just to roam free. Being close to nature has all kinds of psychological benefits as well as physical ones, so don’t deny yourself the pleasure of getting lost for a while.

December 3, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Milan – A Million Things To See

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Italy is awash with numerous metropolitan cities that are must sees but which ones are on the top of your list? Of course with so many world famous sites it’s easy to pick cities like Rome or Naples, but what about fashion capital Milan? Milan is known for being the main site of some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses such as Armani, Bottega, Miu Miu, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana and plays host twice yearly to spring and autumn fashion shows during which time the city explodes into life with celebrities, models and paparazzi all descending on the city to lay their eyes on the next hottest thing from each of the fashion houses at their various shows. Do yourself a favour – add Milan to your must see list. You won’t regret it.

Getting In And Around

Milan is serviced by two international airports – Linate and Malpensa. Both are serviced by buses and taxis to get into the centre but you’re in Milan! Treat yourself and book a private car to pick you up and take you to your hotel and even around to the most popular sites to see around the city. Not only is it a hassle free, surprisingly affordable treat for yourself, but you will be wondering why you didn’t do this sooner! Live life like one of the major fashion models and get treated like royalty from the moment you step out of the plane. You never know – you might end up rubbing elbows with some of your favourite fashion houses along the way!

Milan – A City

Admittedly when it comes to things to see and do in Milan it may seem like it pales in comparison to other Italian cities such as Rome, Verona or Venice. Milan stands separate from these other cities due to a number of reasons: much of it was destroyed in the second world war, and it does have a more ‘rush rush’ work feel to it. It is after all, a working city with many of its inhabitants rushing off to and fro, drinking their coffees quickly at the bar of the cafe before rushing off again. The tourists in Milan are far more laid back than the residents, but don’t let that put you off. With the huge number of impressive museums, monuments, piazzas, theatres, opera houses, ristorantes and more there is more than enough to attract a visitor to this impressive cosmopolitan city.

Get Your Fashion On

If you’re remotely a fan of fashion or even just like to keep abreast of goings on in the fashion scene, be sure to hit up Milan around fashion seasons of spring and autumn when the major houses showcase their upcoming lines in a number of spectacular shows. Be sure to get tickets in advance if you’re hoping to attend, and even then sometimes it’s by special invite only. In truth, Milan is the perfect place for students of fashion to be in fashion season regardless of whether you can get a seat at a show or not.

So there you have a couple of great reasons Milan should be on your “to visit” list. With so much happening in this cosmopolitan city, it’s easy to see why it remains a favourite amongst travellers to come and check out the hustle and bustle of more corporate Italian life alongside centuries old traditions and shopping opportunities.

November 13, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Unexpected Dubai – The Things You Need To Check Out

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Today Dubai is a city featured on many layovers and connections on numerous long haul flights. But Dubai is not just one large supermarket – with it’s world-famous shopping malls – like many assumed in the past. No, today there is so much to see and do in this megacity in the desert that it is now a popular destination in it’s own right.

Dhow Cruises

An evening Dhow boat cruise is a wonderful way to cool down after a day of activities and to enjoy a gourmet meal on the canals around Dubai. Pretty much everyone who experiences a dhow cruise dinner agrees that it’s one of the best ways to see the city’s illuminated skyscrapers and river banks, while being thoroughly entertained on board. However, for those after a taste of the traditional culture, an ocean trip on a traditional dhow is always an option: These vessels have masts and lateen sails with the hull made of wood and they were once seen absolutely everywhere around the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, sometimes all the way to Indonesia and South East Asia’s mainland, trading in all sorts of spices and minerals, as well as being good vessels for traditional fishing.

Desert Safari

Another go-to activity just outside the city that is drawing more and more visitors every year is the opportunity to take advantage of desert safari Dubai. Packages exist for half-day up to a few days, and the mode of transport can vary between a traditional camel back ride at sunset into the reddish powder sands, or blasting and dancing through the dunes on Land Cruisers and other powerful 4x4s! Whatever transport you decide on, you will be ensured a veritable feast when the sun sets behind the dunes. The meal will be made in the tradition style of the Emirati people who have lived in the desert for centuries. The Emirati will then delight you as you dine on a buffet in the night dunes with their infamous belly dancing and a “Turana” dance show.

Fishing Trips

Veterans and beginners will delight at the options for deep sea fishing on offer, despite Dubai being overshadowed by classic spots in the Caribbean in the past, though this is no longer true as you can expect to bring back a delicious catch of barracuda or perhaps with some luck a gigantic Bluefin tuna! A wonderful way to take advantage of the great fishing is to go on fishing trips in Dubai aboard a traditional dhow boat and get a taste of what fishing this region used to be like (and still is, to an extent).

So here we have 3 fun activities for you to do in Dubai, which any age group would enjoy. But this is really just the tip of the iceberg as Dubai is evolving all the time. Adventure sports, scuba diving horse riding and indeed horse racing are now all becoming very popular reasons Dubai is drawing more and more tourists every year.