Top Spot Travel

July 18, 2013 by jfalbelda

Off the Beaten Island Hop in Greece!

Greece is one of the most majestic places on earth. Upon closer inspection however this ancient state is composed of small collections of very diverse locales. From the massive gorges and pristine beaches of Crete to the bustling metropolis of Athens; Greece is a country where the possibilities for exploration are countless.

If you’re considering a late summer or early autumn holiday there are plenty of cheap flights to Greece. Getting there is easy but deciding where to head once you’ve landed on Greek soil is another matter entirely.

Everyone knows the marvels on offer in Athens. The ancient ruins of the Acropolis sit boldly above the modern city and visitors can experience remarkable history by day and indulge in fine dining by night.

If you’ve got your heart set on a white sand beach, or a white-washed village, the Cyclades are probably for you. The island of Milos is a particularly charming destination within this island group.

Volcanic Milos has a lunar landscape boasting not only white but red, gold and grey sand beaches as well. Whitewashed fishing villages abound and there are few more enchanting experiences than wandering through these winding streets en route to a delicious Greek meal.

The island of Tilos offers visitors a more ecologically minded holiday experience. The island itself is a protected environment and is home to abundant populations of birds and other wildlife. Eco-tourism offers connect visitors with nature on Tilos. The experience of walking through a deep valley filled with wildflowers and meandering through groves of pine, oak and almond trees is a truly unforgettable experience.

The island group known as Sporades lies in the northern Aegean and features a very special part of Greece. The island of Alonnisos is a far cry from the dry hillsides and blue and white identity of the Cyclades. Alonnisos features green fertile slopes, charming stone roofed cottages and towering pine forests. It is a beautiful landscape not typically associated with Greece but well worth a visit. Continue reading →

July 17, 2013 by jfalbelda

Language Travel in Malta

Language holidays are becoming increasingly popular among travellers who want to discover the culture and traditions of a new country and combine this experience with learning, developing or perfecting their skills in a foreign language. As a major world language in both business and tourism, English is much sought after, whether for professional progression or effective communication on holiday and one of the most effective ways of learning English is to completely immerse yourself in the language, speaking to fellow English students, teachers and locals on a daily basis.

A former British colony and therefore one of the world’s few truly bilingual countries, Malta is the ideal location for an English language holiday, offering language tuition against a stunning backdrop of historical architecture, beautiful beaches, colonial culture and, the pièce de résistance, a pleasant climate.

architecture in Malta

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July 8, 2013 by jfalbelda

Photo of the Week: A View of Pest from Buda

Last month I had the pleasure of heading to one of my favorite cities for the second time, Budapest, Hungary. Last time I was there was back in 2008 when I was in college. I must say, I feel like in the five years since I have been back, a lot has changed. It has become a very popular touristic destination for those exploring Central Europe with it’s close proximity to other great cities like Vienna and Bratislava and things just seem much more organized. Continue reading →

June 26, 2013 by jfalbelda

Caribbean Spotlight: Tobago

Tobago is a southern Caribbean island connected to the island of Trinidad. Tourists from around the world flock to Tobago for fun, culture, and a carefree tropical vacation. The bulk of the nation’s tourist activity happens around the well-manicured southwestern portion of the island where many of the most renowned resorts are located. These popular areas include Crown Point, Store Bay, and Pigeon Point. Then, of course, there are the beaches, of which Castara, Englishman’s Bay and Bloody Bay are among the most notable and pristine.

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June 11, 2013 by jfalbelda

Madeira – The Pearl of the Atlantic!

Last month, I flew from Boston to the Azores. Have no idea where that is? I didn’t either until my uncle told me he was actually from there (I thought he was from Brazil). My flight from the good ole’ US of A plopped me in Ponta Delgada, the largest city in the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, and a group of islands almost in the middle of the Atlantic. They were stunningly beautiful and are now one of my top travel recommendations. But when I was there, I met some people who said they were from some other autonomous archipelago in the Atlantic that I hadn’t ever heard of either, Madeira.

After doing a bit more research, this other mysterious Atlantic archipelago is now on my travel bucket list. Located a bit closer to Europe than the Azores, Madeira is just 310 miles off the western coast of Africa, and 620 miles south of Europe. It’s only about an hour and a half flight from Portugal and around 3 hours from the rest of western Europe. Continue reading →