Yaxha
Feb 10, 2017
Guatemala
Largely over-shadowed by the far more famous Tikal, few visitors to Guatemala's Peten region visit the nearby, equally fascinating, Mayan city of Yaxha.
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Welcome to our Features
Cuban UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Feb 07, 2017
Cuba
As the largest island in the Caribbean, Cuba is packed full of things to do and see including no less than 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Flying In Cuba – A Guide
Jan 30, 2017
Cuba
At over 1000kms in length, anyone looking to traverse Cuba within a typical holiday window will probably need to take at least one internal flight.
Combining Havana & the Yucatan
Jan 28, 2017
Mexico
Heaven knows, there is more than enough to see and do in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to warrant looking no further. However, if like me you actively seek out holidays that, er, wander off beyond the ordinary, how about combining the Yucatan with Havana?
Public Boats on Lake Atitlan
Jan 26, 2017
Guatemala
As one of Guatemala’s ‘Big Three’ attractions (the other two being Antigua and Tikal), pretty much every visitor to the country will visit Lake Atitlan as part of their itinerary.
Air Europa Dreamliner to Havana
Jan 24, 2017
Cuba
Commencing 15th March this year, the Air Europa daily flight from Madrid to Havana will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Valley of the Sugar Mills
Jan 22, 2017
Cuba
Occupying the space between the colonial towns of Trinidad & Sancti Spiritus, the Valley of the Sugar Mills is another of Cuba’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria
Jan 11, 2017
Cuba
The Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria has finally opened and is poised to provide Cuba’s established hotel operators with some much-needed competition.
Yucatan Peninsula – The Big Four Mayan Sites
Jan 10, 2017
Mexico
There are over a thousand Mayan sites dotted across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula so, unless you plan to move to the region permanently, chances are that you will struggle to visit even 1% of them.
Howler Monkeys
Jan 06, 2017
General
If you’d never seen a howler monkey before, but heard them calling out to each other across the jungle canopy, you might easily imagine (with a degree of trepidation if you were nearby) that they were huge, gorilla-like creatures that would make short work of any pesky human that got in their way.
Unseen Cuba – By Marius Jovaisa
Jan 04, 2017
Cuba
Marius Jovaisa is a ground-breaking travel photographer, famous for his aerial shots, all contained in 5 beautiful photography books, including Unseen Cuba
Guatemala & Money – What You Need To Know
Jan 03, 2017
Guatemala
So, you're off on holiday to Guatemala but haven't got a clue what you need to do in terms of cash, credit cards etc. Read on amigos....
Iberostar Riviera Hotel Havana
Dec 22, 2016
Cuba
The Riviera Hotel in Havana is perhaps the classic 1950s Cuban hotel which, it has just been announced, will be taken over by the Iberostar group in early 2017.
KLM To Havana
Dec 20, 2016
Cuba
It’s something of a cliché to refer to KLM as the de facto national airline of the UK, but they do offer more regional connections than any other airline.
Caracol
Dec 19, 2016
Belize
Quick trivia question – what is the tallest building in Belize? An office block in Belize city, a government ministry in the capital Belmopan or perhaps even the air traffic control tower at the country’s international airport? Nope, in fact the answer is the main pyramid at the ancient Mayan site of Caracol which stands at some 44 metres high.
Casa El Madero
Dec 15, 2016
Cuba
Casa El Madero is the latest casa particular to open in Old Havana and, as well as adding much needed capacity, also provides a dash of style to the city's accommodation stock.
Punta Gorda – Cienfuegos
Dec 14, 2016
Cuba
Punta Gorda is a picturesque, residential neighbourhood of Cienfuegos that directly overlooks the Bay of Cienfuegos on Cuba's south coast
Antigua – Amongst The Ruins
Dec 13, 2016
Guatemala
Antigua wasn’t Guatemala’s first colonial capital – that honour goes to nearby Iximche – but, from 1543 to 1773, it was both capital of the nation and the most important city in Central America
Guantanamera
Dec 12, 2016
Cuba
It might not be the national anthem, but few would argue that 'Guantanamera' is the song of Cuba. No matter where you are on the island, you're going to hear it.
Driving Times In Cuba
Dec 08, 2016
Cuba
At over 1000kms long, and by far the largest island in the Caribbean, driving times in Cuba are often far greater than many people anticipate. To that end, I have put together this very broad guide to non-stop, driving times between some of the key tourist destinations.
Overnighting in Cancun
Dec 07, 2016
Mexico
Anyone looking to holiday in the Yucatan and flying in from Europe will arrive at Cancun airport from the late afternoon onwards, too late to begin the journey into the region’s hinterland.
Soroa Botanical Gardens
Dec 06, 2016
Cuba
The Soroa Botanical Gardens are located just over an hour’s drive west of Havana, nestled in a lush, green valley within the Sierra del Rosario Mountains.
Tren Blindado
Dec 05, 2016
Cuba
Located in the city of Santa Clara, the Tren Blindado (Spanish for ‘armoured train’) is part monument, part museum and relates to one of the most famous events of the Cuban Revolution.
The House on the Hill
Dec 02, 2016
Belize
Atop a steep hill with stunning views over the surrounding countryside, the House on the Hill is located an easy 10-minute taxi-ride from the popular tourist town of San Ignacio and offers a stylish alternative to the more traditional hotels in the Cayo district.
Bus Travel In Cuba
Dec 01, 2016
Cuba
There are numerous transport options when it comes to exploring Cuba but, for those looking to travel independently and also keep costs down, bus travel is highly recommended.
Aguateca
Nov 30, 2016
Guatemala
Aguateca is an important Mayan site located in the Peten region of northern Guatemala and was one of a number of important settlements in the area including Dos Pillas and Ceibal.
La Boca – Trinidad’s alternative beach resort?
Nov 28, 2016
Cuba
La Boca is a small coastal village some 15 minutes’ drive from the UNESCO World Heritage town of Trinidad on Cuba’s south coast.
Iberostar Cuba
Nov 23, 2016
Cuba
Iberostar Cuba is a division of the Spanish hotel management company, Iberostar. Currently, they manage 12 hotels across Cuba, 10 at the beach, 1 in Havana and 1 in Trinidad.
Getting Around Cuba
Nov 18, 2016
Cuba
At around 1000kms in length, Cuba is a larger island than many visitors realise and exploring it can be both complicated and expensive. This brief guide covers the key options for getting around Cuba.
Accommodation in Cuba: Hotels or Casa Particulares?
Nov 17, 2016
Cuba
Deciding where to stay is part and parcel of going travelling. With accommodation in Cuba, your first decision may be whether you opt for hotels or casa particulares.
Flying In Belize
Nov 16, 2016
Belize
Aviation geeks aside, the majority of travellers look forward to internal flights with the same enthusiasm as a dental trip. The cure? Go flying in Belize.
The Gatwick Terminal Shuffle
Nov 15, 2016
General
On 24th January 2017, Gatwick airport will undergo a huge shuffle with 3 major airlines switching between its two terminals.
Four Days In Havana
Nov 14, 2016
Cuba
Everyone keeps asking me the same question, how long does one need in Havana? Clearly there is no right or wrong answer but my advice is always to spend at least four days.
ABTA and ATOL – What’s The Difference?
Nov 11, 2016
General
Most people view ABTA and ATOL as being a ‘good thing’ but I wonder how many of them can tell you what the difference is?
Livingston, Guatemala – Getting In & Out
Nov 10, 2016
Guatemala
Missed out on many holidays to Guatemala, largely because of the difficulty in getting there, Livingston is well worth a visit. In fact, in our opinion, the journey there is one of the key reasons for visiting.
Flying From The US to Cuba – The Rules
Nov 09, 2016
Cuba
Although flying from the US to Cuba is moving towards normalisation, there is still quite some way to go before just anyone can hop on a plane.
Casa Particulares in Trinidad
Nov 08, 2016
Cuba
Along with the Vinales Valley, the small town of Trinidad on Cuba’s south coast is the most popular travel destination outside of Havana and, accordingly, is home to a huge number of casa particulares.
British Airways To Go 10 Abreast
Nov 05, 2016
General
As first reported by Simon Calder, Travel Editor of The Independent, British Airways have confirmed that their Gatwick fleet of 777s are going 10 abreast.
Placencia Village
Nov 04, 2016
Belize
The southern-most of Belize’s established holiday destinations, but still just a 30-minute flight from Belize City, Placencia is essentially a 16-mile peninsula with the Caribbean on one side and a large lagoon on the other.
Is Travel in Cuba Safe?
Nov 03, 2016
Cuba
Is travel in Cuba safe? This is a question that I have been asked many times and understandably so.The answer, quite emphatically, is Yes.
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Make your next holiday Beyond The Ordinary
Whichever of our featured countries you wish to visit, we've been there several times. So, if you're after something beyond the ordinary to Cuba, Guatemala or the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, we'd love to hear from you.
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