Have you started dreaming of your next destination yet? Use the destinations below to start your quest to one destination at a time
Life is short, take the trip.
Barcelona
In Barcelona, fancy architecture and trendy restaurants meet the sunny Spanish climate and beaches. Found by the Romans, Barcelona is like many other cities on the Mediterranean. Spain’s major Mediterranean port and commercial center, located 90 miles south of the French border, is famed for its individuality, cultural interest, and physical beauty.
The cultural roots of Barcelona go back centuries. The people of this city love arts and entertainment, and so Barcelona has numerous venues for live music, operas, theatres, orchestras, and more.
As the capital and chief cultural center of Catalonia, Barcelona is also the ‘literary hub’ of all works created in the Catalan language. The city hosts international conferences and expositions. Sports are another aspect of its rich culture. The city’s wide range of sites in the most self-assured city on the Mediterranean appeals to everyone the architect, the design nerd, the football fan, the art historian.
Top Experiences to Consider
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Take a day trip to Montserrat
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Visit the Picasso Museum
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Visit the fairies themed bar
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Antonio Gaudi’s masterpieces
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La Rambla
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Learn how to salsa for free
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Take a chupito or two
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Wander through the Gothic Quarter
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Hike up Montjuïc
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See a Flamenco show
Photography Hot Spots
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The Magic Fountain
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Mercado de la Boqueria
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La Barceloneta
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The Gothic Quarter
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Arc de Triomf
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Palau de la Música Catalana
Language
Spanish and Catalan (locals love a greeting in Catalan- Hola!)
Currency
The euro is the currency used widely in Spain.
Climate
Barcelona's climate is the Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. The best time to visit Barcelona is spring, from mid-April to mid-June. September, too, is a good month, but it is quite rainy. Summer, from mid-June to August, can be hot and muggy. Winter is usually mild, but sometimes it can get a bit cold, and it can rain.
Croatia
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Croatia combines astounding natural beauty – in the form of towering mountains and crystalline water along the rocky Adriatic coast – with rich cultural and historical heritage in cities like Dubrovnik, Split, and the capital, Zagreb. Add to that the wide selection of water sports and outdoor activities (from sailing and scuba diving to mountain biking and rock climbing), a surging festival scene, and exciting and innovative cuisine.
Dubrovnik, “the pearl of the Adriatic,” buzzes with life all year round and offers a great mix of history, sun, and sea. The marble-clad Old Town's astonishing beauty is contained within the city walls; people flock to its squares, picturesque narrow alleyways, cafés, and bars. The clean beaches and the crystal-clear blue water surrounding the city walls of Dubrovnik captivate the visitor with their charm.
Split's people claim that their city is "the most beautiful one in the world and beyond," and the well-spirited Split aims to convince you of this! The city is full of life and soul, and the friendly local people of Split are waiting to welcome you with open arms. Only a few cities in the world can offer such a variety of entertainment and excursions in their closest surroundings as Split.
Top Experiences to Consider
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Go hunting for truffles in Istria
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Visit the famous Blue cave
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Swim underneath Krka Waterfall National Park
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Diocletian’s Palace
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Canyoning by the Cetina River
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Ferry ride around islands
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Marmontova Street
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Mount Srd
Photography Hot Spots
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Krka National Park
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Plitvice lakes
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Jasenovac Memorial Site
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Vrbnik bay
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Old Dinaric fortress
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Dubrovnik
Language
The Croatian language is a South Slavic language used primarily by the inhabitants of Croatia and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatian is based on the Ijekavian pronunciation of the Stokavian dialect (with some influence from Cakavian and Kajkavian) and written with the Croatian alphabet. German and English are the most common second languages. French, Italian, Czech, and Hungarian are also spoken.
Currency
The Croatian national currency is the kuna (kn), which comes in notes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000. One kuna equals 100 lipa, and coins with values of 5, 10, 20, and 50 lipa and 1, 2, and 5 kuna are in circulation. Most notably hotels and tourist agencies, some Croatian businesses express their prices in euros and kuna, though euros are not officially accepted.
Climate
Croatia has three Climatic regions. The north has a continental climate of cold winters and hot summers. Central Croatia has an alpine climate. The Adriatic coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate of cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
Curacao
The “ABC Islands” are a cluster of islands off Venezuela’s coast – Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Tucked in the southern part of the Caribbean, generally out of the path of Caribbean hurricanes, Curacao is truly a hidden gem that Aruba often overshadows.
The ethnic diversity that is the signature of Curacao culture is seen in many facets of island life. Curacao is a country diverse in heritage and ethnicity. Fifty-five different ethnic groups call this Dutch Antilles island home. Most of the island's residents are of European or African descent, represent various cultural heritages, and have a strong sense of cultural awareness.
Top Experiences to Consider
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Beach at Seaquarium Beach, Playa Lagun, Blauwbaai, or at Daaibooi
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Indulge in culture-filled capital
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Explore natural landscapes
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Mt. Christoffel
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Sample cuisines
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Attend Thursday Punda Vibes
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Visit blue lizard
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Eat from a food truck (truk di pan)
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Photography Hot Spots
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Kokomo Beach
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Playa Porto Mari
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Grote Knip beach on Curaçao
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Limoncello view - a perfect break
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Curaçao - The wild north shore
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Cauraçao Island view
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Old Lighthouse
Language
Dutch, Papiamentu, and English are the official languages of Curaçao.
Currency
The official currency of Curaçao is the Netherlands Antilles guilder (also called the florin). The U.S. dollar is widely accepted on the island by all sorts of vendors, although service vendors may have trouble changing large bills given in either U.S. dollars or the Netherlands Antilles guilders. There are no restrictions for bringing cash into the country.
Climate
In Curaçao, the climate is tropical, hot all year round. The period from May to October is the most sultry, but the trade winds constantly blow, tempering the heat. The only relatively rainy period is from October to December when precipitation does not go beyond (3.1/4 in) per month.
Lisbon
Lisbon basks in the sun, reflecting off the Tejo River, and quickly seduces most visitors. The mixture of history and modernity, small town and metropolis, of the old-fashioned and the shining new is irresistible. Add to that excellent shopping, late but safe nightlife, and restaurants with Europe’s best fish, and you have Lisbon in a nutshell.
Lisbon’s heart lies beside the river, even if the city has grown in all directions. Sit down at a pavement cafe on Rossio Square, and you will see the Baiza, the flat city center that dates from the 18th century, between yourself and the river bank. Look up in one direction, and you will see the São Jorge on the top of a hill. Look in the other direction, and you will see the Carmo Church's ruin on another hill. Walk, or take a tram to one of them, and you will discover the quarters of old Lisbon, most of them with a magnificent view of the rest of the city and the river.
Top Experiences to Consider
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Walkthrough Alfama Neighborhood
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Check out the views from São Jorge Castle
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Indulge in a little Queijo da Serra & Portuguese Wine Picnic
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Cristo Rei Statue
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Visit the Local Markets
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Take in the view from Rua Augusta Arch
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Step Inside Jerónimos Monastery
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Take a day trip to Sintra & Cascais
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Visit Belem Tower
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Ride the streets in a sidecar and the tram lines
Photography Hot Spots
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Bairro Alto
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Ascensor da Bica
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Santa Justa Lift
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Alfama
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Miradouro das Portas do Sol
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Castelo de São Jorge
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Rua Augusta Arch
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Belem Tower
Language
The language spoken in Lisbon is Portuguese, but English is widely spoken by all people who work within the tourism industry.
Currency
The currency used in Portugal is the EURO, introduced in 1999. Since 2002, the former currency Portuguese Escudo is no longer available and replaced by the Euro.
Climate
Lisbon and its metropolitan area have a hot, dry subtropical, or typical Mediterranean climate with short and very mild winters and warm summers. The best time to visit Lisbon is mid to late spring when the weather is nice and warm and the city is not overrun with tourists. Early June hosts the most important festivities.
