Looking to take a unique trip this year? From Czech Republic to Sacramento, California, here are our 13 best ideas for unique travel destinations all over the world.
Get Snowed In At Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Visit the snowy town of Karlovy Vary and partake in cold weather activities like hot thermal spas, cocoa drinking, and wafer eating. Rent an entire flat for around $30 - $40 a night on Airbnb or upgrade to a villa.
Hop a flight to Paris ORLY from JFK from $150-$200, then a flight to Prague for around $50-$70. You can drive or take a cheap bus to Karlovy Vary in about an hour and a half.
Read More: 15 Best Things to Do in Karlovy Vary
Chase Waterfalls In Siquijor, Philippines
Siquijor, an island in the Philippines, is an affordable and adventurous place to visit. Once you're there, you can hike, beach, or explore the various waterfalls in Siquijor, including the magnificent Cambugahay Falls.
You can fly to Manila for around $220 - $300 from Vancouver or San Francisco. From there, snag a cheap flight to Dumaguete City, where you can get to Siquijor Island via ferry.
When it comes to a place to crash, try renting a beachfront cottage for around $40 a night, depending on seasonality.
Read More: The Drifty Guide To Siquijor, The Philippines
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This warm pita bread is calling your name! #sacgreekfest | September 2-4
Go To A Festival In Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California, is a highly underrated city with a ton to do, including a number of local festivals. Arrive in time for The Jewish Food Faire (August), The Polish Festival (September), The Greek Festival (October) or The Aloha Festival (October).
Snag a flight from Raleigh for around $120 - $150 via Frontier, and either book a Airbnb (like this cozy guesthouse) or splurge on a room at The Citizen Hotel (Autograph Collection) for around $179 a night.
Read More: The Drifty Guide To Sacramento
Have An Artist's Retreat In New Orleans
New Orleans is a great place to hole up and write, paint, draw, or make music for awhile. With some of the most creative people of all time calling NOLA home, such as Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, and Anne Rice, there's plenty of artistic juju and good vibes to go around.
Flights to New Orleans from Charlotte are around $190, or closer to $100 from New York City. You can rent an eccentric cottage for around $60 - $80 a night, a ritzy apartment for $150 - $200, or a cozy bungalow for $60 - $80 a day.
Read More: The Drifty Guide To New Orleans
Explore Upper Barrakka Gardens In Valletta, Malta
The Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, Malta, have sweeping views of the Valletta's Grand Harbor, making it an ideal place to visit, relax, read, sketch, etc. Valletta is also gorgeous, with winding streets, Neo-Classical architecture, and plenty of gardens to take in.
Fly to Palermo from New York for $220 - $250, then hop a flight between $70 - $90 to Malta. You can get an apartment with a sea view for around $50, a trendy townhouse for $90ish, or a luxury apartment for $200 a night.
Read More: 10 Amazing Things to Do in Valletta
Cruise The Art Scene In Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona, has a surprisingly amazing art scene, from The Roosevelt Row Arts District to incredible street art. You can also catch a flick at FilmBar. When you're in Phoenix, you can grab incredible tacos, go for a hike or explore local thrift shops.
You can grab a flight from New York for around $130 or a flight from Nashville for $100. Once you're there, crash in a kooky Shasta trailer (I did) at The Hive or splurge on a room at The Waldorf.
Read More: The Drifty Guide To Phoenix, Arizona
Eat Your Way Through Osaka, Japan
Osaka, south of Tokyo, is a great city for food, with plenty of udon, sushi, ramen, horumo, and okonomiyaki to eat. You can wander through the various street food stands, with gyoza, grilled crab legs or green tea soft serve. There's also The Izumisano Fishermans Union Open Air Market with fresh seafood.
If you're interested, you can also take a class in bento box making, ramen, and sushi.
You can get to Osaka by flying from Los Angeles to Honolulu for around $180, then to Osaka for around $100. In Osaka, you can get an apartment for around $40 - $50 a night, a nice hotel room for $131, or a loft for $80.
Read More: First Time In Osaka
Climb Table Mountain In Cape Town, South Africa
Table Mountain, in Cape Town, South Africa, is between a 1.5 and 2 hour hike if you want something less strenuous, or a 3-4 hike for a more scenic view. Once you're closer to the top, you'll get awesome views of Cape Town, from city to sea.
Fly from Paris for around $320, a direct flight that will take around 11 hours. Book a room at the elegant Winchester Mansions Hotel for $119, or a more low-key place at Swift Studios for around $50 a night.
Read More: 11 Things You Absolutely Must Do In Cape Town, South Africa
Explore The Hollow Islands In Greece
Koufonisia or "The Hollow Islands," are three islands that serve as the perfect remote getaway. Although the area has less panache than popular areas like Crete and Santorini, the islands, Pano Koufonisi, Kato Koufonisi and Kero, offer plenty of beaches, bright blue water, and sea caves to explore.
Fly from London to Athens for $40 - $50, then to Koufonisia for $50 to $60. You can rent an entire villa for $115 or an elegant apartment.
Read More: Pano Koufonisi - Koufonisia (Hollow Islands)
Climb Diamond Hill In Galway County, Ireland
Diamond Hill, located in Connemara National Park, is an hour and sixteen minutes from Galway. With plenty of hiking trails, it's a great way to spend a few hours, with gorgeous ocean, ridge, and peak views. The entire hike is challenging, and should take around 2-3 hours for an experienced hiker to complete.
Fly into Galway from London for around $40. Galway is a decent sized city, with a ton of options for accommodations, like a quaint-sized cottage, an upscale hotel or a quirky B&B.
Read More: The Drifty Guide To Ireland
Sketch Skyscrapers In Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei, a vibrant, eclectic city, has one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world - The Taipei World Financial Center, or Taipei 101. Ride up the 106 floors to the observation deck and get views of the entire city. You can also climb Xiangshan (Elephant), a mountain near Taiwan City, to get incredible views of the entire skyline.
The hiking trail, Nangang District Hiking Trail, is about 1.5 km long, and will take about 1-2 hours to complete.
You can fly to Taipei directly for $425 (13 hour flight), or from Honolulu to $220. There are plenty of places to stay in the city, such as The Bayman Hotel (around $80 a night), The Miramar Garden Taipei ($147), or an entire apartment with terrace for $55.
Read More: Breathtaking Hiking Trails in Taipei
Stay At An Agriturismo In Umbria, Italy
An agriturismo, or farm stay, is an incredible way to spend a few days in Italy. You can stay at farms producing olive oil, wine, pasta, and more. The farm stays range from luxury to rustic, depending on your preferences and price range.
In Umbria, an Italian region that encompasses Tuscany, Lazio, etc., you can do an agriturismo at farms such as:
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- La Casella - Rustic, but has a spa and restaurant, with jams, bread, wine, olive oil, and black truffles.
- Casale Nel Parco Dei Monti Sibillini - A mountainside agriturismo with organic spelt, lentils, and chickpeas.
- Il Poggio degli Scoiattoli - Family run farm with 2,000 year old olive trees.
You can get to Umbria by flying into Rome or Florence. Fly to Rome from New York for around $130 - $150 or fly from New York to London, then London to Florence for around $190 - $220.
Read More: How to Find the Perfect Agriturismo in Umbria - Walks of Italy
Hike The Main Trail In Petra, Jordan
Jordan is a gorgeous country, with roman ruins, The Dead Sea, and a ton of biblical history to behold. But another fantastic opportunity in Jordan is the hiking, with plenty of hiking and biking trails in Petra to explore.
There's the main trail, which is an easier course lasting around 30 minutes. You will need to buy an entry ticket. For more experienced hikers, there are trails like The High Place of Sacrifice Trail and The Treasury Viewpoint Trail.
You can get to Petra by flying into London from New York, then taking a flight from London to Amman Airport, totaling around $370. You can also break up the flight and choose to stop in Berlin, Rome, or Barcelona before heading to Jordan.
You can choose from top-notch hotels like the sleek Mövenpick Resort Petra, for around $140 a night or grab a room at the Marriott for $110. You can also stay with an Airbnb Superhost for around $40 a night.
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