Quench Issue Travel Special 28 Feb 2005

Having seen how the food supplement whet your appetites let us inspire your adventurous spirit with QTravel - the ultimate guide to student travel. It’s the product of sleepless nights, tears,tantrums,a bit of blagging and a love of travel. If you share this love then we’ve got inspiration,ideas and handy information to help you plan your next adventure. If you don’t share this love, then quite frankly you are deviant but seeing as you’re here we might as well try to convert you.

First up we’re kind enough to steer you towards the best of the travel guides (ooh,we spoil you). Which is better? Rough Guides? Lonely Planet? We know this is the kind of thing that keeps you awake at night. If you ever want to get any sleep you’re going to have to turn to page four and find out.

But wait!! Don’t go until you’ve finished this editorial,otherwise why are we writing it? Ingrates. Having decided which travel bible,other than this one of course,to take with you on your adventures,flick to our Extreme Sports feature which will show you ways and places to chase that adrenaline rush.

Next up we’ve abandoned the standard ski-season / Tefl jobs most people think of when you mention working abroad; instead,check out some really unusual experi-

Executive editor Gary Andrews

ences involving camels and a serious incident with a lacrosse stick in our Working Abroad piece.

Our quick flit round the continents winkles out five places on each continent that are really worth checking out. (Yes,we know we missed out Antarctica,but if endless snowy tundra is your thing,there are support groups for people like you). We scrambled sand dunes and clambered up cliff faces (or at least our valient contributors did) to find the places other guides overlook. Of course,some places like New York are too crucial an experience to be skipped out,even though you’ve all heard of it. Except you Tarquin. Obviously continents are really big places and no selection of five can ever do them justice,so if you think you can come up with better ideas, please do. Just don’t tell us about it,as it’s clearly too late for QTravel, and you all had your chance to contribute. Yes,you did.

Right then,we’ve told you where to go,what to pack,which books to read and all about people who’ve already had a few adventures. What more do you want us to do,book you a ticket? And make your dinner while we’re at it? Sorry,but we’ll be too busy rampaging around the globe,and you can too. Use QTravel, baby of a metaphorical editorial coupling wisely,kittens. We unleash you to the world.

QTravel editors Sarah Cummins and Laura Tovey

Contributors Kara Dowson,Willow Murton,Lucian Reed-Drake,Perri Lewis,Richard Lilly,Natalia Kekic,Charlotte Howells,Tim Clark,Helen Thompson,Hanna Lewis,Mike Sunderland,Ian Loynd,Marielle Smith Photography Edward Ross,Tom Brown,Mike Sunderland,Lucian Reed-Drake Illustration Rowenna Cummins Proofreader Alys Southwood, Elaine Morgan Assistant to the editor Elaine Morgan Cover Design Will Dean

Your QT Girls

Let battle commence QT

Battle of the T Battle of the T ravel Guides ravel Guides

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides

“The guides that show you what others only tell you."

Layout

A general introduction followed by detailed chapters of What to see in each area with comprehensive listings. where to stay and eat are presented in their regional areas. Final chapters cover Activities and Practicalities.

Rough Guides

Lonely Planet

“Our purpose is to inspire and enable travellers to connect with the world around them.”

Layout

Following a brief introduction

Lonely Planet covers information on money and preparing to go. The individual chapters cover a

"The guides that aren’t afraid to have an opinion.”

Layout

A colour introduction includes where and when to go and an extensive "things not to miss" section. Followed by details of getting there,visas,work and health. Chapters cover arrival information and transport followed by accommodation,ranging from camping and hostels to luxurious hotels,and detailed coverage of what can be found in the area.

Usability

With colour photographs and annotated diagrams of museums and important buildings,this guide focuses on the visual and less on the information. It packs a lot into a small book but lacks the detail of other guidebooks.

brief history and introduction for each area followed by things to see,places to stay and eat,and finally getting there and away. These guides are interspersed with colour pages of photos.

Usability

Colour images throughout the guide break up the text and separating accommodation clearly into price ranges means it is easy to follow.

Usability

The colour introduction is fantastic to plan and get inspiration for your journey before you go. Rough Guides’ defining feature is its context chapter,featuring well-researched information on the history,culture and literature of the place in question.

The lovely people at Rough Guides have given us five copies of their First Time Round The World. Obviously this has by no means influenced the number of aeroplanes allocated. For your chance to win email us at travel@gairrhydd.com with your response to: “If you were a city which would you be and why?”

Extreme Extreme

Scuba dooba doo

From the depths of the sea to flying through the sky, Lucian Reed-Drake recounts his gap year adventures

As someone who normally chuckles in the face of danger,I was thrilled by the opportunity to have a go at various extreme sports on my travels in my gap year. I plunged into Thailand’s Andaman Sea amongst sharks,stingrays and seasnakes to indulge in deep-sea scuba diving.

flimsy polystyrene rental board,wiping out an abusive Australian on the way!

As "far out,dude" as I strived to be in Australia,on land my most incredible and fulfilling experiences came from Queenstown,on the south island of New Zealand. Adrenaline streams through this town’s veins and not surprisingly it’s dubbed the ‘adventure capital of the world’.

Set amidst the stunning Remarkables mountain range on the shores of Lake Wakatipu,it boasts a host of hair-raising activities including bungee jumps,skydives,canyon swings and white-water rafting. It was time to test gravity,as I opted first for the canyon swing - a devastating 89 metre canyon drop,swerving just ten metres from the gushing rocky stream below. The second highest bungee jump in the world was next and this

Now diving certainly isn’t for the faint hearted. It’s hard enough to adjust yourself to steady your breathing and buoyancy level,especially when a shiny silver barracuda fin jets past your flipper. I saw myself as pretty brave,but when the dive instructors started to stroke reef sharks and hand-feed them,tempting them with chunks of bloody meat,they were just plain crazy.

Back at surface level on Bondi Beach in Sydney,Australia,I took an alternative form of extreme sportsurfing,Aussie style. Bondi Beach is a different kind of Home and Away, complete with lines of tourists,retro cafes and brawny surfer wannabees.

The waves are the main attractionand they are truly colossal - pounding me until I finally caught one on my

truly was the shit-scariest of them all.

I’m faced by 134 metres of air,waddling along to the edge, legs gripped by shaky ropes, focusing on the horizon with Kiwi cheers and jibes of "let’s get ready to

bungee..." I suddenly realise there’s no turning back,and can only swan dive into the abyss..but WOW,eight seconds of sheer freefall brought a unique rush of heart-stopping intensity that shook through my body throughout and for hours after. It’s simply unforgettable.

By the time it came to the 12,000 feet skydive,I was fearless. Despite the distinct stench of my fellow tandem colleague’s whiskey breath from the night before I deeply trusted his 5000 jump ‘track record’. Firmly strapped behind me,I left him to do all the necessary parachute work and just had to stretch out and pray. But I felt free as the wind blasted through my hair,with a birds-eye view and an energy rush through my whole body as I plummeted towards the ground.

Queenstown certainly isn’t for the scaredy-cats. It’s truly insane how much action adventure can take place in one setting. The only drawback is that adrenaline junkies in NZ will have to shell out a fair few bob for their fix (believe it or not,there’s a price for volunteering to jump out of a plane). But for the absolute exhilaration of this unique experience,trust me,it’s worth it. Besides,there is also the

Lights Camel Action QT

W orking abroad orking abroad

Camels in Mongolia and American-Jewish fat camps, Willow Murton and Kara Dowson show us that there is more to holiday jobs than bar work and waitressing

The director’s decision is final. Tomorrow I would be riding the camel on the first day of the migration. The camel and I eyeballed each other with mutual disapproval.

We’d been living and filming with a nomadic family for the last five weeks as they prepared to migrate to their winter pastures. Around us, everyone was busy. People gathered blankets and boxes,ready for the morning’s early start.

Early mornings are something that I’d got used to. Usually I was woken by the snoring of one of the six other people that shared our tent. It was an intimate affair,little room for privacy but just enough for us to lay our sleeping bags out in the evening.

I was usually the first out into the cold morning. It was my job to check the camera equipment before we began filming and do anything else that needed doing,from sound recording to second camera work. As much as the BBC loves inventing them,it’s not easy to find a job title

to fit my work. To be honest,I found it hard at times to call this work. Spending six weeks in Mongolia as part of a three person team,learning how a nomadic family lives in this beautiful landscape… it was more of a privilege than a job.

Our hosts suggested that I drink from the healing springs to cure me of my vegetarianism

I joined the production team for Tribe a year ago as a researcher. The programmes are based around the presenter’s experience of living with different indigenous communities around the world. Working on various projects my job took me from Bristol to London and even as far as Honduras before coming back to Cardiff again.

When we were researching into

the idea of going to Mongolia,I remember thinking how incredible the trip sounded but never dreamt that I would one day find myself crossing the snowy mountain pass to the winter camp. I was asked to join the team just five weeks before we packed our thermals and weighty camera gear and flew off on the start of our long journey to the north of Mongolia.

The hardest thing to prepare for was the diet of fatty mutton. I have been a vegetarian all my life,save a moment of teenage rebellion at the salami counter of the local supermarket. Our hosts suggested that I drink from the healing springs to cure me of my vegetarianism and tried to tempt me from my ailing condition with boiled horse entrails. It wasn’t always so easy to say no. Mongolia is rightly famous for its hospitality and any journey inevitably involved stopping off at a number of tents along the way and drinking rounds of tea,made in huge steaming bowls on the stove. This is drunk with hefty slabs of fresh bread crystallised with cream and sugar. With temperatures reaching below -15C, you need all the fat that you can get to keep warm. The vodka,which always opportunely appeared,helped a lot too.

Working in a camera team gives you access to things that you otherwise wouldn’t get the opportunity to see - the comings and goings of neighbours trading goats for medicines or cloth,the shambles of a local wolf hunt,all the patches of family colour and still of quiet moments that make up everyday life… some of these will make the final programme,many will not,but they will always remain with me as vivid memories.

My first term at Cardiff had given me a thirst for independence and adventure so the thought of spending twelve weeks working in a boring job seemed less than appealing. After some research and a lengthy application process I applied to camps in America.

Having to come up with a list of skills to advertise myself proved very difficult; calling on the sport I’d played at school for eight years and a theatre studies A-Level I put down lacrosse and drama.

Waiting to be allocated a camp was one of the most nerve wracking experiences of my life. Our prediction was an all girls,Jewish,fat camp in the Bronx; the extreme idea appearing to be the most amusing. A week before I was due to leave the prediction came true. I was told I was going to be a lacrosse specialist at a Jewish weight-loss camp in New York. This was,of course,hilarious to all my friends. My next week was spent packing and trying to regurgitate my lacrosse lessons from year seven - I was nervous to say the least.

Arriving at the gates of Camp Shane,scenes from Dirty Dancing came flooding back. It was positioned in the beautiful Catskill moun-

tains,filled with small cabins and numerous sporting facilities. Over half of the 120 staff at camp were international,which gave it an immediate sense of home. That night we all descended on Nina’s,our local redneck bar which,offering pizza,$5 pitchers of Bud and karaoke,soon became our sanctuary. However, pizza and Bud could not fully prepare me for the task ahead. Just two days after arriving,I was expected to teach a lacrosse session to my fellow counsellors,most of whom had never picked up a stick in their lives. With the exception of an incident involving a stick,someone’s head and a golf cart rescue I guess you could say my first class went well!

A week later 550 campers aged 8–25 descended on the Camp. I was to live with 13 15-year-old girls and two other counsellors. Teenagers,a top bunk bed and two showers between sixteen people was,needless to say,a daunting prospect. But the girls soon became my friendswe shared everything from man troubles to clothes. Their ongoing weight loss was helped by the lack of food. Chicken nuggets became the highlight of my week whereas anything with ricotta cheese was best avoided.

Three months at camp was

of my girls had had a seizure. Travelling in the ambulance with Brittany,I realised I was the closest thing to family she had around her at one of the scariest times of her life. After 24 hours away,Brittany was on the road to recovery and with no sleep or money I made my way back to camp. The pressure of being so far away and lack of sleep had finally got to me. After a tearful 40 minute reverse charge call to my mum (costing £75) I was back to my normal self and returned to camp.

There were positive experiences. I managed to get a free trip to New York,and bumped into Steve’O and Chris Pontius from Jackass filming in the sea lion section of the zoo. We thought it best not to ask their intentions but I did take the opportunity for a photo.

As for weight loss,my girls were hugely successful. One of them lost 47 pounds in nine weeks. Talking to them afterwards made me realise just how much their self esteem had been boosted and how camp really had been a life changing experience for them as well as myself.

For more information on Camp America check out their website.

Travel alarm You won’t believe how invaluable this little device will be on your trip. Those cursed bleeps will prove themselves essential when you need to get up for that early-bird 5am boat. Especially after the hazy night before,knocking back the local brews with that random German explorer named Helmut.

Pack of playing cards The original and best. Fifty-two pieces of coloured card can supply an endless window of opportunities. They can fill hours of voyager boredom, or provide that stepping stone to making the acquaintance of those attractive Swedish girls in the seats next to you.

First aid kit (including insect repellent) As they say in the Scouts,“always be prepared.” And they’re right, because you never know when that exotic plant might sting you,when sharp coral might cut you,or even a bizarre foreign creature might bite you!

What to Pack What to Pack

Sleeping bag and travel pillow This is the ultimate must-have on any backpacker’s kit list. It’s your symbol to the world that you have joined the elite travelling group. Aside from the fashion statement,these two remarkable little items prevent slumbering in dodgy, stained ‘complimentary’ hostel bedsheets.

Vaccines

wIf you’re heading off to Latin America,Africa,Asia,the Pacific Islands or Eastern and Central Europe you’ll need to head to your doctor and stock up on Typhoid jabs and Hepatitus A and B.

wHepatitus B is needed especially for long term travellers,those working as a nurse or those who may have a sexual relationship with a local person.

wGet info on the risks of Malaria from your local travel clinic,take preventative drugs and carry treatment,avoid insect bites.

wIt’s also important to be up to date with your jabs for Tetnus,Polio and childhood illnesses.

Guide books,timetables,and phrasebooks Despite many people’s innate desire as a ‘gapper’ to go ‘off the beaten track’,these glossy paperbacks are an imperative source of maps,hostels and sights. In addition is the essential unscrambling of the matrix that is the Thomas Cook European Train timetables. Phrasebooks always come in handy-“una birra per favore” is essential.

Travel towel The travel manufacture geeks of the world have discovered new material that is lightweight, absorbent,dries quickly and,most importantly,odourfree. Perfect to rub your drenched self up and down, without fearing that your backpack will be consumed by a stale,dampened stench.

Passports and copies OK,so here’s the boring bit and undoubtedly the bloody obvious one,but we strongly advise you to make lots of photocopies of every document you have,air/hostel tickets and insurance papers. Give them to your parents,your friends and keep them in separate bags on you. It always eases the heart to know you have backup if you are unfortunate enough to be robbed or stranded in the middle of a desert island in Fiji.

Contraception If you are lucky enough to get lucky abroad the glowing Durex symbol of British reliability will, rest assured,prevent that unwanted STI or arranged marriage due to defective alternatives overseas.

Camera,journal and pens

Some gung-ho (or just plain lazy) travellers believe that pictures and words never account for the whole travel experience,relying on just those good ol’ memories. We think there is a certain amount of satisfaction in wiping away your dusty files and demonstrating something special to show the grandchildren,even if it’s to simply re-invigorate your own rusty memory.

Visas

wCheck with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office www.fco.gov.uk for information relevant to your intended countries.

wSome visas require proof of a plane ticket.

wMost visas have a use by date keep this in mind when you’re shifting flight dates around.

wBasically five different types: transit (1-2 days),tourist (30-90 days),business,student and working-holiday.

Illustration by Rowenna Cummins

Five Go Travelling QT

Guide books tell you one story but first hand experience tells another.We’ve rounded up five top places that you really must see,on each of six continents.

Africa Africa

1. Bungee jump over Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe ‘THREE,TWO,ONE,BUNGEE!’…

Before I know it,before I’ve even made the decision to jump,there I am,heart in my mouth,suddenly flying through thin air,wind rushing past me and there’s nothing I can do as I plummet downwards. I just have to let go and enjoy this feeling. Gradually I slow down and take in my surroundings. The mighty Zambezi flows beneath me,over menacing rocks visible above the water’s surface,at some points forming treacherous whirlpools. The sides of the deep gorge through which the river flows are lush and green with thick vegetation. Behind me lies the magnificent Victoria Falls,a spectacular backdrop complete with huge plumes of spray and a rainbow veil.

Marielle Smith

2. Luxor,Egypt

The stunning temples and burial sites of the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs take your breath away. The beautifully decorated 20 metre high columns and statues at Karnak are particularly breathtaking in their scale and level of preservation. The Valley of the Kings, while a tourist

circus when the coaches arrive,is the treasure-trove of an ancient culture which includes the famous tomb of Tutankhamen. There are so many ruins and tombs that you can really get ‘templed-out’. Take a break from the shrines and cycle through the farmlands of the West Bank to see a way of life unchanged for millennia. An evening ride on a traditional felucca boat with its characteristic graceful sail is a great way to relax as the sun sets over the cooling waters of the Nile. Richard Lilly

3. Ngorogoro Crater,Tanzania

Effectively a vast natural zoo encircled by a mountain range,the Ngorogoro Crater has its own microclimate,with the roasting temperatures of the centre countered by the snowcapped peaks. This is the place to head if you love The Lion King - it’s not quite Pride rock (the animals sadly don’t talk) but the rich variety of wildlife to be seen, makes it the ideal location to go on safari. There are a fair few tourists but they make an interesting diversion if you happen to get tired of watching the animals. Ian Loynd and Laura Tovey

4. Place Djemma el-Fna,Marrakech, Morocco

As the sun sets on Marrakech’s ochre town walls,Djemma el-Fna invites visitors to embrace the perfect expression of the people and traditions of Morocco. Open-air vendors shroud the square in fragrant smoke,offering a variety of delicious food cooked before your eyes. Snake charmers,musicians and storytellers entertain jostling crowds who,having received their fill,drop a few dirhams into a hat and move on to the next spectacle. The romantic medina streets lead the wanderer from the square and on to the city’s renowned Souk markets. Mike Sunderland

5. Dogon Country,Mali

If you’re visiting West Africa,you simply have to make time to visit a Dogon village for a while. The Dogon are a fascinating and welcoming people who live in cave-like homes on cliff faces where they grow their crops rather precariously. Their art,animist religion and ceremonies go to make up an intriguing culture that has so far resisted outside influences and gives a true flavour of Africa. Laura

Unmissable Unmissable QT

Asia Asia

1. Singapore

The cleanest city in the world, where you can be arrested for chewing gum: welcome to the island of Singapore. Highlights include the tasty oriental cuisine in the attractive Chinatown district and the beautiful resort of Sentosa Island. There are many excellent duty-free shopping centres in the Penisular Plaza.

There is also the world’s first Night Safari,bringing the plucky tourist up close and personal with nature’s big cats including lions,tigers,leopards and even flying foxes. How better to perfectly end a short trip to this city than by sipping on the infamous (if somewhat pricey) Singapore Sling cocktail in the luxurious lounges of the illustrious Raffles Hotel. Lucian Reed-Drake

2. Full Moon Party,Thailand

Once a month,when the full moon rises (and the werewolves howl),thousands of revellers from all corners of the world gather on Haad Rin Nok beach on the southern coast of Koh Phangan island for Asia’s biggest party spectacle. Beginning at sunset and ending as late as 11am the next day,fire jugglers,frenzied dancing and the warm tropical Thai waters entice you to the most infamous lunar beach party in the world.

Dancefloors are brimming with the variety of tipsy foreigners (and alluring Thai ladyboys) as this extraordinary festival continues in Thailand as a celebration and collaboration of partying people from all over the globe. Lucian Reed-Drake

3. The Philippines

Some of the 7107 islands that make up the Philippines are home to the most breathtaking white sand beaches,clearest blue waters and kindest people on earth. There are few places where you may explore both coral reefs renowned for their splendour and a tropical rainforest. If you aren’t

the average beach-lounging type there are endless activities to partake in. The scuba diving is awesome,with the Filipino sea boasting over 2000 types of fish. You could meet a mountain tribe or climb a volcano. A trip to the capital city,Manila,is sure to get your heart racing. The Philippines is a place that can enrich your mind,relax or invigorate your body and send you home feeling a new attitude for life. Hanna Lewis

4. Bai Sao Beach,Vietnam

The curving horizon of the turquoise sea and the deserted crescent of beach form a secluded circle,cut off from the world. The sweaty beaten track of Vietnam’s coastline marches impatiently past on its way to Cambodia,ignoring the island due to its lack of Nha Trang-style night life. Barricaded from the rest of the island by the palm trees that frame this beach,and near inaccessibile,it is the perfect place to chill out. On the boiling sands of Bai Sao,watch the fishermen come and go and observe thousands of miniature crabs make minute balls of sand with their mouths. The sea is bath temperature and the whole bay undisturbed by the tread of another tourist’s feet. At night we ate the only dish on the menufish hot pot - under the clearest,darkest of skies. Helen Thompson

5. Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal

The Chitwan Jungle Lodge is a wildlife resort located in the park; the bungalows are all made of indiginous,sustainable materials and are comfortable,if austere. Our early morning elephant rides through the park along the river Rapti uncovered tiger tracks on the river banks,though we never saw the elusive creature ourselves. At night the staff teach guests local dances and games around a bonfire: a fantastic experience. Alys Southwood

Singapore: Rising high

Time to howl

Vietnam: tasty

1. Great Ocean Road,Australia

A well trodden path on the south coast and the setting for many a Point Break scene,the Great Ocean Road is still worth its salt as a destination despite the endless coach tours. It is best viewed at your own pace, and deserves much more than one day from end to end. Get a car,enjoy the free camping,and while spending another endless day on the beach stop to think that over the horizon is the South Pole. It makes you realise just how far away from home you really are. Tim Clark

2. North Coast,North Island, New Zealand

See the stars beneath the earth in this subterranean microcosm. You can go blackwater rafting down a network of underground rivers the better to admire the pinpricks of light emitted by the glowworms that create this very unusual natural phenomenon. If, like me,you think this sounds just a little too adventurous,there is a walking tour through the labyrinthine caves so scaredy-cats needn’t miss out on the illuminated little critters and the amazing galaxy they create. Laura Tovey

3. Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach,Australia Australia and the Great Barrier Reef go hand-in-hand. The top sailing excursions should involve the utopian Whitehaven Beach,a national park unspoilt with perfect white sand and see-through waters. The Great Barrier Reef deserves its placing in the natural wonders of the world. It is an exhilarating wilderness of colour and wildlife and once it’s just you,your crew and boat in the middle of the vastness,its sheer peacefulness and beauty will make you think twice as

Australasia Australasia

to whether even to return to dry land at all. Lucian Reed-Drake

4. Robinson Crusoe Island,Fiji Robinson Crusoe island in southern Fiji is the perfect place to lounge in the most idyllic surroundings. Only accessible by boat,every guest is first introduced to a kava ceremony,a traditional Fijian offering of pounded Yaqona plant roots mixed with water, forming the national drink,historically enjoyed as an act of socialising and invitation from the island’s chief.

beach parties at night around a warm fire with guitar music under a starry sky. It is the island’s hosts,the native Fijians,that make this location. Their welcoming,relaxed attitude to life and their fabulous Polynesian fire dancing at night impress every traveller that lands ashore this wonderful land mass in the middle of the South Pacific sea. Lucian ReedDrake

5. Karijini NAtional Park, Western Australia

Get out of the British tourist hole that is the East Coast and venture across to the real Australia. Karijini National Park, situated in the Pilbara region, north-west Western Australia, boasts a spectacular oasis of steep gorges,tropical lakes and red earth all in one. You have to walk,climb and swim through the gorges in order to reach breathtaking waterfalls and natural warm water pools. Karijini makes a good inland detour on a road trip along the stunning West coast and basic camping is permitted within the Park. Like many parts of the West,you need a car with decent suspension to get anywhere,but this is a rough outback paradise where the journey is as equally challenging but worthwhile as the destination. Emma Langley

Playing with fire in Fiji

1. Ibiza,Greece

An island of paradise but so often misunderstood. The stunning beaches are perfect for chilling out on during the day,while Las Salinas has Europe’s best sunset and Ibiza town is a must for all you shopaholics. Come night-fall and instead of the usual drunken teen crowd typical of the other Balearic Islands,a more sophisticated scene can be found. Ibiza boasts the world’s best DJs and Kate Moss,Jane Middlemiss and Zoë Ball are all regular celebs.

For more low key drinks,head to cocktail bar Mango. Then,dance the night away at Ibiza’s best kept secret: Soul City. Don’t be fooled by the dingy,crammed and somewhat sweaty atmosphere. Soul City is a hidden treasure,playing the best in R’n’B,hip hop and soul. Natalia Kekic

2. Prague,Czech Republic

Prague feels like a fairytale city criscrossed with magical cobbled sidestreets. See the magnificent Stare Mestro square and its hourly display on the astronomical clocktower,not to mention the dominance of Prague's monumental landmark,Prazsky hrad (Prague Castle) and neighbouring St Vitus Cathedral.

If that’s not desirable enough,consider the quite unbelievable prices in this city. A decent meal of Czech meatballs and dumplings will set you back barely £2,whilst you can find a very large pint of fine Czech beer for 20 Kroner (50p).

In terms of nightlife,one major rec-

Europe Europe

ommendation is Karlovy Iazne,the biggest club in Central Europe, where local folk and travellers from all corners of the world dance the night away.

Lucian Reed-Drake

3. Cornwall,UK

Nowhere am I happier than on a camping holiday in my favourite place,North Cornwall. Activities on these holidays invariably include a midnight trek across a muddy field in order to reach the nearest loo,but you can still enjoy the relaxing vibe of the place,be it in a seaside bar or lazing on the sandy coast.

It’s pretty much all beaches and fields,but I wouldn’t want it any other way. There is the rest of the planet to go to if you want an ‘experience’. Cornwall is a sanctuary away from the real world,a stunning - cheapie version of a tranquil spa. Charlotte Howells

4. The Egadi Islands,Sicily

About as far away from it all as you could possibly get,The Egadi islands are not the best place to go if you are called to a sudden emergency. They truly lived up to our dreams of islands full of beautiful women on Vespas. Situated way out in the Med,closer to

fortress to their name they can conjure up truly Indiana Jones moments. You have to pass mafia haunts such as Palermo to get to them but they are fully worth it. Tim Clark

5. Tarifa,Spain

Set on the ‘coast of the light’,there is no better way to finish off southern Europe than Tarifa. Miles of long white beaches facing the Atlantic not to mention the fact that it’s a stone’s throw away from Africa,there also isn’t a high-rise hotel in sight.

Spend the day sand dune hopping or windsurfing before heading off to an old medina with some excellent café bars,jazz clubs,a great sunset over the straight of Gibraltar and a possible party on the Beach,no full moon needed. Tim Clark

Sicily,land of beautiful women on Vespas

1. New York City,USA

North America North America

It may not be just like an episode from Sex and the City,but the Big Apple has lots to offer. Pop over to the Guggenheim or the Museum of Metropolitan art for a dose of culture; relive your favourite Hepburn moments at Tiffany’s and go ice skating at the Rockefeller centre. The only downside to New York is you’re bound to run out of time. Times Square is fabulous at night and during the day, head straight to Central Park. New York’s shops offer something for everyone - Park Avenue is a shopaholic’s heaven while ‘The Village’ is a refreshing change from the mainstream. Rock club CBGB’s is famous for discovering offbeat bands such as The Strokes. The best way to get around is via the subway- cheap,easy and just like the movies. Natalia Kekic

2. Vancouver,Canada

Vancouver is a city on the edge in more ways than one - go much further and you’ll fall off,but that would be a shame because then you’d miss out on this cultured city. Now,you haven’t come all this way to go to a museum, but seriously,the University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology is well worth a visit,with artefacts from many of the world’s cultures - surely a must-see for any dedicated traveller. Laura Tovey

3.

It’s a canyon and it’s grand. Nuff said.

3. Grand Canyon,Arizona USA

Step up at the rim and marvel at the most beautiful chasm on the planet. No photograph can express the magnificence of North America’s most famous national park. Averaging ten miles in width between rims and 1.5 miles in depth,the canyon’s geology dates back over 500 million years.

The canyon’s meditative silence, the striking immensity of its natural formation,and its cultural significance amongst the native Navajo Indians that reside in this barren landscape make the Grand Canyon a must-see.

because once you’ve stumbled down the canyon,it’s a test of endurance to panorama of colour,light and shadow

4. New Orleans,Louisiana,USA

New Orleans strikes out on its own with a mix of cultures from Creole to Cajun to Indian that results in an atmosphere as spicy and succulent as the cuisine. Go for Friday lunch –the weekly meal that’s more of a town-wide event – at Galatoire’s restaurant and (attempt to) work it off afterwards by wandering through the picturesque French Quarter. Hedonism and decay,jazz and swamps: welcome to the city that is not only built on contrasts,it’s partying on them. Laura Tovey

San Francisco,California USA

It was the rocky island of Alcatraz that housed notorious convicts which first made San Francisco famous. Now tourists can see the island then hop on the inexpensive cable cars to explore San Francisco’s authentic and colourful Chinatown and the funky neighbourhood of Haight-Ashbury,where the likes of Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead used to hang out. Relax in the stunning Japanese tea gardens of Golden Gate Park, before cycling over the dramatic Golden Gate Bridge. dings ensure San Francisco is undoubtedly one of the most cherished urban areas on American turf.

Lucian ReedDrake

New Orleans: nice and spicy

The Empire strikes back

Unmissable Unmissable

South America South America QT

1. The Southern Andes

From Peru to Chile the mountain scenery leaves you breathless in more ways than one with some of the best hiking in the world. The average elevation is 3000-4000m and the thin air combined with vivid blue skies makes being there dreamlike.

The native Quechua Indians of the region maintain a rich culture and heritage. If you travel to the Alto Plano of Bolivia you enter an area where time has stood still,an untouched landscape of high desert,smoking volcanoes and thousands of unclimbed peaks. In such an unspoiled expanse there is no place for the concerns of the hectic western world,life becomes simple and stunning. Richard Lilly

2. Machu Picchu,Peru

Peru’s spectacular answer to Stonehenge,the fortress city hides 8000 feet above the tropical rainforest region of Cuzco.

The rail track alongside the Urubamba river is the most rapid and comfortable route to get there, although the trek along the Inca trail fulfils every hiker’s dream. This archaeological masterpiece continues to be fascinating to every foreign visitor clambering up the unique rock escarpments. Yes,it’s something of a tourist cliché these days but there’s a reason. Take a time travelling trip and envisage this ancient civilisation through the stunning legacy they left behind them. Lucian ReedDrake and Laura Tovey

3. Iguaçu Falls,on the border of Argentina and Brazil

Rainbows arch across the deep abyss circumscribed by walls of water. The eye-stretching beauty and roaring noise are an assault on the senses as you look out over an aquatic panorama that leaves you trembling with exhilaration.

The falls are named after a Guarani indian word meaning ‘great water’ –quite a compliment in the land of the mighty Amazon River – and they weren’t kidding. For a taste of nature that will exhilarate and overpower you simultaneously,this is one scenic spot that shouldn’t be missed. Laura Tovey

4. Poc-Na Hostel on the island of Isla Murejes,Mexico

This cheap little hostel is a stone’s throw from the beach (like sad little children we tried) and if it’s full or you want to save your cash you can sleep in a hammock in their garden. The bar is cheap and like all these places,you can meet travellers from all around the world. During the day you can chill on the golden beachs of the Caribbean coast,visit turtle and dolphin reserves,snorkel,or swim out to the diving pads. When the blistering sun goes down there are plenty of bars and restaurants to frequent and the beach comes alive with entertainment. Perri Lewis

5. Easter Island,Chile

An isolated speck more than 2000 miles off the coast of Chile,

Easter Island is one place where you really have escaped the world. This is no ordinary island of beaches but not much else (although there are plenty for those who want them). The island’s unique flavour comes from a Polynesian culture overlayed with Chilean influences,with the elusive memory of the lost culture that left behind them the famous stone heads – moai – underwriting these. As well as these fascinating monoliths there is outstanding scenery,welcoming locals,volcanic craters; enough to lure a traveller who wants to truly get away from it all.

Laura Tovey

Easter Bunnies

Machu Picchu magic