1595

March 20152015 IssueIssue 15911595 tntmagazine.com September tntmagazine.com

WIN!

T AIC NKAEN TZ SATCODTA HYE TR OU UG RBIN YW TU O R R K L EY D CUPFO ARLLTB W LO AC !

K S SUPPORT ERS FUNCTIO N

ROAD TRIP! Travel through Europe with our epic guide to life on the open road

SAILING THE HIGH SEAS Croatia, Turkey and Greece fight it out

THE BEST OF EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA & THE AMERICAS FROM ARMIDALE We THE really have done all TO APPRENTICE the hard work so you don’t Mark Wright shows have to. You’re welcome. expats how it’s done

SH*T JUST GOT WEIRD This year’s most unusual festivals

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A I P C I E R P T S D W A O O H R S R L E E VM M T UA SR

pe time ls o a r e u d E l r e u v o a r T t n e a siv ’ssV ita r ,m fop d1s-u 3 a r e e h b a to r c e O v li y r a d yoru nivSeatu anngdog r lo e a p e m m a c o C a b a Gr

+ NEW YORK TRAVEL WEEKENDER MEXICO’S WEST SIDE FESTIVALS DEALS CHEAP LOW-SEASON PAMPLONA BULLS CAREERS SETTING UP SKIING IN THE UK TNT 1595 COVER.indd 1

ISSUE 1591/ 1578/ 1595/ £1.95

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ANGLO PACIFIC

LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MOVING

OVER 500,000 SATISFIED CUSTOMERS HAVE ALREADY TRUSTED THEIR POSSESSIONS TO ANGLO PACIFIC, THE UK’s LEADING MOVERS EXCESS BAGGAGE n FREE supply of cartons, tape and bubble wrap n FREE delivery/collection within M25 n Delivery/collection throughout the UK and EU n By sea/air/road worldwide n Money Back Guarantee n Discounted Tax Rebates, only 10% commission n Money transfers, every fifth transfer FREE

INTERNATIONAL HOUSEHOLD REMOVALS n FREE home survey, no obligation n Packed by skilled professionals n Shared or exclusive containers n Motor car/bike specialist shippers n FIDI Accredited International Mover

MAN AND VAN HIRE LONDON n Flat moves, office moves, student moves n Competitive hourly rates n House clearance, furniture delivery n Bonded by the British Association of Removers

www.anglopacific.co.uk

FREEPHONE 0800 085 0355

Anglo Pacific International Plc, 5/9 Willen Field Road, Park Royal, London, NW10 7BQ Email: info@anglopacific.co.uk Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am - 6.00pm Sat 9am-1pm

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THIS MONTH LONDON DIARY

6

LONDON INSIDER

12

FOOD

14

DRINK

15

LIFESTYLE LIVING: SETTING UP

16

LIVING: RETURNING HOME

20

CAREERS

22

RECRUITMENT

23

TRAVEL

33

EUROPE: CROATIA

34

TOP 10: EUROPEAN CITIES

40

UK TRIP: SCOTLAND

48

UK TRIP: SOUTH WEST

52

LATE DEALS

54

FESTIVALS

56

CAMPERVAN ROAD TRIP

60

SAILING

66

THE AMERICAS: USA

74

ON THE COVER

SOUTH AMERICA

78

2015 TRAVEL SHOW GUIDE

EAST AFRICA

82

ASIA

86

At the back of this bumper issue is your preview to the October 31st TNT/STA Travel Show. Hope to see you there.

32

44

LIFE STYLE

October 2015 Show Guide tntmagazine.com

16

How to set up home in the UK

FESTIVALS

56

LONDON’S BIGGEST FREE TRAVEL SHOW

The low down on all things musical

ROAD TRIP! TRAVEL SHOW SHOW GUIDE Tip the magazine upside down and start again from the back!

SAILING THE HIGH SEAS Check out our guide to sailing

TRAVEL SHOW

60

It’s Van Tour Europe time...

66

October 31 for prize Come along on Saturday massive travel deals s and giveaways, expert talk In partnership with

+ THE CALIFORNIA LOOP CRACKING CROATIA ROMANCE ON A SHOESTRING MUSICAL BINGO

tnttravelshow.com

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EDITORIAL Editor James Clark EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES 0203 011 1066 SALES/MARKETING/EVENTS Sales Director Kevin Ellis EMAIL kevin.ellis@tntmagazine.com For all general enquiries please call 0207 989 0567 or email sales@tntmagazine.com DESIGN / PRODUCTION Head of design and production Lisa Ferron PHONE 01225 284107 EMAIL lisa.ferron@tntmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS / DISTRIBUTION Manager Caroline Penn PHONE 01603 559004 EMAIL caroline.penn@tntmagazine.com ACCOUNTS Emma Overton EMAIL emma.overton@tntmagazine.com STARTRACK MEDIA LTD Directors Kevin Ellis, Ken Hurst Stuart Bidgood PUBLISHER Startrack Media Limited DISTRIBUTION Emblem Direct Ltd PRINTED BY Warners PICTURES iStock and TNT Images, TNT Magazine Star Track Media Ltd 3rd Floor, St. Vedast House St. Vedast Street Norwich NR1 1BT tntmagazine.com

WHERE TO GET TNT

COVER PRICE: £1.95 where sold SEE tntmagazine.com/findtnt for pick-up points or tntmagazine.com/emag to read TNT online

All thieves of TNT bins will be prosecuted.

Editor’s image by photsolutions.me

FROM THE EDITOR

You may have noticed that we’ve been a little quiet here at TNT. Don’t worry we haven’t disappeared off the face of the earth or abducted by aliens. What we’ve been doing is working extra hard to get this bumper edition of the magazine into your hands. Tons of time has gone into bringing you a collection of highlights and inspirational journeys from our travel writers.

Our writers, like me, are obsessed with travel and if you are too then you’re going to be thrilled to hear that we are putting October’s TNT Travel Show together.

All your favourite travel companies will be under one roof at the Business Design Centre in Islington on Saturday October 31. Offering unbeatable exclusive discounts, giveaways and advice, this is the best place to book last-minute travel for the end of 2015, or next year’s epic adventure.

Fancy taking awalk on the wild side through East Africa (p82). Or Thailand (p86) seems to always ride high on the popularity scale, whether you want to see temples, lie on a beach, party all night or rock climb in the rainforest, Thailand has it all.

We’ve also put together a festival guide covering the UK and Europe for next year.

Get planning and let us know which ones you’re heading too (p56). This year I went to Bilbao BBK Live and had an awesome weekend, be sure to try it out in 2016.

Road trip round Europe in a campervan (p60), sailing hotpots (p66) and the very best of the UK starting on page (p48), it’s impossible to mention them all on one page, but we know you’re going to love it. Let us know what you think.

Whatever you do, book it at the TNT Travel Show! I’ll be there, be sure to come over and say hello.

james.clark@tntmagazine.com

In this issue...

Hit up Croatia

Discover South America

Take to the high seas

TNT Magazine is printed on paper from sustainable forests. There is no business connection between the proprietors of this magazine and TNT Ltd, the worldwide transportation group. Copyright here and abroad of all original materials is held by TNT Magazine. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden, except with permission of the publishers. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

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THIS MONTH’S TOP PICKS SPIEGELTENT

RUGBY ON GREEN

September 10 - 20

Sep 26 - Oct 31

VAR This September idolize

Spiegeltent lands at Canada Square Park. it’s full to its rooftop with programme of performances and activities for all to enjoy. There’s comedy, music, kids activities, dance, cabaret, acrobatics, kids theatre and so much more, including food & booze.

Times vary Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf Canary Wharf canarywharf.com

Ticket only SW6 festival with open-air screenings of the Rugby and live resident DJs held in two exclusive venues in Fulham.

You’ll get the chance to mingle with national and international rugby stars.

Dates various, book on-line.

FREE

Times vary Split betwwen Parsons Green and Fulham Palace Private Garden crugbyonthegreen.com

THIS MONTH’S MUST-DO TNT/STA TRAVEL SHOW 2015 Oct 31 We’re back again to bring you the very best in travel at discounted prices. Grab end of year specials and get organised for your next epic adventure. All your favourite travel operators will be there and expect giveaways, competitions, seminars, music, food and booze.

A must for your diary.

FREE

See

THE BAYOU BANQUET September 16 -27

CLUB DE FROMAGE ON ICE Sep 25 & 4th every month

festival of New Orleans-inspired events.

Featuring two Michelin trained chefs, immersive supper clubs, live music and cocktail fuelled parties, to interactive art exhibitions and all-day Sunday brunches and even a hint of celebrity.

Have you ever dreamt of donning a lycra outfit with sparkles on it, pulling your skates and then taking to the ice like a swan on the wing, whilst listening to Taylor Swift and Abba? If you have, then friend have I got the place for you. And you won’t be alone we promise!

7.30pm The Vaults, Waterloo Waterloo slapyapapa.co.uk

From 8.30pm-11pm Alexandra Palace Ice Rink Wood Green Clubdefromage.com

VAR A new two-week

6

£12

tnttravelshow.com

BURN DOWN THE DISCO

BACK TO 95 OLD SCHOOL SESSIONS

September 26

October 10

£18 Burn Down The Disco

£15 With a tantalising line

will be a mixture of indie, soul, synth, ska and proper rock n roll. In short one minute you might be hearing Depeche Mode, the next The Specials, then Chuck Berry and finally a side of Pulp. One thing is for certain, it won’t be predictable.

up of DJ’s and hosts set to take you back to the original oldskool vibe, this is an unmissable diary date for new and old skool party people. Like previous Back to 95 events, this event is sure to be sold out, and advance ticket purchasing is advisable.

10.30pm- 3.30am 1O2 Academy, 16 Parkfield St Angel burndownthedisco.co.uk

10pm - 5am Qube Project, 191 Victoria Street, Victoria housefm.net

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CRIME MUSEUM

October 9 - April 10 2016 Since its establishment by in the mid-1870s the Crime Museum has previously only been open to police professionals and invited guests. Now, using original evidence from this extraordinary collection, they’ll unlock real-life case files to take you on an uneasy journey through some of the UK’s most notorious crimes from Dr Crippen to the Krays, the Great Train Robbery to the Millennium Dome diamond heist.

£15

Museum of London

St Pauls

museumoflondon.org.uk

RUMFEST October 17 £50 This year’s RumFest will once again showcase over 400 of

the most diverse rums from across the globe as well as a few very special treasures that will take part in our really successful Golden Tot initiative that was launched last year. Tons of rum to enjoy, I wonder how many you’ll get through?

Various sessions throughout ILEC, 47 Lillie Road West Brompton rumfest.co.uk

THE AUTUMN RACING WEEKEND AND CAMRA BEER FESTIVAL

E XC I T E M E N T O N TA P Friday 2 nd - Saturday 3 rd October 2015

Ascot’s annual CAMRA Beer Festival returns for its ninth year accompanied by two days of dramatic Flat racing. With over 280 real ales, ciders and perries to sample including a regional bar from Greater Manchester, as well as traditional pub games and live music, Ascot will transform into the ultimate local.

Grandstand Admission from £15 pp Premier Admission from £20 pp Fine Dining from £150 pp +VAT

ascot.co.uk

CAMPAIGN FOR RE AL ALE

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THE BEST OF IN THE HEART

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AUSTRALIAN COMEDY OF LONDON .

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Nom, nom - the BBC Good Food Show, get in!

COMEDY NIGHTS

EXHIBITIONS

THEATRE

ALAN CARR - YAP, YAP, YAP! SEP 24 - 25 / 8PM / £30 The BAFTA and British award winning comedian, author and chat show host supremo returns to his stand up roots with his hilarious take on life.

A BULLET FROM A SHOOTING STAR SEP 19 - 27 / FREE Artist Alex Chinneck elevates everyday structures into extraordinary ones and with ‘A Bullet from a Shooting Star’, an landmark installation for The London Design Festival.

LET IT BE AT THE GARRICK THEATRE ENDS SEP 27/ £20 - £127 The show follows Liverpool’s favourite band from their beginnings through to the days of the Abbey Road Studio sessions, with the madness of Beatlemania taking up the intervening years.

Eventim Apollo Queen Caroline St, W6 9QH

Hammersmith

axs.com

Greenwich Peninsula, Green Place, SE10 0PE Greenwich

greenwichpeninsula.co.uk

Garrick Theatre Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH Square

MICHAEL MCINTYRE TOUR 2015: HAPPY AND GLORIOUS FEB 9 & 24 / 7PM / £40.75 to £56.75 The jovial king of comedy is making his highly anticipated return to the stand-up circuit with shows at both venues.

The O2 & SSE Arena Canary Wharf / Wembley

JIMMY CARR – FUNNY BUSINESS OCT 1 - 24 / 8PM / £28 Foul mouthed, sarcastic and hilarious, Jimmy seems to successfully push the boundaries every time.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2 Regents Park Regent’s Park

10

AI WEIWEI SEP 19 - DEC 13 / £15 China’s most famous international artist, as well as its most outspoken domestic critic will be the subject of this landmark exhibition.

GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT ENDS SEP 27/ £20+ The story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world.

Royal Academy of Arts,

The Arts Theatre

Burlington House, Mayfair, W1J 0BD axs.com

ticketmaster.co.uk

Leicester

nimaxtheatres.com

Pcicadilly

royalacademy.org.uk

BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW NOV 13, 14 & 15 / £26.50 Bringing a host of TV programmes to life including Saturday Kitchen and MasterChef: The Professionals, the BBC Good Food Show arrives at Olympia for three days. Food, delicious food.

WC2H 7JB

Covent Garden

artstheatrewestend.co.uk/

IN THE HEIGHTS OCT 3 - NOV 11/ £51 - 63 Brings the Dominican-American rhythms of the Washington Heights neighborhood to life with unforgettable song and dance.

King’s Cross Theatre

Olympia, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX

King’s Boulevard

Kensington

beautifulinlondon.co.uk

bbcgoodfoodshowlondon

King’s Cross

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CLUB NIGHTS

GIGS

CIRCUS CABARET AT GUANABARA SEP 29 / FREE+ London’s top Brazilian club will be going Carnival crazy,, Samba dancers, circus acts and masked parties. There’s even Brazilian street food. To qualify for free entry get there for 8pm, which incidentally is just in time for happy hour.

MORRISSEY SEP 20 - 21 / 7PM / £62.75 The singer, who released his highly acclaimed autobiography in 2013 is the most distinctive pop lyricist of his era. His last album ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’ marked his first solo release since 2009’s ‘Years of Refusal.’ The album charted at number 2 in the UK.

Guanabara Parker Street, WC2B 5PW

Photo: Clayton Hartley

LONDONSOUND

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Eventim Apollo Hammersmith

Holborn

45 Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH

guanabara.co.uk

Hammersmith

eventimapollo.com

TREVOR NELSON PRESENTS SOUL NATION OCT 2 / 10.45PM+ / £12 Now settling into a monthly residency, The Trevor Nelson parties are getting into the swing of offering up plenty of rough with the smooth.

Prepare for a night of bump ‘n’ grind.

THE VIEW SEP 23 / 7PM / £20 The View are a Scottish indie rock band. They incorporate various styles such as punk, pop, alternative rock, pop punk, powerpop and folk in their music.

Jazz Cafe

Electric Ballroom

5 Parkway, NW1 7PG

184 Camden High Street, NW1 8QP

Camden Town

Camden Town

mamacolive/thejazzcafe

electricballroom.co.uk

LONDON HAS FALLEN

St Vincent: aka Get your jazz on at the singer/songwriter Candlelight Annie Clark Club THE CANDLELIGHT CLUB OCT 17 / 7PM / £25 The Candlelight Club is a clandestine pop-up cocktail bar in a stunning London venue . The Basin Street Brawlers (like all other events) will be held at a secret location. All you need to do is send the club an on-line request and fingers crossed in you’ll get in. Secret location TBA

TBA

WATCH THIS

HUNTER HAYES SEP 30 / 7PM / £21.93 There’s not too much, creatively speaking, that Hunter Hayes can’t do. The musical phenom is one of US’ hottest young stars.

O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8TT Shepherd’s Bush

ticketmaster.co.uk

thecandlelightclub.com

CLUB NME: NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE OCT 23 / 17PM - 5AM / 19.68 An an exciting resurgence of conscious, organic music in Jamaica.

Koko

CHICO & THE GYPSIES OCT 23 / 7.30PM /£33.75 Chico & the Gypsies is a French musical formation of rumba catalana, flamenco and Latin pop and rock tunes.

O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8TT

1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE

Shepherd’s Bush

Mornington Crescent

o2shepherd’sbushempire.co.uk

koko.uk.com

After the British Prime Minister has passed away under mysterious circumstances, all leaders of the Western world must attend his funeral.

What starts out as the most protected event on earth, turns into a deadly plot to kill the world’s most powerful leaders and unleash a terrifying vision of the future. The President of the United States, his secret service and an English MI-6 agent who trusts no one are the only people that have any hope of stopping it.

Loads of destruction for those that love that kind of movie.

In cinemas Oct 2

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Date idea: Small Car, Big City It’s not often people stop and take photos of me on the streets of London (hard to believe, I know), but when I’m sat in a classic Mini Cooper with The Beatles pumping out of its open-top roof on a sunny day, it seems my face will appear on a number of people’s Facebook pages over the next few days.

It is a unique sight, and awesome to be a part of. Having never been in an old Mini Cooper before, let alone bombing around the streets of London in one, it’s a great way to see the capital city. Riding alongside boisterous taxis and mammoth double-decker buses, we wind our way through the traffic and listen to the confident driver’s fascinating facts (for example, Waterloo Bridge is also known as the Ladies’ Bridge as it was re-built by women in WWII – they used self-cleaning bricks. How resourceful). We’re also taken to hidden-away spots such as the location of the one door outside of an official government building which accesses London’s underground system, which, among other places, leads to Buckingham Palace. We’ll see you on your next mission, Bond.

Picking you up from any central spot in London, the tours last from 30 minutes right up to a full-day’s rental. You can pick from a number of tours including Royal London, The

Italian Job, The Great Escape and more. Or you can just go bespoke – we saw Big Ben, Nelson’s Column, Pall Mall, Buckingham Palace, Saville Row, The London Eye, The House of the Guards and many other of London’s iconic and aweinspiring buildings.

Infinitely cooler than an open-top bus and as quintessentially British as you can get, we give Small Car, Big City a massive thumbs ups. By Caroline Garnar From £54 per Mini for a 30-minute tour (seats three + driver) smallcarbigcity.com

MYLONDON When I want to chill out I.... paint canvas. I can lose hours just engrossed in paints and a blank page. Either that or I’m reading a gripping novel. I try to avoid anything relating to the internet as I am writing for Sex & London City more than I sleep these days!

The most interesting person I’ve met in London is... Lulu Guinness.

I love her because she built her brand from scratch. She left her schooling years without many qualifications, so through her own determination and business mind, she’s created an empire. Celebrities now yearn to own her accessories and she’s stocked world-wide, and that is just inspiring to me.

For when you’re hungover in London you can’t beat... an extra shot skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks. That brings me back to life! Then of course it’s a brunch-time greasy fry-up to seal the deal.

My perfect Saturday would be... Shopping in Selfridges on Oxford Street, dinner somewhere like Sophie’s Steakhouse in Covent Garden and then moving on to cocktails at Aqua and finishing off at a club such as Maddox or Whisky Mist.

What I love most about London is... the eclectic mix of people. You can wander from East to West and find the most amazing beings, from the vibrant edgy Shoreditch dwellers to the classical meticulous Chelsea-goers.

It’s so diverse and I think that’s what makes it so special. You can discover new things every day, or visit new places and meet a whole new collective of people.

Five words that sum up London are...

Loud, vibrant, eclectic, grey, inspiring. sexandlondoncity.co.uk

My favourite spot in London is... For dining I really love St Christopher’s Place next to Selfridges, for partying I love The Wellington Club in Knightsbridge and for picnic days with your friends it has to be Hyde Park.

I’m a West kinda girl.

NIXALINA WATSON FOUNDER OF SEXANDLONDONCITY.CO.UK 12

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WIN

@tntmagazine

HOW TO ENTER

Go to tntmagazine.com/competitions. See webpage for terms and conditions. Winners will be selected at random.

WIN 1 OF 3 PAIRS OF TICKETS TO SEE THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG Celebrate with The Play that Goes Wrong as they mark their first birthday; the show is prizewinning, loved by critics, laughed at by audiences and now entering its second year at the Duchess Theatre.

WIN

Since opening in 2014, the show has been breaking box office records, selling 250,000 tickets to date. 21 international productions are also in development, happening everywhere from South Korea to Brazil.

MORE COMPETITIONS...

WIN KITSOUND CAYMAN 92 SPEAKER

WINNER

The show follows the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society who are putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

BEST NEW COMEDY

“AN UNEXPECTED GUT-BUSTING HIT” NEW YORK TIMES

The Play That Goes Wrong is guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter after winning an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2015.

Enter at tntmagazine.com/competitions

Or follow The Play That Goes Wrong: t: @playgoeswrong f: theplaythatgoeswrong #playgoeswrong1

Worth £

104

per pair

tickets

DUCHESS THEATRE

WINNER

theplaythatgoeswrong.com

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BITE SIZE TASTE TEST Forget canteen food fights, here’s one food battle we can really get XXXXX behind.

XxxxxxxxOver eight evenings, chefs from around the world will each create [web]three courses which are inspired by their home countries’ gastronomic XXXXX traditions. Then it’s just down to the guests to decide which Xxxxxxxx dish tickles their fancy the most. Some of [web] the flavour expats taking to the kitchen at the Palm 2 Event Space in Hackney XXXXXinclude Two Hungry Girls, Gastronhome and Yummy Choo Eats.

Xxxxxxxx flavourexpats.wordpress.com [web]

PIE’S THE LIMIT To celebrate British Pie Week in March, The Windmill is dishing up a specially created spiced chicken and chorizo creation. To ‘pie’ doing it yourself, see its Facebook page for a step-by-step tutorial on recreating their famous steak and kidney pie at home. windmillmayfair.co.uk

GILLRAY’S STEAKHOUSE English

This lavish restaurant is perfect for those who like their food and a quiet spot to watch the world go by; Gillray’s is unpretentious, the staff are warm and welcoming, and its riverside views are not to be missed. It’s tucked discreetly away inside the Marriott Hotel County Hall, and the classic, wood-panelled decor is stylish without being overbearing. The little touches of glam that Gillray’s adds to the restaurant – chandeliers, a bar stacked to the brim with exotic-looking bottles – mean that there’s always something to take in. Despite being in the very heart of touristville (i.e. Central), it’s a deliciously swanky place to spend an evening.

THE GRUB Seeing as I like a challenge, I decided to take a vegetarian along to a steak restaurant, but my meat-eschewing friend was delighted with the fare. His seasonal vegetable pie arrived with a golden crust, and the curry and coconutflavoured root vegetables were creamy, well-cooked, and paired well with the truffle and Old Winchester chips. The chips themselves were things of wonder – buttery and crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. I plumped for a delicious bonein fillet steak, which was meltingly tender and cooked perfectly, paired with triplecooked chips. We nearly bailed on pudding as our food was so rich, but decided to bravely soldier on. My flourless chocolate cake was as close to perfection as a cake will ever get, and my friend’s trio of sorbets and ice creams was the perfect finish.

BEHIND THE BAR The cocktails on offer are bound to please, Black Bramble is a decadent, fruity treat, and the ginger and ginseng-infused At Dusk comes under a bell jar full of smoke that permeates your drink. If you like your gin, you’re in luck – Gillray’s has over 70 waiting to be sampled.

BILL PLEASE Starters from £7, mains from £20, desserts from £6, cocktails from £10, wine from £8/glass, fizz from £9/glass.

VERDICT Terrific food, excellent service and mind-blowing steaks. Vicky Anscombe THE SCENE

Photos: Supplied

CHOP CHOP TO CHOP’D TNT eats meat. The juicier, thicker and more full of cholesterol the better.

Show us a salad and we show you the door. Until, that is, Chop’d came into our lives. Making salads into a meal a man would be proud of, they are full of pasta, Parma ham, mozzarella, chunks of tuna, beans, chicken, prawns and flatbreads. In fact, they’re so hearty, TNT could only eat half at a time! Even better? Chop’d has teamed up with Orogo, an app that allows you to pre-order your lunch and receive a text when it’s ready, meaning you can queue jump. If anyone gives you evils, just knock ’em out with your salad. chopd.co.uk

London Marriott County Hotel, SE1 7BP

14

Waterloo

gillrays.com

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THE SIGN OF THE DON BAR AND BISTRO

Upon stepping inside The Sign of the Don, I half expected the silhouetted cloaked figure in the logo (the Don, we’d imagine) to lure us to the bar before disappearing down to the cellar with a sweep of his cloak. Instead, we were greeted by the super-friendly manager, who gave us a tour of this whimiscal place.

Like stepping back in time, the warren of rooms across three floors includes a cellar, dating back more than 200 years and originally belonging to the Sandeman family, a coved private dining area, a cosy bistro and, at the top, a low-lit bar.

Here, walls are covered in curved sherry barrel wood, there’s a glass wall display of antique corkscrews, and old machinery parts, used to lift barrels from the Thames below, are your dining companions. This place is something special.

BEHIND THE BAR The Sign of the Don specialises in sherry and port, as this is what the Sandeman family brewed. This syrupy and potent liquid was perfect for warming us up for dinner and, after a whiskey cocktail or two, finishing us off to make us ready for bed. Two words: delicious and drunk.

THE GRUB The bar menu is pub grub with a gourmet twist – quite literally with the tasty lobster and bacon burger. Well presented and well cooked, which is just as well considering you will need to line your stomachs with gusto.

BILL PLEASE Sandwiches and burgers from £7.50, sherry and port from £4.

VERDICT The Sign of the Don has a magical air to it – perfect for a winter’s night.

THE SCENE

Photos: supplied. Words: Emily Ray

21 St Swithins Lane, EC4N 8AD

3 OF THE BEST V-DAY TREATS

Bank

thesignofthedon.com

TEA FOR TWO

SUSHI TO SHARE

HEART BAKER

First-date jitters? For some Dutch courage head to Bart’s London, where The Chelsea Rose sharing cocktail is served in a quirky teapot, fusing together the taste of Hendrick’s gin with berries, elderflower and cucumber.

Master chopsticks to feed each other sushi, tease each other with skewed chicken and suck on edamame beans with this platter for two.

Available at Sticks’n’Sushi, Wimbledon, and the new Covent Garden branch.

Bite-sized handcrafted cupcakes, diligently topped with iced hearts and sweet nothings are lovingly created at Hummingbird Bakery.

Award yourself bonus girlfriend/boyfriend points if you manage to share these.

barts-london.com

sticksnsushi.com

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LIFESTYLELIVING

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Getting yourself sorted If you have just landed and through the fog of jet lag are trying to work out your next step to setting up home here for a bit, read on...

Banking in the UK Opening a bank account after you arrive in the UK can be a nightmare.

You’ll need a mountain of documentation — proof of address and proof of ID — which you probably won’t have if you’ve just arrived (especially if you’re still dossing on your mates couch).

If there’s one thing we can’t stress enough it is: open a bank account before you leave home.

If you’re living in Australia or New Zealand you may be lucky enough to have a HSBC Branch near where you live. If you’re close to a local branch of HSBC Australia or HSBC New Zealand you can walk in and enquire about opening a UK bank account.

You’ll need ID, proof of your current bank address, statements from your other bank and a minimum deposit amount.

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Consider opening a joint bank account if you are moving to the UK with your partner — it will cut down on paperwork and you’ll share the minimum deposit amount.

Travelex Travelex is a foreign currency business that can help you open a UK bank account with HSBC. You will need the same documents as if you walked into a branch (see above).

You can apply at Travelex Australia or Travelex New Zealand and then head to the Regent St branch of HSBC in London to collect your card and pin number.

Use an agent Some companies like 1st Contact and South African company OVC (Overseas Visitors Club) will help you get the show on the road for a small fee. This

is a great way of doing it because they already have established ties with several major banks and can cut through all the rubbish.

Don’t leave it to the last minute If you do put off this task until you arrive in London, good luck — one bank branch may issue you an account on the spot, while another will mess you around.

Get together as much documentation as possible, including proof of ID (passport, driver’s licence and/or birth certificate) and evidence of your UK address (a utility bill or lease with your name on it should be enough, but not always).

It’s also worth bringing a letter from your bank at home as record of your credit history, and a letter from your agency or employer in the UK. The more documentation you have, the easier your application should be.

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Credit cards and overdrafts You may be able to get a UK credit card, but it recommended you bring your Visa or Mastercard from home to use if things get tight while you are still settling in.

You can also apply for an overdraft on your main account, although the interest rates can be high - so beware of going too far into debt. Banks charge penalty rates for exceeding your overdraft limit, so be sure not to overspend.

UK banks The major UK banks are: • Lloyds TSB • Barclays • NatWest • Royal Bank of Scotland • HSBC

Where to rent When you first arrive in the UK it’s daunting to decide where to live. Most people stay in London because the job opportunities are greater. When choosing a place to live in London, check out the area first and what shops and ammenities it has to offer.

When it comes to accommodation in London, Antipodeans and South Africans tend to head west (Hammersmith, Fulham, Shepherd’s

Bush, Acton), north (Kilburn, Willesden, Dollis Hill, West Hamstead) or south (Clapham, Fulham, Southfields).

But people are also increasing in numbers in the cheap and trendy areas of east London (Shoreditch, Old Street, Bethnal Green, Hackney) and bohemian north-east (Camden, Angel/Islington).

The further out you live, the cheaper it is, but then you’ll pay more for transport.

What bills to pay Check whether the quoted price of rent includes bills. If not, you’re up for another £20-£30 per month for gas and electricity (depending on how many people you’re sharing with).

Gas, in particular, can be expensive, especially in winter, as most internal heating runs on gas.

Then there’s council tax. The amount you pay is determined by the area in which you’re living (some councils charge more than others); and the value of the property. The average cost is around £30 per month, but it could be anything from £17-£100 a month.

Council tax is higher in the larger cities.

Signing a lease Leases typically run for six or 12 months.

Read the small print to be sure of what you are and aren’t responsible for.

Whoever signs the lease is responsible for the rent and leases can be difficult to get out of early. If you’re leaving, it’s best to find a new flatmate to take your place on the lease.

Rental flats and houses generally come with basic furniture and you should be asked to sign an inventory list which details the complete household contents and any existing marks and defects (if not, create one yourself and post a copy to your landlord/ agent).

Complete this thoroughly to avoid being charged for pre-existing damage when you leave.

Most landlords will require proof of your employment; some will ask for bank references and letters from previous landlords are helpful.

Know your rights Housing law in Britain is complicated, but you can get free legal advice from a Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

If you choose to use a letting agency, beware of unscrupulous agents and exorbitant fees. Wherever possible, use an agency that has signed up with the National Approved Letting Scheme.

Agents belonging to this scheme have agreed to follow set industry standards.

The laws are complex, but as a rule it’s illegal for an agency to request payment for: TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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LIFESTYLELIVING

• •

Putting your name on their list or taking your details Providing a list of rental properties

UK Visas To live and work in the UK, most non-EU nationals will need a current UK visa. There are different UK visas, work permits and passports that will enable you to legally live and work in the UK. The major Visa entry routes for antipodeans, Australian, New Zealanders and South Africans are listed below, each of these have their own eligibility requirements and restrictions.

First Contact website has a Visa Assessment service where you can fill up your information and assess your eligibility for these visas. This is a worldwide service, meaning that you can search visas not only for the UK but any of the countries covered depending on your situation and requirement.

1stcontact.com

Shipping gear overseas Once you’ve decided to move overseas, you’ll need to find a shipping company to ship your possessions. Shipping really isn’t hard,and doesn’t have to cost.

These days, with airlines charging weighty premiums on excess luggage, shipping provides an increasingly attractive and cost effective means for getting your worldly possessions home. Here are some shipping ideas to consider: Get plenty of quotes, checking sizes and whether customs and tax charges are covered You’ll pay a set rate ranging from about £80-£150 for your first tea carton, (actual sizes vary between companies, so check carefully), then between £30-£80 for any additional boxes (anywhere between £30 and £80 Ask around to see if friends are interested in shipping gear together, though it all has to go to the same address 18

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You may have to pay a customs or tax charge when your gear arrives at its destination. Some shipping companies will look after some charges, but not others, so check this carefully too, as extra costs can add up Check carefully on charges when choosing between doorto-door or door-to-port options Most shipping companies will provide boxes, packing materials and so on. If they don’t, you’ll need to factor these costs in too. Check whether they’ll deliver boxes to your door or whether you’ll need to fetch them Some shipping companies now offer online services to help you track the progress of your luggage home Check what protection your shipper provides should your baggage fail to turn up.

Here are some shipping companies that we rate - these guys won’t let you down:

Anglo Pacific The UK’s largest international removals and shipping company, Anglo Pacific handles everything from cars to cutlery, ensuring belongings arrive safely at their destinations across the globe. The company sure has a lot of practice, with more than 30 years’ experience to its name. anglopacific.co.uk

PSS International Removals PSS International Removals has specialised in shipping excess baggage to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and most worldwide destinations for more than 33 years. Handling thousands of baggage consignments every year, PSS takes away all the stress so you can enjoy your last moments here in the UK. pssremovals.co.uk

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LIFESTYLELIVING

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Homeward bound Heading home? We’ll miss you, you know - but here’s how to jet off with a bit of extra cash in your pocket...

When to go

A one way ticket with stopovers

Flight prices and availability depend on the season; expect premium prices for flights to Australia and New Zealand in December, January and February.

In May, June and April (outside of the Easter holidays) you can snag a seat for around £500 - that’s half the peak price.

Most airlines will offer at least one free stopover on a one-way ticket.

Apart from the RTW ticket, a one-way ticket with stopover options is the next best way to tick off countries you’d still like to see on your way home.

The length of time you can stay in a stopover destination is down to the airline and your ticket.

In Asia, Bangkok and Singapore are popular stopover destinations as they’re in the heart of the continent, and the range of budget tours and domestic flights out are plentiful.

The only condition is that you must make a stop in Australia, but otherwise you can choose your own stopover points and prices will vary depending on how many you make.

Round the world tickets A good option for those with time and the desire to do one last spot of travelling is a round-the-world ticket (RTW).

With one of these in your pocket, you choose a number of destinations to stop at on your way home over a 12-month period. The number of stops you make depends on the mileage option you choose (usually between 20,000-40,000).

The origin and destination must be the same, and there must be at least one crossing each of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The other advantage of an RTW ticket is it offers flexibility for date changes.

20

The benefits of a return ticket A one-way and return ticket that costs the same is a peculiarity of modern air

travel. So while home may beckon, you may as well have a return flight in the back pocket, which is usually valid for 12 months and sometimes costs the same as a one way.

In many cases you will only be able to use frequent flyer points on a certain class of ticket, but it may still prove financially worthwhile. If you’re serious about using points to fund your return home, get in early and check conditions with your provider.

Travel agent or online?

This depends completely on you, and how comfortable you are doing your own research.

Online booking systems make it very easy to plan your own journey, but you can’t top the advice of an expert who can tell you things you might not necessarily know.

The best bet is to scan the web for good deals and take what you’ve found to an agent and ask them to beat it. Most will.

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WORLD CLASS ARTISTS. DAILY MOUNTAIN RAVES. 650KM PISTE. MOST SNOW SURE RESORT IN THE ALPS. POOL PARTIES. SNOWBALL FIGHTS. INTIMATE BARS. MOUNTAIN MEALS. UNREAL APRES. IGLOO DISCO BATTLES. FOREST COVERED MOUNTAIN STAGES. GROUP GATHERINGS. 1 WEEK. £99!

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LIFESTYLECAREERS LIFESTYLECAREERS

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Career crew-sades For every event there’s a core team of awesomeness behind it.

Join the crew to really feel like you’re part of something Don’t fancy being stuck behind a desk?

Then event crewing maybe the job for you. From swanky wedding receptions on pristine lawns to festival raves, there’s a good time to be had here and the duties are varied.

The even better news is that Antipodeans are highly sought after.

As Jarrod Bischoff of events recruiting company Crewsaders explains: “We target mostly Antipodeans, primarily for their work ethic and good nature. We have found that, due to the strong sports culture and education within Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the people coming over are fit, keen and have the perfect attitude.”

Crewsaders.com offers jobs in events all through the year, and the team’s expert knowledge and Kiwi boss (who, incidentally, named the company after his favourite rugby side – The Crusaders) make it easy to get involved. Here’s a breakdown of some of the roles you can get involved with:

Event staff Working events is the most varied of the jobs available, ranging from being a host to catering to working in cloakrooms. If you’re into food, catering may be your best bet as you’ll likely come away with a tray of sausage rolls.

If music is more your bag, consider a

role picking up rubbish at a festival as a trade off for bagging a free ticket.

Admiralgroup.com caters for some swanky events so if you’re into the VIP lifestyle, give this try. Crewsaders.com recruits for all events jobs so if you’re not sure, get in touch with the friendly team and they’ll find you a match.

QUALIFICATIONS Catering companies will give you a day or two of training in silver service before you start work. More general roles don’t require qualifications but experience can help get you a place.

PAY AND HOURS Jobs in events usually means unsociable hours on evenings and weekends, but you can work as little or as often as you like so it’s perfect for fitting around travelling. Pay ranges from £8-12 per hour depending on your role, but if you’re working at a festival your compensation will likely be in the form of a free ticket.

Crew In this role you will be building the physical structures of an event, which requires some brawn but is great if you like to be active. As Nick Grecian, managing director of Gallowglass, one of the biggest crewing recruiters in the country explains: “In the crewing world, no two days are ever the same – one week we could be building the fortress

fence around the Glastonbury Festival site, the next we could be helping to transform Trafalgar Square or working in the studios at MediaCityUK – the new Manchester home of the BBC and ITV. The hours can be anti-social, but the team spirit is fantastic.”

QUALIFICATIONS You don’t need any official qualifications for this role but pay does go up depending on experience. Most companies give you some initial training but, as they all say, it’s attitude that counts.

PAY AND HOURS The hours can be long but you’ll work in blocks with as much or as little time in between jobs as you wish. Pay ranges from £8-12 per hour.

EVENT CREW GALLOWGLASS CREWING is looking to bolster its labour force for some exciting large projects in Live Events, Sports Events and Fit Outs. Are you friendly, enthusiastic, physically very fit with excellent spoken English and a “can do attitude” - then you should be working for Europe’s largest crewing company.

The work will be in London and you must live within easy commuting distance of central London. Our work is 24/7 so be prepared for anti-social hours but you will be with a great team! We are looking for full time (starting from £8.80) and part time (starting from £8.00) with the potential to earn up to £15.00 per hour. Higher rates for plant operators.

Send your CV to hr@gallowglass.com or better still complete the on-line form at www.gallowglass.com We are also looking for event technicians to add to our database – please send in your CV.

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LIFESTYLECAREERS LIFESTYLECAREERS

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Teach for the stars We believe that children are our future – or at least Whitney Houston did – so help make our future bright a team player and cool in a crisis.

Pay and hours: TAs are often on parttime or term-time contracts, so they’re not paid during the holidays. Salaries are determined by the school, but usually start around £12,000.

Primary school teacher

It’s a fairly obvious idiom, but children really are the future, and someone’s got to show them how to do long division and use apostrophes appropriately.

Maybe you’re passionate about the correct use of a subjunctive, maybe you’ve simply spotted an opportunity for travel, or maybe you are just great with little whippersnappers. Either way, there are plenty of ways to get a foot on the education ladder.

Teaching assistant These guys hold the classroom together.

They’re a second pair of eyes, ears and hands that are invaluable in a rowdy classroom, helping keep kids in check while teachers are busy teaching. Much more prevalent in primary schools,TAs are flexible and level-headed, and can handle any tasks or finger-paints flung their way. Teachers rely on their TAs, and a good working relationship totally revamps the class dynamic. You get all the perks of working with kids without the pressures of teaching... but without the pay-packet either.

Qualifications and experience: Employers generally base their decisions on personality and skills rather than qualifications. Any experience working with children is obviously a bonus, and it always helps to show that you’re reliable, 24

If you’re going in to primary teaching, it’s important to have genuine passion for what you’re doing because Government guidelines, OFSTED and SATs for six-yearolds might start to grate if you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. That said, it’s always rewarding to impart knowledge and watch the little ‘uns blossom… probably. Extra-curricular activities include marking, planning, training and meetings, but then you can put your feet up for that famously long summer holiday.

Qualifications and experience: You’ll need an undergraduate degree with a teaching qualification on top, or a specialist BEd degree. Most people go for a full-time PGCE, but there are also paid on-the-job training programmes out there.

Pay and hours: Teachers average about a 40-hour week, including all the bits and bobs outside the classroom. But be prepared for extra hours in the runup to inspections or exams. There are regulated pay bands starting at about £22k, or just over £27k for London.

Secondary school teacher Among other things, this job requires communication and buckets of patience with an age-group not exactly renowned for these skills. Aside from the teenagers, the main difference from primary is that you’ll specialise in a subject and stick to it, whether it’s the essential maths and English or something arty like drama. You’ll also be bombarded with hundreds of kids rather than just one class, so learning the names of your little cherubs is that bit harder. While all the outside-hours

stuff still applies, there’s the added satisfaction (or pressure) of getting them through their all-important GCSEs and even A-Levels.

Qualifications and experience: Basically the same deal as primary school, but PGCE courses vary depending on the age group.

Pay and hours: Official hours are 9am to 4pm-ish, but in reality teachers will find themselves attending parent meetings and marking in front of the telly until midnight. But again, there’s that summer holiday…

Teaching English abroad For jet-setting and earning some pennies to boot, teaching English abroad opens windows to hundreds of countries and gets travellers off the beaten trail. You can teach children in poor communities, or adults in city evening schools. Just don’t imagine it’ll be a doss, because classroom madness is even madder when there’s a language barrier involved. There are tons of good agencies to find work, but also plenty of sham ones, so do some internet stalking and scour the reviews before you set foot on a plane.

Qualifications and experience: Most employers will want a TEFL qualification, which you can earn in a four-week intensive course or through part-time, evening or even online study. The most reputable ones will involve a lot of coursework and teaching practice. Weekend courses are available, and probably legit, but if it’s a career move, then it’s usually best to go for the more comprehensive (and expensive) option.

Pay and hours: This could take you to any corner of any country, so it’s tricky to pin down average hours or salary.

But, while an Indonesian countryside school will pay less than a Berlin college, it’s all relative, and you can expect to live comfortably in your country of choice.

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FUND YOUR TRAVELS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! WITH OVER 19 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE WITHIN THIS SPECIALIST SECTOR, WE CAN HELP YOU HAVE A BRIGHT AND REWARDING OPPORTUNITY AS A LIVE-IN CARER We can offer you self-employed work OR employed status - we have clients who request both.

WHAT WE OFFER • • • • • • •

From £525 up to £630 per week dependent on whether you are self-employed, fully employed and the level of care/ experience the client requires.

Full training (Free for Trinity employed care workers).

Paid board and lodging whilst you are on an assignment in the client’s home.

24 hour, round the clock support from our friendly care management team.

A real, genuine focus on matching the right care worker and client – we believe happy carers lead to happy clients.

Referral bonuses for introducing carers to Trinity while you are working with us.

We can arrange initial Skype interviews before you travel to the UK.

OUR REQUIREMENTS •

• •

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We seek bright and enthusiastic Live-in Care Assistants with compassion, empathy and common sense. Some previous care training and experience would be advantageous, however not all our positions require prior experience.

You’ll be required to stay in the home of the person who you are supporting 24 hrs, 7 days a week (with daily breaks) for assignments from as little as two weeks to several months.

Excellent written and spoken communication skills and fluent English is essential, as you will be in sole charge of a client within their own home and will be required to document daily routines and activities.

A number of our assignments require drivers so a full, clean driving licence for use in the UK is advantageous.

FIND OUT MORE See what questions other Live-in Carers have asked us about at: www.trinityhomecare.co.uk/jobs-and-training/live-in-carer-faqs/ If you think you could be the next person to join our happy team, please call the Recruitment Line on 0207 183 6686 today for a friendly chat - we are 20 minutes from Central London. OR APPLY ONLINE at www.trinityhomecare.co.uk

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SPORTFOCUS

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Rugby World Cup 2015 the All Blacks will give the team the belief that they can progress and do well. Victories over Uruguay, Fiji and Wales will ensure the All Blacks qualify as group runners behind England who look like real challengers.

If Australia qualify as group runners they will face the South African’s in the quarter finals. Whilst the South Africans have lost a couple of games recently they have beaten the wallabies 4 out of the last 5 times. It’s unlikely that South Africa will progress.

A major international sporting event in the UK is always a special time.

Excitement about the Rugby Union World Cup is happening as grounds across England, Scotland and Wales prepare for the September and October tournament.

If you have tickets you will have an epic time and if not there is always the TV. You’ll be able to catch most games on your TV at home or venture to the pub and soak up the atmosphere.

Tickets are still available for some of the big games so if you want to put travel plans on hold to go and see a game you still can.

We’ve put together an overview of the teams competing and what we expect them to do at the tournament.

We have also put together a list of all the key games featuring Australia, New Zealand & South Africa.

GROUP A AUSTRALIA ENGLAND WALES FIJI URUGUAY Australia are effectively in the “pool of death” alongside Host nation England and effective co-host Wales.

The wallabies have to beat one of these sides to progress past the group stages.

It will be a tall order, especially England at Twickenham. The recent victory over 26

GROUP B SAMOA SOUTH AFRICA USA JAPAN SCOTLAND Even though South Africa have lost to Wales and Ireland in recent months, they are expected to progress from this group comfortably as winners. They are ranked second in the world and they inflicted defeat on the All Blacks (their first in 2 years) when they last played against them. By topping the group they would then play the runner up in Pool A which we think will be Australia. We are expecting the springboks to beat the wallabies and advance to the semifinals where they would potentially face New Zealand. A New Zealand/South Africa semi final would almost certainly be viewed as one of the most exciting games of the tournament with the All Blacks progressing to the next stage.

GROUP C NEW ZEALAND NAMIBIA TONGA GEORGIA ARGENTINA

The All Blacks enter the tournament as favourite. With arguably the easiest group to navigate it’s all about improving with every game and being ready for the knock out stages. A quarter final versus Ireland or France will be successfully negotiated and will see them line up versus South Africa in the semi-finals. South Africa were one of the teams to inflict one of the only two test defeats New Zealand has suffered in the last 4 years, but lightning can strike twice. A likely final, l versus the host England should result in the All Blacks being crowned champions again.

Tournaments can sometimes spring surprises, but having lost only two test matches since being crowned champions in 2011 it will take something special to not see the All Blacks in the final and lift the trophy once again.

GROUP D FRANCE IRELAND ITALY CANADA ROMANIA No antipodean interest in this group except to see who progresses to the knock out stages. It looks like a straight shoot out between Ireland and France for the top spot with the runners up in the group looking likely to take on the All Blacks in the quarter finals if the All Blacks top their group.

Romania and Canada are developing rugby nations so shouldn’t trouble the European sides in the group. The Italians could surprise Ireland and France though!

Although France recently beat England we’re not sure they will be able to replicate their efforts of previous tournaments. Ireland lost to Wales in their world cup warm up game and will need to improve on that performance if they want to progress and challenge.

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Painting the town Black Join thousands of All Blacks fans at The Evolution in Battersea for a night with Sir Graham Henry, Stephen Donald and loads of special guests.

Build up to the biggest sporting event of 2015 and the pinnacle of international rugby, the Rugby World Cup 2015 Final, at our Official All Blacks Supporters Function on Thursday 29 October between 7.00 and 10.30pm.

You’ll join more than 1,000 other Kiwi fans for an epic night of entertainment, food and drinks.

We’ll be painting the night black at our spectacular venue, Battersea Evolution, located in Battersea Park, London.

Entertainment includes a live band, Q&A featuring former All Blacks coach and RWC 2011 winner Sir Graham ‘Ted’ Henry and RWC 2011 Final hero Stephen ‘Beaver’ Donald, PLUS special guests Leigh Hart, Jeremy Wells and the Alternative Commentary Collective.

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FIXTURELIST

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GROUP A England Wales Australia England Australia Wales England Fiji Australia England

vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

Fiji Uruguay Fiji Wales Uruguay Fiji Australia Uruguay Wales Uruguay

FRI 18 SEP SUN 20 SEP WED 23 SEP SAT 26 SEP SUN 27 SEP THU 1 OCT SAT 3 OCT TUE 6 OCT SAT 10 OCT SAT 10 OCT

20.00 14.30 16.45 20.00 12.00 16.45 20.00 20.00 16.45 20.00

Twickenham Cardiff Cardiff Twickenham Birmingham Cardiff Twickenham Milton Keynes Twickenham Manchester

Japan USA Japan Samoa USA Japan Scotland USA Scotland Japan

SAT 19 SEP SUN 20 SEP WED 23 SEP SAT 26 SEP SUN 27 SEP SAT 3 OCT SAT 3 OCT WED 7 OCT SAT 10 OCT SUN 11 OCT

16.45 12.00 14.30 16.45 14.30 14.30 16.45 16.45 14.30 20.00

Brighton Brighton Gloucester Birmingham Leeds Milton Keynes Newcastle Olympic Stadium Newcastle Gloucester

Georgia Argentina Namibia Georgia Namibia Georgia Tonga Georgia Tonga Namibia

SAT 19 SEP SUN 20 SEP THU 24 SEP FRI 25 SEP TUE 29 SEP FRI 2 OCT SUN 4 OCT WED 7 OCT FRI 9 OCT SUN 11 OCT

12.00 16.45 20.00 16.45 16.45 20.00 14.30 20.00 20.00 12.00

Gloucester Wembley Olympic Stadium Gloucester Exeter Cardiff Leicester Exeter Newcastle Leicester

Canada Italy Romania Canada Romania Canada Italy Romania Romania Ireland

SAT 19 SEP SAT 19 SEP WED 23 SEP SAT 26 SEP SUN 27 SEP THU 1 OCT SUN 4 OCT TUE 6 OCT SUN 11 OCT SUN 11 OCT

14.30 20.00 20.00 14.30 16.45 20.00 16.45 16.45 14.30 16.45

Cardiff Twickenham Olympic Stadium Leeds Wembley Milton Keynes Olympic Stadium Leicester Exeter Cardiff

GROUP B South Africa Samoa Scotland South Africa Scotland Samoa South Africa South Africa Samoa USA

vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

GROUP C Tonga New Zealand New Zealand Argentina Tonga New Zealand Argentina Namibia New Zealand Argentina

vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

GROUP D Ireland France France Italy Ireland France Ireland Canada Italy France

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vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

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WHERETOWATCH

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Where to watch the games Haven’t managed to get Rugby World Cup tickets? Here’s a list of our favourite pubs across the capital where you can go and watch the game.

TOP 10 VENUES

JAM TREE The Jam Tree is making a real occasion out of the Rugby World Cup. You can book a table for four guests or more, all they ask for in return is a minimum £20 per head to be spent per person.

The Jam Tree Chelsea, 541 Kings Road, SW6 2EB.The Jam Tree Clapham, 13 19 Old Town, SW4 0JT.

thejamtree.com

GIGALUM

Elk Bar, 587 Fulham Road, SW6 5UA. elkbar.com

WALKABOUT Join Walkabout to catch all the action as England face Fiji in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup 2015.

Buy a VIP ticket to guarantee a seat in front of the big screen in a VIP area.

This exclusive seating gives you a seat right in front of our 13ft screen and includes one beer. They will screen the other games.

Walkabout Temple, Temple Station, Temple walkaboutbars.co.uk

BELUSHI It sounds like Belushi’s bars have got a lot going on, buzzing atmosphere, giant screens, local and international

you’re the type to get organised, get a group of you together and tell them at theSlug@Wimbledon what you want in advance by filling in the on-line form.

The Slug, 17 Hartfield Road, Wimbledon, SW19 3TA. Wimbledonslug.co.uk

THE ALEXANDRA The Alexandra has built a great reputation for showing sports throughout the city. Football, rugby, hurling and just about everything else.

They have two dedicated screens, five large HD screens and do everything that they can to be the second best place to watch the game. The first being at the game itself.

SPORTFOCUS

Bridge and Shepherd’s Bush.

Belushis.com

Watch the games at the capitals favourite DJ bar Gigalum with two for one offers on kronenbourg bottles.

Gigalum, 7 – 8 Cavendish Parade, Clapham gigalum.com

The sports mad Elk Bar will be showing every game on big screen and plasma TVs. Grab yourselves ten bottles of beer for £25 and get a free bucket of chicken wings to keep hunger at bay.

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Belushi bars are located in Camden, Covent Garden, Greenwich, Hammersmith, London

Common Southside, SW4 9DW.

THE ELK BAR

Place, WC2R 2 PH.

beers and a killer menu serving homemade burgers, chicken wings and awesome bar snacks. For £15 you can help yourself to a selection of drinks and sharing platters throughout the game, secure a spot with a great view for £5, get a front row seat for £50 or even get access to VIP area for £50.

SPORTS BAR & GRILL Make Sports Bar & Grill your home for Rugby World Cup hospitality and get the benefit of doing business and entertaining in your own private area with perfect views of the tournament on their Sony screens. Hospitality packages include your own exclusive area, a dedicated team to assist host your guests throughout the event, a buffet with a variety of signature dishes served 30 minutes before the game and an open bar serving a wide selection of premium beers, cider, ales, wines and spirits from an hour before the match until the final whistle.

Sports Bar & Grill are located in Marylebone, Farringdon, Victoria, Piccadilly Circus, Waterloo and Canary Wharf. sportsbarandgrill.co.uk

THE SLUG Plenty of drink and food options available throughout the games and if

14 Clapham Common Southside, SW4 7AA alexandraclapham.com

THE CABBAGE PATCH Considered by some to be the best rugby pub in the World. The Cabbage Patch is legendary amongst rugby fans from around the globe. It’s just a stones throw from Twickenham stadium. The walls are covered with rugby memorabilia and some of rugby’s sporting heroes’ hangout here too.

Various packages on offer, take a look on their website for options.

67 London Road, Twickenham, TW1 3SZ cabbagepatch.co.uk

BISON & BIRD Enjoy all your favourite sporting events at the Bison & bird on two HD projectors and five plasmas. On offer great company, comfort, excellent drink selection and delicious food.

182 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UG bisonandbird.com

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TRAVEL LATE DEALS | TOUR SEARCH EXCLUSIVES | WEEKENDER | TOP FIVE | TOURS |

BILBAO BBK LIVE HAS DATES AND TICKETS ON SALE FOR 2016 After the success of the festivals tenth edition, with yet another consecutive ‘sold out’, Bilbao BBK Live is pleased to announce dates for its next edition: These will be the 7th, 8th and 9th of July 2016 at Kobetamendi, Bilbao. The first three-day tickets have already gone on sale at a reduced price of 90€ + 6€ booking fees and 100€ + 6€ booking fees for tickets including access to the Bilbao BBK Live camping site. Hurry up as they won’t last long! bilbaobbklive.com TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Walled city: Dubrovnik

Memoirs of Croatia We discovered this stunning spot a while ago, but in recent years it has become a holiday hot spot, and no wonder... WORDS RACHAEL GETZELS Best for: Beaches THE DALMATION COAST: Croatia’s Dalmation coast has more than 1,200 islands, all with their own hidden bays and bright turquoise water. Most of the beaches on the Adriatic coast are rocky but it actually makes a welcome change from finding sand in your suitcase on the way home, and their beauty is truly unique. Some people cruise the islands by boat, which doesn’t have to break the bank. Most coastal towns offer day trips or weekend cruises to the islands, including the lesserknown, uninhabited ones such as as Suzak, which is composed entirely of sand, or Nin, where you can cover your body in medicinal mud. Both are truly a treat for beach bums who want an uninterrupted tan. The islands of Split, Hvar and Brac 34

are the poster models for Croatian beaches, but the scene is much more party-centric with water-side bars and pumping nightlife.

What else?

Kupari is an interesting stop-off during a trip down the coast.

The island was once a holiday resort for the Yuguslav People’s Army and was badly damaged during the war in 1991-95.

Now it’s a post-apocalyptic bay of bombed out hotels and abandoned luxury resorts. The whole island is frozen in time and it’s an eerie experience to explore the marble floor ballrooms that have been overtaken by vines. The beaches, however, are just as beautiful as ever, and many locals still visit the surreal site for their summer beach fix.

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Best for: Music PULA: Croatia has some of the best electronic music festivals on offer in some mind-blowing locations. Bass-heavy Outlook takes place in a 19th-century fort near Pula with music so loud and pumping that even the stone foundations shake.

But Pula isn’t the only festival hot spot: Unknown in Rovinj and Soundwave in Tisno are hot tickets and the 2016 line-ups are just beginning to leak.

What else?

There’s plenty of Roman architecture to admire in Pula, including an impressive amphitheatre in the centre, which is one of the largest (and best preserved) in the world.

Best for: Romance DUBROVNIK: Handsome Dubrovnik has fast-risen through the ranks to be considered one of the most romantic cities in the world alongside Paris and Venice. When you first set eyes on the ancient walled city it will take your breath away. Strolling hand-in-hand down the marble streets or watching the sun set over the glimmering Adriatic Sea from the 500-year-old walls will never cease to amaze. The pedestrian-only old town with its aristocratic piazza and Baroque architecture has dozens of top-notch restaurants with fresh seafood bought in daily. The city is also jampacked full of family owned jewellery shops adding to the sense of romance and luxury that pervades every corner.

What else?

Dubrovnik isn’t only a fairytale city – it also has pristine beaches (and some nudist bays) that you can enjoy by day.

Banje Beach is close to the Old Town, offering a dramatic backdrop against which to get your tan. Plat bay is 12km from the city, but it’s truly a hidden gem with complete privacy and a shallow, warm ocean for relaxed bathing.

Row your boat: Stunning fishing villages abound It’s electrifying: Croatia holds some cracking electronic dance festivals

Best for: Partying PAG: Croatia’s hottest island is giving Ibiza a run for its money as semi-naked party-goers wade through pools and DJs oversee jam-packed dance floors. The island’s party hub is Zrce Beach, which welcomes thousands of clubbers from around the world in summer. At the decadent Club Papaya the young and the beautiful shimmy in Jacuzzis as super-star international DJs spin major crowd-pleasers. Club Kalypso has straw huts, deck chairs and a volleyball pitch, and its summer line-up is a killer with 48-hour non-stop parties.

What else?

When the wild nights out become too much you can take a break in Pag’s Old Town where local festivals are still celebrated with vigour. You can also sample world-renowned Pag cheese during a dairy tour. The sheep’s milk recipe is centuries old and is unique due to the powerful Bura wind that sweeps sea salt from the Adriatic into the animals’ pasture, creating a rich and creamy cheese.

Looking back: Pula is home to one of the oldest Roman amphitheatres in the world

Images: Thinkstock and Getty

Best for: Diving MLJET: For people that need action during their beach holiday, Mljet is the perfect destination. The lush island has some of the best diving in the world – which they’ve managed to mostly keep a secret thus far. The tranquil deep-blue sea here is alive with coral reefs and underwater caves, and the water is said to be some of the cleanest in the TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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AN INSIDER’S GUIDE Anandel Heyl has sailed the blue waters of Croatia in a chartered boat, and knows a few more secrets besides...

Rafting: White water rafting on Cetina river was a real highlight for me. This is one of the most popular adventure activities in the area. The rapids of Cetina River are not difficult but it’s still fun and exciting and the scenery is breathtaking – waterfalls and caves, deep canyons and jungle-like vegetation lines the river’s edge.

The four-hour tours usually include return bus transfer, an instructor and full equipment hire.

Gardens: A lot of visitors to Croatia visit the major cities and islands and tend to stay on the beaches. However, the botanical gardens in Croatia are stunning. About 15 miles from Dubrovnik is Trsteno, an old fishermen’s village with a long tradition in seafaring. It is host to one of the oldest and most beautiful arboretums in the whole region as the seamen would bring back exotic plants, bushes and trees from their world voyages and plant them in the gardens of the summer residence.

world. On diving trips you can visit the Odysseus Cave, where Ancient Greek legend has it the namesake hero was nursed back to health by the sea nymph, Calypso. You can also see a recently discovered 16th-century shipwreck, which has yielded thousands of ancient artefacts including bronze cannons.

Contact aquatica-miljet.hr for classes and expeditions.

What else?

The two salt water lakes on the island are exceptionally warm and known for their medicinal powers. You can also rent canoes or kayaks for the day which will allow you to visit the ruins of a 12th-century island monastery in the middle of the bigger ‘Great Lake.’

Holy moly: the island of Mljet

Food: On the cruise I took with Expat Explore (expatexplore.com), what really stood out was the food.

The chefs on board were amazing. Traditionally the Croats eat a lot of fish, soups and salads. What everyone loved was how simple the meals were, but super tasty... they don’t kill everything with sauces and dressings. It’s usually just a bit of olive oil and some spices.

Other tips: See the Diocletian’s Palace at night as it gives it a totally different feel to during the day. Also, Karlovak is a very good local beer!

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A GUIDE TO CROATIA

Car free means care free: Dubrovnik’s streets are all pedestrianised

FOOD TO TRY IN CROATIA

The sands may not be golden but the views aren’t all bad...

Squid ink risotto Food in Croatia straddles two cuisines: the fresh seafood dishes of the Mediterranean and the hearty stews and dumplings of Central Europe. Along the coast you’ll mainly find fresh fish but also look out for Italian-inspired gnocchi and pasta in rich, meaty sauces.

Pršut Traditional dry-cured ham cut into thin slices that is often served alongside olives and cheese.

Crni rižot A must-try along the Dalmation Coast, this dark-coloured squid ink risotto has a distinctive flavour that is better than it sounds, and you won’t soon forget.

Tartufi Truffle mushrooms are generally considered a delicacy in most of the world but their abundance in Croatia means that they often grace a pasta dish – or are even put on top of omelettes at breakfast.

Pašticada A stew of beef marinated in red wine, garlic, rosemary and sage for 24 hours before it’s slow-cooked with rich plums, carrots, onions and cloves.

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French fancy They say the French live life with a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’... but we have a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with Paris, wine and lots of cheese WORDS HEIDI FULLER-LOVE

Split into 95 départements and boasting some 37,000 villages, The Hexagon, as the French have nicknamed their country because of its six-sided shape, is packed with sites, activities and food for every taste and budget. Only got a short amount of time? We tell you where to go and why...

BEST FOR ROMANCE PARIS The sultry, sexy city that inspired Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris is the perfect place for lovers. Whether you dine by candlelight as you glide along the Seine river; hold hands as you stroll through the hip-and-happening Latin quarter, or lock eyes as you sip a cocktail at the top of the Eiffel Tower, romance is never far away. But love can’t survive an empty stomach, so when you need to feed the flame pick up a snack at Bastille, the city’s best food market, or splurge on some creative cuisine at the achingly atmospheric, 40

celebrity-loved gourmet restaurant Le Grand Vefour. If you want to burn off some calories while sticking close to your date, hire a tandem from Paris Velo Sympa and do a tour of the city’s sights. Now it’s time to check out some of the Latin Quarter’s sizzling nightlife, so pick up some hip rags in Indie boutiques near Chatelet where Parisian rock royalty love to shop, then dance until dawn at Les Bains Douches, just one of the city’s glitterati-packed clubs where celebs from Jagger to DiCaprio come to let off steam.

What else?

Once you’ve checked out Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile, pretended to be a millionaire along the glittering Champs Elysees and ‘done’ the art-packed Musee d’Orsay, sashay over to the newly renovated St Martin canal area where you can paddle around on the water, browse designer stores or catch a gig in one of the trendy cafes.

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A GUIDE TO MOROCCO

BEST FOR ACTIVITIES THE ALPS With those amazing snow-capped peaks, mountain chalets, icy rivers to kayak down, lakes to swim in, paths to hike, tracks to bike along and countless crags to climb, the French Alps is an ideal destination for adrenalin freaks.

Europe’s highest summit and home to the winter Olympics, Mont Blanc towers above some of the world’s most famous ski resorts. After snowboarding in Tignes and skiing in Les Arcs, enjoy a raft of après-ski activities in the lively, student-packed town of Grenoble.

If the cold stuff isn’t for you, head for La Clusaz where you can hike the spectacular Via Ferrata – the alpine route once used by partisans to carry munitions, or try white water rafting in the Giffre River, which fumes and foams its way through the narrow Tines gorge.

Europe’s highest town, Briançon, is a great destination for cyclists seeking a challenge. A Unesco world heritage site since 2008, this high-flung town, conceived by engineering wizard Vauban, is an amazing labyrinth of 17th- and 18th-century forts and star-shaped fortifications where you can wander a while before whizzing through breathtaking scenery to the panoramic Col Du Lautaret.

If you want to get higher still, head for Annecy, where you can glide over this stunning medieval town known as the region’s paragliding capital, before hiring a canoe and paddling around this pretty city’s vast lake.

What else?

When those lonely peaks get too much for you, discover Chagall, Matisse and more at Grenoble’s fabulous Musée des Beaux-Arts, or soothe those bumps and bruises in one of Courchevel’s sumptuous spas.

Climb the Via Ferrata in La Clusaz

Images: Thinkstock and Getty

BEST FOR SUN AND SEA PROVINCE Whether it’s aniseed-scented Marseilles pastis, the glorious sheltered calanques (creeks) of Cassis, or that catchy tune ‘Sur Le Pont d’Avignon’, Province, the region whose luminous landscapes inspired artist Van Gogh, is the place to head when you’re seeking sea and sun.

In France’s second largest city you can wander for days along cobbled streets discovering Roman ruins and eclectic museums; shopping in the old city’s bustling bazaars; supping traditional Bouillabaisse fish stew in one of the cafes along the old port; or just lazing on one of the glorious beaches in nearby La Ciotat.

When it’s time to flash that tan, make your way to the celebrity-studded beaches of St Tropez, or join crowds wandering along La Croisette in famed film festival venue, Cannes. Once you’ve had enough of those madding crowds, ride a bike into the wild and wonderful Camargue region, where you can spot pretty pink flamingos and white horses, picnic in the dunes or swim from some of Province’s best beaches.

What else?

If you want to duck out of that sizzling sun for a while, soak up some culture in the museums and sites of medieval Avignon. On weekends you should make your way to Isle sur

Fountains in front of Longchamps Palace in Marseille

Stroll the streets of Cannes

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FOODS TO TRY Figuring on Unesco’s intangible world heritage list since 2010, the French gastronomic tradition is legendary. Here are a few dishes that you mustn’t miss.

Escargots Removed from their shells, cooked with garlic, butter, or a wine-based sauce, then stuffed back into their shells and served piping hot, snails are the iconic French dish.

Confit de canard Traditionally from the Gascony region, the crispy delicious confit is a piece of duck meat, which is rubbed with salt and herbs, grilled in its own fat, then served with feather-light roast potatoes. Divine.

Sauternes Made from Semillon sauvignon blanc and muscatel grapes, this sweet white wine is excellent served with that other French speciality, foie gras.

Crème brûlée Invented in the 18th century, this rich dessert consists of a creamy custard base topped with a crackling cover of caramel and is generally flavoured with vanilla, although other savours range from lavender to pistachio.

Camembert A favourite on every French table, this creamy cow’s milk cheese hailing from Normandy has been made since the 18th century.

Vineyards on the hills of Burgundy

Snails cooked in garlic butter

la Sorgue to pick up some cool shades and other vintage bargains in the city’s vast marché aux puces (flea market).

BEST FOR FOODIES WINE COUNTRY From Bordeaux to Burgundy and Champagne, France is famed too for its guzzle-worthy grape juice – and in a country famed for its gastronomy there’s plenty of good food to go with those fine wines. Boasting more than five dozen different appellations, Bordeaux is an ideal destination for wine lovers. Hire a bike to get around this pancake-flat city and make a beeline for the Musée du Vin et du Négoce to learn more about the city’s long wine history. Next pedal over to Quartier St-Pierre and sample local specialities lamproie à la Bordelaise (lamprey eels in red wine sauce) and esturgeon à la Libournaise (sturgeon in a white wine sauce) in one of the cafes on this lively central square.

Party in one of the hip wine bars close by, then get up early and head out of the Route de Médoc, to sample some of the region’s celebrated wines.

Alternatively, head north to Burgundy’s medieval capital Beaune, where vines have been grown along the banks of the river Saone for several millenniums. Here you can see winemakers’ tools and learn about local traditions in the Musee de la Vigne et du Vin then head out on a walking tour of the surrounding villages to sample some of those dry red wines made from Pinot noir grapes and white wines made from Chardonnay grapes in local farms.

What else?

When you’ve supped enough wine, make a beeline for Cognac, home of fine brandy since the Middle Ages, where you can visit the ancient Cognac houses, learn how the brew is made, then sample some of that heady brown stuff in cafes and restaurants along cobbled streets of this picturesque town beside the Charente river.

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GETTING THERE & AROUND The major international airports in Paris are Roissy, Charles de Gaulle and Orly. For the Alps you should fly to Grenoble airport, for Provence jet over to Marseilles and for wine country you can fly to Bordeaux. Flights from London to Paris start from £100. France has good public transport and it’s easy to use.

In Paris the metro is your best PARIS bet, while the high-speed TGV will whiz you between most Grenoble major destinations. Most larger towns have good transport Bordeaux Marseilles systems, but it’s a good idea to rent a car if you want to explore further afield.

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So you want to go on holiday, a casual city break, see the sights, discover some hidden gems, BUT shouldn’t the getting there be as good as the ‘there’ itself? After all life’s a journey, not a destination!

You’ve tried the plane, the train, maybe even the automobile – but THE bus? Now there’s a ‘nouvelle’ idea…

Say goodbye to stuffy carriages, cramped seats and a generally unpleasant start to your holiday, and say ‘bonjour’ to extra leg room, reclining seats and the all-important WiFi to keep you comfortable and connected as you say ‘oui oui oui!’ all the way to Paris (try out your best French accent). All that AND 9 daily departures from London Victoria coach station to Paris or Brussels and Amsterdam from £18 (book at ouibus.com) that’s why OUIBUS gets our thumbs up!

The low cost coach service OUIBUS promises you’ll have euros-a-plenty to squander in the antique market, buying that ultra-expensive (ultra-necessary) taxidermy animal that you HAD to bring home with you! And just think, you can take selfies in the bus, on the way home with it. Think how many likes you’ll get…

With London’s night tubes put on hold, and one too many strikes for our liking, it’s no wonder a spontaneous trip to Paris has caught our eye. After all wouldn’t you rather swap a kebab smelling night tube, for a coach ride that promises a fresh coffee and a croissant done the right way at the end (pardon, the French way)? Just a stone’s throw from the coach stop Paris Bercy, you could be watching the world go by in nearby Le Marais.

However brief but beautiful your city moment was, you’ll still have time to muse about your next holiday on the journey home. Take advantage of the WiFi and plug sockets to book another city break whilst still onboard (it’d be rude not to).

From Amsterdam to Brussels to Lille or Lyon, you can brush up on your European culture, whether you’re on your ‘gap yah’ or simply a smart-city slicker. #SayOUI to Paris with OUIBUS Get onboard at www.ouibus.com TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Seven Greek Island must-dos From other-worldly caves to underwater hot springs, make sure you explore every nook and cranny in the incredible Greek Islands. By Cliff Blaylock

Melissani Cave The Greek islands are steeped in history, surrounded by vibrant and glimmering oceans and enhanced by its Mediterranean culture.

While lounging on the beach, swimming in the resort pool or visiting the local bars might be high on the agenda in this popular holiday destination, why not try out something on our list of seven unique and must do activities? We’ve got some great ideas lined up for you.

The Acropolis of Athens Athens the gateway to the Islands. While in the city, why not take a day to explore Athens’ most famous ancient wonder, the Acropolis?

Walking through the streets of an ancient Greek citadel is something few people can say they have done.

It is a truly breathtaking experience.

elements by a large crater above. With this great skylight hanging overhead, the entire cave becomes illuminated by sunlight, promising stunning views and deep and crystal clear blue waters. A paradise beneath the Earth.

The Samaria Gorge Probably the most stunning natural location on any of the islands, the Samaria Gorge is like a time capsule.

Entering the gorge through its upper entrance, you feel as if you are in another world, a fantasy world, dreamt up by writers for some epic quest. Truly awe-inspiring. However, not only does it feature jaw-dropping views, but exciting hiking trails, walkways, old rope bridges, cut-away cafes and gentle flowing rivers.

The Melissani Cave

Explore an uninhabited island

The Greek Islands are home to a number of illustrious cave networks thanks to the erosive power of that salty and wrathful monster, the Mediterranean. One cave in particular stands out above the rest: the Melissani cave.

A small cave system, it ends in a lagoon deep underground, open to the

With thousands of islands surrounding Greece, and only 300 or so currently inhabited, you could soon find yourself on an island all of your own.

Often mountainous and covered in dense jungle, while not the best place to find a cocktail, these deserted islands are perfect for those of you looking to explore.

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Who knows, you might find an incredible secluded beach, a beautiful lagoon or spectacular viewpoint of the Mediterranean.

Go snorkelling & diving One thing that has to be done in Greece is snorkelling, or diving if you are feeling really adventurous. For snorkellers, many islands offer incredible coral reefs to explore, with vibrant underwater life. You might even get lucky and encounter some of the Mediterranean sea’s most stunning creatures, including dolphins and turtles. However, if diving is more your thing, head to the island of Milos, where diving schools will take you to explore WW2 wrecks and incredible underwater hot springs.

Hike the Santorini Volcano The island of Santorini is a dark blemish upon an otherwise vibrant landscape.

Formed in a violent volcanic eruption centuries ago, its twisted shape is perfect for hikers. With low-lying gorges and high-top cliffs and mountains, this experience promises ample picturesque views. It is recommended that you start or finish your hike at Oia, not only because it’s a bustling port town, but

also because it is famed for its sleek white stone houses topped with smooth blue domes – another must see.

Sail Sailing is perhaps the ultimate experience you can have in the Greek islands.

It allows for limitless opportunities for exploration and leisure. Many of the experiences on this list are on different islands, places you’d have to visit over years of different holidays, unless you sail. Aboard your own sailing boat you can explore the uninhabited islands, dock up in Oia and hike Santorini before heading over to Milos to dive about in the old war wrecks. You can also visit all the islands, restaurants, beaches, bars and ancient ruins you want. You never have to limit yourself, and that is the most exciting way to enjoy these illustrious and unforgettable islands. tnttoursearch.com/tours/ athens-3-island-explorer-0 tnttoursearch.com/tours/ best-of-greece tnttoursearch.com/tours/ spotlight-on-greece tnttoursearch.com/tours/ taste-of-greece-tour

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THE SAFE WATERS OF LAKE LANGANO We take a swim in Ethiopia’s only safe lake, and explore five more of Africa’s watery spots. By Adam Corre

Lake Victoria

FIVE GREAT LAKES TO EXPLORE IN AFRICA ›› Lake

Lake Langano The sand is not golden yellow. It’s light brown and features small, crystalline stones which glisten in the sun. In front of me is a cloudy brown lake.

I’m assured the water cleanses the skin. There is an Ethiopian family, the father playing with giggly children. Elsewhere, in a charming scene, a trio of men are pretending to save one another from drowning, taking turns to be lifeguard and damsel in distress. Why all the fuss over Lake Langano? Quite simply this is the only lake without bilharzia in Ethiopia, making it a safe bet for water enthusiasts.

The journey Our journey to Langano had been a culture shock. From the relative comfort of our van it was like looking at a flickering old film. Blink and you missed it. The locals seemed bamboozled by the unfamiliar white faces.

Some stared. Others waved.

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A few laughed. The pace of life was slow despite the streets brimming with the chattering masses selling all manner of items. As I look out of the window, hundreds of Orthodox Christians dressed in long white garments make their stately way to church for Sunday services.

Settled waters At Lake Langano, the waters’ edge is all but still.

Opportunities for bathing in Ethiopia are rare and visitors are mainly wealthy families from Addis Ababa.

This is one of the most fashionable places to go for the middle classes escaping city life. There’s a light ripple on the lake from the faintly audible breaths of wind, which disguises the intense heat.

There is enough free space on the beach to switch easily between shade and sunlight, heat and cool air.

I revel in the remoteness, the isolation.

Water ventures I take a motor boat tour across the waters and glided along the shoreline.

Only the pelicans with their poky pink and red beaks stand out in the vast swathes of emptiness.

We approach the birds in a sly ploy to capture a shot of them flying into the distance. On the third occasion it works. Later, I go fishing for the first time. In my naive pre-conceptions, I had assumed it would be easy. Like a caveman hunting for food to feed his family, I thought I’d find an abundance of tilapia fish to hand to the resort’s restaurant for grilling.

How wrong I was. On one occasion I was convinced I’d caught something. The hook sunk into the foot of a perplexed, but not upset, five-year-old girl who ventured too close.

A visit to Ethiopia keeps you in touch with nature. tnttoursearch.com/tours/ highlights-of-ethiopia-2015

Bunyoni, Uganda The ‘place of many little birds’ is Uganda’s most popular lake. The lake encircles 29 islands. Visitors can grab a canoe and discover the surrounding wildlife. tnttoursearch.com/tours/ uganda-gorilla-safari-3d2n ›› Lake Malawi, Malawi This long lake has a steamer chugging up and down it. With everything from kayaking to scuba diving available to visitors, there are plenty of water sports to keep you occupied. ›› Lake Victoria The largest lake in Africa and second biggest in the world.

Archipelagos are contained within the waters as are numerous reefs. Bordering Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, the area has more than 200 species of fish tnttoursearch. com/tours/kenya-tanzania. ›› Lake Tanganyika This is the second largest lake in East Africa.

Spectacularly large rivers discharge here including Kalambo, which has one of the highest waterfalls in the world at more than 700 feet. ›› Lake Albert Not normally on the tourist route, this lake is on the far northern tip of the Rift Valley bordering Congo and Uganda.

Located at the lowest part of Uganda, hippos, crocodiles and elephants enrich the wildlife. tnttoursearch. com/tours/uganda-gorillasoverland-2015

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Iconic: Edinburgh Castle

Party: NYE Scot style

Iconic: Edinburgh Castle

Party: NYE Scot style

EAT, DRINK, SLEEP

Edinburgh SCOTLAND

SCOTLAND EDINBURGH

HOGMANaY JOIN PP ON THEIR 4-DAY NON-STOP NEW YEAR’S PARTY IN EDINBURGH

GETTING THERE Trains from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh start around £114.60 for a return ticket (eastcoast.co.uk). Direct return flights start around £54 with easyJet (easyjet.co.uk).

Hotel and hostel

accommodation only packages from

Mum’s does a foolproof line in comfort staples such as sausage and mash and Scottish venison pie. Even better, it uses fresh local produce. Mains barely creep above a tenner. (monstermashcafe.co.uk) A unique pub made up of tiny, crooked rooms brimming with antique bric-a-brac, Princes Street the Canny Man’s should be a tourist attraction in itself.

(237 Morningside Rd) The backpacker bar of choice, Last Drop is an enjoyably rowdy spot to get sociable. (74 Grassmarket)

£24 9 PLUS

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Arthurs Seat Aussie/Kiwi New Year Party ✔ Superb top class city ✔ Our Famous centre accommodation ✔ Choice of room configurations ✔ Street Party Pass ✔ Braveheart excursion to Stirling ✔ New Years Day party ✔ Train, Coach or Accomm Only options 48 TNTMAGAZINE.COM

info@pptravel.com • 020 7930 9999

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www.edinburgh-guesthouse.com Proprietors: Lizzie & Gary Scott Private car park - Free WIFI 5 East Mayeld, Edinburgh Tel: 0131 667 5029 room@edinburgh-guesthouse.com

Photos: britainonview.com and istock

High Street Hostel’s central location, pretty 16th-century building and unfailingly clean rooms all get the thumbs up. There are communal pub crawls on Thursday nights.

Dorm beds start about £12 a night. (highstreethostel.com)

tour options!

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Fishers Bistro has three outlets around town, all serving up great seafood for a range of budgets. Mains start from less than £10. (fisherbistros.co.uk)

Just a 10-minute stroll from Leith’s waterfront in the northeast of town, The Sandaig is a cosy guesthouse in a Victorian terrace. Double rooms from £65pn. (sandaigguesthouse.co.uk) 4/09/2015 2:20 am

Photos: britainonview.com and istock

UKTRIP

Bite-size ‘Burgh On a tight schedule? Here’s where to start in the Scottish capital.

Trust us, you’ll want to return WORDS LAURA CHUBB

Edinburgh is an almost unanimously loved city, one of Europe’s most beautiful and – luckily for us – easy to access.

The most visited tourist destination in the UK after London, it’s as historically and culturally rich as the Big Smoke we call home, and – dare we say it – perhaps more picturesque.

If you’ve only got a couple of days to explore, these are our top five must-dos. You’ll be back for more, guaranteed.

Arthur’s Seat What: Think of Edinburgh and what might not immediately spring to mind is a volcano. Presiding over Edinburgh’s skyline, this craggy peak was formed when a glacier eroded an extinct lava-spewer about 350 million years ago.

Why: At 823ft high, Arthur’s Seat doesn’t pose too tough a climb, but it does afford an incredible view of the city below.

Fact: Arthur’s Seat is also known by the less fortunate name of ‘Pratt’s Hill’. This is because in 1840, Mormon apostle Orson Pratt travelled to Edinburgh and found only eight members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

So he climbed the hill and asked the Lord to give him 200 souls to convert. Apparently it worked out.

See: edinburgh.org Mary King’s Close What: An underground warren in Edinburgh’s Old Town said to be haunted by plague victims who were walled up in the close in the 1600s and left to die.

Why: A tour of Mary King’s Close gives a fascinating insight into life in the city between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Walking the dark, spooky passages with a costumed guide is a nerve-jangling experience, and you’ll be told more than your fair share of ghost stories and urban legends, too. Tours end October 31 until August.

Fact: People have reported scratching noises coming from inside a chimney on Mary King’s Close, where a child chimney sweep is said to have died. The Close has even featured on TV’s Most Haunted.

See: realmarykingsclose.com The Scotch Whisky Experience What: Riding a whisky barrel through a replica distillery is just one of many highlights over the course of this tour. You’ll be taken on a sensory journey of discovery, appreciating the sights, sounds and smells of whisky production. It ends with a peek at the world’s largest collection of Scotch Malt Whisky and includes a free dram.

Why: Really? You need more convincing?

Fact: When whisky is distilled, it is completely colourless.

The colour comes from the casks in which it matures.

See: scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk Hogmanay What: The Scots like to do New Year properly – and that means a three-day party called Hogmanay, starting on New Year’s Eve and soldiering on into January 2.

Why: Huge street parties, fireworks displays, an atmospheric ‘torchlight procession,’ concert in the gardens wiht live bands, the keilidh, blogmany, the midnight moment and our personal favourite the random Loony Dook.

Fact: The Loony Dook is a tradition that sees more than 1000 ‘loonies’ jump into the freezing waters of the Forth Estuary in an attempt to numb their New Year’s Day hangovers.

See: edinburghshogmanay.org How to book: tnttoursearch.com/tours/edinburgh-newyear-hogmanay-4-day-2015-16 tnttoursearch.com/tours/hogmanay-new-year-5-day-startedinburgh-201415 Edinburgh Castle What: OK, we had to mention it. Set atop the volcanic Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle has been a royal residence since the 12th century. It’s the city’s most iconic edifice.

Why: Try to time your visit for around 1pm, when a field gun inside the castle walls blasts a round of shellfire to mark the hour (every day except Sunday). A memorial bench to commemorate Tam the Gun, a sergeant who fired the ‘One O’Clock Gun’ for 27 years before he died of cancer, is the best place to sit for an eardrum-splitting.

Fact: King James IV spied on subjects gathered in the castle’s Great Hall through a specially designed barred window above the fireplace. When Mikhail Gorbachev was set to visit the castle in 1984, the KGB asked that the window be bricked up for security purposes. Hmmm.

See: edinburghcastle.gov.uk TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Millennium Bridge, Manchester Newcastle by night

York MInster

Caption

Stone Roses, Manchester

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Liverpool waterfront at night

Party in Newcastle

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UKTRIP

Th’up North “Ey up mi duck, there’s more to England than London y’know.”

Don’t believe (or understand) us? Here’s our rundown of the best the North has to offer WORDS IAN ARMITAGE There’s a lot that makes England great and, yes, most of it is in London, but not all. Almost every Aussie can trace his or her roots to Manchester and that must be reason enough to plan a trip north of Watford, right? You’ll open yourself to some weird and wonderful cultures and, best of all, some of the most epic nights out on the planet (trust us). The North really does have it all.

Best for: Music MANCHESTER: Manchester and the northwest in general is well known for its music, fashion and clubbing and, while most people would probably think of Liverpool first when it comes to music, we’re telling you to head to Manchester instead. Why? A few reasons: The Stone Roses, New Order, Oasis, Happy Mondays, The Smiths, Joy Division, Buzzcocks... we could go on. The great thing about Manchester is, as well as producing some of the greats, it isn’t afraid of new talent. So if it’s the next big thing you’re looking for then head down to live music venues Roadhouse and Night and Day. The city has a lively club scene and if it is a rave you want (it isn’t nicknamed ‘Madchester’ for nothing) then Sankeys and the Warehouse Project are where you want to go. If it’s the indie scene you’re into then Piccadilly Records and Bridgewater Hall, both in the heart of the city centre, are a must see. For the big names head to the Apollo and the MEN Arena. thewolseley.com Best for: Shopping LEEDS: Leeds has an abundance of designer stores and shops. Its Victoria Quarter is home to names such as Vivienne Westwood, Karen Millen, All Saints, and the first Harvey Nichols out of London. The Corn Exchange is similarly impressive and houses a large number of independent stores, with vintage, craft, record and food fairs taking place regularly. They say good things come in threes and completing the hat trick is Trinity Leeds, the city’s newest and biggest shopping centre with 120 shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. After all that retail therapy you’ll need somewhere to sit back and relax, have a wellearned dinner and a cocktail or 10. Again Leeds comes into its own here: you could stay in Trinity, but there are absolutely loads of restaurants and bars in the Financial Quarter. We recommend Blackhouse (‘proper’ food done well), Sous Le Nez En Ville (authentic French cuisine) or the Living Room (perfect for cocktails). visitleeds.co.uk

Best for: Culture LIVERPOOL: This could easily have been Manchester again, but in the interests of diversity, fairness, and so that you can add a couple of notches to your travelling bedposts, we’re going for Liverpool. Named Capital of Culture a few years back, it is of course the hometown of The Beatles, which means it holds a special place in many hearts the world over. But there is more to Liverpool than the Fab Four – the Tate Liverpool and the Walker Gallery display some of the world’s best art. There is so much to see from sculptures on the beach to old dock tours, and the city looks wonderful by night (there are also a couple of famous football clubs to boot). Liverpool held the fantastic Titanic Sea Odyssey giant puppet spectacular in 2012, which marked 100 years since the Titanic sank. They have a similar event lined up for the summer, marking 100 years since the outbreak of World War One. itsliverpool.com Best for: History YORK: Again, it’s hard to pick a winner here, but York is undeniably one of England’s finest and most beautiful historic cities. The Romans called it Eboracum, the Vikings Jorvik, and in the film Braveheart it was sacked by William Wallace (in reality this didn’t happen). Within its ancient walls, which encircle the city, York’s narrow medieval streets and buildings are beautifully preserved and the historic heart of the city is pretty much traffic-free, making it quiet, clean and perfect for a stroll around, day or night. Stonegate and Petergate are two of its most stylish and popular shopping streets and, believe it or not, still run along the same routes as they did 2,000 years ago. The highlight is York Minster, which dominates a city that is recognised the world over as an archaeological treasure trove. visityork.org Best for: Drinking NEWCASTLE: Going out for a beer is BIG in Newcastle. And what variety there is – from the rundown (or ‘budget’) to the flash (big bucks), Newcastle has it all and then some.

Most visitors will go to either the Quayside, Bigg Market or both. Our favourite place to go? Sam Jacks. Okay, technically it is in Gateshead, but it has a dentist’s chair – just replace the mouth wash with straight alcohol, and no spitting!

Newcastle is a brilliant place to go for a drink or two, and the Geordies (locals) will love you and you will love them, if you can decipher what they are saying (accent + drink = ‘what the fuck did he just say?’). newcastlegateshead.com TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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“

Surf or go kayaking with dolphins

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UKTRIP

Surf’s up down South Grab a car and your mates and take a road trip to the South West of England, home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and beaches in the world WORDS IAN ARMITAGE South West England is bursting with enchanting countryside, sparkling coasts, picturesque villages and some of the country’s most important heritage sites. While there are trains that run to the major towns and cities from London ( southwesttrains.co.uk), the best way to travel is by car so you can see as much as possible.

Somerset levels to Bude We’re starting amid the Somerset Levels, heading south through Devon to Bude in Cornwall. The route is about two hours by car and heading west on the A39 is easy to follow – just stick to the road. You’ll witness some of Britain’s best coastline, the charming little-known villages of Brendon Hills and Selworthy, Lynmouth’s waterpowered cliff funicular railway (cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk), and you can take in Ilfracombe and Combe Martin’s rocky seashores. End in Bude, Victoriana: dunes and surfing mark the first seaside town in Cornwall. Surf Haven in Flexbury (surfhaven.co.uk) is just £25 per night. For some grub with an amazing view, visit Life’s A Beach ( lifesabeach.info), but if it’s a pasty you want (we are in Cornwall after all), there are plenty of pasty shops around practically every corner in Bude. We recommend Tasty Pasties (tastypasties.co.uk), which serves up delicious traditional pastry parcels.

Newquay From Bude, stay on the A39 and head down to foodie Padstow, which boasts some of the UK’s best seafood in an idyllic harbourside location (rickstein.com and number6inpadstow.co.uk) or go down to Newquay, the surfers’ party town. Tolcarne and neighbouring Fistral are where the best waves are and you can get lessons from Blue Wings Surf School (bluewingssurfschool.co.uk) from as little as £20.

Tolcarne has six surf shacks you can stay in from £60120 per night (tolcarnebeach.com) but for something a bit more comfortable, nestle into Tolcarne Apartments where a two-bedroom apartment costs from £100-200 per night (sleeps four).

When you’re not surfing you can kayak with dolphins with Coastal Rush (coastalrush.co.uk) and you can do pretty much every extreme sport going with ElementalUK (elementaluk.com). Between August 6-10 head to Boardmasters Festival (boardmasters.co.uk) and see Snoop Dogg (or is it Snoop Lion?), Bastille and many more in action.

Newquay to St Ives Take a short trip along the A3075 and A30 in St Ives and you

can visit the Tate Gallery (tate.org.uk/St-Ives) and take a boat to Seal Island (stivesboats.co.uk) to see the local seal colony. You will be spoilt for choice for tea rooms as the village’s cobbled streets are lined with cafes (teashop-stives.co.uk). You could also visit Trevaunance Cove, where there are a number of caves to explore at low tide. There’s also a pretty but less-crowded beach at the neighbouring Trevellas Porth (st-agnes.com).

St Ives to the Jurassic coast Here ends our journey. Head east on the A30 to Exmouth – or rather Orcombe Point – where you’ll encounter the Jurassic Coast (jurassiccoast.org), a 95-mile stretch all the way to Old Harry’s Rocks, just outside Swanage in East Dorset. Stops along the way include Durlston Country Park (where there is a Jurassic Coast visitor centre), Tilly Whim Caves and the Anvil Point Lighthouse, Purbeck, the village of Corfe Castle – dominated by the ruins that give its name – the famous Lulworth Crumple rock formation in Stair Hole and the magnificent rock arch of Durdle Door.

Along the route you’ll need food. La Trattoria (latrattoria.co.uk) is a very friendly, cosy Italian restaurant close to Swanage’s seafront, while The Fish Plaice (fishplaice.co.uk) is one of the busiest of Swanage’s many fish and chip shops.

If you want to stay, Buddies B&B (buddies-b-and-b.co.uk) has rooms from £50 per night and Tom’s Field (tomsfieldcamping.co.uk) is a popular local campsite with pitches from £6 per person per night.

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Malawi from £548pp

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ROME, FLORENCE & VENICE Two nights in each city at the 3-star Hotel Romoli (Rome), the PLUS Hostel Florence (Florence) and the 4-star Hotel Delfino (Venice) from £139pp. Includes return flights from London departs various dates November, December and January 2016. tourcenter.co.uk

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Photos: Gistock

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FESTIVALGUIDE

Your TNT festival guide There are few better ways to spend your days than finger pointing in a field or partying on a beach. Whether you do it in London or make an epic trip to Europe out of it, these are the festivals to put on your hit list...

EUROPEAN MUSIC FESTIVALS Long gone are the days when a music festival meant an endurance test of mud, rain, soggy tents and more mud.

Europe’s best live extravaganzas can be found across a spread of incredible locations, so take your pick from these top events and mix your music with a little aprés-ski action or beach time.

BILBAO BBK LIVE, SPAIN When JULY 7 – 9 (TICKETS ARE ON SALE) More dash than cash? Bilbao BBK has your name all over it.

The Spanish music fest is an absolute bargain, with threeday tickets just £85, including camping.

The action all happens at night, so during the day you’re free to hit the beach, explore Bilbao’s dynamic arts scene or join locals and start the boozing early.

The fest pulls in crowds of up to 40,000 and in addition to the four main stages, there are also two dance tents, a pop tent, a chill out area and a mean gin and tonic. bilbaobbklive.com

MOTEL MOZAIQUE, NETHERLANDS When VARIOUS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Genuinely alternative artsy fests don’t come along very often, so snap up tickets to this Rotterdam event ASAP. Everything from gigs to theatre to art shows are on offer 56

BERLIN FESTIVAL, GERMANY When MAY 2016 Berliners know how to throw a good party, but this one is on a big scale by anyone’s standards.

The two-dayer takes place on the decommissioned Tempelhof Airport’s airfield as well as the two hangars on-site until midnight, and then switches to Club Xberg, which is held at downtown’s Arena Berlin. During the day, the fest’s Art Village host workshops and exhibitions. berlinfestival.de HORIZON, BULGARIA When MARCH 12 – 17 (TICKETS ARE ON SALE) Picture heavy bass thumping out over the snowy slopes of Bulgaria to a crowd of mostly British, up-for-it electronica fans.

That’s pretty much the scene at Horizon, which is held over six days in the ski resort of Bankso.

This is another good one for those watching their budget – it’s one of Europe’s more affordable resorts for skiers and beginners get discounts on lessons.

As for the price of mountain-raving fuel – even that won’t set you back too much with a pint of beer anywhere costing just £2. togetherski.com EXIT, SERBIA When JULY 2016 This festival is drum and bass like you’ve never experienced it – while dancing in an old fortress on a hill, overlooking the Danube River.

Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad plays host to hip-hop and dubstep as well as drum and bass DJs. During the day you can recharge your dancing batteries on

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SNOWBOMBING, AUSTRIA When APRIL 4 – 9(TICKETS ARE ON SALE) Be honest – do you prefer the après-ski action to any actual sport?

Then this is the fest for you. Sure, you can spend your days skiing and snowboarding on the Austrian slopes of Mayrhofen if you like, but you’ll want to save most of your energy for the evenings, when there will be parties, concerts and DJs in various scenic Alpine settings – think an igloo, a forest clearing and plenty of mountainside cabins. snowbombing.com

here, all of which take place in various venues across the city.

This is definitely a fest with community spirit, too – last year a collective of artists arranged breakfast for 200 people in the middle of Rotterdam’s largest shopping street. motelmozaique.nl

Photos: Sarah Tucker and Thinkstock

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When 22 – 26 JUNE Probably the most known and largest greenfield music festival in the World. The festival may have gone conventional, but it’s still worth a trip for the great mix of people and awesome laid back atmosphere. The event organiser Michael Eavis has talked about stopping the event in a few years’ time, so if you want to make history get booked for next year. glastonburyfestivals.co.uk T IN THE PARK STRATHALLAN CASTLE, PERTHSHIRE When JULY 2016 80,000 music lovers will descend on Strathclyde for Scotland’s biggest music event of the year. tinthepark.com V FESTIVAL CHELMSFORD, WESTON-UNDER-LIZARD When AUGUST 2016 V is so popular that it gets spit over two sites, Hyands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in South Staffordshire. They’ve got shot of the beer tokens this year, so just one queue this year not two. vfestival.com

the nearby sandy beaches. exitfest.org

UK MUSIC FESTIVALS ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL When 9 – 12 JUNE This year we partied on the beach with the Prodigy. The champagne garden is a real hit if you like the fizzy stuff, bohemian woods, a treasure hunt, vintage tea room and if it all gets too much hot tubs and sauna. The festival’s standing is second to none with a peace loving hippie feel reflecting the way it all began in the 1960s.

isleofwightfestival.com DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL DONINGTON PARK, DERBY When 10 – 12 JUNE The UK’s largest metal festival has attracted the likes of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Metallica over its ten year history.

With the event fast approaching, the acts have been booked so you can take a look and really start to plan out your weekend. downloadfestival.co.uk BARCLAYCARD BRITISH SUMMER TIME HYDE PARK, LONDON When JUNE 2016 We love this one, the festival goes on all week, so check before booking to make sure you don’t miss your favourite headliner. bst-hydepark.com GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL WORTHY FARM, GLASTONBURY, SOMERSET 58

CREAMFIELDS DARESBURY, CHESHIRE When 26 – 28 AUGUST This is the ultimate bank holiday party, held every year on the last bank holiday of the summer. Filled with drum and bass, house and dance acts you’ll need to rest after this one. creamfields.com READING AND LEEDS When 26 – 29 AUGUST World famous for longevity and its alternative and metal headliners over the years such as Metallica and Eminem. readingfestival.com SUNDOWN FESTIVAL NORFOLK SHOWGROUND, NORWICH When AUGUST 2016 A relative infant on the scene compared to some of the other festivals, but great for getting out in the park, putting your feet up and enjoying the tunes. There’s a big top opening party exclusive to campers. sundownfestival.co.uk BESTIVAL ROBIN HILL COUNTRY PARK, ISLE OF WIGHT When 9 – 12 SEPTEMBER Famous for its huge line up including the Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream and Basement Jaxx. bestival.net

BEST BEER FESTIVALS Or as an alternative to all that music and if you love your beer, then a pilgrimage to one of these European beer festivals is an absolute must! munichsoktoberfest.com ceskypivnifestival.cz gbbf.org.uk belgianbrewers.be

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Hit the open road

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What could be better? A van packed with mates and a summer packed with as many destinations as you can fit in...

WORDS IAN ARMITAGE

For many Antipodeans, Van Tour Europe is the reason they moved to London. Why else would you move halfway across the world other than for a summer-long tour of ancient cities, beaches, festivals and a whole bunch of debauchery?

It is a rite of passage, without any formal arrangements or routes, and the general idea is to grab some buddies and a beat-up van and embark on the road trip of a lifetime. This chaotic rampage across the continent involves tonnes of travel, beer, partying, festivals, big gigs, laughs, hot surfing spots and cool cities – you could use one word, really: epic.

The route Traditionally, Van Tour begins in June at Pamplona for the famous Running of the Bulls festival and ends at Oktoberfest in Germany. Where you go in between is up to you.

Our suggestion would be to head to Pamplona through France (get the ferry to Calais, spend time in Paris, drive

towards Bordeaux) and then into Spain (taking in San Sebastian and Pamplona) before driving into Portugal.

There, take in Lisbon and Lagos, and then head back into Spain to Seville and then up to Madrid. From the capital go east to the coast and see Valencia and then up the coast to Barcelona and spend a few days in one of Europe’s most glamorous cities, admiring the sights.

Keep up the coast (taking in Girona and Sant Quirze de Colera) and head into France, eventually reaching Marseille.

This historic French city is great to explore and is steeped in history. If you’re more of a beach bum, we’d recommend those between La Pointe Rouge harbour and La Madrague.

Where you go from Marseille is up to you. Some would suggest going inland putting in a stop in Lyon, which has a network of underground passages – traboules – and a great clubbing scene.

Alternatively you could head up the coast to Cannes (beaches) and Nice (more beaches) before crossing the border to Italy.

Here, some head straight for Venice, but it’s a fair drag (about 350 miles), so you should probably stop off and where better than Milan, or maybe even Genoa, or both? You can also work in Florence and perhaps even Pisa.

Once you’ve enjoyed Italy, cross into Austria and, when in Innsbruck, wander its medieval lanes and sip sundowners while admiring the surrounding Alps. It’s about 100 miles from Innsbruck to Munich, which is the last big festival stop, and you should arrive just in time for Oktoberfest.

Once the hangovers pass, take time to explore Germany ››

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Lagos, Portugal This is where the majority of vanners head for after the chaos of Pamplona. Here, you can chill out on the sand and surf in the waves – but don’t go getting too relaxed. You’ll be back on it again come nightfall, when the camper crowd hit the cheap and lively bars and clubs of this Portuguese tourist town.

100 Club, September This pre-party party is – and you’ll find this hard to believe after what your liver’s already been through – the biggest of them all. The vanners reconvene in Munich to drink, vomit, piss and get naked – usually all at the same time. Based around a game where you have to do a shot of beer every minute with other rules thrown in, like you can only drink with your left hand and so on, anyone who breaks a rule gets punished. This involves drinking from a beer bong that has everyone’s leftover food in it – from sardines to spaghetti to gone-off meat. If you throw up, you may even be forced to drink that too. Your prize if you win? Sweet revenge on the judges…

Oktoberfest, September

Beer it up at Oktoberfest (we recommend driving to Cologne) before heading to Holland and taking on Amsterdam. You could head back to the UK from there but why not go down to Belgium (via Rotterdam), see Antwerp or Bruges, and then make the short journey to Calais and head to Dover? Your choice.

The rules are there are no rules.

They might make you wear lederhosen, eat weird-sounding things like wiener schnitzel, and dance like your dad to a brass band, but the Germans serve beers by the stein, which can hold a litre, so all is forgiven. Plus, girls look surprisingly hot in lederhosen. This 15-day festival of beer glorious beer is lots of raucous fun, and the perfect way to bid auf Wiedersehen to your fellow vanners.

Documents It is absolutely essential to make sure you’ve got the right licences, insurance and visas. Medical insurance is also a must, considering the hijinks you’ll be getting up to.

The van

Campsites

The van is going to be your home for a couple of months so you’d better get a good one. Buying is an option, and although there’s always the danger you’ll end up with a piece of crap, it will be your piece of crap, so you can do whatever you want with it. Still, renting a van will make the insurance part of the proceedings a hell of a lot of easier.

There are various companies that specialise in van rentals.

Try Spaceships Campervan Hire (spaceshipsrentals.co.uk) or Wicked Campers (wickedcampers.co.uk).

It’s worth researching where to stay and doing it properly because there’s nothing cool about turning up to a quiet, family oriented campsite and pissing off everyone by being noisy and getting shit faced. Ask fellow travellers (you’ll meet heaps) and any mates that have been before to find party-friendly campsites and look into which sites are Van Tour-friendly. vantoureurope.com

Best of the fests There’s no shortage here. You’ve got the Running of the Bulls, BBK Bilbao Live, La Tomatina, Oktoberfest, La Batalla del Vino, Boom Festival and even the Ibiza closing parties.

You certainly won’t get bored!

Running of the Bulls This crazy tradition started for practical reasons – to get the bulls from outside the city into the bull ring. Now it has become a huge tourist attraction where brave/crazy people try to outrun the bulls. Animal activists hope such people get a horn in an uncomfortable place as they believe it is cruel, but whether you say bully for them or bullshit, it is here that you first meet your fellow vanners, and there’s still plenty to do beyond the bulls.

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Road trip’in For the ultimate road trip, explore France in a campervan. Marie Teather got behind the wheel for TNT. a bottle of wine, and move effortlessly between the network of campsites to park the van, eat, explore and sleep. We take the back roads (N and D roads) to avoid the expensive toll highways and take in the views. And with a month to travel, there is no need to rush. Such is the French way.

Rural life Our general route through France is a rough anti-clockwise circle stopping off at whatever cities, towns or villages we come across. Yet, away from the cosmopolitan capital and the historic France with which I am so familiar, the rural landscapes show French life as it always has been.

My partner takes an instant delight in the empty roads, the laid-back pace of campsite owners, and we revel in the scenery that changes with each day we take to the road. With each seemingly empty village I ask: “Where is everyone?”

To which he replies: “It doesn’t matter. Cest la vie.”

Wine and baguettes Maybe it’s because I’m an ignorant–‘roast beef’ as the French like to call us – but when my partner and I decide to embark on a one-month driving trip of France, I doubt that a country within driving distance would be very different.

As we navigate our campervan through another village comprised of less than 10 houses – none of which would look out of place in a wartime picture postcard – have not seen a single person in this nor the previous four villages, and discovered five village shops (all closed), France proves a pot of cultural surprises.

It takes just two hours to drive from South West London to Dover, 90 minutes to cross the channel and by lunch we are in Paris.

With the exception of the manic traffic in the capital, including a wacky race around The Arc de Triomphe – at which point I squeal with excitement – my partner had repeatedly told me how easy driving through France is.

“Simply stick your pin in the map and we can go,” he bleated.

Which is exactly what we are doing.

The French way We spend the next three days soaking up the Parisian atmosphere sitting in sidewalk cafes and taking leisurely strolls down the tree-lined Champs Elysees.

Next is a mere 16km trip to the Palace of Versailles to revel in the excesses of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

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From the sun-infused vineyards in Bordeaux, we drive onward to the Dordogne region. The looping river leads us through medieval villages, châteaux perched on cliff tops, unspoiled countryside and prehistoric caves.

One bright morning we drive by a village market; tables loaded with local produce. In May, this means artichokes, and ouillette sausages, pastries and, of course, baguettes. It’s another excuse to stop, load up the van with food and then drive on to find a pretty spot to stop and picnic.

In the fortified town of Carcassonne, we spend our evenings sitting outside our van, glass of wine in hand and looking out onto the illuminated fairytale castle. Its here I make one of my first cultural observations: that French people really do walk around with baguettes under their arms every single day. It never ceases to make me smile.

Off to the Med Heading along the south of France we meet the Mediterranean; that longshore where sea meets land with a laidback beauty and all, from France to Albania, Greece to Israel, claim to be a part. With its salmon-coloured, listed buildings; the rich and beautiful; overpriced coffee; and the odd celebrity, the economic crisis has seemingly skipped this part of the world.

Driving back into the heart of the country, we discover lovely Lyon. France’s second-largest city has a student vibe with two halves: the old quarters and the new, interlinked by a warren of tiny cobbled streets lined by restaurants. Further

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north in Lille, the Belgium influence offers down-to-earth menus of beer, mussels and fries.

The drive back to England, passing the rows of sombre but beautifully preserved headstones at Flanders Fields, gives us time to reflect on our often misjudged neighbour.

I liken her to an old dame; elegant, nostalgic, stubborn and at times resisting the modern world.

But therein lies the attraction. For a country easy enough to drive to from your home and with each stop offering a different glimpse into daily French life, you ought to get behind the wheel and head for Dover today.

Travelling by van With your bed always there and knowing you can be in France in a matter of hours, a van tour is one of the most memorable, economical and liberating ways to get around the country and the rest of Europe.

Tempting as it may seem however, to spontaneously hit the road, thorough preparations will make a huge difference to the quality of your trip.

Naturally, you’ll need a UK or an international driving licence, insurance and a green card should you decide to enter non-EU countries. The French Road Safety Department also requires all drivers in France, including drivers of vehicles registered outside of the country, to have one warning triangle and one reflective jacket in their vehicle. Authorities are very strict on this regulation and regularly enforce on-the-spot fines.

A road-worthy van should set you back about £2000 but bear in mind that UK insurers may not insure a vehicle more than 20 years old. Also, as road conditions can be rough at times, make sure you get your van checked out before starting. For shorter trips, you may prefer to rent a van that will come complete with warranty, breakdown cover and insurance although again do check these cover non-EU countries.

If you want to buy a van, visit gumtree.com. If you want to hire one, see wickedcampers.co.uk, spaceshiprentals. co.uk, campervans.com and getawaycampers.co.uk.

Investing in a sat-nav may be one of your best pre-trip purchases and will undoubtedly save a lot of arguments.

BEST OF THE REST:

ALTERNATIVE DRIVING ROUTES IN EUROPE THE IBERIAN CIRCUIT, SPAIN: Choose either the 10-hour ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao or Santander or arrive in Spain via a two-day drive through France. Head first towards the lively city of Barcelona by driving along the Ebro Valley. You’ll join the Elbra River, stopping in Zaragoza and the Catalonian city of Lleida.

From Barcelona, head further south to Andalucía dropping by Granada, Seville, Malaga, and Córdoba.

The journey back up north might lead through Toledo and Madrid or even Portugal.

THE ADRIATIC RACE, BALKANS: Motorcyclists have long touted the drive along the Adriatic Coast as one of the most beautiful in the world and with improved road conditions, motorists, campervan drivers and coach loads

Regulated by the FCA

of holidaymakers are discovering the area too. Simply start in Slovenia and head towards Greece through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia.

THE BOOT LOOP, ITALY: Enter Italy from south of France and plan a route down the western edge to the capital, Rome. See the preserved volcanic remains of Pompeii before sunbathing in the Mediterranean south. Head back up the east side via Bari, Bologna, Venice and Milan before exiting over the Swiss Alps.

THE ALPINE ROAD, GERMANY: Germany’s longest-established tourist route twists and turns along the edge of the Bavarian Alps. Motorists have followed the glamorous drive since the 1930s, covering about 450km between Lindau on Lake Constance and Berchtesgaden on Lake Königssee close to the border with Austria. More than 20 crystal-clear mountain lakes offer thrilling views as well as a choice of sports and leisure activities.

BERGEN TO OSLO, NORWAY: Gaze at snow-topped mountains, sparkling fjords, deep conifer woods and fairy-tale wooden buildings like the churches at Rollag and Uvdal. After reaching bustling Oslo, return via the coast, swapping mountains for pretty coastal towns, and take day trips to rocky islands. Stop at Kristiansand for upmarket shops and restaurants, and Stavanger, the European Capital of Culture.

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Hoist the main sail The question for many is not why to go on a sailing trip, but where. We take a look at the big three sailing spots to confuse you even more, probably.

WORDS CAROLINE GARNAR

We don’t think we have to spout superlatives about why you should go on a sailing trip. A few nouns should do it: Sun. Sea. Boat. Bikini. Islands. Booze. We won you over yet? Thought so.

Hot spot Croatia, classic Turkey and enjoying-a-renaissance Greece are the current top spots for a sailing trip, so we look at the islands and stop offs you will make for each one to help you figure out what you might fancy. In all honesty, though, we’re still torn...

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CROATIA The Dalmatian coast off Croatia has more than 1,000 islands.

Funnily enough, we won’t be covering them all here; just the main jump offs for sailing trips in the area. Most itineraries depart from Split and sail down through the islands, finishing up in Dubrovnik. You should dedicate at least a week to travelling the islands, with the shortest trip we know of being a five-dayer.

Top five islands

Croatia with Medsailors

Photo: MedSailors

Xxxx WORDS RACHEAL GETZELS

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BRAC: Here’s a pub quiz-esque factoid for you: Brac is home to the quarry from which the pristine white stone was mined for The White House itself in Washington DC, USA. Impress your mates with that baby. You can visit the stonemason school here to watch the unique stone be chiselled, now into fountains and such usually used to adorn the streets of Split.

Other than that, it’s the not-particularly appealing-sounding Zlatni Rat you want to aim for. The long pebbly beach that reaches out into the Adriatic Sea encourages swimmers and windsurfers to spend their days in the water. A tree-lined pedestrian promenade connects the strip to the old town, where you can explore the shops and stop off for a cooling drink at a cafe.

HVAR: Hvar draws in the crowds because it offers a little bit of everything – oh, and it’s the sunniest spot in the whole country. Hvar Town is home to swanky hotels, bars and restaurants, where a night out is as much about seeing and being seen as it is sampling the local produce. Stari Grad and Jelsa are the sleepier and arguably more charming older towns, while the inland offers heady fields of lavender, rosemary and heather, rocky mountain paths and ancient abandoned hamlets. The nearby Pakleni Islands supply the crystal clear lagoons for snorkelling and optionally nudey beaches for all-over sunbathing.

VIS: The residents of Vis are still adjusting to the boatloads of tourists off-loading into their previously quiet harbour; the island was cut off from foreign visitors for nearly 40 years, right up until 1989, as it served as the military base for the Yugoslav National Army (you will see a Bond villain-esque ‘lair’ built into the mountains, which served as an exit and entry point for submarines). This, of course, means it remains delightfully underdeveloped, and so retains its charm and stress-free way of life, which seeps into you through osmosis as soon as you step ashore. Go inland to sample Croatia’s vugava wine among its stretching vineyards; take a stroll to see a mishmash of cultures past: a Greek cemetery, Roman ruins and crumbling English fortress; enjoy fresh seafood at a harbour-side restaurant and, if you’re feeling brave, seek out a nudist beach, tucked away in numerous pebbly coves, or simply lie back on arguably the most beautiful stretch, Komiza Bay. KORCULA: The skinny streets of Dubrovnik are now teaming with tourists, and so to meander with ease through a fortified town of Renaissance and Gothic architecture you can head to Korcula. See the impressive St Mark’s Cathedral, St Peter’s Church and Marco Polo’s alleged place of birth; regardless of whether it really is or not, the tall house’s windows offer an impressive vista. Gather in the town square for religious ceremonies and folk dancing, or explore outside the stone walls to find vineyards, olive groves, small villages, dense

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woodland and sandy coves on the south, or pebbly beaches to the north.

PAG: There’s not too much to explore on this island, with the rocky, sand-coloured moonscape home to only a small, shabby town. Of interest to you here is the area of Novalja and the nearby Zcre Beach. At the beach, you can Jet Ski by day and party by night, particularly when Croatia Rocks hits its shores (July 19-23). Aside from open-air raves, there are a number of bars and three big clubs to keep the party going.

TURKEY You can explore the beautiful south-west coastline of Turkey by car, but who would choose to sit inside a stuffy motor when you can feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face on a majestic Turkish gulet? Wind your way around the curved coast from Fethiye, stopping off at party port Smuggler’s Cove, and ending up in Bodrum or Olympos. You can do an east to west (or west to east) cruise in four days, or a return in a week.

Photos: MedSailors

Top five stop offs FETHIYE: The majority of the gulets sail off from Fethiye harbour. Flattened by an earthquake in 1958, the low-rise buildings that have since risen mean this tourist resort feels blissfully suburban and relaxed. Explore the tombs and ruins of Telmessos before heading off on your gulet cruise.

OLUDENIZ: Chill out in the beautiful bay of Oludeniz where you can bob about in the water carefree due to the lack of waves or current as it’s secluded by green-sprinkled cliffs. You can even paraglide in if you wish, which we do. Nearby is Butterfly Valley, named due to its sporadic visit from groups of colourful butterflies, which also has great snorkelling and offers the chance to hike up a waterfall.

KALKAN: This harbour-side town is along the postcard lines of pretty shutter-windowed houses stacked up on the hillsides sloping down to a bay of bobbing boats. The restaurants here are a step above, with fresh, perfectly seasoned seafood – you will pay a premium for the privilege though.

KAS: Kas is great for an adventure on sea or land. Kayak through caves, dive through wrecks or hike up craggy hillsides. At night, the tombs in the mountain wall light up, supplying a pretty if slightly eerie glow as you moor up for the night.

KEKOVA: Kekova is known for its ‘sunken city’. You can’t snorkel or dive here, but you can jump in a kayak to explore the remains of the second-century city, which was partly submerged by an earthquake. The mainland part of Simena is still on dry land, with a castle watching over and warning the waters away, while the island part of the village has been partly submerged, with crumbling remains of houses and staircases descending into the sea.

GREECE Larger islands such as Santorini, Zante and Mykonos might be stealing the headlines, but a sailing trip hopping between Greece’s smaller spots dotted along the crescent between Athens and Epidavros is also a great way to spend your time.

You’ll want to reserve seven days as you will likely need to loop back to Athens to catch your flight back home. Check ›› out of guide to the best spots in Greece

Relax with Go Sail Turkey

Xxxx WORDS RACHEAL GETZELS

Photos: Go Sail Turkey

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Sail Croatia, Greece and Turkey on your own yacht

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Spend seven days sailing the most breathtaking islands the Mediterranean has to offer.

Explore historic towns, relax on board your own yacht and have the time of your life at the best night spots. The perfect balance for the perfect holiday.

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HYRDA, GREECE

DO SOMETHING SIMILAR READY TO BOOK YOUR SAILING TRIP? Try one of these TNT-recommended companies...

Topdeck (topdeck.travel) offers sailing trips at all three destinations, costing from £319 for eight days.

Med Sailors (medsailors.com) offers sailing trips at all three destinations, costing from £414 for seven days.

Busabout (busabout.com) offers sailing trips at all three destinations, costing from £325 for eight days.

Aegean Party Life (aegeanpartylife.com) offers sailing trips in Greece costing from £539 for eight days.

Go Sail Turkey (gosailturkey.com) offers sailing trips in Turkey costing from £155 for four days.

Hydra is unique because it is vehicle free; the only mode of transport are the ambling donkeys which clip-clop across the cobbled lanes. That’s not to say it’s not bustling, though, as the port sees sailboats, ferries and water taxis sweeping in and out, with cafes and restaurants lining the waterside to welcome hungry and thirsty travellers. Walk into the winding streets to get a taste of traditional Mediterranean life; peeking into dark windows that keep the heat out, and smiling at old women chattering on their doorsteps. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, head into the mountains to find peaceful monasteries and sweeping vistas.

To check out sailing tours from various companies in one place, making it easier to book the right one for you, visit tnttoursearch.com

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SPETSES

For a taste of true carefree island life, Spetses is a great port of call. The lively old town lines the waterfront, offering sleek restaurants and nightlife, also found at its buzzing clock tower square. Rent a moped for the day and ride the Tarmac roads that line the pebble beaches and weave between the rolling hills. Head for Agii Anargyri and Agia Paraskevi to grab some food at a tavern, have a go at some watersports and swim out to Bekiris Cave. Bliss.

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PERDIKA

Perdika is a quiet fishing village by day, with a surprising scene of late-night music bars by night. For a swim, catch a caique (small boat) to the island of Moni (if your boat doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop there already), which has a tree-lined beach and relaxed cafe. Otherwise, sink a few cold ones in a taverna, waiting for the sun set, before enjoying the live bands.

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Separated from the mainland by a small channel, Poros Town feels more as if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perched on a lake, with ice-cream coloured houses dotting the shores and rising up to greet a clock tower. The other side of the island is dominated by forest and sandy coves. Russian Bay is a good option for chilling out, while Neorian Beach offers classic watersports including banana boating and water skiing.

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A common spot for weekending Athenians, you can stroll among fellow vacationers, buzzing motorbikes and diners spilling onto the pavements along the waterfront for a taste of a true Greek holiday. For day-to-day life, head behind the bustling harbour to see chatting teens and washing lines strung between town houses, or for history, spot the Temple of Apollo just north of the harbour.

Beyond that stands lush land sprinkled with wildflowers, making for a pretty backdrop for this slice of Grecian life.

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The Best of the US

Get your motor running and get out on the highway...just watch the speed limit, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surprisingly low on those super highways...

WORDS: EMMA JAYNE JONES

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NORTHAMERICA New York, LA, Las Vegas. The USA is full of iconic cities but you haven’t seen the real America until you leave the big smokes behind and hit the open road. These four road trips give you a true sense of the scale, scenery and diversity spread across the 50 states.

New York to Austin “How long will it take us?” I asked my boyfriend as we were planning our first major road trip, 1,700 miles from New York City to Austin, Texas. “Three days,” he replied without a pause for breath. My boyfriend is from Texas, a state almost three times the size of the UK where you can drive for 13 hours without crossing the border. His sense of time and distance is somewhat skewed. But then Americans drive. They drive to see family, go on holiday, find a good restaurant; the road trip is as much part of their everyday lives as sitcoms and fast food drive-throughs.

We picked up our super-sized Dodge Durango SUV on 58th street in Manhattan. After two years of living in the city I still had no idea where any of the one-way streets that crisscrossed the island went, as I had never driven them before. New York is a city on foot, which is disparate with the rest of the country where the car is king. A few dodgy intersections later, we finally made it through Lincoln Tunnel and out of the city.

We were on our way south. A chance to see America away from the bright lights and tourist trail. Okay, so we stopped in Memphis and visited Elvis’ Graceland – you can’t get much more touristy (and kitsch) than that! – but the real sights were the in between places. The small towns that stop as soon as they’ve started, the billboards emblazoned with messages from God and the roadside diners and highway motels that feel like you have stepped back to the middle of last century. Our seven-day trip – after a few negotiations!

– took us through Philadelphia and down through the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains where we learnt to ride a horse American style; with one hand for your reins and one for your lasso or beer!

The further south we drove, the more the trip came to life.

The colourful characters, fabulous food and introduction to the new way of living.

There are a few things at the heart of the South – family, food and football. As we drove through Arkansas we went for hours barely seeing a soul, but when we hit Arkansas University the football stadium rose above the city like a super liner. It’s where people from all across the state gather; the church of sport that unites people from all backgrounds.

Finally, we made it to Austin, the liberal, music-loving oasis in the cowboy hat-loving state of Texas. A great place to relax, rejuvenate and recover from the culture shock of leaving New York behind.

DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: The Trek America Southern Sun tour takes you all the way from New York, down to Austin Texas, up through Santa Fe, via the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas and finishes up in Los Angeles. This 21-day tour, starting from £1,559 takes you through a great cross-section of the country and gives you a true taste of America. trekamerica.co.uk TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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The Grand Canyon Washington DC to Niagra Falls

LA to Las Vegas

Before we had left New York, I had eased myself into the American road trip experience by sticking safely to the East Coast. I travelled up from Washington DC, through New York and the New England countryside to Boston and finishing off at Niagra Falls on the Canadian border. Three of the most impressive, jam-packed cities in one small trip – that is the joy of the East Coast as everything is, relatively, close together.

This is a city lover’s dream. From a trip to the political heart of the country to the city that never sleeps and the historic streets of Boston. The icing on the cake though is leaving the cities behind and taking the Maid of the Mist ferry out under Niagra Falls. It is a tourist-driven, overly commercial must-do!

Crossing over to the other side of the country, I also drove from LA to Las Vegas, via the Grand Canyon – an iconic trip that shows the extremes of American heritage. Two of the most lavish, expensive cities in the country interspersed with one of the most vast and extraordinary natural sights. It is a must-see road trip, and it can be done on a budget and in a short time. A lot of the hotels on the Vegas strip are surprisingly cheap as they want you to gamble the night away in their casinos. But a bit of a splurge on a helicopter ride over the canyon has to be my top tip. It’s a breathtaking and unique experience. I had also driven from San Francisco to Reno before, a trip that took us from coast to snow to desert in just one day. You can easily combine these two road trips and loop back up the coast to San Francisco, via Yosemite National Park.

DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: Trek America offers a sevenday Freedom Trail Tour, starting from £599 that takes you through the scenery of New England to the major cities and up to Niagra Falls as well as a trip to Amish country on the way. trekamerica.co.uk/tours

DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: Take the Trek America “LA and Grand Canyon Mini” tour for four days from £439 to take in the glitz and glamour of the big cities and the beauty of the canyon and Mojave Desert. trekamerica.co.uk Dallas to Wyoming A few years later we got on the road again. This time starting in Texas and a trip to another football stadium, the world famous Dallas Cowboys. The tour was littered with references to the ‘biggest’ and ‘most’ Texas had to offer.

Though as we drove by another tumbleweed on our way to New Mexico, the biggest Texas had to offer seemed to take on a different meaning.

When I asked my boyfriend what there was to see on the way through North West Texas he replied “nothing”. From previous experience I did not believe him, but as we lost radio reception and the straight roads stretched out towards the barren horizon, I realised maybe this time he was right.

As we emerged into the cowboy and Indian landscape of New Mexico though, and drove up through the mountains of Colorado, the scenes from our windows came to life.

We stopped off at one of the hot natural spas outside

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NORTHAMERICA of Santa Fe, smothering ourselves with healing mud and enjoying strolls in the wilderness behind the rustic rooms.

Then, once we reached Denver, Colorado, we headed up to the Rocky Mountain National Park and took in the expansive views and scenic drive around trail ridge road.

A long drive North, through the cowboy country of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and we finished up in the magnificent Yellowstone Park.

It’s amazing how quickly spending hours on the road becomes normal when you get stuck into a road trip. Rather than being the usual inconvenience that car journeys can be, it is the highlight of the adventure. The Americans love driving and maybe for good reason. It’s a chance to do nothing yet something all at once. The chance to take in the changing scenery, attitudes and priorities of the country. The chance to sit back with nothing else to do but enjoy your surroundings and bond with your travelling companions.

So whether it’s a quick city hop or a cross country marathon, taking the car has never been so exciting.

DO IT ALL This 63-day Trek America tour is epic. It weaves you round the country from New York down to Miami, over to Austin, through the Rockies to the West Coast and then takes you up through the corner of Canada and finishes off at Niagra Falls. The two-month tour starts at £4,559.

Niagra Falls GREEN TORTOISE ADVENTURE TRAVEL National Parks Loop Our National Parks Loop adventure includes the best of the American West! See the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Yellowstone, Tetons and many more National Parks on this incredible and affordable camping tour. £743 pp (local payment £221) See more at: tnttoursearch.com/tours/national-parks-loop#sthash.6GuHKfB6.dpuf Western Trail Travel down California’s scenic coast* as we visit Big Sur, Monterey, Hearst Castle and Malibu. After chilling out on some Southern California beaches in Santa Monica and Venice, we’ll discover Los Angeles (Hollywood) before we continue onward to Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon West Rim, Las Vegas and Zion. This activity-packed overland adventure includes all the highlights of the West Coast of America. £316 pp (local payment £43). Begin your trip from the San Fransisco Bay area, or the Los Angeles area !

See more at: tnttoursearch.com/tours/western-trail#sthash.HIdvfsc2.dpuf Best of the West Explore the rugged California coastline* on our adventure tour along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Hike the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and many more National Parks on this incredible and affordable camping tour. £677 pp (local payment £250).Begin your trip from the San Francisco Bay Area, or the Los Angeles area!

See more at: tnttoursearch.com/tours/

100% America

100% Adventure

Epic road trips

in the USA, Canada, Alaska & Central America • Trips all over North America from 3 to 80 days • Young, like-minded travellers aged 18-30 • Small groups of up to 13 people

www.trekamerica.co.uk

0333 003 8217

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South America South America may be more of a faff to get to than other travel destinations, but it’s worth the haul. This is a continent of spellbinding scenery, hip-shaking beats, cosmopolitan cities of cool, sultry summer sun, ridiculously good looking locals and loud and proud Latin culture that’s sure to exceed your expectations.

Bolivia’s Salt Flats, a whole lot of epic not much!

ARGENTINA Ah… Argentina. The world’s eighth largest country is truly a traveller’s paradise. There is beautiful wilderness in Argentina when you get down to the pristine and untouched icebergs of Patagonia and then there’s also pulsing nightlife and culture with parties that rival Ibiza’s. And don’t forget that steak...

Spend your first few days exploring the Paris of the South - as Buenos Aires is affectionately known. Recoleta Cemetery will give you a sense of the city’s old-style pomp and grandeur. Elsewhere the arty street markets in San Telmo and the glitzy clubs in Palermo will give you a sense of the city’s split personality. Presuming you manage to leave Buenos Aires (and many don’t), make for Mendoza - Argentina’s gorgeous wine region where you can cycle through vineyards and sample the lush, dark red wine that is Malbec. Ultimate adventure can be found in the south of the country where glaciers make up Patagonia. It’s also the furthest point on earth before you reach the Antarctic, and the surreal Launchpad town of Ushuaia truly feels like the final frontier.

Do something similar: REAL FOOD ADVENTURE With a pronounced cultural appreciation for the finer things in life and generations of migrant cuisine to draw on, Argentina has evolved into a right mecca for foodies. With dishes like asado (slow-cooked grills that infuse beef cuts and sausages with a delicious smoky flavour), fresh and zesty salads, rich pasta dishes and scrumptious desserts, there is 78

an array of fine foods that will cater to any appetite. And with more than 1,500 wineries, myriad food-growing regions and a culture with a deep love of food and the ceremony that comes with it, a Food Adventure in Argentina will not disappoint.

Book it: tnttoursearch.com/tours/buenos-aires-to-rio-15-daysatlantic-highlights BOLIVIA Bolivia is beguiling with its natural beauty and colonial cities worn down on the surface, but rich and alive with culture and history at their core. It’s not an effortless destination – the roads are bad, the buses are old and the thin air will have you gasping for breath at every step - but there’s adventure at every corner and the diversity of the land will blow you away.

Start in La Paz - one of the highest capitals in the world whose cobbled roads that dramatically spill down into the valley below are crammed full of crumbling old world buildings and lively street stalls. From La Paz, head to Lake Titicaca. Bolivia’s highest mountains are set against this shimmering blue lake with small islands dotted on the surface.

The terrain here is rugged and the towns are rough around the edges: a combination of cocaine smugglers who hide-out in the vast cliff sides, indigenous communities who live, eat and sleep on tiny reed islands, and villages that throw a fiesta like you would not believe, drinking Chicha (incredibly strong

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handcrafted beer) and telling stories deep into the night.

Then circle down to the Salt Flats - miles and miles of crystal clear, reflective white salt that has hardened in place of an old lake. Finish your Bolivian adventure in UNESCO world heritage listed Sucre: Bolivia’s most beautiful city.

Do something similar: BOLIVIAN HIGHLIGHTS ADVENTURE See Bolivia’s main highlights on this amazing 12-day adventure that will leave you awesome memories. Discover La Paz on a city tour, take funny pictures at the famous Uyuni Salt Flats, awe at moon-like landscapes, visit traditional cities like Potosi and Sucre, and learn about the Bolivian way of life. Highlights: Visit beautiful Bolivian cities with colonial architecture Travel to the Uyuni Salt Flats through surreal deserts Explore marketplaces and get in touch with the locals.

Book it: tnttoursearch.com/tours/bolivia-highlights-adventure-12d11n BRAZIL Brazilians have longed claimed that “God is Brazilian” how else to account for the country’s embarrassment of riches? – And now it seems as though the rest of the world, has finally woken up to this fact. Case in point? The Olympic Flame will be arriving in Brazil next summer helping Brazil brush off the old jibe that it is a country of the future – and always will be.

For many people, their abiding image of Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking the sprawling city and bay of Rio de Janeiro, with its surrounding lush forests and wonderful beaches. This buzzing city, with its beautiful beaches, riotous Carnaval and unique spirit is on most travellers itineraries – and rightly so. But Salvador - the heart of African Brazil - is also worth seeking out as is Brazil’s Amazonian region which includes steamy tropical jungle cut by red-brown rivers, forests and savannahs pierced by tabletop mountains, and white sandy beaches lining blue rivers. Then there’s Iguaçu - a collection of almost 275 waterfalls that range from elegant cascades to brutal chocolate-coloured torrents that plunge into angry cauldrons of white water, making it one of the wonders of the natural world.

Do something similar: THE BEST OF BRAZIL From the heat of Rio’s nightlife to the chilled out atmosphere of Ilha Grande, discover the treasures of Brazil on this comfortable week-long adventure. You’ll wander the colonial streets of Paraty—it’s a UNESCO heritage site and quite possibly the prettiest spot on the planet—and savour seafood and life without cars on the island of Ilha Grande. Stand in awe of awesome Iguassu Falls deep in the interior, then marvel at it from Argentina’s side. Brazil awaits—let’s make the most of it.

Book it: tnttoursearch.com/tours/brazilian-coast CHILE Cities, glaciers, geysers, the driest desert in the world, forests, fjords, first class wine regions and laid back surfing spots: spindly Chile has the lot.

Spend a day or so exploring Santiago - Chile’s unexpectedly charming capital that’s becoming more than just a stop-off on to other destinations. Don’t miss museums include the Museum of Memory & Human Rights, which exposes the shocking human rights violations that occurred between 1973 and 1990, and the striking Centro Gabriela Mistral centre. The latte is named after the Chilean poet, Gabriela Mistral, who was the first Latin American woman to win the

Ipanema Beach Rio Janeiro Nobel Prize in Literature. Then push on to the endearing port city of Valparaiso whose elegant colonial buildings have a dignified, if faded, grandeur. Be sure to ride the old-style funiculars up to the heights overlooking the port. From Valpo, you’ll need to decide whether to go north to San Pedro de Atacama - aka the world’s oldest, driest and highest desert where you can climb mountains of salt, sand-board on ancient dunes or marvel at the nearby El Tatio geysers (the highest geyser field in the world). Alternatively venture south to see the Fjords or escape to Easter Island.

Do something similar: INTO CHILE WAYS Travel freely and explore the world exactly as you have always dreamed! These Hop-On Hop-Off bus passes are a flexible and independent way to travel on different types of transport (public buses, shuttle vans, ferries, trains and planes) to exciting destinations with daily departures and the flexibility of unlimited changes to your departure dates anytime. Enjoy tonnes of experiences encompassing a variety of adventure, cultural, historical and natural activities. There are no tour leaders and no accommodation included. This decision is left up to you.

Book it: tnttoursearch.com/tours/into-chile-ways COLOMBIA Salsa loving Colombia is swapping its troubles for tourism and about time for the country is an intoxicating mix of South America allure and Caribbean charm, that will warm any traveller’s heart.

Bogota — a big chaotic, vibrant city that’s home to around seven million or so Colombians — serves as the gateway to the country. There’s plenty to see and do, from galleries and theatres to bars and clubs and cafes, to artsy districts to ritzy neighbourhoods. But when the hustle and bustle gets too much, escape the tourist hordes and get back to nature on Colombia’s unspoilt Pacific coastline where whale watching, surfing, scuba diving opportunities abound. Alternatively ›› TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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you can just laze in a hammock at one of the many eco-lodged dotted along the shoreline. Whatever you do though, check out Cartagena - a World Heritage listed city on the Caribbean coast where Gabriel Garca Marquez set the luscious, evocative Love in the Time of Cholera. Medellin - Colombia’s second-biggest city that’s set in a deep valley ringed by lush hills - is another must. Once home to the Medellin Cartel headed by the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, it’s now thriving. International flights arrive here, so it serves as a slightly more relaxed introduction to the country than Bogota.

Do something similar: COLOMBIA HIGHLIGHTS From one enticing town to the next, this two week tour of Colombia’s most beautiful places will leave you never wanting to leave. Wander through the streets of Cartegena, sway on hammocks in Tayrona NP and meet some of the friendliest people in South America.

Book it: tnttoursearch.com/tours/colombia-highlights ECUADOR

Sandboarding in Peru

It’s small, but there’s no shortage of things to see - from snow covered mountains to Amazonian rainforest and incredible wildlife - in this small Andean nation. In essence, if Ecuador isn’t on your bucket list, it’s because you have already been….

Begin your trip in Quito - a clash of colonial, indigenous and rampant capitalism. While most visitors stay in the new town, the Unesco World Heritage-listed old town is a wonderful collection of colonial mansions, churches, monasteries and cobbled streets. Then head north east to Otavalo, home to one of South America’s biggest open air markets. Here you can pick up everything from a hammock to a pig, alongside leather jackets and brightly-coloured hand-woven textiles. Next it’s time to get up close and personal with nature (Ecuador is home to1600 species of birds, 4500 species of butterfly and more than 3500 species of orchid) in the Amazon. For more wildlife watching, fly out to the Galapagos. Nominally part of Ecuador, but virtually a world on its own, the Galapagos offers a wildlife experience like nowhere else on earth. Island-hopping tours showcase seabirds, iguanas, tortoises and seals that are completely unafraid of humans. In the water, the snorkelling and diving is equally good. Alternatively chill out on the beach in a surf loving town such as Salinas, Canoa, Montañita and Atacames.

Do something similar: ECUADOR ON A SHOESTRING Get an insight into the wonderful South American country of Ecuador on this week-long journey. Discover the culture and charisma of the famed Otavalo Markets, explore the incredible Amazon while guests of a local family, relax in the laidback town of Banos and soak in the charm of Quito, one of South America’s most beguiling capitals.

Book it: tnttoursearch.com/tours/ecuador-on-a-shoestring PERU

Bolivian train cemetery near Uyuni

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Encompassing white sandy deserts on the southern coast, breath-taking highlands in the Altiplano and lush jungles in the interior - not to mention the famous Inca City of Machu Picchu - Peru is a land of extremes. It’s a cliche we know but there truly is something for everyone. Little wonder then that Peru is a top pick for travellers…

The big blockbuster attraction is of course the Inca Trail.

Few who have walked it would deny that this remains

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deservedly one of the world’s greatest treks. Yet while Machu Picchu may steal the show in Peru, don’t miss Manu Park - described as the jewel in the Amazon crown. It is one of the most pristine, yet easily accessible, regions of the Amazon basin. Even in this incredible natural region, Manu is unequalled in its number of resident species. In south Peru, you can fly over the dry land to see the amazing Nazcar Lines, large intricate symbols of animal figures and geometric shapes. Elsewhere Peru’s Pacific coast generates some top waves for surfers. Its barren and dry coastline may seem like a different world to the interior jungles and mountain regions, but the laid back vibe and long stretches of sandy beaches are a must to visit if you’re into surfing.

Do something similar: PERU AMAZON WAYS This enthralling jungle adventure allows total immersion into the wild beauty of the Amazon in Peru. Walk through abundant rainforest, cruise along murky waterways, spot exotic wildlife and learn about the healing properties of native plants. This tour is an excellent introduction to the friendly people and amazing creatures of the Amazon.

Book it: tnttoursearch.com/tours/peru-express-ways VENEZUELA Despite its outstanding natural beauty, Venezuela doesn’t receive many tourists owing to its high crime rate and lack of hotels and domestic flights. But Venezuela, whose tourism minister, is on a mission to put the country on the travel map, isn’t lacking when it comes to stunning attractions. This is

a country of Caribbean coastline, Andean peaks, Amazon adventures and cascading waterfalls most of which are within easy (for South America, anyway) distance of each other. Go now, before the crowds catch on.

Spend a few days on the Caribbean coast, perhaps at Parque Nacional Henri Pittier. If you really fancy stretching out in your hammock between snorkel trips, catch a flight to the Las Roques islands, but beware, you might never want to leave!

But leave you must, because it would be criminal to leave Venezuela without visiting Merida and exploring the country’s Andean landscapes. Finally, Angel Falls - aka the highest waterfall in the world - is Venezuela’s other must-see attraction.

This silver ribbon of water tumbles 979m off a flat-topped mountain into jungle below. To fly over the falls is to be dazzled by one of the wonders of the natural world, while a boat trip to the base will bring home the sheer scale of them.

Do something similar: VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA OVERLAND Start your journey deep in the Amazon jungle and travel past the flat topped Tepuis mountains of the Grand Savannah to Angel Falls. Explore Caribbean beaches and the wildlife filled wetlands of the Llanos, before taking in a few adrenaline activities in Merida. Enjoy the cobbled streets and colonial architecture of Cartagena and the vibrant nightlife of Bogota, travelling south down the back of the Andes through coffee plantations to the colourful markets of Otavalo and our final destination of Quito - the gateway to the Galapagos.

Book it: tnttoursearch.com/tours/discover-colombia-venezuela

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Take a walk on the wild side A vast and often inhospitable landscape, wild animals, frequent political turmoil; East Africa takes you out of your comfort zone and into a world of extraordinary experiences WORDS TOM COOTE

BEST FOR: MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

BEST FOR: ADVENTURE SPORTS

RWANDA Despite its horrific recent past, Rwanda is probably the safest and friendliest country in East Africa. It has great mountain scenery, is far cooler than the coast and, outside of the capital Kigali, still has some food and accommodation bargains for independent travellers. There’s a decent inland beach at Lake Kiva, and a number of pleasant day trips that take you out into the tea plantations and lush countryside.

But the biggest single attraction has to be trekking through the Virungas in search of mountain gorillas. Unfortunately, although slightly cheaper to do than in nearby Uganda, the permits alone will still cost you hundreds of dollars.

WHAT ELSE? Everywhere you go in Rwanda there are Genocide Museums and Memorials. Many of the corpses have been covered in lime and left out for everybody to see their smashed-in skulls and severed limbs. They want you to see for yourself what happened – and it’s stomach-churning stuff.

WHERE TO STAY AND EAT The Discover Rwanda Hostel (discoverrwandayouthhostelkigali.com) is a popular base for backpackers in the capital, Kigali. It also arranges budget tours to some of Rwanda’s national parks. Outside of Kigali, some of the best budget accommodation can be found in church-run guest-houses that will also often provide goodvalue buffet meals.

UGANDA Jinja, at the source of the Nile, has developed a reputation as the adrenalin centre of East Africa. As well as first-class white water rafting, there are plenty of other adventure sports and activities on offer, such as quad biking, mountain biking and bungee jumping. The health and safety standards are all up to international standards – most of these companies are owned and run by Westerners – but unfortunately the prices are also pretty much on a par with Australia or New Zealand.

WHAT ELSE? Slightly off the beaten track, the gorgeous Lake Bunyoni is worth a few days’ stay on the way to or from Rwanda or the Mountain Gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

WHERE TO STAY AND EAT Many independent travellers opt to stay at big hostels such as the Red Chilli Hideaway (redchillihideaway.com), on the outskirts of the capital Kampala, and then get free transport to Jinja when they book up their adventure sports. They also offer budget safaris to popular national parks such as Murchison Falls.

For food, Red Chilli offers free shuttle buses to the nearest shopping mall, closer to the centre of Kampala; but most backpackers just take the easier option of eating at the hostel’s own budget restaurant.

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cafe terraces boasting spectacular views.

Weave through stunning Atlas Mountain landscapes and isolated palm-lined villages to Balcon Rhoufi, where Berber dwellings are hewn into the canyon escarpments. Travel to Ghardaia and watch as the green mountainous landscape changes to the dry, desolate plains of the Saharan fringe.

Navigate the attractive red mud-brick walls and residences of Timimoun, head for its local market to browse the goods on offer and take in a striking horizon of sand dunes ringed around a motionless salt lake. Also meander about the smalltown sights of Taghit, one of Algeria’s most attractive towns.

Food and drink: La Maison de Couscous (kherdja.com/ detail-guide/5307-la-maison-du-couscous.html), brasserie des Facultes (brasserie-les-facultes.com) and Café Tontonville (7 Pl Port Said). Also try the Alger Bar in all Algiers and the steaming and bustling night market in Kafeng.

Where to party: In Algiers there are a couple of tourist hangouts – Zeralda, and Sidi Fredj – where clubs cater to party animals who want to let their hair down. Bear in mind, though, that much of Algeria’s nightlife is aimed at men, with women rather less visible in the clubs and bars.

Otherwise, try Rue Larbi M’Hidi, a pedestrianised area that’s quite popular with tourists. If you prefer something a little more sedate, some cinemas show foreign films.

Where to stay: Ibis Oran Les Falaises (ibis.com/falaise) and Best Western Hôtel Colombe (hostelworld.com) have rooms from £63 per night.

EASTAFRICA

SUDAN Travel around the towns of Karima and Morore, which have Egyptian archaeological sites. Take a trip to the town of Dongola or visit the port of Sudan for snorkelling, and go shopping at the popular open air markets known as souks.

What to do: Khartoum forms a three-town capital, made up of Omdurman, the old national capital, Khartoum North and Khartoum. The Omdurman camel market and the Arab souk are the main attractions, as well as the National Museum which contains archaeological treasures dating all the way back to 4,000BC. The Red Sea is one of Sudan’s main tourist attractions, with the richness of its reefs and fish showing what the sea around Egypt was like pre-package tourism. The busy Port Sudan, Suakin and the Arous Tourist Village 30 miles north of

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GO IT ALONE...

If you are planning to fly into and then travel overland around East Africa, then you might want to consider flying into one location such as Bujumbura (via Nairobi), and then out of another one such as Zanzibar (again, via Nairobi). It doesn’t cost much more to do this than a straight return to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam. There has been talk of a multi-country East Africa visa for some time now but it still doesn’t appear to have taken off.

It’s easy enough to buy the required visas at the border posts, providing you have some passport photos and the exact change in US Dollars, but if you are planning to travel around the whole region then a multi-country visa would definitely save you some money.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania BEST FOR: WILDLIFE & SAFARIS

Taken at the summit when Absolute Africa arranged the Kilimanjaro Rongai route as a charity climb for Christchurch earthquake. Top work chaps!

Photos: Absolute Africa and iStock

...OR TAKE A TOUR Intrepid travellers may be happy to go it alone in the depths of Africa, but if you want the adventure without the worry of permits, visas, how to get around, and roaming into risky areas, be sure to book an epic trip with a tour company. We can recommend Absolute Africa (absoluteafrica.com). Absolute Africa has it’s own local African trekking team based in Marangu on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. They can trek on any date that suits, and dovetail budget safaris and Zanzibar Island beach breaks with your trek for an awesome and affordable trip to Africa. See them at the October TNT/STA Travel show.

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KENYA Although Tanzania is also world renowned for its game parks, Kenya arguably offers the biggest and best variety of safaris on the planet. It is also still possible to find some more budget-friendly camping safaris, with a couple of nights out in the Masai Mara in search of big game, and another night at Lake Nakuru to check out the huge gatherings of flamingos. The best-value option would probably be to book up a budget safari through one of the large backpacker hostels in the suburbs of Nairobi.

WHAT ELSE? Kenya’s other big attraction is, of course, the beaches. Unfortunately, some of the hawkers to be found along many of Kenya’s most attractive beaches can be a little too persistent (“Where are you from?”, “Who do you support?”, “Lovely jubbly”...).

WHERE TO STAY AND EAT Owing to the staggering rise of property prices in central Nairobi, most of the decent budget accommodation has now moved out into the safer and more pleasant suburbs. If you wish to stay closer to the big city, then Kahama Hotel & Restaurant (kahamahotel. co.ke/bar.html) is walking distance from the main bus station and relatively good value.

BEST FOR: MOUNT KILIMANJARO TANZANIA The highlight for many visitors to East Africa is the climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the snowtipped mountain towering over Africa’s equator. You won’t need any ropes or crampons as it’s really more of a strenuous hike than a climbing expedition, Absolute Africa absoluteafrica.com have their own team based in Marangu to help you with this.

Tanzania’s other huge natural asset is, of course, the world-famous Serengeti National Park and Nogorongoro Crater (the Serengeti in Tanzania is actually joined on to the Masai Mara in Kenya). The epic annual migration of wildebeest is the biggest attraction in April and May. WHAT ELSE? A great place to start or end a trip to East Africa is the ‘spice island’ of Zanzibar. Most visitors choose to stay in the wonderfully atmospheric ‘stone town’.

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There is a huge variety of accommodation and restaurants, beautiful beaches, and plenty of historic sites to explore here, so definitely worth some time.

WHERE TO STAY AND EAT There are a cluster of budget hotels in Kisutu in Dar es Salaam, within walking distance to the ferry to Zanzibar. The quality of the food in the mainland cities can be variable, to say the least.

BEST FOR: OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK TRAVEL BURUNDI Few travellers make it as far as this tiny nation, squashed up between the giants of Tanzania and DRC, with only an impressively scenic mountain road connecting it to its culturally and geographically similar neighbour, Rwanda. Unless you have your own transport, or are willing to hire taxis by the day, then it is difficult to travel far outside the capital but it may well be worth considering a few days in Bujumbura. Coconut Beach, along Lake Tanganyika, has decent sandy inland beaches, and is only a short taxi ride out of the city. As well as the usual crowded African markets, and the renovated Musée Vivant, there are a surprising number of decent cafés and good-value restaurants.

WHAT ELSE? Despite some stiff competition, Bujumbura is home to possibly the world’s worst zoo. Having paid the entrance fee you will be escorted to packed cages of guinea pigs and bunny rabbits, which you will be invited to purchase so as to throw them over a two foot tall concrete wall into the mouths of hungry crocodiles. You need to be careful not to stand too close to the chimpanzee’s cage too, as they like to reach out through the holes in it. There were also a worrying number of cracks and holes in the glass screens, supposedly designed to protect the visitors from their collection of venomous snakes.

WHERE TO STAY AND EAT Most independent travellers opt to stay at the centrally located and secure Hotel De L’amitié (laicohotels.com). As it’s not recommended to wander too far around the streets at night, your best bet for evening meals is an excellent new coffee shop at the back of the nearby mini mall.

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BESTOFASIA

My Thai Whether you want to see temples, lie on a beach, drink booze from a bucket or rock climb in a rainforest, Thailand has it all...

The Thai island of Koh Tao may have been in the press recently for tragic reasons, but this shouldn’t overshadow the country as a stunning holiday destination, with peaceful temples, gorgeous beaches and plenty of raucous fun too.

Of course Bangkok has been infamous for a while, with ladyboys, ping-pong shows and The Hangover II helping to cement its reputation as a ‘What happens in...’ kind of destination.

But after a few nights in the chaos, there are a number of ways to spend the rest of your time in Thailand.

You can head north to explore the luscious rainforest, perhaps from a high like we did, on a rock climbing course; alternatively you could head to one of the many idyllic islands dotted around the coast.

This is our first port of call, so sling your flip-flops into your bag and head to one of these perfect island paradises...

THE ISLANDS

Words: Helen Elfer and Ian Armitage. Photos: Thinkstock and InfidiaStudioio

Best for watersports: Koh Samui This island isn’t for everyone, particularly not if what you’re after is an unspoilt, serenely beautiful corner of the world to relax in.

But if you don’t mind your tropical paradises filled with blaring night clubs, crowds of tourists, fast food chains and a bit of a seedy underbelly, then there is actually plenty of fun to be had on Samui – especially in the form of watersports.

There’s sailing, snorkelling, kayaking and kiteboarding for starters, as well as a few more extreme options – ever fancied a go on a Jetlev-Flyer? This uses powerful jets of water to blast you into the air, Iron Man-style. Book yourself a session with Water Edge Sports.

What else? Always wanted to tick ‘bungee jump’ off your bucket list? Chaweng Beach is the place to do it. The 50m jumping platform is suspended over a giant plunge pool, and you can choose whether or not you want to get dunked.

If you’re after something a little more laid-back, consider the fishing village of Hat Bo Phut on Koh Samui, where the many local bars and restaurants will host parties, and at midnight there is a celebration with pretty lanterns and fireworks on the beach. kosamui.com TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Best for diving: The Similan Islands Practically every list of the world’s top diving locations rates the Similan Islands near the top, and that’s because they have some of the most jaw-dropping underwater sights.

The archipelago of nine islands is a National Marine Park with calm, clear waters (up to 30m visibility) that are ideal for underwater explorations.

The west coast is famous for its huge granite boulders that peek above the water’s surface and drop up to 50m underwater, creating tunnels and swim-throughs for divers to investigate.

Keep an eye out for the clown triggerfish and the whitetip reef sharks here, along with rare oriental sweetlips and harlequin sweetlips (both psychedelic-looking creatures).

On the east coast of the island there are lush coral gardens with sea anemones and a wide variety of reef fish, and if you’re lucky you might catch glimpses of ghost pipefish, sea moths, frogfish and ribbon eels.

Of the many famous dive sites here, Elephant Head, East of Eden and Christmas Point are three of the most popular.

What else? The best beach in the Thai Islands is, naturally, hotly disputed, but many agree that Donald Duck Bay on Koh Similan, the most developed of the nine islands, is a strong contender.

It’s so named because you can see a huge boulder out to sea that is bizarrely shaped a lot like the cartoon character.

If you want a few hours’ break from diving, this is a great place to lay down your towel and enjoy the scenery. kohsimilan.net

What else? If you’re feeling a little toxic after a few days of partying here, give the boozing a break and make the most of all the sports.

There are two Muay Thai boxing schools on the island where you can sign up for lessons (kobramuaythai.com) or you can join in games of beach football, table tennis or volleyball at sundown on most of the bigger beaches. kohphangan.com Best for wildlife: Koh Tarutao Once upon a time, the Thai government used to send its crooks to the island of Tarutao – to look at it now, this seems like the last thing that would put anyone off a life of crime.

The island is full of dense forest that’s teeming with wildlife: on the land and in the surrounding waters you can see sea turtles, whales, monitor lizards, crab-eating macaques, mouse deer and countless species of birds. Not much of a punishment, hey?

Some of the island is sign-posted in English, making it easy to follow wildlife trails, either on foot or by mountain bike (it’s easy to hire these on the island).

Just be sure to ask the island’s rangers before planning a lengthy trek, as parts of the island are more difficult to navigate than others.

What else? There is plenty of budget guesthouse accommodation on Tarutao, but it’s also very popular with campers as there are decent facilities and it rarely gets too crowded. It only costs 65p per night to camp if you have you own tent and other roughing-it equipment. kotarutaothailand.com

Best for full moon parties: Koh Pha Ngan

Best for exploring: Phuket

Haad Rin, the beach on the far south of Koh Pha Ngan, is notorious for having the wildest, most debauched full moon parties in Thailand.

Long-standing traditions for a night out here include tripping out on magic mushroom shakes (not that we’d recommend it), drinking buckets (yes, actual buckets) of Sang Som rum with Thailand’s version of Red Bull, painting faces with fluorescent squiggles, jumping through burning skipping ropes and watching fire poi. That’s in no particular order, but is always followed by a rave on the beach that lasts until the sun comes up.

Spend the day strolling around Phuket Old Town to see shrines, temples, quirky cafes, museums and even a mini exred light district. Built during the tin boom in the last century, you will also see Sino-colonial mansions, once occupied by Phuket’s tin barons.

What else? To get out on the water, take a boat trip from the northern end of Phuket and wind around the stunning limestone islands, stopping off at beaches and to check out James Bond Island, so named for its starring role in The Man with the Golden Gun. phuket.com

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Best for Temples: Koh Sirey It wouldn’t be right to visit Thailand without checking out at least some of its fabulous monuments to Buddhism.

Most of the really impressive temples and statues are on the mainland, but the tiny Koh Sirey, which is connected to Phuket by a bridge, has one that’s well worth exploring.

Wat Sirey, located at the top of a hill, is an unusual Buddhist temple with a series of rooms housing golden Buddha images. There’s also a giant reclining Buddha statue here. Once you’re at the top of the hill, the views of the island are every bit as impressive as the Wat itself.

What else? The island is home to hundreds of cheeky wild monkeys. Every evening islanders and tourists go to the recreation park near a mangrove swamp to feed the savvy primates their favourite bananas. phuket.com/attractions/koh-sirey Best for swimming: Koh Phi Phi Ko Phi Phi is probably best known for a combo of diving and partying, but the most exciting activity on the island is The Adventure Club’s shark watch tour (diving-in-thailand.net).

This is an early morning three-hour trip on which you get to swim with black tip reef sharks.

You’re taken out on a long-tail boat to an area of shallows where the sharks like to swim, then you’re given the opportunity to do some snorkelling and swimming in the water with them.

The company is known for being environmentally conscious and promoting sustainable tourism. Plus, they’re so confident that the sharks will be there that if you don’t see any, you get a full refund.

What else? Toughen up those muscles by scaling limestone cliffs at one of Ko Phi Phi’s top rock climbing spots, such as Hin Taak Climbing Area or Ton Sai Tower. phi-phi.com Best for deserted beaches: Koh Kood Well there certainly aren’t many of these left in Thailand, but there is one sandy spot that you can genuinely call secluded.

Koh Kood is an absolute pain to get to (from Bangkok it’s a flight to Trat airport, then an hour’s boat ride from the mainland), which puts off lots of tourists but explains its serenity.

But once you get there ... no land lines, virtually no internet access or electricity, just clean white sands, the odd hammock tied to a palm tree and plenty of blue waters if you fancy a dip.

Aow Pharo, Bang Bao and Siam Beach are some of the most pristine stretches, perfect for a lazy day sunbathing, while Tapao Beach is also known for being a top swimming and snorkelling spot.

What else? If you can be bothered to climb out of your hammock, Koh Kood island has lots of pretty waterfalls to visit.

Klong Chao Waterfall is a top spot for splashing about and has the royal seal of approval, as it was once visited by Thailand’s King Mongkut in the 1850s kohkood.com

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Burma after reading

Long looked over for its Southeast Asian neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam, read this 10-day itinerary and you’ll be booking Burma in no time WORDS LUCY DAVIES

Day 1 Singapore Airlines flies into Yangon daily and arrives late afternoon, which gives you the chance to have a rest at your hotel before venturing out in the evening. One of Yangon’s most famous landmarks, and the most sacred of all Buddhist sites in the country, is the Shwedagon Pagoda. Visible from almost everywhere in the city, it is one of Southeast Asia’s most stunning religious monuments. The best time to visit is at sunset, when the bright golden stupa turns crimson orange and the large diamond at the tip of the spire casts shards of light across the grounds of the temple. You can easily while away a magical hour or two here before grabbing some local food and heading back for an early night – you’ll need it as you’ve got an early flight tomorrow.

WHERE TO STAY Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (kandawgyipalacehotel.com) is constructed from local golden teak and boasts traditional Myanmar architecture. Situated right on the shores of the Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, you’re in for a cracking room view.

Day 2 Catch an early flight from Yangon domestic airport to the ancient city of Bagan. Just over an hour’s flight, there are several good local airlines operating this route. Bagan is one of Myanmar’s top attractions and a must do on any itinerary.

Slap bang in the centre of the country, the city can get very hot from March to May before the rainy season begins and 90

runs from June to September. The area is known as an Archaeological Zone and all foreign visitors must pay around USD$15 on entry, and you can soon see why.

The incredible plains contain thousands of temples dating back to the 11th century, and the views from the sky are aweinspiring. With so many temples, it’s best to focus on visiting just a few; the most impressive include the Shwezigon Pagoda (one of the oldest temples, dating back to 1090), the Wetkyi-in Gubyakgyi (famous for its frescoes and rare ancient paintings) and the Ananda (one of the best preserved). A popular spot to head to at the end of the day is the Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Here you can climb to the top and experience a magical sunset sinking behind the mystical surrounding landscape.

WHERE TO STAY Located in the heart of Old Bagan on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River, the Aye Yar River View Resort (ayeyarriverviewresort.com) offers traditional-style rooms and a gorgeous swimming pool hidden among the tropical gardens.

Day 3 Journey southeast of Bagan to Mount Popa. Occupying an elevated position and surrounded by lush forests, temperatures are cooler here than in Bagan. Mount Popa itself is an extinct volcano rising 4,980 feet and the monastery at the very top is said to be home to the country’s infamous ‘nat spirits’. From the base you can choose to climb the 777 steps to the summit where you will find a labyrinth of shrines to

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explore as well as a 360 panorama of the surrounding plains.

WHERE TO STAY Popa Mountain Resort (myanmartreasureresorts.com) has incredible far-reaching views over the surrounding countryside. The resort has an infinity pool and restaurant overlooking Mount Popa itself, and you get to stay in your own teak villa. Bonus.

Temples at sunrise in Mandalay

Day 4 Leaving Mount Popa, Mandalay is around a three-hour drive northeast and is known for being the religious centre of the country. Mentioned by both George Orwell and Rudyard Kipling, it is also noted for being a place of great importance during Britain’s colonial reign. Must-see places include the Mandalay Palace, which was the residence of the last Burmese monarchy and the Mahamuni Pagoda. A great way to end the day is to ascend Mandalay Hill to see the sun set over the city.

WHERE TO STAY The modern Mandalay Hill Resort (mandalayhillresorthotel.com) near the centre of the city offers a large swimming pool with swim-up bar as well as spa facilities if you fancy a pampering.

Day 5 Pyin Oo Lwin was designed by a British soldier and became the summer capital to escape the heat of nearby Mandalay.

The town therefore has a very British feel about it, and the elevated position means temperatures are far cooler. Just a couple of hours from Mandalay, a stop on the way is highly recommended at the local flower market where people from the surrounding villages come every day to buy and sell huge bundles of brightly coloured carnations to take to nearby temples as offerings. Wander around the beautiful botanical gardens and stop at some of the many colonial buildings and churches dotted around the local area.

WHERE TO STAY The bungalow-style rooms at Aureum Palace (aureumpalacehotel.com) are set in lovely grounds with resident swans. Romance on a stick.

Images: Thinkstock and Getty

Day 6 Leaving Pyin Oo Lwin, stop in Amarapura to see the U-Bein bridge, credited with being the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. Next, continue back to Mandalay, taking a short boat ride to the town of Ava where you can enjoy a horse and cart journey to the impressive Bargayar Monastery famous for its intricate wood carvings and teak pillars. In the afternoon, a great excursion is to sail across the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River to the town of Mingun where you can walk around the site of the colossus MingunPayagyi, which was designed to be the world’s largest monument. Leaving Mingun late afternoon means you can experience a beautiful sunset across the river on your return trip to Mandalay. We do love these Burmese sunsets.

WHERE TO STAY Catch another night at the Mandalay Hill Resort why not?

Day 7 Take a morning flight from Mandalay to Heho, which is the gateway to the stunning Inle Lake. Located in the heart of the Shan Plateau, the lake is home to the indigenous Intha people, known for their traditional method of leg-rowing which you

can still see them doing today – these skilled fishermen make stand-up paddleboarding yoga look easy. Powered long boats will take you from the mainland across the lake stopping at various villages where you can check out the local produce including silk, handicrafts and vegetables. There are options to eat at local restaurants on the lake, but boats are not permitted on the lake after nightfall so you’ll need to grab dinner back at your hotel.

WHERE TO STAY Only completed last month, the brand new Amata Garden Resort (amatainleresort.com) offers great facilities and a prime lake-front position with far-reaching views over the waters and surrounding mountain range. Nice.

Day 8 Enjoy a full day in Inle Lake so you can tour around the Indein villages on the mainland. Passing the fascinating floating gardens you can explore the stilted houses, numerous pagodas and bamboo forests in the local area.

WHERE TO STAY Why move when the Amata Garden Resort has all you need?

Day 9 Returning to Heho you can catch a short direct flight back to Yangon in the morning to allow you a full day to see the city.

Recommended stops include buildings within the city centre, the Botataung Pagoda and the 70-year-old Bogyoke Aung San Market. Designed in British colonial times, the market is still known today by its old name, Scott Market. It’s the largest in the city and contains more than 2,000 shops – the perfect place to pick up some last-minute souvenirs before leaving the country. Sob. WHERE TO STAY It was good enough for you the first time, so why not spend your last night back where you started at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (kandawgyipalace-hotel.com).

Day 10 It’s back home for you today. If you can’t handle heading back to London just yet though, you can extend your stay in Burma with a beach stay in NgweSaung, which is around four hours from Yangon. Alternatively, spend a few nights in Singapore on your way back to the UK. TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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October 2015 Show Guide tntmagazine.com

LONDON’S BIGGEST FREE TRAVEL SHOW TRAVEL SHOW

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4/09/2015 4:13 am

LOOKING FOR your

next adventure?

Launched by TNT Magazine in 2014 TNT Tour Search is the easy to use tool that gives travellers the ability to search for tours in all the seven continents of the world.

The new advanced search functionality allows travellers to search by most means necessary: • If you know the city you want to visit then we’ll show you the best deals around.

• If you fancy visiting a country but want to know what’s on offer we can show you the various places to visit.

• You may choose the continent and leave the rest to us. We will serve you up with all the top tours available.

• If you’re on a budget or have an amount in mind you can tailor your search based on the value.

• You may just know how long you want to go away for, so why not specify the duration.

• It may be that you have an activity in mind.

If so, we can be specific with this too.

Or if you really know what you want, you can use a combination of all the above and we will show you tours that meet your exact needs.

Whether it’s a weekend away in Europe or a 90 day tour around the world, TNT Tour Search is here to show travellers what is available from the leading operators at the best prices. With full booking functionality and customised search facilities travellers can tailor their searches from the thousands of tours available from day one of launch.

This new version of TNT Tour Search is a result of user feedback and operator input and the tool will be constantly updated and improved to ensure travellers are able to find exactly what they want, when they want and a price they can afford.

Log on to www.tnttoursearch.com today and find the right tours for you!

# LETSGO

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TRAVELSHOW

W

elcome to this autumn’s TNT/STA Travel Show. And whether you are a visitor, supporter or exhibitor, thanks for coming along. Whether you’re here to pick up a bargain trip or provide one, good luck and I hope you have a successful show.

Our annual programme of Travel Shows continue to be the backbone of our calendar, bringing visitors exclusive deals and offers at the heights of the booking and planning stages.

This year’s autumn show again presents the kind of deals and offers that can save travellers hundreds of pounds off their next adventure.

But in addition to providing access to some of the most exciting tours and destinations around, the show also continues to be an integral part of how we give international visitors to London useful information and advice about living in London, travelling around the UK and taking off into Europe and beyond.

Year by year, the TNT show programme continues to grow, so this autumn’s show sees thousands of tours on offer from hundreds of tour operators who are either here in person, accessible through partners or available via our exciting online TNT Tour Search facility. Make sure you take time to visit us and let us demonstrate how it can work for you.

This autumn’s Lucky Dip competition will see one lucky visitor walk away with over £3,000 worth of prizes – just for filling in our usual questionnaire. Visit the TNT Lucky Dip stands at the back of the hall, pick up a form, fill it in, hand it back and at the end of the day you may be the lucky winner to walk away with a year’s worth of travel – there are lots of on the spot prizes to be won too!

And having, so to speak, dipped our toe so successfully in the snow at last year’s autumn show, we have expanded our ski village to include packages for everyone from novices to experts with a special emphasis on providing plenty of guidance for first timers.

Talking of guidance our stars of the seminar stage will be on hand as usual to help get your travel juices flowing.

Whether you are coming to the show for the first time or are a returning visitor, we hope you are inspired to visit places you may have been dreaming of. Or maybe somewhere you’d never even thought of before. Either and every which way, you should be able to grab yourself some serious bargains, near or far, now or later, in the sun or on the snow.

Kevin Ellis SHOW DIRECTOR

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In partnership with

4/09/2015 4:15 am

VISIT THE STA TRAVEL STAND FOR

UP TO 50% OFF PLUS AN AMAZING PRIZE GIVEAWAY!

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ADVENTURE TOURS ROUND THE WORLD TRIPS SAILING FESTIVALS RAIL & BUS PASSES £49 DEPOSIT MULTIFLEX PRICE BEAT GUARANTEE BLUE TICKET

Terms and conditions apply. Prices and offers correct at time of printing. Up to 50% off selected product only.

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WELCOME

STA Travel is delighted to be collaborating with TNT. Both STA Travel and TNT are focused on helping adventurous young people start their adventure. Both organisations cater for an everwidening community of international globetrotters, and we have more than 36 years’ experience in fulfilling the travel dreams and aspirations of young and young-at-heart adventurers.

If you’re at the show, then chances are you will be looking for inspiration or ideas for your next trip, and we have no doubt you will find some ideas at the show.

STA Travel is the world’s largest student and youth travel company, so it doesn’t matter whether you are after exclusive flight fares, a complex round-the-world itinerary, a series of overland adventure tour options, volunteering projects, Working Holiday Visas or a snap-gap trip of a month or two – our team will be able to help.

We will also have exclusive deals and a competition on our stand throughout the day! If you enter our prize draw you could be lucky enough to win an adventure tour in a mystery location.

Whatever it is that you are after, we have no doubt that you will come away from the show feeling inspired to book your adventure, pack your bag and travel the globe.

Do pop by and see us at the show – our team of Travel Experts is here to help you. Happy travels!

Glen Mintrim, STA Travel UK Managing Director

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In partnership with

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Are you registered for Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest FREE Travel Show?

It may be getting chillly out there, but TNT and STA Travel are about to make you feel all warm inside with exclusive travel deals and more...

NEED-TO-KNOW INFO What: TNT/STA Travel Show Autumn 2015 When: Saturday 31st October, 2015 10am-5.00pm Where: Business Design Centre 52 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0QH Register for your free ticket at tnttravelshow.com

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Fed up that summer’s coming to an end? Don’t be, it’s the perfect excuse to plan some more travelling. And where better to do that than at the annual TNT/STA Autumn Travel Show?

Whether you’re looking to extend the sunshine months, escape the winter, embrace it, plan a Christmas shopping trip or book next year’s big adventure; there will be bargains to bag. Hundreds of them at serious discounts.

As well as all your perennial favourites on the Show floor, the people who for 30-odd years have brought you ‘the backpackers’ bible’, are now thrilled to be offering access to 3000 more options that you can choose and book on the spot via our exclusive online TNT Tour Search.

Special bargain deals from renowned travel companies will be on offer throughout the day on Saturday, October 31, there will be ludicrously cheap deals, with some slashing their trip prices by up to 60% -- if you’re lucky, you may even head home from Islington’s Business Design Centre having won tickets for several free holidays via the TNT Lucky Dip in your back pocket.

And if after all that, you’re not sure where to go, how to get there and what to do when you arrive, a whole range of travel experts will be lining up in our seminar space to provide you with offbeat ideas and off the beaten track answers.

The TNT/STA Travel Show truly has it all at bargain basement prices: from a last-minute long weekend to Spain, Italy or Greece, to an epic adventure for next year to Eastern Europe, Africa, America, South America, Asia, back in Australasia or a lift up the Alps and a snowboard ride down.

It’s everything you need to get your travel plans sorted. We hope you’ve got your wallet as you will not just be looking, you’ll be booking.

And don’t worry if you can’t afford it right now as many exhibitors will allow you to secure your dream holiday with just a £10 deposit. Can’t argue with that.

With music to entertain, a well-stocked bar, and plenty of food available...Here’s a breakdown of what you shouldn’t miss out on the day...

In partnership with

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In partnership with

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SHOWHIGHLIGHTS

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EXCLUSIVE DEALS Many of our exhibitors will be offering exclusive deals and limited special offers throughout the one-day Show. Stay tuned on Facebook and Twitter (@tntstatravelshow) for deals to be announced.

TNT LUCKY DIP STAND Whatever you do at the Show, be sure to complete a form at the TNT Lucky Dip stand at the back of the hall, with one lucky traveller winning a bundle of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. See over the page for details of the prizes on offer.

TRAVEL SEMINARS Whether you want expert information on your next destination, or simply need tips on how to survive something you’ve never done before, like ski-ing for the first time.

OUR WINTER SKI VILLAGE It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned slider, a boarding beginner, flying solo or going in a group, we’ve assembled

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some of the best last minute winter ski deals around. Just visit the village and join in the gossip with experts who will be happy to be your mountain guides.

TNT TOUR SEARCH If you miss out on a bargain on the day, don’t worry as TNT Tour Search (tnttoursearch.com) offers great tours and offers all year round. Visit the TNT Tour Search stand to find out more about one of the easiest ways to book your travel at any time of year. You can also find companies here that for one reason or another, couldn’t make it to the Show.

Sign up to our travel e-newsletter at tntmagazine.com for updates on the show and follow us on Twitter @tntstatravelshow, and on Facebook at TNT MagazineTNT Lucky Dip Stand Many of our exhibitors will be offering exclusive deals and limited special offers throughout the one-day Show. Stay tuned on Facebook and Twitter (@tntstatravelshow) for deals to be announced.

• • • • • • • •

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VAL D’ISERE – DECEMB ER 18-27, 2015

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Join The TNT Snowblast Tour to Val d’Isere this Christmas!

TNT Magazine & Action Outdoors have partnered up to bring you The TNT Snowblast Tour – have a White Christmas to remember in Val d’Isere The TNT Snowblast Tour – a 9 day trip to Val d’Isere, France: 18th Dec – 27th Dec 2015

• 6½-day liftpass for Espace Killy ski area • 6½-day Ski or Snowboard and boot hire • 12 hours of group Instruction • 7 nights accommodation at UCPA Val d’Isere • ALL meals, including TWO Christmas celebrations • Après-ski events every day • TNT Ski merchandise • Return coach from London

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4/09/2015 5:13 4:25 am 2/09/2015

LUCKYDIP

Do you feel lucky?

Fill in the form found in your goody bag and drop it off at the Lucky Dip stand at the back of the wall for the chance to win...

5 day Celtic Rocker for 1 person with Shamrocker Adventures Amazing days around Ireland’s spectacular south and west that will bombard your senses and change your life forever.

We’ll show you places you never imagined existed and will never forget. Discover what great craic the Emerald Isle is, from incredible landscapes, mountains and castles, to nights squeezed into the local pub with traditional live music and a pint of the black stuff in your hand. T&Cs apply. Worth £319 6 stop Flexitrip Pass for 1 person with Busabout 9 countries, 34 destinations. The Flexitrip is designed to give you the ultimate in flexibility so you can design your own trip. Choose anywhere you’d like to go and then buy the number of corresponding flexistops. This is ideal if you really want a true trans-continental flexible tour of Europe or have a clear idea of what cities you want to experience.

So go crazy, pick the destinations you have always dreamed of visiting, then join up the dots and count up the stops!

T&Cs apply. Worth £339 Nubian Adventure for 1 person with Encounters Travel Discover the secrets of Egypt with this 9-day tour which takes you all of the way up the Nile into Upper Egypt. You start in Cairo with a visit to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx before heading to Aswan where we visit the island temple of Philae and Aswan Dam, and you have the option of an incredible trip to the temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. You will then start your traditional Nile felucca cruise down the river on your way to Luxor in the Nile Valley, with support en-route from our facilities boat with on board toilet, showers and massage deck. Once in Luxor you will visit some amazing temples and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings before heading back to Cairo. T&Cs apply. Worth £349 Bruges Christmas Markets for 2 people with Expat Explore The Christmas markets are a great way of stocking up on gifts for Christmas. The Bruges Christmas market day trip is one of the most popular December days out in Europe, owing to both its setting, and there being plenty to see and do upon arrival.

The beautiful medieval buildings are always well decorated for Christmas, adding even more to the festive atmosphere.

No Bruges Christmas market trips would be complete without visiting the famous chocolate shops. Whether you are visiting them to buy chocolate as a gift or as a treat for yourself, be sure to pay attention to the window displays, as the chocolate shops regularly feature spectacular Christmas scenes made out of chocolate. Chocolate is hand crafted on site in many of the shops, so if you have time, stay for a few minutes and watch the chocolatiers perform their magic.

Once you have finished picking up your Christmas shopping, why not enjoy a Belgian beer and a spot of lunch as you watch the world go by. T&Cs apply. Worth £98

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5 day Skye and Highland Fling for 1 person with MacBackpackers This tour is action packed from start to finish: walk over a gorge, climb a mountain, search for the Loch Ness monster, forest wanders and ceilidh dancing are only a few of the activities to look forward to during your 5 day tour! Be entertained by your guide between stops as you cruise your way through the stunning scenery of the Highlands.

Overnight stops include Inverness, the Isle of Skye for two nights and Oban. Go on, take a walk on the wild side!

Tour Highlights: Loch Ness, Whisky Distillery, Corrieschalloch Gorge, A FULL day on the Isle of Skye!, Eilean Donan Castle, Glen Coe, West Coast Scotland, National Wallace Monument T&Cs apply. Worth £189 9 day Felucca Odyssey Tour for 1 person with Travel Talk A tour full of history, tradition and the best of the Nile on Felucca! Uncover the jewels of the Nile on this 9 day Felucca Odyssey. Kick back and relax as you take in the stunning sights along the Nile and experience what the Nubian life was like. Hunt for lost treasures in the Cairo markets and relish in all the wonders that Egypt’s many temples have to offer. T&Cs apply. Worth £155 5 day Highland Fling for 1 person with HAGGiS Adventures A spectacular adventure through the Highlands and magical Isle of Skye with stunning scenery, incredible history and some unique and unforgettable experiences. Go monster hunting on Loch Ness, hike in one of the last great wildernesses of Europe, ride the train which inspired Harry Potter’s ‘Hogwarts Express’, hear tales of Scotland’s bloody history and soak up the culture with a wee dram after a day’s exploring. There’s also the chance to get into some traditional Scottish music and dance at a genuine Ceilidh to make this a proper Highland Fling! T&Cs apply. Worth £215

y

18 day Kenya & Tanzania Safari for 1 person with Absolute Africa Nairobi to Dar es Salaam Safari. Game drives in the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with time to also enjoy special highlights in Nairobi - Sheldrick’s Elephant Sanctuary, The Giraffe Park and a fun night out in one of Nairobi’s famous restaurants. As well as a cycling safari in Hells Gate and a hippo cruise on Lake Naivasha.

Finishing on the palm-fringed white beaches of Zanzibar Island. T&Cs apply. Worth £620 Ski Goggles with Ski Sarajevo worth £40. £100 Shipping Voucher with Anglo Pacific Plus more to be confirmed - keep an eye out at www. tnttravelshow.com for more Lucky Dip Prizes For more info and T&Cs see tnttravelshow.com/tnt-lucky-dip

TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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EXHIBITORLISTINGS OUR SPONSORS STA TRAVEL

dream safari come true. Talk with us now about the journey of a lifetime.

STA Travel is the world’s largest student and youth travel company. It specialises in market-leading travel offers, whether it’s exclusive flight fares, a complex round the-world itinerary, a series of overland adventure tour options or a snap-gap trip of a month or two.

However STA Travel is not only for students – its great-value airfares, hotels and tours are open to all. Now celebrating 36 years of business, its expertise means STA Travel Experts are the very best people to advise on any aspect of travel. STA Travel has joined forces with TNT this year for its travel show so expect some seriously amazing deals and offers. The STA Travel stand will also cover many partner companies including Contiki, G Adventures, Busabout, Dragoman and Eurolines. statravel.co.uk

BURA TRAVEL

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION ABSOLUTE AFRICA absoluteafrica.com Committed to affordable prices for your Africa trip.Our team has more than 30 years of experience, having travelled solely in Africa since the late 70s arranging overland tours, safaris, beach breaks as well as Kilimanjaro treks.Visiting all the big game parks – Serengeti and the Masai Mara for the migration, Kruger, Etosha, Chobe, the Okavango Delta and many more. Gorilla trekking, rhino trekking. Travelling to Zanzibar Island – the exotic Indian Ocean spice Island, Victoria Falls – one of the natural wonders of the world, Lake Malawi, the big dunes of Namibia and Cape Town. With treks run by our own local trekking team to Kilimanjaro, the “roof of Africa”, volunteering projects, short safaris in 4X4’s, Zanzibar and Kenyan coast beach breaks, a bunch of wild adventure sports and much much more! Offices in Tanzania and London. We cover this unique continent at unbeatable prices to make your

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buratravel.com Choose Bura Travel: affordable accommodation. Run by people just like you; traveller, adventurer, beach bum.

Join us at our fully catered (with lift pass & hire gear included in price) snow chalet in France, or our backpackers surf house in Portugal. You’ll find it easy to join the Bura family.

BUSABOUT busabout.com Great deals on 2015 and 2016 travel. Our hop-on hop-off travel network designed exclusively for the independent and budget conscience traveller. Our coach network covers 46 destinations in fourteen countries including Europe’s most exciting capital cities. Busabout Adventures and Festivals are some of our favourite destinations. These great value trips are an awesome way to travel, be it the highlights of Italy and Spain, sailing along the Croatian or Turkish coast, exploring Eastern Europe and Morocco or partying at Europe’s most famous festivals like Pamplona and Oktoberfest.

Fancy heading a little further afield?Busabout Asia is the way to go!

It’s the same ethos, the same freedom and the same vibe as our European trips. Our itineraries are a unique blend of ‘must-sees’, hidden gems and local favourites. There’ll be towering temples, sandy dance floors, wise stories and all the scrumptious food you can eat. Pick one trip, combine a couple or even link up the whole lot!

50 countries, we see every day as the start of a new adventure. You only get one life and one shot to make it count – #NOREGRETS.

ENCOUNTERS TRAVEL At Encounters Travel, we offer good value, exciting small group adventure tours, giving you the ability to travel, have fun as well and take in the culture and sights of some of the world’s most exotic and exciting destinations.

Whether you are a solo traveller, a group of friends or a couple, we have the perfect holiday for you. If you are looking for action, trekking, adventure or just a bit of culture and a getaway, Encounters Travel has it all. We’re committed to designing itineraries that work well for you, the traveller, and don’t cut corners. We include as much as possible in the upfront tour price, while keeping the tours great value and providing clear information about what extras you may need to allow for. encounterstravel.com

EXPAT EXPLORE expatexplore.com Expat Explore Travel will have some amazing deals available exclusively at the TNT Travel Show. All Christmas and New Year tours, as well as our 2016 Europe tours will be marked down with a 20% to 60% discount on web and brochure rates! We will also have great deals on our other tours, including our Croatia Sailing tour and a fantastic 2-for-1 offer on our Egypt tours!

GO SAIL TURKEY gosailturkey.com If you are going to Turkey in 2016, then you

CONTIKI

have to do a Go Sail Turkey cruise! The list of

contiki.com Contiki has been the world leader in youth travel experiences for 18-35s since they began in 1962 — a brand that is all about discovery, epic moments and making every second count. Our journeys unlock the local way of life in each and every destination we visit, and with over 300 trips in more than

reasons why is endless: sleeping under the stars on deck, swimming with sea turtles, en-suite cabins as standard, great shipmates, plenty of sunbathing space, three amazing meals every day, a fridge full of cold beers, secluded bays and a party at the Smugglers Inn. It’s the only way to see the Turkish coast!

As the only exhibitor offering four-day and seven-day Turkish gulet cruises, you’ll

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AWESOME AFRICA ADVENTURES! UP TO

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EXHIBITORLISTINGS be sure to find the right route at the best price that fits into your travel plans for Turkey 2016. Ask us about our special group offers and ANZAC-friendly dates.

HAGGIS ADVENTURES haggisadventures.com We’ve been running legendary trips for backpackers and independent travellers since 1993 that get you off the beaten track and explore the best of Scotland.

Our reputation has been built on ‘word of mouth’ recommendation and our mission is to make each trip the best one yet. Our trips range from day tours to 10 day adventures plus Easter, Christmas and Hogmanay specials. And we have the best Guides – proud locals who are passionate about showing you around and who want you to love their country as much as they do.

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MACBACKPACKERS macbackpackers.com MacBackpackers has been running funfilled, fully guided adventures around the Highlands of Scotland for more than 15 years. Aimed at young independent travellers aged between 18 and 35, its tours give an entertaining, informative and utterly unique view of Scotland.

100% Scottish and independent, you’re sure to get a genuinely unforgettable experience with Macbackpackers. Visit the stand at the TNT/STA Show to find out about the super exclusive offers for the day and enjoy great company and a wee dram.

holiday provider for 20-35 year olds.

Offering you the perfect balance to a perfect holiday, you will spend seven days sailing the breath-taking islands of the Mediterranean on-board your very own yacht. Whether you are travelling with a friend, embarking on a solo adventure or getting together a whole group of friends, you are guaranteed an unforgettable holiday and the time of your life!

Once on board you will fill your days relaxing in the cooling breeze, swimming, sunbathing and learning how to sail from your skipper, your personal tour guide. They will guarantee you access to the hottest local spots and the most beautiful sights, with Hvar Town in Croatia and the legendary Greek nightlife in

MEDSAILORS medsailors.com Make your way across the picturesque and

Poros and Ermioni offering you every chance to party the night away!

Finish it off with golden sunsets and

idyllic landscapes of Croatia, Greece or

picturesque waterfront bars and you will

Turkey with MedSailors, the leading sailing

experience the best of the world of sailing.

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EXHIBITORLISTINGS PADDYWAGON paddywagontours.com The “most fun tour company in the world”, as voted by 900,000 Hostelworld travellers in their annual Hoscars! Paddywagon were also 2011’s “best UK & Ireland tour operator” at the TNT Golden Backpack Awards. Paddywagon is well-known worldwide as the 100 per cent True Irish Experience. We guarantee the most fun, flexible, informative and friendly Irish extravaganza. The only 100 per cent Irish owned backpack Tour Company, we promise the best travel experience in our beloved motherland. Choose from relaxing day-trips in our sexy Green Mercedes Paddywagons or full-on six or nine-day tours of the country in the company of Ireland’s top tour guides. As seen on TV.

SHAMROCKER ADVENTURES shamrockeradventures.com Since 1999, it’s been Shamrocker’s mission to give independent budget travellers the chance to really discover Ireland and remember it as one of the best times of their life. The team will make sure you get a tremendous insight into the country, meet real local characters, and discover what it means to be Irish. All the guides are 100% Irish born and bred, full legends in their own right who have more stories and knowledge of history than you would think was possible. Fan-feckintastic we say!

SKI SARAJEVO ski-sarajevo.com Skiing in Europe can be very pricey, but not in Sarajevo – the alternative ski and snowboard capital of Europe!

We have so much going for us: • Only £369 for a 7 day trip • CHEAP ski equipment hire (11 euros a day) • LIFT-PASSES included!

• CHEAP beer • BUDGET-FRIENDLY ski schools and private lessons

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• NEWLY-INSTALLED fast six-seater lifts • Delicious, hearty food • Friendly people with a famous sense of humour, and last but not least, one of the most fascinating capitals in the world with OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS on its doorstep! Beat that!

Spend seven days on the slopes that were home to the Winter Olympics of 1984 and explore the nightlife on Jahorina Mountain and Sarajevo city. Not confident in your skiing or snowboarding? No problem! Our experienced team of English-speaking instructors will show you the ropes.

Hop out of your work shoes and into your ski boots and discover Europe’s only resort that can offer snowsport, culture and city life. £369 gets you 6 nights on Jahorina mountain and 1 night in Sarajevo city centre, including half-board and lift passes. A £50 deposit secures your spot.

SNOWBOMBING snowbombing.com The creators of Snowbombing are proud to present Transition.

A new music ski and snowboard festival in the beautiful snow-capped resort of Avoriaz, France. Expect Alpine Adventures, avalanche inducing entertainment and world-class artists across 8 clubs, daily mountain raves, forest-lit outdoor stages, intimate bars, igloo disco battles and unique pop-up parties. Transition runs over 6 days and 6 nights from 13th – 19th December, 2015. Prices start from £100 for 6 nights’ accommodation and festival wristband.

Don’t miss out. transitionsnow.com

THE DRAGON TRIP thedragontrip.com STARTING OUT The Dragon Trip was founded in 2010 by backpacking pioneer Ramsay Kerr, a Brit who grew up in Hong Kong. After realising very quickly there was more to life than a career in finance, he set up The Dragon Trip aged 22.

The company was established to provide affordable backpacking

adventure tours of China to people who can’t speak Mandarin, and to show our guests the side of China our team love.

Onwards and upwards 5 years later, we now supply tours to STA Travel, Real Gap, GAP 360, Asia Venture, TUI PLC and CRCC Asia making our firm the largest company in our industry.

In parallel, we’ve also established ourselves as the UK’s leading operator of school trips to China, providing Western schools with safe, rewarding and affordable educational tours to this fascinating country.

As time goes on, we continue our drive to open China – and other parts of Asia – to the ordinary traveller.

Recently, we launched our first tour of North Korea, providing access to those who would catch a glimpse into the most secretive state on earth.

OUR MISSION The team – spread across our offices in Shanghai, Beijing, London, San Francisco and Sydney – work hard to ensure the positive values of travel are carried throughout all our work. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and always try to ensure we give as much as can back to the people of our host nations. We love every moment of showing our guests the most epic, educational and unforgettable experiences, and we hope to enrich the lives of all :)

TOPDECK topdeck.travel We are Topdeck. We do epic Eurotrips, Big Game safaris, American road trips, sailing trips, pyramid expeditions, and other awesomeness around the world for travellers between 18-39. We realise that everyone’s different, which is why all our trips include heaps of free time to play and explore. It’s your trip, your way. Your trip includes all the mustsee, must-do activities and top-notch local fare to recharge those batteries between stops, which means you can spend your money where it matters and we’ll take care of the rest. You will hit the road on modern, WiFi-

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EXHIBITORLISTINGS

ANGLO PACIFIC S H I P P I N G & TA X

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equipped coaches, stay in handpicked accommodation ranging from castles to yachts and hang out with other young explorers bent on seeing the world.

And that’s just how we got started. We had a group of mates, some wheels and enough wanderlust to make most mothers worried. Forty years into it, we’re still discovering new places to see and unforgettable travel experiences to make our passengers’ trips just that little bit more awesome. That’s us, but this is about you. It’s time to live large, dream bigger and squeeze life for all it’s worth. The rest can wait. Ready to pack your bags? Let’s talk.

TRAVEL TALK traveltalktours.com Travel Talk tours are designed for young, fun-spirited individuals aged between 18 and 35. Our tours will

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take you on life changing adventures and provide exhilarating experiences, without breaking the bank. We aim to offer you exciting and diverse tours at reasonable and affordable prices without compromising comfort or quality of services. Our popular exotic destinations include Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Spain, Portugal and Russia. In the summer we have Croatia Sailing and island hopping tours in Greece. In the winter we offer skiing and snowboarding tours in different villages in the French Alps. Travel Talk also takes you to the biggest festivals in Europe including La Tomatina, Oktoberfest and to Gallipoli for Anzac Day tours. Make sure you stop by to visit our friendly team and check out our tours at AMAZING prices, PLUS you only need a £10 cash deposit to secure your spot!

WICKED CAMPERS wickedcampers.co.uk Wicked Campers are the original budget campervan rental company with heaps of experience, awesome vans and plenty of travellerfriendly deals. If you’re an independent, adventurous traveller then come and visit us at the TNT show to bag yourself an epic deal, pick up some freebies and meet some legends!

OTHER ESSENTIALS ANGLO PACIFIC

INTERNATIONAL PLC anglopacific.co.uk Leaving the UK should be about farewell drinks, not hassles over packing up your room. Anglo Pacific makes it easy with free delivery of boxes, collections any weekday (and

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EXHIBITORLISTINGS Saturdays in London) and friendly, knowledgeable Antipodean staff who know exactly where you’re coming from – and going to! There’s budget-friendly sea freight or a faster air service. Best of all? Anglo Pacific guarantees the arrival of your baggage at port in 12 weeks or you’ll get a full refund of your shipping costs.

FREEPHONE 0800 085 0355 PSS INTERNATIONAL

REMOVALS pssremovals.com PSS International Removals have specialised in shipping excess baggage and excess luggage to Australia, New Zealand & South Africa & most worldwide destinations for over 32 years and pride ourselves on being one of the first advertisers in the TNT Magazine. We handle thousands of baggage consignments every year ranging from small shipments consisting from one carton to full house hold

1 – 3 PEGASUS RD CROYDON CR9 4PS

consignment. PSS will take away all the stress levels so you can enjoy your last moments here in the UK, our experience and expertise in International removals is one of the reasons why we are known as the UK’s 1st choice for sending effects abroad. We recognise the importance in ensuring that our customers receive the same level of care and attention that we would expect ourselves. Our team is dedicated to help and discover the best solution for any Sea Freight or Airfreight International shipments across the globe. PSS are also a member of BAR OVERSEAS. As members of BAR OVERSEAS we are covered by the I.M.M.I. Advance payment guarantee scheme. Come see us at the TNT/STA Travel Show for the best prices and service for your move which would suit your needs and you never know you might hit a bulls eye for your shipment or even free boxes to be sent anywhere in the world.

RECRUITMENT PROSPERO TEACHING PLACING TEACHERS IN THE UK SINCE 2000

prosperoteaching.com Prospero Teaching is an award winning educational recruitment consultancy based in Central London, with offices throughout the UK. We work with all age ranges, from nursery to further education, and find roles for teachers and support staff in a range of settings.

We welcome teachers from all over the world, and our rapidly expanding overseas team is on hand to advise with every step of finding a teaching job in the UK. Pay us a visit to have a chat with one of our consultants or speak to one of our current teachers about their experiences – we look forward to meeting you!

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Your essential list of contacts

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