A quiet night out is just about the only thing not on the menu at this legendary steak and seafood grill. A Colombian institution, Andrés Carne de Res is a hedonistic powerhouse of eating, drinking, dancing and pure fun located in Chía, about 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Bogotá (trust us, it’s worth the trip).
Come here if you’re after a festive, high-energy atmosphere to accompany your ceviche and Argentine steaks, and stick around to groove along with a live band or seasoned DJ until the wee hours. Just don’t forget to book – this popular eatery can pack out with more than 1000 people at any one time, almost every night.
While it will never compare to experiencing the Great Barrier Reef under the water, a helicopter trip well above offers an amazing perspective. When you’re travelling at more than 100 kilometres an hour the blues and greens below are chameleon like in their changes. The helicopter allows you to follow schools of mantas and the odd stray dugong then take off for another reef with more sea life lurking.
Your best bet is to book the transfer from Cairns to picturesque Port Douglas and not only save yourself a drive but enjoy the incredible view at the same time. You might just have to catch the bus back.
Get back to nature on Gatokae Island in the Solomons’ Western Province. The wonderful Wilderness Lodge, parked on the edge of Marovo Lagoon, has just two private oceanfront bungalows, housing up to four people each, and lodge accommodation for a paltry six more. Each of the bungalows has traditional palm leaf roofs, stunning timber finishings and outdoor stonework showers heated by a wood fire, while the lodge is popular with research groups and families.
Not only will you enjoy real Melanesian hospitality with your host Waelinah, but you’ll also have access to a number of wild, uninhabited islands and the jungle-clad peak of Mt Mariu. There’s snorkelling off the island, or get one of the guides to take you on a tour of epic local spots where you’ll see coral gardens, turtles and fish of all persuasions. For divers, there’s the chance to dive at night on a thousand-foot drop-off and swim with pelagic and sharks. On land, go bird watching, hang out in a hammock by the water, take a tour of the local village or go on a hike through the interior of Gatokae Island.
Oyster Island Resort offers a genuine and warm Vanuatu experience. It’s located in a superb spot, only a short boat ride from Espiritu Santo and a kayak away from the Blue Hole. Choose from a simple Frangipani Bungalow or a bamboo bungalow with hammock – both styles are right on the water, so you can sit in the breeze and just stare out (occasionally a dugong swims by, so it’s not a bad pastime). You can also snorkel straight off the beach, where you can see about 50 different species of fish.
There’s plenty to do around Espiritu Santo. Local tour companies can organise horse riding, trips to the Blue Hole and Champagne Beach, and scuba diving at some of the island’s famous sites like Million Dollar Point and SS President Coolidge.
‘It’s not about the experience of luxury but rather, the luxury of the experience’ states the website of this eco-sensitive, family-run retreat located in New Ireland near Kavieng. Set on a beautiful sandy point and surrounded by spectacular swimming and surfing beaches, and some excellent dive sites, you can do as much or as little as you like here.
It offers several simple, high-quality overwater and beach bungalows that sleep up to six people. For larger groups there’s also a large two-storey house.
When you hit Upolu, one of Samoa’s main islands, and see Lalomanu Beach you’ll understand why it’s been voted one of the best beaches on the planet. The bright white sand seems to stretch forever, and the reef is only a few metres off shore in places, so don’t forget your snorkel.
This little getaway offers enclosed and open-sided beach bungalows for travellers who love life’s simplicities (there are also a couple of rooms away from the beach with ensuite and air-con if you need the little luxuries). It’s small and lively, with an excellent bar and tasty grub. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, check out the after-dinner fiafia action, showcasing Polynesian and Samoan music and dancing. If your idea of a good time is a back-to-basics beach shack then Taufua is for you.
If Chucky had an evil playground, it’d be Isla de las Munecas (Island of the Dolls) in Mexico City. Haunted by the body of a girl he found floating in the canals, the island’s only inhabitant – Don Julian Santana – spent 50 years collecting and hanging dolls from trees to ward off evil spirits.
Unfortunately, it didn’t all go to plan and the dolls became possessed with the spirits of deceased girls instead. Rumour has it if you spend enough time on the island you’ll catch a doll’s arm twitching or sets of eyes following you as you walk.
In 2001, Santana mysteriously suffered a similar fate and was found drowned in a canal. Whether or not you believe the decayed dolls or the island itself are haunted, peering into the vacant eyes of a soulless dolly, riddled with mould and insects, will leave you feeling terrified.
This luxury cruise liner turned World War II troop carrier has seen its fair share of tragedy and terror since its maiden voyage in 1936. Time Magazine declared the ship one of America’s 10 most haunted places and the docked Queen Mary lives up to her reputation.
Nightly ghost tours lead spectre spotters on spine-tingling wanders below decks, taking in the engine room where a 17-year-old sailor was crushed to death while trying to escape a fire. There are also stories of a lady in white roaming the decks and lingering spirits of children drowned in the pool.
A paranormal investigator accompanies the brave with ghost-detecting devices and you can even sleep overnight. If you dare.
When the frenetic pace of city life has you feeling like a battery hen, it’s time to put yourself out to pasture. Check yourself in at the wholesome hideaway that is the Farm at San Benito and begin your personalised journey of transformation, whether you’re after the detox, stress management or wellness options.
While the term ‘holistic wellness’ is used loosely and liberally by any resort that boasts a spa and a gym, this Philippines establishment is the real deal. A team of doctors is on staff and your arrival begins with a rigorous health assessment to map out a course for achieving a new and improved you. You can expect to undergo colonic irrigation, reiki and possibly an intravenous vitamin infusion or a liver and gall bladder flush.
That’s the icky bit, now the indulgent bit: there’s a full suite of spa therapies to enjoy, from body scrubs and massages to facials and steam therapy. The retreat is tucked within 10 hectares of lush landscaped gardens in the foothills of Mount Malarayat and organic produce is all grown on site.
Forget about a Big Mac, meals here are vegan and served raw, using specially designed dehydrators to lock in the natural nutrients and enzymes that make your body sing. By day take part in yoga, meditation, boot camp, calisthenics or trampoline dance, and at night enjoy a moonlight massage, before retreating to your luxurious villa for your makeover’s most important ingredient – a restful night’s sleep.
Give the sauna the cold shoulder and air your lumps and bumps at a cool –120ºC. Haikko Manor’s Super Cold Treatment claims to leech away sleep disorders, stress and unsightly skin conditions, and locals have employed the technique to treat pain and rheumatic diseases for centuries.
Shimmy into a set of togs, pull on a pair of mittens and colourful felt booties then top off your ensemble with ear warmers – so you part with your ills, not your ears.
A one- to three-minute stint in the icebox earns you a diploma and you’ll greet a reinvigorated, refreshed you. It may not banish all your aches and pains, but for a while you’ll be too numb to notice.
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