Nikedun Blog

For some people Halloween is just as exciting a holiday as Christmas. I have many friends who put just as much effort into their scary costumes in October as they do when they're putting their tree up in December! There are various well known events around the world, such as the famous parade in New York, but I decided to have a look at some of the coolest (or creepiest!) places to celebrate this spooky holiday. How about travelling to Transylvania? The country of Romania not only has stunning Gothic architecture but the impressive Bran Castle was said to be home of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. The castle is open to the public, and they do special Halloween tours! Long beach California may not strike you as the most spooky place, but the cruise liner Queen Mary that docks here is. This is one of the most unique places to celebrate on Halloween. So-called 'Dark Harbor' starts on October the 1st and runs for a month, offeri

This photo is of the Bolivia Salt Flats, or Salar de Uyuni, and might be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Travellers flock to South America to see them, and it's no surprise - they're a real natural wonder. They were part of a prehistoric salt lake, and the awe-inspiring vast salt desert that's left if simply stunning.  Due to the lack of perspective caused by the flatness and whiteness you can take great photos - just do an internet search for Bolivia salt flats and you'll see what I mean! 

One of the things I love about travelling is feeling like I'm escaping the day to day stresses of life. For me, part of that is putting my phone in a drawer and forgetting about the outside world. For others, it's about constantly putting photos on social media, and showing all your friends and family the fabulous places you're visiting. A recent survey commissioned by WorldSIM has revealed that 31% of travellers still don't use their phone when they travel abroad - perhaps because they're worried about returning home to a monster mobile phone bill because of international roaming charges. That means that a whopping 69% of people do use their phone while travelling. These days it's very rare to see people without a phone in their hand - but when you're on your hols, I find it a bit sad. I do upload the odd photo, and also use my phone to research places when I'm on my travels. However there's a big wide world out there - when you'

Many people talk about holiday destinations being 'heaven on earth', and for me - that description is just perfect for the Maldives. These wonderful coral islands are completely idyllic, and somewhere that I would love to return to. From the moment I stepped onto the sea plane to get to my resort, I knew I was going to have the time of my life.  There are so many islands to choose from and I took a long time to decide which one was right for me. Veligandu Island Resort was the one for me - great food; fabulous accommodation, picture perfect beaches, and wonderful staff. Why not revisit my original post to read more on one of the best places to honeymoon -  Perfection in the Maldives .

If you're looking for something different to do outdoors, then the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is well worth a try. In a world where days out can be so expensive, especially for families, this is also free! It's an open-air gallery in West Yorkshire, showing work by both British and international artists. It was opened in 1977, and was the UK's first sculpture park.  It has a changing exhibition programme, rather than a permanent display so you can go time and time again and see different works of art.  If you're going to spend the whole day here, then you're going to need to eat! Picnics are allowed in the park, but there is also a restaurant, with great views, and a cafe. Both have indoor and outdoor seating so no matter what the weather, you're catered for.  It's a great day out, and just a little bit different. Top tip: If you can, visit on a weekday - it's lovely to wander around without crowds and enjoy the peace and q

Sometimes you just want to get away from it all - and where better to do that than at a place called the "Chillout Hotel"! Their website calls it 'an oasis of peace and relaxation', and it's certainly that. It's situated just 8km from the town of Tarifa towards Cadiz, on Costa de la Luz on the southern coast of Spain. The area is known as one of the world's most popular destinations for wind sports, because of the unique wind conditions in this area.  The hotel is set in beautiful gardens, and is only a five minute walk from Casas de Porro beach. There are plenty of places you can relax and enjoy the surroundings, but my favourite is the beautiful Balinese-style terrace.  The hotel prices are very competitive for what you get, and breakfast is included in the price. While the rooms are functional they have everything you need including air conditioning. The kafe and restaurant are both good value, and a top tip for you...the mojitos are