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Off the beaten track: A guide to holiday destinations

In this article, we’ll be looking at some out-of-the-way holiday destinations that don’t get the same coverage as the usual tourist hotspots, but are well worth considering as you plan your next vacation.

When planning our travels, certain locations come to mind almost instantaneously. If you value culture and art, you think Paris. If you want to visit a casino, Vegas is the first thing that pops up. If you want to soak up some sun rays, well, they don't call Florida the Sunshine State for nothing!

While these well-known destinations might deserve their reputation, their popularity can obscure some amazing alternatives. Did you know that some of the best museums in the world are located in Austria, that there are some amazing New Jersey casinos and that Slovenia has both Mediterranean port towns and ski-resorts?

In this article, we’ll be looking at some out-of-the-way holiday destinations that don’t get the same coverage as the usual tourist hotspots, but are well worth considering as you plan your next vacation.

Samoa
If you’re looking for somewhere exotic to spend the new year and want to get the jump on the rest of the world when starting the party, then the practically untouched paradise of the Samoan Islands should be on your list of holiday destinations.

Samoa is the first country to receive the New Year as a whole, but there is much more to recommend in these islands than just a dateline quirk. The two main islands, Savai'i and Upolu, are dotted with beautiful white-sand beaches, quaint beach bungalows, clear blue waters, and gently swaying palm trees.

The Lapita people settled on the Samoan Islands around 3,500 years ago and Samoan culture is vibrant, welcoming, and unique. 

Even better, because of its status as an off-the-beaten-path holiday destination, it has nowhere near the tourist traffic that similar destinations, like Mauritius or Tahiti, get all year round.

Ortigia
Syracuse was once one of the most powerful cities in the Mediterranean, vying with Rome, Carthage, and the more powerful Greek city-states for control. The remains of Syracuse now represent some of the largest collections of Greek ruins in Italy and the sleepy town of Siracusa.

Just off the shore of Siracusa is the old port island of Ortigia, an unspoiled slice of traditional Sicilian life that makes an outstanding holiday destination if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Palermo or Taormina.

Ortigia is entirely pedestrianized, so you can wander the cobbled streets, admiring the 18th-century baroque architecture, without having to worry about the traffic, before heading to a seafront cafe, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, so you’ll have some of the best fresh-cooked seafood you’ll ever taste.


Olomouc, image by Leonhard Niederwimmer from Pixabay

Olomouc
If you love Prague, but don’t love the immense crowds that normally cross the Charles Bridge, then the city of Olomouc could be exactly where you want to visit. While it is smaller than Prague, Olomouc has that same entrancing collection of cobbled streets, beautiful architecture, fantastic cafes, and friendly people.

If you’re a history buff, then Olomouc has a lot to offer. The standout attraction is the Holy Trinity Column, but there are plenty of other sights to take in, such as the Communist Astronomical Clock and the towering terracotta fortress of Bouzov Castle.

Sheki
A picturesque town in Azerbaijan that combines rural charm with rich historical significance, Sheki is a fantastic example of the Azerbaijani culture without the crowds drawn by Lahic, Xinaliq, or the capital Baku.

Once a stopping point on the famous Silk Road, Sheki’s culture is still strongly influenced by the silk trade, with silk shops and manufacturers still dotting the main street. One of the town’s largest sources of accommodation is the Sheki Karvansaray Hotel, originally a stopping point for silk traders that was converted into a hotel in the 1980s.

The food available in Sheki is also very similar to what ancient silk traders would have eaten, with the principle dishes being a saffron stew called piti served with small cups of strong aromatic chai tea.

If you’re looking for sights to take in around Sheki, then you can’t do much better than the summer and winter palaces of the Sheki Khans. Located just outside the town, these twin buildings are amazing pieces of traditional architecture, faced in shining white plaster and heavily decorated in intricate frescoes and beautiful stained-glass windows. Not a sight you’ll want to miss!

Main image by Holger Detje from Pixabay

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