top of page

Five Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations That You Must Experience

Updated: Jul 16, 2023


There’s the thrill of visiting monuments like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, and the Great Sphinx of Giza in Cairo, Egypt, that could seemingly be unmatched. It’s the excitement of vacationing the world’s most famous tourist attractions that make these destinations more popular than other locations. Let me tell you about five underrated destinations and why you should put them on your bucket list. That’s not to say these destinations aren’t known among in-the-know travelers but that they deserve more recognition, especially in an era of over-tourism.

Lisbon, Portugal


Home to some of Europe’s best beaches like Praia das Gaivotas near Vilalara Thalassa Resort if you like your privacy and five-star suites. Then there’s Alvor beach which stretches for miles, and the Tivoli Carvoeiro, which sits overlooking Vale do Covo at the Algarve, which lies between two cliffs. Lisbon is a perfect destination for golf lovers at the Penha Longa Golf Club located in a former monastic estate. Nightlife for Lisbon is in the neighborhood hub of Bairro Alto and Principle Real from bars, jazz clubs. For the wine lovers, you can head over to The Old Pharmacy Wine Inn.


Join in on over 346 million posts with #travel and get a photo at some of the most Instagrammable places in Lisbon like Rua Nova do Carvalho aka the Pink Street and

the Belem Tower for sunset photos in Lisbon.


Busan, South Korea

Seoul is great, but Busan has hot springs and 450 spas, the most of any city on the Korean peninsula. The Spa Land Centum City is the biggest and most famous spa with 22 bathtubs and two types of thermal water known for beauty and pain relief. Soak up some sunshine at Haeundae Beach and fingers crossed you’ll participate in an annual event the “Polar Bear Club” where you’ll take a dip in freezing water. Top off your visit to South Korea by shopping at the world’s largest department store - Busan’s Shinsegae Centum City, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.


The Instagrammable must Op is the Busan Gamcheon Culture Village, also known as the “Santorini of the East” with its pastel-colored houses and tiny alleys. Still, it’s the gorgeous street art, cafes that give it its appeal and perfect for Instagram shots.


Essaouira, Morocco

Atop Morocco’s Atlantic coast is a perfect getaway from the tourist hub Marrakech. Essaouira has a small-town feel, then add the sunshine and constant warm weather you’ve got the next popular destination. However, Essaouira may be familiar to many because of the HBO hit show Game of Thrones, where the city of Astapor was featured. While they have all the activities, you’d expect in Morocco like Traditional Souk, Museums like Sidi Mohamad Ben Abdellah, horse riding, and beaches. The ultimate experience in Essaouira is where the medina meets the Atlantic Ocean at the Essaouira Ramparts. The best place for photographs is the harbor and city from the walls of the fort.


Hilo Hawaii

Enjoy one of the three waterfalls, the Peepee Falls, Waialae Falls, or Rainbow Falls, where the most stunning Instagrammabe pictures can be taken. Rainbow has waterfalls as high as 80 ft and Hilo is home to The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. The must-do at this destination is a hike through Akaka Falls State Park, where there are two falls and the highest being higher than Niagara Falls in Canada. An exploration of the downtown Hilo on Mamo Street and Kamehameha Avene is a must-do. Then after a long day of walking, you can relax on Punalu’s a black beach or Richardson Beach Park, which is a bit closer to Hilo. Then finish the day with dinner at Hilo Bay Cafe.


Panama

Often compared to Costa Rica depending on who you ask because of the remote mountains and island retreats i.e., San Blas Islands of Panama. Music lovers, you can enjoy live jazz, then go dine at the oldest cafe - Coco-Cola Cafe in Panama City. Then adventure out to the indigenous Embera Indians and their village where they still live and dress in traditional attire. However, you cannot complete your visit to Panama without a walk across the second largest and highest hanging bridge in Central America - Boquete Hanging Bridge. Finally, end your evening on a rooftop with the sunset, drinks, and pool time at the W Hotel or Hard Rock in Panama City.

留言


bottom of page