If you’re looking to channel France, go no farther than the cafes and green markets of Montreal, including Jean Talon Market and the Atwater Market. These days restaurants serving Chinese, Hong Kong, Vietnamese, Thai and other Asian cultures fill these shopping plazas. The sprawl of strip malls that comprises Houston’s Chinatown, for example, is the only tip-off that you’re still in Texas. Some affordable lodges include Claro de Luna Hotel in the mountainous Monteverde area (rooms from about $106) and Dulce Uvita - The Small Resort in Puntarenas on the Pacific shore (from $107). You may have to put up with some rain showers, especially in the mountains, but you’ll evade the crowds and the high prices of winter. Travelers looking for the volcanoes, rainforests and sustainable ethos of New Zealand may find some of its appeal closer to home in Costa Rica, where summer is quieter. There is a quota on entries, and while outfitters will secure your permit, you may have to be flexible with dates and routes.īoundary Waters Outfitters in Ely, Minn., has canoe camping packages - they supply the gear, including boats and tents, plus maps and food - from $370 a person for two to four people for three days. However, it will be high season in many of these alternative spots over the summer, which means savvy travelers should plan well in advance and be flexible with dates.įor example, if you wanted to swap the dark, star-filled skies in Scandinavia for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in northern Minnesota, act now. You may save on flights, too, especially in the Caribbean shoulder season a recent search for a June trip from New York City to the island turned up nonstop flights starting at $343, versus $840 to Honolulu. While the island is often associated with luxury resorts and all-inclusives, the island’s tourism office has made it easier to find the destination’s small hotels under a collection called “ Pepites,” which includes the short-term rental Vista Del Piton near the mountains starting at $80 a night for two bedrooms. “Both destinations have stunning beaches, water sports, rainforests, mountains, waterfalls and volcanoes.” Lucia ‘The Hawaii of the Caribbean,’” said Sarah Kline, the owner of Time For Travel, an Ensemble Travel Group agency. Lucia Tour guides who will lead the way ($50). For a close encounter, hike up Gros Piton, the squatter of the two peaks, a thorough exercise that can take between three and six hours one way, according to Real St. Lucia does a credible job standing in for Hawaii when it comes to the volcanic Pitons on its southern end where you’ll also find lush jungles and waterfalls. Rooms at the boutique Hotel 1697 in Loreto currently start at about $100.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |