Huacachina is a small desert oasis in Peru’s Ica Region, located about five kilometers from the city of Ica. A green lagoon sits at the center of the settlement, surrounded by palm trees, huarangos, eucalyptus, and high sand dunes. The contrast between water and vegetation and the surrounding coastal desert gives Huacachina a distinctive landscape within southern Peru. T
Vienna has a long memory. Once the capital of the Habsburg Empire, the city still carries signs of its imperial past in its palaces, concert halls, and wide boulevards. Visitors can walk through the Hofburg complex, where emperors once ruled, or tour the opulent rooms of Schönbrunn Palace, which features 1,441 rooms and a maze in its gardens. But Vienna’s many historic buildings now house contemporary art museums, cafés, and institutions that reflect the city’s modern identity.
Nuevo Vallarta, located along the Bahía de Banderas in the state of Nayarit, is a coastal destination known for its wide, sandy beaches and marina-lined canals. Originally developed as a tourism project in the late 20th century, it has grown into a well-organized resort area with luxury hotels, golf courses, and waterfront condos. Unlike older beach towns with colonial roots, Nuevo Vallarta was designed from the start to offer modern comfort while being surrounded by natural landscapes.
Kakheti is Georgia's easternmost major wine region, stretching across the Alazani and Iori valleys beneath the Greater Caucasus. The region is known for vineyards, fertile plains, dry hills, and mountain landscapes that change considerably between its eastern and western areas. Telavi serves as the main regional center, while towns and villages such as Sighnaghi, Kvareli, Gurjaani, and Tsinandali provide access to vineyards, monasteries, historic estates, and local markets.
Flic en Flac is a coastal town on the western side of Mauritius, overlooking a sheltered lagoon protected by a coral reef. It is known for its long sandy beach, calm coastal waters, and views toward the open Indian Ocean. The town has grown from a small fishing settlement into one of the island’s established seaside communities, while fishing and boating remain visible along the coast.
Tree-lined avenues, grand architecture, and the imperative to live well defines Bucharest, a bustling city that is rebounding and expanding. In the 1900s, this vibrant Romanian capital was nicknamed "Little Paris" and that jubilant, raise-a-glass spirit carries over to this day.
Travelers are advised to linger in historically-rich Bucharest, even if their future itinerary stop of Transylvania is beckoning. Those that do will be rewarded with 21st-century modernity and belle époque antiquity. Attractions include the gargantuan Palace of Parliament, the grand concert hall Romanian Athenaeum, King Mihai I Park, and the Arch of Triumph war memorial.
Other Popular Destinations in Romania
Braşov
Nestled in the heart of Romania, Brașov is a charming city that effortlessly blends medieval history with stunning natural beauty. Encircled by the Carpathian Mountains, Brașov's well-preserved medieval architecture and vibrant cultural scene make it a must-visit destination.
Sighisoara
Sighisoara rises above the Târnava Mare River as one of the few medieval citadels in Europe that is still lived in and admired today. Its historic center has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999, recognized for its long history as a fortified Saxon settlement and its role in trade and defense on the edges of central Europe. Wander through cobbled alleys framed by pastel-colored houses, and the layers of time feel close at hand, from the city walls and guild towers to busy cafés.