13 Exotic Destinations To Escape From Montreal At Least Once In Your Life
Despite its number of flaws, this city offers a whole lot of cool events and festivals, beautiful architecture, one-of-a-kind culture, and probably the best place to call home. That said, it's sometimes nice to get away.
Escaping the familiar and discovering wondrous far-off placesis not only a great way to get over the end of summer blues, but it's also good for the soul. Especially when it includes a sunny beach and cheap booze, amirite?
If you are unfortunately not in a position to get away right now, scroll through the amazing places below and enjoy a daydream or two on us.
Photo cred - Raul Soler
1. Faro
At the most southern tip of Portugal is the most popular city in the Algarve region, Faro. With numerous alluring beaches, historical and cultural attractions, and archaeological ruins to choose from, as well as a variety of dining, nightlife, and entertainment options, Faro consistently ranks as one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. Make sure to check out the picturesque coastline of Lagos and the Capela de Ossoes, a church entirely built in the 1800's out of the skulls and bones of monks.
2. Melbourne
Located near the Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is the second biggest city in Australia and the state capital of Victoria. While not the capital of Australia, Melbourne is largely considered its cultural hub, with numerous art galleries, museums, theatres, shopping malls, gardens, and houses from the Victorian-era. The Wine Tour in the Mornington Peninsula or the open air Queen Victoria Market are well worth checking out. Visit Phillip Island to watch the Penguin Parade at sunset or be one with nature and go to Dandenongs, see the Yarra River, visit the Royal Botanic Garden, or check out the Como House and Gardens. Plus, no trip to Melbourne would be complete without experiencing some of the great nightlife found in St. Kilda.
3. Antigua
Speaking of beaches, why not try one of Antigua's 365! Yep, a beach for every single day of the year! Antigua boasts crystal clear blue waters, magnificent coral reefs, and vibrant tropical wildlife to get lost in. Make sure to check out Stingray City where you can enjoy snorkeling and interacting with stingrays in their natural habitat.
4. Split
For years, Croatia has been a bit of a hidden gem, largely unspoiled by mainstream tourism. The popularity of Game of Thrones has started to change that (King's Landing is filmed in the city of Dubrovnik), but the coastline still remains one of my favourite places, especially the city of Split. With an average of more than 200 days per year of sunshine, Split features a great mixture of urban convenience, friendly culture, and truly memorable nightlife.
5. Phuket
With some of Thailand’s most popular beaches, Phuket is a must-see destination if you're lucky enough to find yourself on the Andaman Sea. Phuket's most popular and developed area is Patong Beach on the central west coast thanks to its happening nightlife, shopping, and easy access to its wide and long beach. Make sure to take a cruise or kayak along emerald limestone karsts jutting out along Phang Nga Bay, which you might recognize from numerous films including James Bond's iconic The Man with the Golden Gun.
Photo cred - frahmanz
6. Kuala Lumpur
Life is not always a beach, though. If you're looking for a city like no other, Kuala Lumpur has got you covered. The capital city of Maylasia, Kuala Lumpur features one of the most impressive skyscrapers in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, as well as unparalleled shopping malls. Despite Kuala Lumpur's modern development, it still boasts numerous historic sites, temples, and mosques to go along with the contemporary buildings and shopping malls.
Photo cred - Ignatius Win Tanuwidjaja
7. Jakarta
If you're looking for adventure, look no further than Indonesia and its capital city Jakarta. With endless possibilities of excitement, Jakarta's biggest draw is probably Ancol Dream Park, located in Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, which consists of several different attractions including the Dunia Fantasy amusement park, the Atlantis Waterboom Adventure, and Seaworld (the biggest aquarium in the Southeast). There is also the annual Pekan Raya fair every June/July, when the whole city comes alive with exhibits, musical performances, entertainment shows, amusement rides, shopping, and a food festival.
Photo cred - Synden Hope-Johnston
8. Rio De Janeiro
With world-famous beaches like Ipanema and Copacabana, an impressive nightlife, amazing cuisine, iconic landmarks, and a truly laid-back way of life, Brazil's former capital is one cool place. Rio De Janeiro is surrounded by grand mountains including the most famous peak, Corcovado with the its renowned Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue, as well as Pão de Açúcar, otherwise known as Sugar Loaf Mountain, which offers breathtaking views of Copacabana beach and the entire city. Tijuca National Park, the largest urban rain forest on the planet, and the yearly festival known as Carnival are just additional reasons why Rio truly is the "Marvelous City".
Photo cred - alschim
9. Santa Marta
While Pablo Escobar might have made Colombia internationally infamous back in the 80's, it's the country's natural, breathtaking beauty that continues to attract visitors from all over, with Santa Marta as a prime example. Tayrona National Park offers stunning rainforests to hike, nudist beaches, excellent views, and cabanas. Explore the lost city of Cuidad Perdida to meet indigenous children, swim in rivers, and camp in the mountains. Playa Blanca is one of many gorgeous beaches to sunbathe on and make sure to check out Minca for waterfalls and authentic Colombian coffee plantations.
Photo cred - wallyg
10. New Orleans
While many think the easiest trip down south would be to Florida, you're better than that. Instead, visit New Orleans: the home of southern hospitality and, let's not forget, Mardi Gras! From Esplanade Avenue to Canal Street, all the way to Rampart Street, you can stroll through the French Quarter and its Vieux Carre for one of the most, as locals say, "unforgettable places you will ever visit this side of the Mississippi".
Photo cred - wenzday01
11. Cape Town
Famous for its beautiful harbour, Cape Town is one of the most multicultural cities in the world and is considered one of the best places to visit. With tons of alluring beaches to be enjoyed along this stretch of the Atlantic seaboard, Cape Town's other major draw is its diverse plant and animal life. Visit Table Mountain to discover over 2,000 species of plants and to ride the cable car that offers a complete view of the city and its surrounding areas.
Photo cred - Magh
12. Beirut
The capital city and largest seaport of Lebanon, Beirut is not only rich in cultural history but also in natural beauty. Settled more than 5,000 years ago, there are tons of museums and galleries to visit if you are knowledge-hungry. Popular tourist destinations include the Raouché neighbourhood, known for its upscale apartments, restaurants, and cliff-side cafés that line Avenue de Paris as well as the Pigeon Rocks located just off the shore.
Photo cred - Markus Jöbstl
13. Honolulu
It's hard to believe that a place as exotic as Hawaii is just another American state but it sure is easy to forget once you're there. Honolulu, the state capital of Hawaii, is the largest city on the Island of Oahu and is best known for Waikiki Beach, with its stunning white sand beach shoreline.
So which city are you going to next? All of them?? Us too. But air travel gets mad expensive. Canada-based FlightHub is the largest Canadian online travel agency and offers cheap flights to all of these exotic locations and many more. They negotiate the best discounts with over 211 airlines worldwide so that you get to fly for cheap. With daily flight promotions, constant itinerary updates, 24/7 customer support, and even reminders for all of your travel needs, FlightHub delivers one of the best user experiences out there and is truly a one-stop-shop for all your travel needs.
