Capricorn Travel

28/12/2021

The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside. Hanoi may have shrugged off several former names, including Thang Long, or "ascending dragon," but it hasn't forgotten its past, as sites such as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi.

28/12/2021

Dubai is a destination that mixes modern culture with history, adventure with world-class shopping and entertainment. Catch a show at the Dubai Opera, see downtown from atop the Burj Khalifa and spend an afternoon along Dubai Creek exploring the gold, textile and spice souks. If you’re looking for thrills, you can float above the desert dunes in a hot air balloon, climb aboard a high-speed ride at IMG Worlds of Adventure or skydive over the Palm Jumeirah.

23/12/2021

Antigua enters our top 10 for 2020. Virgin Atlantic is adding flights into Antigua from June 2020, increasing its service from three to four times a week. More flight availability means Antigua is looking great value for money. This year, Kuoni has added two new hotels for customers. The first is Hammock Cove Antigua, a collection of brand new ultra-modern villas, each with a plunge pool and personalised cocktail counter on your veranda. Kuoni has also added the Royalton Antigua Resort & Spa, featuring the island’s first-ever overwater bungalows.

23/12/2021

South Africa is still holding firm in our top 10, up +9%, and the value of the rand is still one of the biggest pulls to the country, ensuring incredible food and drink at affordable prices. Kuoni experts say a glass of wine will set you back around £1.80 on average. Escorted touring is up +18% and the popularity is driven by the country’s diverse mix of cities, beaches, winelands, battlefields and the opportunity to go on safari. Kuoni’s 11-night Classic South Africa escorted small group safari is the most popular, which includes wine-tasting in Franschhoek’s vineyards.

23/12/2021

From Vietnam to Spain, our latest Worldwide Travel Report uncovers the 25 top holiday destinations.
The new Worldwide Travel Report revealed our customers’ most booked destinations over the last 12 months, providing travel inspiration for anyone looking to visit somewhere incredible on their next trip.

This year, Antigua enters our top 10 for the first time, Spain is back in the list (at #24) driven by an increased interest in the Canary Islands, and Cuba drops out of the top 25.

23/12/2021

The Maldives is Kuoni’s top destination for the 17th year running, with bookings up +6%. In 1972, Kuoni was the first UK tour operator to offer Maldives holidays and the region has seen steady growth, welcoming over 1.5 million visitors in 2019. The government is hoping to increase worldwide visitor numbers to over seven million by 2027, helped by heavy investment in airport links, including the one billion USD development of Velana International Airport.

Kuoni continues to cherry-pick the best resorts to ensure an authentic stay and new additions include Reethi Faru, with memorable dining locations including cabanas lit by flaming torches; and OBLU Select at Sangeli, which has a dedicated adults-only island, and one of the Maldives’ first all-vegetarian restaurants. Seven islands are exclusive to Kuoni guests in the UK, including the new-look five-star Maafushivaru, opening in March, and Kuramathi Maldives, which continues to be Kuoni’s most popular island.

23/12/2021

Thailand remains in Kuoni’s top three destinations for 2020 and Koh Samui, Bangkok and Phuket continue to be top sellers, helped by Kuoni exclusive hotels – Rocky’s Boutique Resort in Koh Samui and Marina Phuket Resort. The biggest areas of growth are Khao Lak and Koh Phangan, fuelled by new hotels such as Kalima Resort & Spa Khao Lak, which is tucked away in the mangrove forest close to a beautiful, almost deserted, stretch of unspoilt beach.

The majority of Kuoni’s bookings are twincentres, but the company has seen a surprising 10% increase for 2020 holidays taking in three or more stops. Guests aren’t staying longer than the traditional 10-14 night itineraries, but are adding an extra destination to see more during their holiday. Kuoni has seen interest in Singapore and Koh Samui combinations, owing to a direct flight with Singapore Airlines; and 33% of Kuoni’s Thailand bookings are made through Kuoni’s northern stores, pushed by Qatar Airways and Emirates flights from airports including Glasgow and Manchester.

23/12/2021

Sri Lanka has dropped two places in Kuoni’s top 10 due to the 2019 Easter bombings, where the FCO advised UK citizens against all but essential travel for a period of six weeks. This affected forward bookings for 2020, though tourism is returning and shows resilience, helped by some great value offers. Sri Lanka still sits within the top five trending destinations for 2020 as the country is hard to replicate; an island with a diverse mix of beaches, ancient cities, rock temples and the chance to go on safari – all easily combined in one holiday.

Kuoni’s private car and driver/guide service is one of the company’s biggest sellers, offering great value for exploring the island. When it comes to group touring, Kuoni’s best-selling escorted small group tour is Sri Lanka Explorer, a 12-night discovery of the islands tea plantations, sacred cities, botanical gardens and wild elephant hotspots.

10/12/2021

Mysore Palace
With its ornate facades, elegant arches, and magnificent marble domes, Mysore Palace in India really is a showstopper. Built between 1897 and 1912 to showcase the Wadiyar dynasty’s fabulous wealth and power, the palace is actually just one of seven in Mysore, which is fittingly nicknamed ‘the City of Palaces.’

Although so many amazing monuments and landmarks can be found around town, Mysore Palace’s arresting architecture and lush landscaped gardens make it Mysore’s most popular tourist attraction.

10/12/2021

Peterhof Palace
Nicknamed ‘the Russian Versailles.’ Peterhof Palace certainly rivals the Sun King’s royal residence in terms of its size, scale and splendor. Sprawling over a vast area, the palace and its landscaped gardens are set on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, just outside of Saint Petersburg.

Built between 1709 and 1756, the extravagant palace was commissioned by Peter the Great to symbolize and highlight the modernization and westernization of Russia. As such, each room is more exquisitely designed and decorated than the last, with the Throne Room and Chesma Hall being two of the most impressive.

Outside is just as astonishing; there are endless fountains and flowerbeds for visitors to wander around, as well as the fittingly named Grand Cascade. An artistic and architectural marvel, the Peterhof Palace complex is not to be missed out on.

09/12/2021

Cairo
This dusty capital city is one of the most sprawling cities on Earth, home to more than 17 million people. Built on the banks of the Nile River, Cairo is a medieval Islamic city with an eternally hazy horizon and beige-colored buildings topped with TV satellites.

Built near the ancient capital city of Memphis, modern Cairo is a popular starting point for cruises up the Nile and for explorations of the Pyramids at Giza just outside the city’s limits. But there is so much to do within this enormous city itself.

At the world-renowned Egyptian Museum of Tahrir Square, visitors can get a close-up view of the treasure of Tutankhamun as well as mummies and other artifacts from Egypt’s ancient past.

09/12/2021

Aswan
Egypt’s southernmost city, Aswan is another major city nestled along the banks of the Nile River. However, due to its location and size, it offers a much more relaxed alternative to big cities Luxor or Cairo.

Although its own monuments are minor compared to Luxor’s, Aswan is the base for excursions to the temples of Philae and Kabasha and to the Sun Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, to the south. It is also the best starting point for excursions to the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu, between Aswan and Luxor.

Aswan itself has one of the most beguiling settings in Egypt. Granite cliffs overlook the Nile’s First Cataract, the first of a series of shallow white water rapids broken by rocky islets that stretch north to Khartoum. Home to a large community of Nubian people, it was once the gateway to Africa in ancient Egypt. You can learn more about these people at the Nubian Museum, which is filled with treasures and relics that were kept safe from the flood of Nubia.

08/12/2021

Kanuhura Island – For Kid-Friendly Villas
The Kanuhura Island boasts of an elaborate villa setting and the five-star luxurious amenities and services that it provides to its guests. Known for a kid-friendly place, this place sees a lot of kids and packs of friends vacationing here apart from the regular honeymooners. Every villa at the island resort, Kanuhura, provide a private host that will take care of all your needs. While you enjoy the pampering the island provides you, away from the desk work back at home, the kids get to have a good time at the Kids Club. One aspect about the villas that make it worth the stay is the d-cor that leaves the guests amazed. This is an amazing places to see in Maldives.

Major attractions: Surfing, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Beach volleyball, Tennis, and rejuvenation at the resort spa

Best places to stay: Kanuhura Maldives

Best time to visit: October to December

08/12/2021

Maafushi Island – For A Stunning Mix Of Blue & White
Also known as Maldives paradise, the Maafushi Beach is among the best beaches in the country, that is sought after for fun activities. This place stands in top amongst the famous places in Maldives. With a wide range of water sports that keep the tourists hooked, the food served here is lip-smacking and will leave you licking your fingers. Apart from the amazing things to do on Maafushi Island, one can indulge in, one should treat their eyes to the scenic beauty that graces this island. The mix of blue and white is perfectly blended to relax your mind by the sight of it.

Major attractions: Bikini beach, Vihamanafushi Island, Island hopping, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, and Shark Diving

Best places to stay: White Sand Lodge, Crystal Sands, Beachwood Hotel and Spa

Best time to visit: January and February

01/12/2021

Many traditional customs associated with the bygone farming lifestyle are still recognized and celebrated today, particularly those associated with the end of the alpine summer when the cows return from their high alpine pastures to the valleys, such as the Chästeilet cheese festival in Mägisalp in the Bernese Oberland.

01/12/2021

The moment was exciting but not surprising: the National Geographic Society had joined other cartographers in recognizing the Southern Ocean, a fifth ocean in the world.

What is surprising, though, is the way Geographer Alex Tait announced the news, speaking over twangy music on the social platform TikTok, reminding viewers that the news marks an opportune time “to update maps, textbooks, and pub quizzes.”

01/12/2021

A precarious exile: When the Mediterranean island of Elba couldn’t hold Napoleon, the Waterloo-defeated French leader was sent in 1815 to the isolated Atlantic island of St. Helena. He died there in 1821. Above, photographer Robert Ormerod captures the island’s capital, Jamestown, nestled between volcanic mountains.

01/12/2021

Wherever I go, I find Thoreau. That was certainly the case a year ago, when I made a sojourn to Walden Pond (pictured above), near Concord, Massachusetts. I hiked around the pond twice, and dropped into its crystal waters at numerous spots, searching for a transcendent soak.

“A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature,” wrote Henry David Thoreau in Walden. Long after the book’s publication, this study of nature—within us and around us— continues to inspire.

01/12/2021

The climax happens in his ultimate destination—a grand but slowly crumbling 200-year-old palazzo approachable only by gondola, backing onto a ruined garden, and staffed by two servants who “knew the difference between a Bloody Mary and a crème de menthe frappé.” The increasingly high style, the shady road trip, and the decaying palazzo mirror Ripley’s own twisted social climbing ambitions and crumbling brain. They are his sad, very boozy doppelgangers.

01/12/2021