GreatHope Travel (2025)

24/05/2022

Honeymoon Island State Park Beach
If you don't mind a bit of a drive, make the 30-minute trip out to Honeymoon Island to enjoy the beautiful soft, white sand. Once slated for a massive development, this offshore barrier island was saved by local do-gooders and today is one of the best beaches in Florida.

The beach here is substantially larger than anything you'll find in Tarpon Springs. Extending for four miles, it's a beach walker's paradise. The sand is soft and white, lapped by the warm, clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Securing a beach spot is never an issue; massive parking lots are just steps from the sand. Although the large parking lots may give you pause about how many people will be at the beach, don't worry. Honeymoon Island's beaches are rarely crowded; even on the busiest of days, you'll always find space.

When you first arrive in the park, you may be tempted to pull into the first parking lot for Main Beach. Resist this temptation and keep going until you reach the far superior North Beach. The beaches along Florida's Gulf Coast are always changing, and recent events have left Main Beach badly eroded.

Back from the beach, you'll find restrooms and showers. Picnic tables are not located near the beach, they are over by the sand volleyball courts and playground structures.

23/05/2022

Howard Park Beach
The best beach in Tarpon Springs is Howard Park Beach. Set just offshore at the end of a one-mile-long causeway, this lovely beach is one of the best beaches in the entire north Pinellas county area. Nearly two million people visit nearby Fred Howard Park; many of them making Howard Park Beach, located within the park, their main destination.

However, the popularity does not diminish the visitor experience. A wide, long stretch of white sand is backed by medium-sized palm trees, giving the place a rather idyllic feel. You'll rarely have trouble finding a spot to set up for your beach day, and with the parking lot only a short stroll away, you can bring as much gear as you want.

The water is shallow and warm, just perfect for swimming, splashing, and lazing about. Families with small children will find the attentive lifeguards an added bonus. If you can draw your eyes from your latest bestseller as you lounge in your beach chair, you may be lucky enough to spot a pod of dolphins swimming along just offshore. Depending on the season, you may also see the large and gentle manatees doing a bit of grazing.

Kayaking and canoeing are also popular pastimes at Howard Park Beach. You can paddle offshore from the main beach or plan a route out in the shallow water near the causeway. A boat launch is available, along with rental equipment if you don't have your own.

20/05/2022

Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales
If the idyllic exterior of the Grove of Narberth doesn't impress you, the lavish gardens certainly will. A pristine place to unwind, this Welsh beauty is set upon 26 acres of greenspace, bordered by blooming flowers. It contains a dedicated cutting garden and offers lovely stream and hill views.

A small luxury resort, this pastoral country house escape also boasts charming cottages for those who need a bit more space. Families love it here. Between the extensive grounds, outdoor games (including croquet) and the magical fairy trail through the area, there are plenty of fun ways to occupy the kids during your stay.

We suggest booking the Daniel & Elizabeth master suite plus an adjoining twin room, so your family can enjoy their own private floor within the main house. Kids are welcome to eat at the on-site restaurants but must leave dinner by 8 if they're under 12. The hotel can link you to a registered babysitter if you're in need.

When it comes to food, the fare here is fresh and local (much of the produce is grown in the kitchen garden) and there are two equally delectable restaurants to choose from. Fernery is a more upscale fine dining establishment, and the Artisan Rooms are more laid-back. Don't worry, you'll receive stellar food and service in both. Afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the hotel lounges.

The resort is well located near area beaches and the town of Narberth, where you'll find chic boutiques and adorable cafés.

19/05/2022

Culloden Estate and Spa, Belfast, Northern Ireland
High on a hill above the glistening shores of Belfast Lough lies the majestic Culloden Estate and Spa, a Hyatt property. Guests are guaranteed a comfortable stay in this regal estate's plush rooms, with uber cozy King Koil Cloud Beds and plenty of space to explore, with 12 acres of gardens at your disposal.

Choose between 98 rooms with either a view of the lake or the sprawling lush grounds. The Garden Family Room is perfect for small families, as it boasts both a king and a single bed, so you won't have to share.

If you're really hoping to lap up the luxury, book into a Palace Suite. This grandiose, 100-square-meter masterpiece comes complete with a rooftop terrace and features a large dining table, separate bedroom with a king bed, and a living room.

Grab a bite at the on-site Vespers restaurant, take a dip in the pool, or luxuriate in The Spa at Culloden. If you absolutely must work, the resort offers business services, as well as meeting facilities. A tip: book breakfast in advance, as the restaurant can get quite busy.

18/05/2022

The Headland, Newquay, England
Cornwall is to England as the Riviera is to Italy: a stunningly romantic spot to enjoy a seaside getaway. Home to some of the best holiday resorts in the UK, this glam seaside locale is a perfect place to unwind, and The Headland tops the list for the most impressive places to stay in Cornwall.

If you're looking to mix a little swank with a lot of luxury, this plush resort will fit the proverbial bill. It is perched dramatically atop a cliff, offering unsurpassable views of the Atlantic Ocean and Fistral Beach below. For years, The Headland has been a favorite for visiting royals and celebrities. Dating to the late 19th century, it's been a favorite haunt for the likes of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and even Prince Charles has stayed here.

Don't worry, although the façade is a well-preserved Victorian masterpiece, the inside of the hotel has been upgraded to cater to modern guests who prefer to stay in a high-class establishment. There are 95 chic rooms, a gym, luxe holiday cottages, a spa, and two phenomenal restaurants: the Samphire and Terrace.

The Headland is also home to a massive wellness center. Named the Aqua Club, it boasts six pools. This is also where you'll find a restaurant featuring gastronomic delights crafted with Mediterranean flare, and a large oceanfront terrace.

17/05/2022

Baja Sur’s East Cape, Mexico
Just when you think the Baja buzz has reached a fever pitch, new arrivals make it all the more thrilling. This year, the locus of the excitement has shifted away from the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo up to the East Cape, where a dreamy new 1,000-acre luxury enclave has finally come to fruition near Los Barriles. The Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas opened in October, with 141 rooms overlooking the placid Sea of Cortéz, and the Costa Palmas Beach & Yacht Club is welcoming members and hotel guests to its pools, golf course, two miles of beachfront, and — should you need a place to park your superyacht — a glittering, lake-size marina.

17/05/2022

Not long ago, Austria was viewed as the meringue of the Germanic world: beautiful to look at, yet somewhat dry when one actually bit in. But the country has reinvented itself, pouring resources into cutting-edge arts institutions while lovingly elevating the cultural jewels that made it so beloved in days gone by.

17/05/2022

Asheville, North Carolina
With a small-town feel and big-city cultural cred, Asheville, North Carolina is home to artists, musicians, and food and drink entrepreneurs who were making microbrews and serving farm-to-table meals long before such things were de rigueur. Now the mountain town is becoming more traveler-friendly than ever, with new offerings that showcase the sophisticated side of Appalachia. The Asheville Art Museum reopened in November with 70 percent more gallery space, including a new wing and rooftop sculpture garden.

17/05/2022

Arequipa, Peru
The preserved colonial architecture of “the White City” — so named for its gleaming structures made from sillar, a volcanic rock — earned the historic center of Arequipa UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000. But a dearth of upmarket lodgings has kept this Peruvian destination off most travelers’ radar. Now, the town finally has accommodations befitting the local history: August saw the opening of Cirqa, originally built in 1540, the year Arequipa was founded, as an inn for guests of the Church of San Agustín next door. The property marries preserved elements of the original parador — high vaulted ceilings, textural stone walls — with contemporary flourishes, such as black-steel-framed windows and a plunge pool. Further steeped in history is the cuisine at La Nueva Palomino, where a female-led staff cooks hearty stews from heirloom recipes. It’s all best enjoyed while admiring the three volcanoes in the distance (Chachani, Misti, and Pichu Pichu) with a tall glass of chicha, an Andean beer made from corn. —Scott Bay

17/05/2022

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
For much of the past four decades, Menelik Palace loomed over Addis Ababa as a symbol of imperial imposition. Now, nearly two years into his term and with a Nobel Peace Prize already under his belt, the country’s reformist prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has opened the 19th-century palace to the public and tapped local artist Elias Sime to build a public garden, slated to open midyear alongside the once-forbidding space. It’s the latest sign that something has shifted in Ethiopia’s capital — and thanks to a major expansion of Addis Ababa’s airport that’s tripled capacity and brought new routes, U.S. travelers can easily witness the change firsthand.

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