Relaxation

'Pura Vida' can be heard echoing throughout Costa Rica. Translating to 'pure life', the term has been adopted unofficially as the country's national motto, symbolic of the Costa Rican mindset and indicative of the enriching experiences that await travellers.  With today's hectic lifestyle, it's never been more important to enjoy an occasional break from the daily grind, take a digital detox from our phones or simply make time to revel in the world around us. If you're looking to pair all this with an immersion into nature, then Costa Rica makes for a prime destination choice.

Set between the bustling city of Frankfurt on the Main river and the peaceful hilltops of the Taunus, is the charming spa town of Bad Hamburg.  The area has a lot to offer in addition to its ideal location, is the perfect balance between tradition and modern.  Exhibitions and live concerts lure the culture enthusiasts while the town’s famous casino Bad Hamburg - since 1841, turns night into day for many.  You can enjoy its beautiful parks, visit Bad Hamburg’s historical Royal Day Spa, or you can go shopping in its many independent shops.

If you land during a local celebration of some sort you’ll find something very special about being greeted at Havana’s airport by a troupe of dancing girls, clad in sequins and feathers, moving rhythmically to the strains of salsa and handing out glasses of rum punch.

This jewel of an island offers something for everyone, from nature lovers and adrenaline junkies to sun-seeking families. Or you could just take it easy lying down on a beach bed.

Glance out of the aircraft window as you prepare to land at Saint Lucia’s main international airport and you will see for yourself just why this is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful of the Caribbean islands.

Just 70 miles off the coast of Venezuela; Tobago is a smart choice for first-time visitors to the Caribbean with a gentle, no-hurry vibe that means relaxation is guaranteed. It’s only 25 miles long and most hotels lie in the flat, south-west corner of the island – close to the airport and wide, sandy beaches that are a key attraction. Here the elegant Coco Reef Resort & Spa sits beside idyllic white sands and includes a child-friendly lagoon, while the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort features three pools and an 18-hole PGA-designed course.

Let’s be honest. Salzburg in Austria might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of a romantic city break – but that’s part of what makes it the perfect place for one. The city doesn’t shout too loudly about its many charms, but those savvy couples that do visit will be richly rewarded with stunning sights, blissful views and so many romantic restaurants and bars that you’ll be planning your return before your holiday is even over.

Thanks to its rich history of skiing and other winter sports, SalzburgerLand is usually associated with action and exhilaration. But the whole area around the city of Salzburg is also a fantastic place for relaxation, thanks to its wealth of thermal spas (or ‘thermen’).

The ‘Spice of the Caribbean’, Grenada offers the chance to dive among coral, venture into lush rainforest and relax with the sun on your skin as aromatic scents fill the air.  From the cocoa fields a Belmont to Grand Etang National Park, from the white sandy beaches on the Caribbean side of the island to the rugged Atlantic coast, Grenada is all about adventure and relaxation-whatever kind of holiday you’re looking for.

The Thai island of Koh Samui is a little slice of paradise – offering everything from water sports to blissful relaxation.  From secret Buddha gardens to hidden beaches, world class hotels to backpacker chic, sizzling street food to world-class cuisine, Koh Samui has established itself as one of the most diverse and alluring destinations on the planet.  For those of us who prefer sun to snow this winter – and who wouldn’t? – This 15km-wide paradise island in Thailand’s Chumphon archipelago takes some beating.

A sunset can be enjoy from many places but none is like what you will enjoy if you are in London. Therefore, we have located eight of London's coolest places to enjoy its sunsets, from the heart of the city to its outskirts. And the best part of it is, most of them are for free; all you need is your travel card and you can be there, watching the changing colours of the London skyline as the city say by to another day.