Beautiful Santorini

You can never get bored of the beautiful views.

My favourite island in Greece with many luxury hotels, gorgeous food and great hospitality.

My top things to do:

1. A private cruise exploring the island and swimming in the thermal springs

2. Hiking from Fira to Oia

3. Experience riding a donkey from Fira Port up the hill 

4. Relax by the pool with some lovely 🍾 or a few 🍸 

5. Go wine tasting at Santo Wines 🍷 

6. Taste the local cuisine 🥘 

Flying Safety Updates

As the skies prepare to open to fly business and leisure passengers around the world, airlines have started to implement Covid 19 safety measures to keep you and their staff safe during this transitional period.

Take a look below at our preferred airlines responses to keep passengers safe in the sky.

Should you need any assistance, happy to help.

GALWAY, IRELAND

GALWAY, IRELAND 2020’s European Capital of Culture

This year, Ireland’s effervescent west-coast city will throw its arms open wide to the world as it becomes the 2020 European Capital of Culture.

With its glut of traditional pubs spilling out jaunty bodhrán and fiddle music, the bohemian city has spent 2019 testing new community heritage and arts projects, such as pop-up culture cafés and funambulism (tightrope-walking) workshops. But the best is yet to come, with some terrific events being rolled out across Galway’s pubs, hubs and beaches, including new artworks by David Best (of Burning Man fame) and a series of intimate readings of Homer’s Odyssey (using Emily Wilson’s English translation, the first by a woman) on Galway’s blustery beaches. Margaret Atwood will also take part in the city’s International Women’s Day celebrations in March.

Galway’s designation as a 2018 European Region of Gastronomy has already cemented it as a fizzing foodie hub. The brilliantly beardy JP McMahon is Galway’s most high-profile chef, earning the city its first Michelin star in 2012. He’s also the man behind the annual Food on the Edge symposium to explore the future of food – next taking place in late October 2019 – which draws in big names such as Nathan Outlaw and Skye Gyngell. The ambitiously modern Loam has joined McMahon’s 24-cover Aniar as one of only two Michelin-starred joints in the city, but it’s what’s happening away from the notebooks of the Michelin inspectors that’s most exciting.

Galway is home to the world’s longest-running oyster festival (65 years of shucking so far), which also sees the World Oyster Opening Championships whip up competitive fervour among shellfish enthusiasts. You’ll find local Dooncastle and Flaggy Shore oysters (as well as natural wines and exquisite seaweed shortbread) served up at McMahon’s latest terroir-based opening, Tartare. And in nearby Burren, an hour away from the city, a raft of local producers are really bolstering Galway’s gourmet credentials, with a focus on fish-smoking, cheese-making and small-batch brewing (and look out for Burren wildflower honey at Galway’s Saturday market, too).

Unsurprisingly, the city – which is also a mid-point stop along the glorious 1550-mile Wild Atlantic Way driving route – will welcome a clutch of new hotel openings this year.

I’ve been going to Galway my whole life and would highly recommend. With my extensive network I’m able to offer stunning itineraries, bespoke tours and the finest hotels.

Contact me mail - discover@allworldjourneys.com

My recent trip to stunning Santorini - A must visit

The contrasting rocky headlands and volcanic beaches create a visually exciting landscape on Santorini. This iconic Greek island is home to distinctive architecture, brilliant blue-domed churches and steep volcanic cliffs dropping into turquoise blue depths.

On the mountainous side of the island you will find ancient archaeological sites, superb vineyards and romantic hideaways. The other – charming beaches, glistening sea and a surprisingly vibrant nocturnal scene. It’s perhaps this delightful variety that makes Santorini attractive to so many people, from adventurous culture lovers to families seeking sunshine and relaxation. Also, don’t miss a trip over to Nea Kameni volcano, where you can submerge and relax in the natural hot springs – a truly delightful experience

Places to visit

Oia

A picturesque town on the north west tip of the island, Oia is famous for its beautiful blue-domed churches. The town is ideally located to view the spectacular sunsets on the western side, but beware it gets very busy around this time of day. Like most of Santorini’s villages, the beautiful whitewashed houses are carved directly into the cliff-face, with a path winding down to the former fishing village of Ammoudi below. You can find delightful little boutiques here, selling crafty gifts and trinkets.

Fira

The largest town on Santorini, 900 feet above the coastline, is a bustling metropolis during the summer months. Take a stroll through the shopping district, with boutiques and craft shops in abundance. Stop off at a friendly taverna and have a glass of the local wine and bite to eat. There are excellent bakeries in Fira selling delicious sweets and pastries, and you should definitely try the melitinia, a sweet cheese pastry. You will find all the best nightlife in Fira, so look out for clubs as they are often tucked away.

Kamari

Kamari is a cosmopolitan beach resort, on the southeast of the island, ideal for families looking for a relaxing seaside break. Lying under the guard of Mesa Vouno mountain, this long stretch of beach offers a different style to the villages above. The promenade has some great bars, shops and restaurants, and some lively nightlife too. Redevelopment of Kamari started in 1956, after an earthquake all but flattened the town. As an old fishing village, the tavernas serve mouth-watering grilled fish and seafood, a staple in the Aegean.

Imerovigli

Known for its tranquillity, and for its sublime sunsets, Imerovigli will take your breath away. Whitewashed buildings dot the landscape and beautiful churches dominate the skyline. There is an air of luxury and some of our best hotels are in Imerovigli, like the Iconic Santorini. The highest part of the island, it commands spectacular views of the volcano and the rest of the island. Nearby Skaros Rock was once the governing force of Santorini, but now is just an impressive but deserted castle.

Perissa & Perivelos

These adjoined seaside resorts are perfect for those looking for a bit more nightlife. Both beaches have bars, loungers and lifeguards, as well as black sand and midnight blue depths. The nightlife here is more akin to Mykonos, rather than the sleepy villages among the mountains of Santorini. At night you will see the transformation with cocktail bars, restaurants and clubs coming to life. The stunning blue-domed Church of Timiou Stavrou can be found in Perissa Square, which is well worth a visit.

Akrotiri & Megalochori

Alongside the spellbinding ancient ruins at Akrotiri there is a quaint little village boasting some of the best views in Santorini. In the medieval period, Akrotiri was one of five fortified towns and the castle here is a great place to visit, although it was damaged in the earthquake of 1956. Further along the coast towards Fira, you will find Megalochori, where vineyards dominate the landscape. The centre square is a meeting place for locals, to drink fine wine and play backgammon in the afternoon sun.

Should you need assistance with booking a holiday to Santorini do contact us directly discover@allworldjourneys.com or contact us on +447824099686
Visit my Instagram for regular updates https://www.instagram.com/p/B3yrJEln6Nq/?igshid=1e4cb3tazbop5

Thinking of visiting Italy?

Arguably Europe’s most enticing country, Italy charms visitors with irresistible food, awesome architecture, diverse scenery and unparalleled art. In fact, it's so packed with possibilities it can almost overwhelm.

If you’ve not visited before you could well wonder what to see? Where to go? How to travel? Here’s everything you need to know to get the absolute utmost out of your first-time Italy trip.

Short on time? Start with the big three: Rome, Florence and Venice. A week is (just) enough to enjoy the country’s headline acts.

The glories of Rome
A day: Rome wasn’t built in one, and you certainly can’t see it in one. Instead allow at least two, preferably three. That’s time to take in the spectacular Colosseum, the 2000-year-old Pantheon, the palace ruins of the Palatino, sacred St Peter's and the art-filled Vatican Museums. Trot up the Spanish Steps, toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain, shop in narrow lanes and indulge in prime people watching.

Florence and Tuscany: art and wine
Two days in Florence sees you cherry-picking the incomparable art in the Uffizi gallery, delighting in the frescoes in the Duomo and pondering the anatomy of Michelangelo's David. It also allows for shopping on the ultra-chic Via de' Tornabuoni and an aperitivo (pre-dinner drink) or two in locals' favourite Piazza della Signoria.

Check into one of the idyllic rural farmhouses in Chianti and spend time exploring a land where vine trellises snake along rolling hills with Romanesque churches sheltering in their folds. Wineries lie everywhere. At extraordinary Antinori, for example, the high quality of the wine is matched by high-tech architectural innovation. A day trip to gorgeously Gothic Siena sees you marvelling at the Italian ability to turn buildings into art.

Bewitching Venice
To enjoy unique, utterly exquisite Venice, allow a few days. Glide down the Grand Canal, by gondola or vaporetto (water bus), tour the grand Palazzo Ducale, gape at the treasure-filled Basilica di San Marco and run out of camera space snapping the extraordinary array of Venetian architecture. There'll also be time to join the locals shopping at Rialto Market, tuck into cicheti (Venetian tapas) and get a little lost amid the 400 bridges and 150 canals.

Best of the rest

Got time to prolong your Italian love affair? With a couple of weeks at your disposal you can add on a few of these other dolce vita delights.

Seductive Naples; extraordinary Pompeii
Gritty and not always pretty, Naples demands to be seen. Come here for an anarchic zest for life, a Unesco-recognised historic core, Greco-Roman artefacts in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and the Neapolitan Baroque Certosa e Museo di San Martino. Then day-trip it to Pompeii for ruined cityscapes, and to Mt Vesuvius to gaze into a live volcano and across a wide blue bay.

Style and beauty in Milan and the Lakes
For big-city style and legendary landscapes, head to Italy’s northwest. A day in Milan opens up a grand Gothic Duomo (cathedral), Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper and world-class opera at La Scala. A short train ride away, belle époque Lake Maggiore harbours the beguiling Borromean Islands, specks of rock crowned by ornate palaces and extravagant gardens. Or spend a few days at glamorous Lake Como revelling in lake-lapped cocktail bars, sumptuous villas, vintage speedboat trips and the snowy-mountains-meets-azure-water scenery.

Cinque Terre's harbours and hills
In Cinque Terre National Park terraced vineyards cling to sheer hills traversed by improbably steep hiking trails, and villages flow down to tiny harbours lined with restaurants and bars. Ferries and a rattling rural train link the five villages. Allow two to four days to hit the walking trails, swim in the sea, soak up the atmosphere and re-charge.

Eating and drinking

The diversity of regional cuisine alone is worth travelling to Italy for. Bistecca alla fiorentina (Florence's iconic T-bone steak); creamy Po plains risotto; olive oil and lemon-laced grilled fish on Elba; espresso and sweet treats in Naples' backstreets bars; fresh-from-the-wood-oven pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) in Rome. And as for sampling Brunello, Chianti, Prosecco, Montepulciano and Soave wines in historic cellars and in restaurants just yards from the vines – that’s an experience that lingers for life.

Where to stay

All World Journeys can assist you with all your needs, from luxury hotels, mountain huts, monasteries, hip hostels, family-run hotels, antiques-packed palazzos, secluded villas and remote farmhouses framed by vines and complete with pools.