Summer break is here. It is time to answer the question you had been dreading to answer. Where to go this year for some recreation, sightseeing, and comfort?

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Are you going to Paris, or perhaps Madrid? Maybe you feel you need to be more adventurous and finally go to Cannes this year? If so, you are not being adventurous enough. Also, these destinations stated above, can be very overrated and overcrowded in the peak season, when tourists from all the way to China and Brazil are flocking to the beaches, and hiking up the prices of the hotel rooms. You don’t want that. You want relaxation and a quieter place to appreciate the love you have for your family, without having the feeling that you are being swindled of your money. Let’s make vacations the way they used to be – fun!

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Instead of going to Paris or Rome, how about you give the following destinations a chance. We at TravelhouseUK have a very well travelled staff (perks of the job). We have found some of these destinations highly underrated and yet they consistently go beyond our expectations. We hope you visit them too.

Ghent, Belgium

Well, Burge is too overcrowded to breathe or soak in the sun even though it’s a beautiful city. A hidden rival, the city of Ghent, is equally beautiful and perhaps can offer a better Belgian experience. The city’s core attraction is the medieval architecture of the castle and cathedrals. Ghent has the largest car-free area in Belgium, so you don’t have to worry about your children crossing the street, or breathing in the toxic air on your vacation. There are the best museums in fine arts, exhibiting the paintings of the Flemish masters. The food is out of this world! There is an array of restaurants and cafes that dish out Belgian culinary masterpieces, one after another. Don’t forget to taste the red beer- the Rodenbach and eat the Belgian Waffles at Café Max, in service since 1839.

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Germany

Germany does not come to mind, as quickly as other places in Western Europe, as the destination for some TLC. We also thought so but were pleasantly surprised. The greatest thing about Germany is that things run smoothly and efficiently there. Many times when people go for vacations, they come back tired and even more stressed. In Germany, the trains will come on time, the ferries will not blow their engines, and you will not be promised something that the facilities cannot deliver. We have felt that the services in the country will charge equally for all and that builds a trust. Moreover, the country is gorgeous, especially if you are on a river cruise, which touches the different small towns surrounded by pastures and forests like Koblenz, Regensburg, and Passau. The variety that the country offers, from the museums of Frankfurt to the nightlife in Berlin… it’s breathtaking.

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Kanazawa, Japan

There are two extremes in Japan: The extreme of the flamboyant Harajuku fashion and culture and then the muted traditional Japanese culture. Why can’t there be a pleasant mix? Kanazawa offers this delicate mix and has a combination of the futuristic techno culture fully reconciled with the Japanese traditions. The new bullet train station of the city that connects the city with Tokyo is a perfect example. The structure looks a lot like the Torri (Japanese temple gates) but with an ultramodern touch. On a perfect day, the cherry blossoms fall from the trees, gliding on the breeze, gently settling on a moving creek in the Kanazawa Castle Park. The love of the Japanese people for nature cannot be more elaborate at the Kenrokuen Japanese Garden. Really, one is stunned at the amount of effort, the detail and thought process required to manicure this perfect scenery. Do experience the tea services and sushi at the Higashi Chayagai in Kanazawa.

Western Australia

Sometimes there is this desire to lose yourself to the world and let it sway your path in any direction. Western Australia is the place to be if you want to go with the flow and hear yourself again. It is a place to ponder and learn to love yourself again. The vast emptiness of Australia’s western outback encourages your soul to re-grow. There are no impositions there; there is just the soil, the wind, and the ocean. The coral reef is still unbleached and full of life. The people are hospitable and kind. Visit the area, at least once in your lifetime.

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Guatemala

Guatemala has everything a tourist desires. The colonial towns of Antigua and Quetzaltenango give a unique experience to the visitors. The country was the seat of Mayan civilization and ruins of Tikal and El Mirador are a testament that humanity has been flourishing in the ‘country of the eternal spring’ since time immemorial. The country’s pristine waters promote scuba diving and snorkelling and the beaches are as clean as they come. Guatemala has yet to be hit by the tragedy of a natural disaster, overpopulation or tourist overbooking, so visit quickly before the jewel of Caribbean loses its luminescence.

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