How do you decide on which country to travel to? Do you heed advice from friends, watch travel shows, or throw a dart at a map? I’d bet that very few people let their tongues be their compass in deciding which country to visit next. If you’re not well versed in popular dishes from far-off places let this list of succulent food be your guide.

Tacos | Mexico
Reducing Mexican cuisine to merely tacos would be to miss out on a wealth of richly eclectic. However, one of Mexico’s largest cultural exports without a doubt has to be tacos. That being said those tacos you got from Taco Bell don’t exactly due justice to authentic Mexican tacos. Tacos de quelites, de tuetano, de cazuela, and many more regional specialities await you in Mexico. Get the most out of your trip as you hop from state to state, or better still, explore that stunning Pacific coastline in  a bareboat chartered sailboat.

Rabbit Stew | Malta
As one of the smallest countries in Europe I’d imagine it is difficult for anyone to guess the national dish of Malta. Despite the tiny country not having an excess of rabbit to feast on, it somehow has managed to become the country’s national dish. The most popular recipe for a Maltese rabbit stew calls for an entire rabbit – all organs included – and a host of veggies and herbs. The dish is rather simple and even easy to make at home, but there’s still nothing like being seated in tiny but perfectly formed Malta and dining on your rabbit stew.

Bacon & Egg Pie | New Zealand
Thinking of NZ usually evokes images of rolling hills, unparalleled biodiversity, and the one ring to rule them all. Sure, NZ isn’t known for its food, but that isn’t the point of this menu of nations is it? You’d think that with all the unique animal species and rich indigenous influence that their national dish would be some uncanny cuisine that you’ve never heard of before. Despite your expectations, one of the most popular dishes in NZ is a very agreeable bacon and egg pie. While the ingredients may pretty common their arrangement is far from normal. Backed into a shortcrust pie is bacon, eggs, onion, peas, tomato, and cheese.

Dulce de Leche | Argentina
This Argentinean dessert may not their national dish, but who wouldn’t be persuaded into visiting Argentina after trying a sweet milk jam. Dulce de leche is just that, a jam. It can be found on ice cream, empanadas, alfajores, or on cheeky children’s morning toast.

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When you visit London you want to be close to everything. Zones 1 and 2 are where you’ll be spending most of your time visiting famous attractions and museums. If you book a luxury vacation apartment in these zones, areas like South Kensington and Chelsea provide a quiet haven full of greenery and great little cafés and restaurants. These neighbourhoods are also within easy reach of transport that can take you to any part of the city.

It’s great to do all the famous touristy stuff – you absolutely should, but if you have enough time, and or want to get away from the crowds London’s outer boroughs offer plenty of wonderful and interesting places to spend the day. If you do get a chance, hop on to a Tube or bus and explore something a little different. Some far off spots even offer a spectacular view of the city.

The Royal Observatory

Take the tube to Greenwich (zone 3) and visit one of the oldest observatories and the place where modern time zones originated. At the observatory you’ll find a time line, known as the Greenwich Meridian; it’s the point from which all time zones begin. The Observatory is situated at the top of a hill in Greenwich Park, you’ll want to bring your telephoto lenses – the view of Canary Wharf from this vantage point is fantastic. Take a stroll through the park then head down to the Naval Yard to enjoy old ships and cosy restaurants.

Wimbledon

Take the District Line to its final destination (check with the station agent, both the District and Circle Line which shares some of the same stations are a little confusing to navigate). If you’re lucky enough to be in London for the tennis (in June), book tickets to this exciting event, it’s an absolute thrill. Otherwise the games are projected on to large screens throughout the surrounding park. If there isn’t a game on during the dates you’ve booked your journey, this is still a fantastic getaway daytrip. The area is filled with parkland and the nearby suburbs feel like you’ve left the city and entered a town in of itself. As a bonus, Wimbledon is home to one of the city’s best Indian restaurants, Khanage.

Richmond

Another final destination on the District Line is Richmond. Richmond is a great place to spend the day wandering along the Thames. Once again, you’ll feel like you’ve left London for a village. Richmond is home to incredible 18^th century manor homes and cafes and restaurants located invitingly along the river. If weather permits a day out to this very green part of the city should not be missed. Additionally, a boat tour will take you from the heart of Richmond to Henry VIII’s magnificent red palace. It’s a trip you won’t soon forget.

London is huge. Visit for a week, or even two and you won’t come close to seeing everything. It’s not recommended you try either – think of anything you didn’t get a chance to explore as an opportunity for a future visit. London is also a very busy city and with so much to do you might want to escape the crowds for a day and see something a little different. Zones 1 and 2 might offer most of the famous stuff, but don’t be shy to take a tube to a location less known, you’ll be sure to find some unforgettable treasures. If you’re hoping to experience the very best that London has to offer,  the lush green boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea offer a wonderful local areas and easy access to the rest of the city.

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We mostly associated the Caribbean with pristine beaches and fruity alcoholic beverages. But what we often neglect is its Hollywood allure.

The Caribbean has made the perfect backdrop for a number of classic movies. Why not kill two fantasies with one vacation and visit the sets of your favorite films while cruising the uncanny blue waters of the Caribbean on a bareboat charter.

The Shawshank Redemption | St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Vaunted by many as the greatest movie of all time, Shawshank’s final scene that brings the movie’s two protagonists together is filmed in St. Croix’s Sandy Point. If you venture to Sandy Point today you’ll find a national wildlife refuge famous for turtle hatching. Recreate the film’s emotional final scene as you reunite with a friend during your long overdue vacation.

The Pirates of the Caribbean | St. Vincent to Puerto Rico
In truth the Pirates series was filmed all over the Americas. However, it seems as though Hollywood’s stock scenery wasn’t enough to illustrate the unparalleled beauty of the Caribbean. Depp and Knightley’s marooning in the initial movie of the franchise was filmed at Petit Tabac in the Grenadines. If you’re more a fan of the second film of the series, Dead Man’s Chest, you should charter your bareboat and set sail for Dominica. Portions of The Curse of the Black Pearl was also filmed in the small Caribbean bay of Wallilabou Bay, St. Vincent.

Dr. No | Jamaica
The Bond series’ debut film follows James Bond as investigates the death of a British intelligence agent in Jamaica. It’s in the northern part of Jamaica that Bond meets Honey Rider and fends off Dr. No’s goons. Thunderball, Never Again, also give the Bahamas cameo shots.

Jurassic Park | Costa Rica & The Dominican Republic
Everyone’s favorite 90s movie enlisted the help of the wonderful Caribbean terrain of Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic that its primary filming destination, Hawaii, couldn’t provide. Although you won’t find any Velociraptors island hopping from Costa Rica to the DR should fulfill most of your vacation cravings.

Silence of the Lambs | Bahamas
Ever wonder where Hannibal Lector escaped to? While you won’t be able to find Lector’s favorite local dish of liver and fava beans you can enjoy one of the Caribbean’s premier destinations. Kick back on the picture-perfect beaches of the Bahamas and let all your cannibal serial killer worries just wash away.

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