dream destinations
amazing amsterdam
Amsterdam, the greatest planned city in northern Europe, has always been a well-known name in world history and played a central role in the history of the Netherlands. In the 17th century, Amsterdam was the center of the world economy, and nowadays the city is known for its tolerant character.
Key Experiences
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Climb the Westertoren
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Go bungee jumping over the IJ at the Faralda Crane Hotel
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Attend a concert at the Concertgebouw
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Go to Museum N8 ("Museum Night")
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Go over the edge in "Europe's Highest Swing"
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Find out what glows in the dark
Unique Things to do
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Canal Pizza Cruise
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Experience a bubbling fountain on Frederiksplein
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Canal Pizza Cruise
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Harvest fruit, nuts, and other plants from around the city to eat at home
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Do an apple pie taste test: Villa Zeezicht vs. Winkel 43
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Play giant chess
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Anne Frank Story & Private 2-Hour Neighborhood Tour
Regional culinary delights
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Bitterballen
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Stroopwafel (one of our favorites!)
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Raw Herring
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Croquettes from a vending machine!
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Dutch Cheese
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Ontibijtkoek
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Stamp Pot
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And so much more!
Getting around
All of the major Dutch cities have widespread and inexpensive public transportation systems. The high degree of urbanization has also led many Dutch cities to build comprehensive bicycle pathways that allow people to bike instead of using cars or other vehicles. Still, 79% of the Dutch use their personal cars
for transportation.
egypt
The term Um al-Dunya, which means "Mother of the World" in Arabic, is often used to describe Egypt. No wonder. Recorded history in this fascinating country dates back more than 5,000 years, but Egypt's story is so much more than pyramids and hieroglyphics. From its run-in with Alexander the Great to occupation by the Roman, Ottoman, and French empires to the construction of the Suez Canal to the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, the region has played an important economic and political role in the world.
Key Experiences
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Visit the Pyramids
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Cruise the Nile River
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View the artifacts of Tutankhamun
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Visit the Valley of the Kings and Queens
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HIke Mount Sinai
Things to do
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Take a tour of the Egyptian Museum
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Ride a camel near the Great Pyramid of Giza
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Take an off-road adventure through the dunes
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Ride a felucca (a wooden sailboat)
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Explore Luxor Temple
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Visit the Temples of Abu Simbel
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Explore the oases in the Western Desert
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Regional culinary delights
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Kushari - (a mix of rice, macaroni, lentils, and spiced tomato sauce)
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Ful Medames - (a mix of crushed fava beans cooked in lemon juice, parsley, garlic, onion, and chili pepper)
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Eish Baladi - (the ancient pita-style bread that is used as a spoon to scoop up your food)
Getting around
When traveling between the Nile Valley, Delta, and Canal Zone, you can use the rail system. Elsewhere, buses and shared taxis are readily available. If you're covering long distances, consider flying instead. And don't forget, you can also travel by boat or cruise ship (on the Nile River) or by camel (in the desert). For better safety, you may choose to hire a driver.
ireland
Ireland is famous for many things: from dramatic coastlines to stunning scenery, from social scenes and live music to literature and the arts. One thing it tends to fall short on, however, is the weather. Average temperatures in Ireland during Spring usually range from 4°C – 10°C. The days will finally be getting longer again after the Winter months. There is also Daylight Savings. It is when the clocks are turned forward by one hour, meaning sunrise and sunset are one hour later, extending daylight. On the downside, there can be up to 70 mm of rainfall on average in March. As Spring finally is in full bloom, leafy green trees and flowers grow again. The temperatures in Ireland thankfully rise to an average of 5°C – 11°C in April.
Key Experiences
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Cliffs of Moher
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Bunratty Castle
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Giant's Causeway
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The Dark Hedges
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Kylemore Abbey
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Killarney
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King John's Castle
Things to do
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Visit the EPIC Immigration Museum
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Tour the Gardens and meet the horses at The Irish National Stud
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Visit a Distillery and take a cocktail class
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Ride horses in Kerry
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Take a foodie tour in Galway
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See where the Titanic was built in Belfast
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Go on a pub crawl in Dublin
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Visit the filming locations of shows and movies like Star Wars and Game of Thrones
Regional culinary delights
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Full Irish Breakfast
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Irish stew
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Galway Oysters
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Colcannon
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Cockles and Mussels
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Soda Bread
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Barmbrack
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Boxty
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Coddle
Getting around
Getting around in Ireland looks very different depending on location, rural or urban. You go from city to countryside relatively quickly and the challenges between the two can be drastic. Taking public transportation or walking within the cities is highly advised.
That being said -
Driving in Ireland takes a certain amount of skill. For Americans and Canadians, there’s the whole other-side-of-the-car, other-side-of-the-road thing to contend with — just remember to stay left, and you’ll be all right. On highways, there are typically two to three lanes; rarely will you find monster four- or five-lane thoroughfares in Ireland. As on most European highways, the fast lane — which is always on the right — is used solely for passing slower traffic.
Be aware that speed limits vary widely on highways; it may be 120-kilometers per hour (approximately 75-m.p.h.) in parts and then suddenly change to 80-kilometers per hour (50-m.p.h.), so always keep an eye out for the number inside the round signage on the side of the highway.
When planning your trip, check to see if your route has any toll requirements. Toll charges are based on the size of your vehicle.
venice
Built on water, steeped in history, and synonymous with romance, Venice is a fabled destination with a glorious past. A city in northeast Italy, it is built atop 118 small islands separated by winding canals and linked by arching bridges. Home to Piazza San Marco, Saint Mark’s Basilica, and the Grand Canal -the city’s most iconic feature. Meandering in a sinuous s-shape through the heart of Venice, the Grand Canal is the city’s main thoroughfare, plied by gondolas and vaporetti (water buses), lined with more than 170 gracious buildings from 200 to 700 years old. Physical reminders of the city’s grand heritage demonstrate the wealth and artistry of the Republic of Venice in its heyday. It is in one of these regal homes on the Grand Canal that Aman is housed, fusing the romance and history of this legendary city with the hospitality and service for which Amanresorts is renowned.
Key Experiences
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Ponte di Rialto
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Venice Lido
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St. Mark's Basilica
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St. Mark's Square
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Canale Grande
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Rialto's Bridge
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Bridge of Sighs
Things to do
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Carnival (Mardi Gras-like festival)
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Gondola Ride
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Shop and dine in Burano
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Glass factory in Murano
Regional culinary delights
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Sarde in Saor
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Baccala Mantecato
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Risotto al Nero di seppia
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Risi e Bisi
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Moleche
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Fritole
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Bigoli
Getting around
The narrow streets and bridges of Venice are open to foot traffic only. If you are planning on driving to Venice from another part of thecountry, you can plan to leave your car in a garage just outside of the city. If you are traveling with luggage, water taxis can drop you off at your hotel.
