LuxeBook September 2022

Gili Trawangan has also been regarded as the party destination for Indonesia thanks to its coastline filled with restaurants, bars, and hotels stretching onto the sands. If you’re a foodie or love to party, you know there’s more than enough merriment for you. The beachside bars are the ideal hotspot for both locals and tourists. Love reggae music? Go to Sama Sama Reggae Bar. Want a live and loud party? Head over to Jungle for some of the best DJ nights. And if you just want to sip of cocktails by the beach, then the Blue Marlin, The Irish Pub, and Rudy’s are some of the beloved spots on the island. You cannot leave Gili T without a wholesome underwater experience. Snorkelling and diving are among the top adventures on the island. While it’s hard to miss a turtle anywhere on the island, the best place to see a reef of sharks is Shark Point, obviously. If you’re experienced enough, you might just get to explore a wreck like the Glenn Nusa 1 or Bounty Wreck. Now whether you’re an expert diver or a beginner, there’s no way to get into the water without a dive lesson from the experts. Gili T has been regarded as one of the best snorkelling spots in Southeast Asia. And rightfully so, the Gili islands are home to some incredible coral reefs filled with colourful fish, sea turtles, and even a few underwater statues. Locals claim that booking a private boat for snorkelling is the best way to experience the marine life without overcrowded tourist boats. And finally, beyond the waters of Gili T lie a quaint little island waiting to be explored, and the best way to do that is to rent a bike for a day, because all you need is that one day. Paros instead of Santorini in Greece Santorini will always be a top favourite for people across the world. The stunning blue and white islands, the clear blue skies and the bright blue waters are a sight to behold. The island is not only the best place to experience Greece, but also a great place for the most aesthetic pictures. That is, after waiting in line for hours. Santorini is one of the most Instagrammed destinations after Paris, and so everyone wants a piece of the bright blue heaven leading to what is called over-tourism. And while we hate to miss out on Santorini because of overcrowding, there is an island situated a little far away, that looks and feels just like it. Paros resembles Santorini in its ambience, vibe and experience, all without the overcrowding. The first and most important stop in Paros is a village named Parikia. A commercial hub and the largest town in Paros, Parikia maintains true Cycladic style architecture with narrow whitewashed streets, wooden doors and bougainvillea trees. These streets are what make you feel like you’re Paros in Santorini. Parikia is the best place to find pretty much everything, from small boutique shops, laundries, supermarkets, hospitals, to various other services for tourists. It is also where you find some historic monuments like centuries-old churches, ruins of the Frankish castle and museums. Spending an entire day in Parikia is the best way to begin your experience in Paros. For a deeper dive into the region’s history, take a trip to the Old Port of Naoussa. Here one can easily spot the island’s most recognisable landmark, a partially submerged Venetian castle. Built as a fortress in the 14th century, the castle is almost underwater, only one of the towers still stands. Best to catch a glimpse before it completely disappears. Almost every inch of Paros has a picturesque view, but nothing beats the view from Lefkes. One of the most authentic villages in Paros, Lefkes is a wonderful getaway for tranquillity with splendid vistas of Parian landscapes and the Aegean Sea on the horizon. While exploring this tranquil gem, sipping on a Greek coffee in the central square has been claimed as a must-do. While most islands have a name for snorkelling and diving, Paros has been associated with the best windsurfing and kitesurfing spots in the world, thanks to strong meltemi winds coming from the north, boosted by the island’s proximity to the Naxos islands. Beaches on Paros’ southeast coast like Chrissi Akti (Golden Beach) and Nea Chrissi Akti (New Golden Beach) are wonderful spots with water sports centres that deliver rentals and lessons, plus dive centres, beach clubs, and wonderful tavernas. Bar hopping is one of the most common practises in Paros, so expect a buzzing nightlife, with spots like Pounda Beach bar, Bebop, Pirate Bar, and Sativa Music Bar in Parikia, and Fotis All Day Bar, Kosmos, and Sommaripa Consolato in Naoussa. Verona instead of Venice in Italy Venice is arguably one of the most romantic and picturesque cities in Italy. Known as the City of Canals, Venice’s striking architecture, bridges and waterways are what define this beautiful city. It’s a known fact that Venice is a car-free zone, meaning everyone either travels by foot or by the boat, and the boat rides in Venice are hardly something to complain about. (Except for the part where you clash into another boat due to overcrowding, so much so, that the Italian government has placed a surmountable entrance fee for visitors.) Capturing a very similar, aesthetic ambience to Venice, is the beautiful city of Verona. Verona has made its name as the romance central of Italy, credits to its association with the Shakespeare fairy-tale of Romeo and Juliet. Nestled on a U-bend on the Adige River, Verona celebrates art, architecture, opera, and literary fame. Like Venice, it is a beautiful city with vibrant coloured buildings and plenty of attractions. The most important and talked about one being Casa di Giulietta or Juliet’s Balcony. It all started in the 1930s when a small medieval palazzo with an attractive courtyard just off Piazza delle Erbe was redecorated with a balcony and a bronze statue of a woman, now claimed Venetian Castle, Naoussa Parikia, Paros 48| L U X E B O O K | S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 2 S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 2 | L U X E B O O K |49