Slovakia

How Slovakia has remained off the Mass Tourism radar for so long I don't know. This country is possibly one of the most strikingly beautiful in Europe. This central European country would not look out of place in a Tolkien story. The vast majority of visitors arrive into the capital and go no further, but the capital is only part of the charm. Getting outside of Bratislava, take a train across the country to see the low, rolling fields leading onto spectacular views of the imposing Tatras mountains. Type "Tatras" into Google and you will see for yourself.

Photo: tatraphotographyworkshop.com

In summer the landscape is a sea of green and yellow with a mix of lush meadows and acres of corn and sunflowers. You could spend an entire day laying out watching the scenery and soaking up rays of warm sunshine while sipping on local beer or wine. The many lakes of Slovakia provide a perfect way to cool off as the temperatures rise above Mediterranean levels. 

The lakes are like mirrors reflecting the beautiful surrounding countryside perfectly. The pure, clean water is ideal for you to take a dip. In winter time they freeze over in a thick layer of ice and snow. The fields turn into a postcard picture of white and blue and the mountainside turns into a hive of activity. The ski resorts of Slovakia are truly some of the most under rated in Europe. Travel to the east, to Kosice and Strbske Pleso where you can rent skis and snowboards at ridiculously low prices compared to their French and Italian counterparts. 

Photo: Lightharmony.com

Photo: niemanlab.org

Aside from the spectacular landscape, there is much to keep you entertained and educated should you wish. Slovakia has more than its fair share of medieval castles. The most beautiful of which is found in the town of Trencin. Sitting atop a rocky outcrop, Trencin castle is one of the most unique castles in Europe. It sits high above the bustling town below and plays host to various shows and demonstrations throughout the year. The walk up to the gates will sap your energy in the summer heat, but the tour is well worth the effort. Inside are some of the best maintained weapons, armor and furniture you will find in the world. The views from the castle tower are nothing short of breathtaking. 

Going back to the capital, Bratislava has some of the most amazing architecture you will find. The old buildings in the Old Town are perfectly maintained. Walk around the many winding streets and you will find many boutique clothes shops selling top quality products at excellent prices. The cafes serve some of the best tasting coffee I have ever tried. In terms of nightlife, Bratislava is a titan of niche nightclubs and bars, the beer is cheap and of terrific quality. If you can, go to the Sky Bar, their rooftop bar makes some of the best rum and vodka cocktails I have ever tried. 

Getting There: Ryanair fly to Bratislava from many European airports including Dublin and London Stansted.

Price: Book early and flights can be as cheap as €140 return.

Stay: Park Inn Bratislava

Do: Take a train across the country

18 unique travel destinations that will make you want to book a holiday immediately

from The Daily Edge

SUFFERING FROM POST-holiday blues? Eagerly counting down the days until you’re off work and embarking on a week of sunbathing? Whatever your story, here are some unique, otherworldly travel destinations to daydream about.

1. Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, China

Source: Shutterstock

Stunning multi-coloured rock formations that were 24 million years in the making? We’re there.

2. Fingal’s Cave, Staffa, Scotland

Source: dun_deagh/Flickr

Situated on this uninhabited island of Staffa, the entrance to Fingal’s Cave features numerous hexagonal columns that are the result of being beat up by waves over thousands of years.

3. Dallol, Ethiopia

Source: Shutterstock

An ancient volcanic crater, Dallol is home to spectacular landscapes that look like they’re CGI and also several acid lakes.

4. Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

Source: Shutterstock

The tree-lined Tunnel of Love looks like it’s from a fairytale, but it’s actually located in Kleven, Ukraine. Primarily used as a route by trains to deliver wood to a local factory, it has also become a popular spot with tourists and couples.

5. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland

Source: Glacier Lagoon

A large glacial lake, you may have seen the breathtaking Jökulsárlón featured in the likes of Die Another Day, Batman Begins, Tomb Raider and more. (If you look really hard, you can see “Bjork woz ere” scrawled on one of the icebergs.)

6.Crazy House, Vietnam

Source: RStacker/Flickr

It has been described as one of the world’s most bizarre buildings and it’s easy see why. Inspired by Walt Disney and Salvador Dali, this Vietnamese guesthouse looks like it’s taken straight from a trippy fairytale and has to be seen to be believed.

7. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Source: Clark & Kim Kays/Flickr

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Croatia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to its gorgeous lakes and pretty vistas.

8. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Source: Leonora Enking/Flickr

The world’s largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni also doubles up as the world’s largest mirror – when water covers the salty surface, it becomes entirely reflective. Gasp.

9. Laguna Salada de Torrevieja, Spain

Source: Shutterstock

It’s a pink lake! Need we say more?

10. Fly Geyser, Nevada

Source: Shutterstock

The accidental result of some drilling in the 1960s, this geyser may not be an entirely natural phenomenon, but it is still a sight to behold. Located on a private ranch in Nevada, visitors are advised to go to a restaurant named Bruno’s to organise day tours of the spring. Doesn’t sound dodgy at all.

11. Takinoue Park, Japan

Source: Takinoue Tourism Association

Every May and June, people flock to Takinoue Park to see the carpet of pink moss (shibazakura) that covers the park.

12. Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, New Zealand

Source: Donnie Ray Jones/Flickr

A cave that includes a grotto filled with baby glowworms who emit light, you say? Amazing.

13. Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Source: Alessandro Giannini/Flickr

There are no words. Just look at that.

14. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Source: James Gordon/Flickr

The National Park Service describes it as a “forest of stone” and a “cave without a roof,” but those descriptions barely do Bryce Canyon justice. Just incredible.

15. Magic Forest, Shanghai

Source: 2il org/Flickr

What was once a traffic lane has since been transformed into this magical little park. Beautiful.

16. Chefchaouen, Morocco

Source: Shutterstock

In the Moroccan city of Chefchaouen, everything is blue. Like, everything. And it’s incredible.

17. Cappadocia, Turkey

Source: Shutterstock

The best way to experience the surreal scenery and ancient rock formations of Cappadocia? HOT AIR BALLOONS.

18. Longyearbyen, Norway

Source: svalbard.net

Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost city, is the most populous area of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean that boasts more polar bears than humans. During the summer, the sun never sets. PARTY.

Malaysian Airlines flight reportedly shot down over Ukraine-Russian border

The passenger plane is reported to have been en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Various reports say that the flight was shot down over disputed airspace. Amateur footage shows thick smoke trailing to the crash site.

Malaysia Airlines confirms 'incident' on board one of its flights amid reports of plane crash in Ukraine near Russian border

Ukrainian Interior Ministry: "295 dead in Malaysian airlines crash"
Interfax agency reports that the plane was brought down by a ground-to-air missile. Ukrainian news reports that the missile was fired by separatists.

Pro-Russian separatists claim to have found the planes black box voice recorder and intend to send it to Moscow for investigation.

The flight was a codeshare flight between Malaysian and KLM.
Reports of many Dutch, American and Malaysian citizens on board. France claims 4 french citizens were on the flight.
Unverified reports that ant-government forces near Donetsk claimed to have shot down a "Ukranian" Jet in the area around the same time MH17 was brought down. The Ukranian government claims that no Ukranian aircraft were in the area at the time. BUK missiles were being transported by the rebels in the area in the past few days.

IATA states that MH17 was not flying in restricted airspace.

Rebels are willing to grant a 3 day ceasefire to allow for recovery.

Airbus patents new “moped-style” aeroplane seats

From Thejournal.ie

FRENCH AVIATION GIANT Airbus has filed a patent that would see no-frills become even more uncomfortable.

Not content with non-reclining chairs and limited leg-room, the French manufacturer has proposed a new system that would see short-haul planes fitted with more seats. The extra seats would be added by adding a seating system that has “reduced bulk”, appearing to look something like a moped seat.

That means taking the cushions out and mounting the seats on a pole. The patent filing says that the plan would allow Airbus increase the number of people on short-haul flights. Thankfully, they say that it can only last a couple of hours.

“In effect, to increase the number of cabin seats, the space allotted to each passenger must be reduced.

“However, this reduced comfort remains tolerable for the passengers in as much as the flight lasts only one or a few hours.”

However, a spokesperson for the company told The Telegraph that it is “unlikely” that you’ll ever have to sit on one.

“We file hundreds of patents each year and it’s all about protecting ideas,” he said. “We are actually pushing airlines for an 18-inch seat width to come as standard on long haul flights – some aircraft have only 16.7 inches.”

Hotel Review: Hyde Park Executive Apartments.

Top Tip: Stay anywhere else!

I'm not normally one to complain about poor quality service, often put it down to the staff just having a bad day. But I have never in my life witnessed the likes of this. I booked this accommodation through a booking site online, but for personal reasons had to cancel it. So I rang the accommodation directly to do so. I was told by the lady on the phone that she would cancel it for me and that there would be no charge. I rang the next day to confirm this and was told again that there would be no charge. The hotel have since charged my card for a no show fee. I rang them to query this, and they said I should have cancelled through the booking agent, when I told them that I cancelled with themselves, they denied this and said any one of their staff would have told me to cancel with the agent.

In the two times I spoke to them prior to this nobody mentioned this to me. They said they would investigate this and if they could find out who said they would cancel it then they would refund me. Having heard nothing back from them, I rang and neither of them would speak to me, they told me to email their manager. His response was this ;

"Dear Mr Griffin,

Thank you for contacting Hyde Park Executive Apartments regarding your recent reservation with us.

I have spoken with the two front office agents that were working here on Tuesday 1st July , and I am afraid none of them recalls speaking with you on that date. Do you recall by any chance who did you speak with?

Your booking was made through the online agent, so as my colleague correctly mentioned to you, all modifications or cancellations can only be done directly through them, and we would have been unable to cancel that booking for you in any case.

I completely understand that you might have been unaware of that fact, but let me be very clear regarding this matter Mr Griffin. It is your sole responsibility to be aware of the relevant cancellation policy and procedure when making a reservation, and not my receptionist's one. These terms and conditions are clearly visible in the booking agent, both on their website, and in the confirmation letter that you received from them when you made the reservation, so saying that you were charged because nobody informed you about the fact that the booking needed to be cancelled through them is simply not accurate at all.

Furthermore, if as you mentioned, someone at our property would have told you that they were able to cancel the reservation free of charge for you at that time, the booking would be cancelled on our system, but after I checked the booking history, I could not find such cancellation, and you were in fact charged as for not showing up to the property, as the booking remained active the whole time.

Based on all the above, I am afraid we are unable to refund that amount to you as requested.

If you have more specific information about the person that you spoke with, or if they gave you any sort of cancellation number please let me know and I will of course be happy to investigate this matter further."

The staff here are the most unprofessional I have ever dealt with (and I deal with a lot working in the tourism industry). They have no integrity and are obviously lying to weasel their way out of taking responsibility for their mistake.