There's nothing more frustrating than grabbing a cheap flight then getting charged £200 to take your surfboard with you. It can be hard to find out in advance what the rules are for each airline - so here's a comprehensive list to keep you on top of your game.
| Airline | Price | Details | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroflot | Free - €150 | Whilst not explicitly listed, one board bag should count as part of your free baggage allowance, as with bikes/skis/snowboards. However you must call Aeroflot to request carriage. | Extra pieces, or oversize/overweight baggage will be charged. |
| Aer Lingus | Free - €30/€40 | Boards are carried free on flights to/from North America, or for €30 (each direction) to all other destinations if paid in advance; €40 if paid at the airport. | Max board length 9 foot, or max 6.7 on regional flights |
| Aero Mexico | $40 - $50 USD | $40 if paid on advance, $50 if paid at the airport | NA |
| Air Asia | Varies | Book online for a 50% discount and the option to add 15-40kg extra weight. Paying at the airport costs more and limits you to 20kg extra weight. | Max board length 9ft. |
| Air Berlin | Free | 1 board bag can be carried as your free baggage allowance You must notify the airline that you'll be taking a board at least 48 hours before your flight, and it must be packed in a suitable case. | If you exceed the number of pieces in your free baggage allowance, you will need to pay a fee of €50-75. No sports baggage on JustFly tickets. |
| Air Canada | $50 USD/CAD | While surfboards that fit within the dimensions can be counted as your free baggage allowance, you must pay a handling charge per board (NOT per bag) each direction. | Boards must be under 203cm long, and less than 277cm total (length + width + height). |
| Air China | Free - $150+ USD | Board bags can be carried as free checked luggage if total linear dimensions (length + width + height) are less than 158cms. If your board exceeds 158cm total liner length then you must pay an oversize baggage charge. | Charge varies by route, size and weight, but expect to pay minimum $150 USD. |
| Air France | €55-100 | Boards from 107-300cm long can be carried, with a fee of €55-€100 each way depending on route. | You must notify the customer service department prior to flying, and the fee can only be paid at the airport. |
| Air India | Varies | You will be charged 50% of the normal excess baggage fee for the route. | We advise you to call the customer service department to confirm fees when booking your flight. |
| Air Malta | 30 | In principal surf equipment can be carried in addition to your free baggage allowance. | We recommend that you confirm with the customer service department when booking. |
| Air Mauritius | Free - €200 | If total linear size (length + width + height) is under 2000cms and weight is under 23kg, you can take a board bag for free. | Fee, when applicable, varies by route - ranging from €55 - €200 each way. |
| Air New Zealand | Free | Board bags up to 2 metres in length are permitted as your free baggage allowance, and multiple boards are allowed in one bag. | 200cm is generally the maximum length allowed, but some items up to 250cm long can be taken by prior arrangement. |
| Air Pacific / Fiji Airways | Varies | Items up to total linear dimensions of 277cm can be carried, but fee (and currency) varies depending on route and final destination. | Expect to pay approximately 50-100 AUD. |
| Air Seychelles | Free | Boards up to 158cm and 15kg can be carried free of charge. | Boards must be packed appropriately, and you must sign a waiver that Air Seychelles is not liable for damage. |
| Air Tahiti Nui | Free | Boards up to 250cm and 23kg can be carried free, in addition to standard checked baggage allowance | |
| Air Vanuatu | Depends on plane | As part of your free checked baggage allowance, boards up to 250cms can be carried free on international flights, and boards up to 150cms can be carried free on most domestic flights. | Some smaller planes on certain routes cannot take surfboards. Call airline to check which plane flies on your route |
| Alaska Air | $50 to 75 USD | One board bag with up to two boards can be carried for the standard checked luggage fee. Size permissible depends on route. | On Alaska Airlines flights 1-999 the equipment may measure a maximum 115” ( 9 ft., 7 in.) in length alone. On Alaska Airlines flights 2000-2999 and 3440-3499 the maximum combined linear dimensions (height + length + width) may not exceed 115”. |
| Alitalia | Depends on route | €75 - $260 USD Boards up to 300cm can normally be carried for a fee, though the amount and currency depends on route. | You must call the airline when booking the flight, as not all planes can take surfboards. |
| American Airlines | $42.50 - 150 USD | Boards up to 320cm total linear dimensions incur a fee of $150 USD, other than flights to/from/through Brazil. | When travelling to/from/through Brazil, the first board is charged at $42.50 USD, and subsequent boards at $85 USD. |
| Ana | Varies | If within your free checked baggage, boards up to 203cm total linear dimensions travel free. If the board is in addition to your normal checked baggage allowance, you will have to pay a fee (varies on route), but calculated by weight rather than size. | Fees depend on route, and not all planes can accommodate boards. Please call the airline when booking. |
| Arikair | Varies | Surfboards can be carried, but are subject to a fee, depending on route. | You must call the airline when booking flights. |
| Asiana | Free | If within the weight limit and number of pieces stipulated in the free baggage allowance, one surfboard can be carried for free. | No extra charges for oversize board bags, but extra charges will apply to overweight bags. |
| Austrian Air | €50-100 | Boards up to 2m in length can be transported for €50 each way within Europe, or for €100 each way on intercontinental flights. | You must call the airline when booking the flight, as not all planes can take surfboards. |
| Avianca El Salvador | $50-125 USD | You can take one board bag containing up to 3 boards (up to 370cm long and weighing up to 32kg) for $50 USD if travelling to/from Brazil, or $125 USD if travelling to/form America. | A board bag can be taken on certain routes to/from America for $100 USD. |
| Azul | Free | If within your checked baggage allowance and under 23kg, a board can be taken for free. | |
| Bahamas Air | $65 USD | A board bag up to 203cm is permitted, but will incur a fee of $65 USD. | The board must be securely packed in an appropriate bag. |
| Bel Avia | Free | As long as the combined weight is under that stipulated in the free baggage allowance (varies by ticket class), 1 surfboard can be carried for free. | No more than 1 board can be taken. |
| Blue Wing Airlines | Varies | Ticket price is calculated by personal weight and the weight of your baggage. | You should contact the airline directly when booking your flight. |
| BMI Regional | Free - £30/€45 | One board can be carried free if within checked baggage allowances, or at an additional cost of £30/€45 if not (up to 20kg extra) per sector. | Any item between 21-32kg will be charged an additional fixed fee of £30/€45 per sector. |
| British Airways | Free | One board bag up to a maximum size of 190cm x 75cm x 65cm and weight of 23kg can be carried as your free checked allowance. | Board must be packed in a recognisable surfboard bag. |
| Brunei Air | Varies | Baggage with total linear dimensions of over 147cm are charged by volumetric equivalent weight, though the airline waives the first 5kg for surfboards. | You should contact the airline directly when booking your flight. |
| Brussels Airlines | Free | Provided it fits within your free checked baggage allowance, a surfboard can be taken free of charge. | |
| Cape Air | Varies depending on route | Not all planes can accommodate surfboards. | You must call the airline when booking a flight. |
| Carpat Air | $75 | Surfboards incur a $75 charge, per board. | You must call the airline when booking to reserve space for your board. |
| Cathay Pacific | Varies | Fee varies by route. You can take boards free of charge on some routes, and between Hong Kong and Doha even receive an extra 10kg weight allowance. Free baggage allowance also varies by route; where free baggage allowance is calculated purely by total weight, boards may travel free if within restrictions. On routes where free baggage allowance is calculated by pieces and dimensions, an extra fee is payable, though costs vary by starting point and destination. | You should contact the airline directly when booking your flight. |
| Cayman Airways | Varies | Some sporting items can be carried as part of free baggage limit, irrespective of size, though surfboards aren't explicitly named. Fees of $150 USD normally apply to items over 157cm total dimensions, up to a maximum of 203cm. | You should contact the airline directly when booking your flight, and obtain written permission. |
| China Airlines | Varies but can be expensive | In general boards cannot be carried as part of the free baggage allowance. Boards up to 277cms total dimensions will be charged at 100% of the applicable excess baggage, while larger boards will be charged at 150% of the fee. The fee applies per board. The exceptions are flights to/from/within the SW Pacific, where boards can be counted as part of your free baggage allowance. | If they exceed the free allowance, a board up to 277cm total dimensions will be charged at the applicable rate for 5kg of excess baggage, or 8kgs if larger than 277cm. |
| China Eastern | Varies | Surfboards are not included in the free checked baggage allowance, and will be charged 50% of the applicable fee if not exceeding 277cm total dimensions, or 100% of the applicable fee if larger. Only one board per passenger is entitled to the 50% special rate. Any additional boards will be charged at the applicable excess baggage charge (by weight): one board up to 277cm total linear dimensions will be charged at the applicable rate of 5kg of excess baggage, or one board exceeding 277cm will be charged at the applicable rate of 8kg of excess baggage. | Please note that the special rate is not applicable to passengers travelling to / from / within the following countries in South West Pacific: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati (Canton and Enderbury Islands), Nauru, New Caledonia (including Loyalty Islands), New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna Islands. |
| China Southern | Varies | Fee varies by route and number of boards, but you must obtain permission from the airline to transport a surfboard at the time of booking. | |
| Condor | $65-78 USD | Boards must be pre-registered with the airline. | A fee of $65 USD applies if registered 30 or more days before the flight, or $78 USD if registered within 30 days of the flight. |
| Copa Air | $50-100 USD | One board bag with up to two boards can be carried for $100 USD to all destinations other than São Paulo and San Jose, where only $50 USD is charged. | |
| Corsairfly | Varies | Surfboards can be taken free of charge if within the applicable free baggage weight and dimensions, which vary by route. | You should check the exact fee with the airline when booking a flight. |
| Croatia Airlines | Free | One board up to 200cm can be carried as part of your free baggage allowance, but you must notify the airline when booking. | |
| Czech Airlines | Varies | A board can be carried for free if within the applicable weight and size restrictions on free baggage allowance, or fee a fee if larger. | You must notify the airline at the time of booking. |
| Delta | $100-150 USD/CAD or €105 | Two boards can be carried on one bag for $100 USD when travelling to/from Brazil, or for $150 USD/CAD or €105 to all other destinations. | |
| Easyjet | £35 | One surfboard bag can be carried for £35 per flight. | If the surfboard bag is your sole checked luggage, it can weigh up to 32kg. If it is in addition to other checked baggage, you receive and extra 12kg weight allowance. |
| Egypt Air | Varies | One surfboard up to 200cm can be taken as checked baggage, but is not included in the free baggage allowance. | Fees will be calculated as 50% of applicable excess baggage rate. |
| Emirates | Varies | Board bags up to 300cm total dimensions can be carried, at the applicable oversize baggage fee for the route. | No items exceeding 300cm total dimensions can be carried, with no exceptions. |
| Etihad | Free | Boards up to 300cm can be transported for free. | |
| Ethiopian Airways | Varies | Boards up to 200cm can be transported for €40 within Europe or €80 on intercontinental flights. | Boards over 200cm are subject to a fee of €80 on European flights or €160 on intercontinental flights. |
| Finnair | Free - €150 | Boards under 190cm long and 23kg can be carried free if within checked baggage allowances, otherwise (and for larger boards) a fee of €150 applies. | |
| First Air | $70 USD | Boards with linear dimensions (length + width + height) of 161 to 292 comes are subject to a $70.00 excess charge. | |
| Flybe | £30 | In principle boards can be carried for a fee of £30, though size is restricted on certain routes. | You must call the airline when booking to reserve space for your board. |
| Frontier Airlines | Varies | Boards can be carried, subject to the applicable fee depending on route and travel class. | You should check the exact fee with the airline when booking a flight. |
| Garuda Indonesia | Free | Surfboards can be carried free within the checked baggage allowance applicable to your ticket. | We advise you to call the customer service department to confirm fees when booking your flight. |
| Georgian Airways | Free | Normally baggage must be under 158cm linear dimensions, but surfboards are listed as an exception. Any excess fees should be calculated by weight. | Check fees and size restrictions with airline when booking. |
| German Wings | €50 | Surfboards can be carried, but are subject to a fee of €50. | Boards must be pre-booked with the customer service department. |
| Go Air | Varies | Surfboards can normally be carried, possibly subject to an oversize baggage fee. | You must call the airline to confirm fees when booking. |
| Gulf Air | Free | Board bags up to 190cm and 32kg can be carried free as your checked baggage allowance. | |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Free - $150 USD | Two boards up to 292cm can be carried in one bag. Fees vary by route, ranging from free (to Australia and New Zealand) to $150 USD. | Due to limited space in some planes you must contact the customer service department to reserve space. |
| Iberia | $60 USD - €150/$150 USD | Boards up to 250cm can be carried for a fee of €150/$150 USD, with the exception of flights to/from Brazil, where only $60 USD is charged. | Carriage is subject to available space, so you must contact the airline at the time of booking. |
| Iceland Air | €62 - €87 | Price varies between routes flying to/from Iceland, Europe and North America. | You must pre-book your surfboard. |
| Interjet | Free | Boards are free, up to 50kg | |
| Japan Airlines | $50-150 USD | Price varies between routes | Up to two boards can be taken per board bag |
| Jet2 | €39 per flight | Max length 182cms | You must pre-book your surfboard |
| Jetblue | $50 USD | $50 USD each way, one board per case, counts as one piece of your checked baggage allowance No size restrictions, but must be under 100lbs. | |
| Jetstar | Free | Counts as one of your checked baggage pieces. | Surfboards, (including the surfboard bag), must not exceed 1.9 metres for Jetstar flights operated by an A320, A321 or B737 aircraft, and 2.77 meters for Jetstar flights operated by an A330 or 787** aircraft. |
| Kenya Airways | Varies | Surfboards over 107cm long must ALWAYS be pre-booked. | A charge will always apply, but it varies by route. |
| KLM | €55-100 | Fee varies by route. Boards 107-300cm long must always be pre-booked. | In most cases the board bag will count as your only piece of checked luggage. |
| Kulula | Free | Boards up to 190 x 75 x 65 cm travel free. | Anything over 20kg will be charged extra, but you can easily add extra weight and pieces to your allowance. |
| LAN Airlines | Free | Boards up to 300 linear cm travel free | |
| Lion Air | 200,000 IDR | We recommend you call the airline to confirm board carriage when booking your flight. | |
| LOT Polish Airlines | €12-100 | Fee varies depending on route, from €12 for domestic flights to €100 for intercontinental flights. | You must call to confirm board carriage before your flight, as not all planes are large enough to accommodate them. |
| Lufthansa | €50-100 | Boards up to 2m can are allowed on continental flights for a fee of €50, or on intercontinental for a fee of €100. | You must call the airline to register your sports baggage before flying |
| Luxair | €50 | €50 per flight, up to 30kgs allowed. | |
| Malaysia Airlines | Free | 1 board up to 2.5m will be carried free of charge, if within your free checked baggage limits | |
| Mango Airlines | Free | You must call before booking to ensure there is sufficient room in the aircraft hold for your board. | |
| MEA | Free | First item of sporting equipment (up to 20kg) travels free of charge. | Due to different regulations over different routes, we advise confirming carriage with the airline when booking. |
| Meridiana | €90-190 | Fees vary by route, with a charge of €90 for domestic flights, €100 for international and €190 for intercontinental. | |
| Monarch | £24.99/€29.99 | Boards up to 182cms can fly for a fee of £24.99, which entitles you to an extra 20kg weight allowance. | |
| Nauru Airlines | No | ||
| Oman Air | Varies | You must call the airline when booking, as not all planes can take boards, and charges vary by route and class. | |
| Penair | Minimum $50 USD | You must call the airline when booking, as it's likely that you board must travel as cargo. | Fees vary by route. |
| Philippine Airlines | 1120 PHP | You must call to book your surfboard (up to four hours before departure), but the fee entitles you to an extra 15kg weight allowance. | Failure to book in could mean the charges escalate. |
| Qantas | Free | Boards up to 277cm and 32kg can travel free as part of your checked baggage allowance. | |
| Qatar Airways | Free | 1 board bag up to 32kg can be carried free as part of your checked baggage allowance. | |
| Royal Jordanian | $30-200 USD | Surfboards never travel free, and fee varies by route. | |
| Ryanair | €50/£50 | €50/£50 per flight, up to 20kg | We recommend you call the airline to confirm when booking. |
| Saudi Airlines | $130-440 USD | Surfboards incur an extra fee, which varies by route. | You should call the airline to check fees on your route when booking. |
| Singapore Air | Varies | Surfboards can be carried free if within size limits, which vary by route. | We advise you to call the customer service department to confirm fees when booking your flight |
| Sky West | Varies by route | You must call the airline when booking, as not all planes can take boards, and charges vary by route and class . | |
| Solomon Airlines | Varies by route | You must call the airline when booking, as not all planes can take boards, and charges vary by route and class. | |
| South African Airways | Varies | On most routes boards under 200cms fly free, if within the free baggage allowance . | You should call the airline to check fees on your route when booking. |
| SouthWest | $75 USD | Boards travel for $75 USD each way. | You should call the airline to check fees on your route when booking. |
| Srilankan Airways | Varies | Free if within the checked baggage limit (32kg). | Exceeding the checked baggage allowance on your route will incur fees, and we advise to call the airline to check costs when booking. |
| Sriuijaye Air | Varies | Surfboards should be free if under 20kg, but we advise you to confirm this with the airline when booking. | |
| Suncountry | $75 USD | Max length 5 foot | |
| Sunwing Airlines | €80-100 | Fee varies by route, but you should pre-book your board with the airline. | |
| Swiss | €50-100 | Boards up to 2m can fly for €50-100 depending on route | |
| TAP Portugal | €35-75 | MUST be pre-booked with the airline. | |
| Thai Airways | Varies by route. | Can be included in checked baggage allowance if flying to/from Australia/New Zealand, otherwise fees vary by route. | You should call the airline to check fees on your route when booking. |
| Tiger Airways | Varies | Surfboards under 190cm and 10kg can be included in checked baggage. | |
| Transavia | Varies | Boards will charged at a rate which increases up with the weight transported. | You must call the airline to pre-book your sports baggage before flying. |
| United | $150-200 USD | The service charge for a surfboard, wakeboard or paddleboard is $150 (each way) for travel between the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and $200 (each way) for all other travel. | |
| US Airways | $150 USD | Boards can be transported for $150 PER BOARD | You must call the airline when booking the flight, as not all planes can take surfboards. |
| Virgin America | $50USD | Boards are normally transported for $50, but oversize weight fees can apply, varying by route. | You should call the airline to check fees on your route when booking. |
| Virgin Atlantic | Free | Boards under 23kg and 277cm fly for free, IN ADDITION to your normal checked baggage allowance. | |
| Virgin Australia | Varies | Boards can be included within your free checked baggage allowance, but dimensions vary by route and plane. | You must call to confirm board carriage before your flight, as not all planes are large enough to accommodate them. |
| Viva Aerobus | 400-550 MXN | Fees for boards vary by route and how/when you pay - we advise to call the airline when booking | |
| Volaris | Free | Free if under 2m and within the checked baggage allowance of your route and class. | We advise you to call the customer service department to confirm fees when booking your flight. |
| Vueling | €45 | Boards travel for €45 each way. | You must pre-book your sports baggage before flying. |
| Westjet | Varies | Boards under 3m can be carried, but all applicable excess/oversize baggage fees will be applied. | We advise you to call the customer service department to confirm fees when booking your flight. |
| Wizz Air | €30-80 | oards can be carried, but fees vary by route, class and season. | |
| Yemenia | Varies | We recommend you call the airline to confirm board carriage and fees when booking your flight. |
We don't care what anybody says - Glastonbury is wicked. It’s like going to another country, a hip and thrilling Brigadoon that appears every year or so. Coming to Glastonbury involves a fair amount of travel, and probably a queue to get in but, when you get past these impediments, you'll soon realise what all the fuss is about.
Once upon a time it was a magnet for free spirits and hippies with tickets costing just £1 - but the Glastonbury Festival has come a long way from its peace-loving roots of the 1970s when 1,500 people paid a quid to watch Ray Davies and The Kinks and T-Rex at the event's pre-cursor, the Pilton Festival.
This year tickets for what has become the largest greenfield festival in the world attended by more than 175,000 went on sale at £220 - and sold out in just 25 minutes.
If you're anything like us, and the idea of coughing up that kind of cash for a ticket then slumming it in a muddy tent doesn't appeal then fear not: since the crowds have grown up, so too have the accommodation options. See below for the top five SAINT LUKE approved Glastonbury glamp sites.
At just 400m from the festival, this is one of the closest sites. Most excitingly, and as the name suggests, if you're feeling flush then Windinglake Farm has it's very own helipad, and can easily arrange everything from charter services to facilities for owner/operators.
As well as helicopters, these guys also offer a range of luxurious caravans and high end American Trailers as accommodation, in addition to a barn which is converted annually into one of the very few 24hr bars in the area.
Prices start from £710 for a caravan. http://www.flyglastonbury.com/
With more than 150 canvas safari-style bell tents and lavish facilities, the Pop-Up Hotel offers almost all of the comforts that you would expect to find in a conventional hotel including double beds, full English breakfast, valet parking, wood deck flooring throughout and hot showers just a fifteen minute stroll from the festival. Here, your ultimate Glastonbury experience starts the moment you have your car valet-parked and your butler carry your bags to your room.
Prices start from £995 for a tent. http://www.thepopuphotel.com/
For those of you who don't yet know, Camp Kerala it has become generally accepted as the easiest, chicest, most luxurious and chilled way of being at the Festival.
Described by Vogue as "unquestionably one of the most glamorous places to be in the UK", there are large Rajasthani sofa chairs in which guest can recline, drink mojito cocktails and soak in the stunning views. The atmosphere here is extremely calm and guests just drift in and out whenever it suits them. As well as plush furnishings, double beds, power sockets and an on-site spa, there are five star food and drink options running 24 hours.
Prices from £8,225 for accommodation for two and tickets. http://www.campkerala.com/
Just a 10-minute stroll from the festival - within listening range - Pennard Orchard has huge 18ft tipis, complete with inviting beds and fresh linens.
Coupled with a great bar and restaurant, luxury loos, hot showers and a powder room for the chicks, daybeds to lounge on, tunes to listen to and even daily newspapers to read as you devour breakfast and set yourself up for another day in the festival, it really is the place to stay.
Prices from £2,500 for a two person tipi. http://www.pennardorchard.co.uk/
For a real escape from the main revelry, try Land & Sky’s luxury yurts and tipis pitched in a private field overlooking the festival. Boasting a hill-top bar with unrivaled views, as well as a restaurant with a comprehensive dining menu and numerous catering options (you can even get a takeaway picnic), this is the place to be if you want to best of both worlds.
Prices from £5,750 for a tent. http://www.landnsky.co.uk/
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As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and international travel all the more common, it's hard to find new exciting destinations that aren't totally packed with tourists. Fortunately for us, there are still many awesome places in the world that are relatively unknown. Here are a few of our favourites.
Peru is known for the Inca site of Machu Picchu, but the country’s northern Pacific coastline also deserves mention. This area is sunny and spectacular and home to Máncora, a town with awesome surfing, pleasant weather, and ample dining and lodging options.
Once a backwater fishing village, Máncora is now the coolest coastal town in all of Peru. Its laid-back, bohemian vibe gives it a friendly atmosphere that fits perfectly the lovely local landscape. The consistently good surf (all year round) draws a sun-bleached, board-toting bunch and lively nightlife keeps visitors busy after the sun dips into the sea in a ball of fiery flames. There are several smaller beaches nearby that are nice places to relax and watch the waves roll in.
The sleepy beach hamlet of Mal País is billed as a surfer's paradise, and the surf is indeed exceptional. Get ready for tasty waves, creative kitchens and babes in board shorts and bikinis, because the southwestern corner of Península de Nicoya has all that and more. In addition to the surf, the hills are dotted with stylish boutique sleeps and sneaky good kitchens run by the occasional runaway, top-shelf chef.
A 4-wheel drive vehicle comes in handy for navigating unpaved roads in this still mostly wild area, particularly during the rainy season. Though locals zip around on quad bikes and motorcycles transporting their surfboards.
Named for an early Dutch settler and former pirate, rugged scenery and colorful folklore make up Jost Van Dyke. With fewer than 300 inhabitants, and measuring roughly 8 square kilometers, Jost Van Dyke is the smallest of the four main islands of the BVIs. But don't let this fool you. This little island has been dubbed the “New York of the Virgin Islands” because it offers so much nightlife — probably packs more fun per square inch than any other island in the BVIs.
Home to the infamous Soggy Dollar Bar (which was named for a patron who reportedly anchored his boat swam to shore for a drink, and paid for it with wet cash), the Soggy Dollar is probably most famous as being the birthplace of the potent yet refreshing cocktail known as the Painkiller.
For the adventure seekers, why not rent a four-wheeler and explore the off-road? Or hire a boat and explore the neighbouring islands? Whatever your fancy, JVD aims to please.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of a kind. It is a place that will stun you with her natural beauty, fascinate and inspire you with her rich cultural heritage, and touch you with her warm and genuine hospitality.
The signature sight in pretty Blagaj village is the half-timbered Tekija standing beside the surreally blue-green Buna River where it gushes out of a cliff-cave. Upstairs the Tekija's wobbly wooden interior entombs two 15th-century Tajik dervishes and attracts pious pilgrims.
Levanzo is known to be the smallest of islands among the Aegadian islands in Italy. Known for its natural charm and beauty, Levanzo is surrounded by the blue green waters of the Mediterranean Sea along the north of Favignana close to Sicily.
Many people come here to spend some quiet moments away from the hustle and bustle of the city life and enjoy the scenic beauty of the island. The locals lead a very simple and peaceful lifestyle here away from the chaos.
The village is split into two sections by the majestic villa at its centre, which overlooks Cala Dogana and the strait between Levanzo and Favignana, scene of many naval battles. In each of the sections can be found a fantastic bar, with terraces that enjoy the same view as the villa. Sipping a coffee or fruit juice while looking down at the seagulls that endlessly circle over the harbour can be a magical moment that sums up what Levanzo is all about: the appreciation of nature far from the incessant rhythms of daily life.
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Friday is upon us, the eagle has landed and we're ready to make the most of it. Here are some SAINT LUKE approved ways of having some fun and burning some cash in London this weekend.
Union Chapel, TONIGHT, £20 The head Lemonhead and ’90s alt rock hero, returns with his acoustic guitar to dip into the Lemonheads discography, his own lovely solo material and some of the many fine cover versions he's notched up over the years.
Rio, Saturday, £8.50. One of the greatest fright flicks of all time, ’The Shining’ sees Jack Nicholson drag his wife and psychic son up a mountain to be the hotel’s winter caretaker.
Exhibition: Self, Lazarides, until 17 March. "The result of more than a year of translating metaphorical blood, sweat and tears into paintings, is an exhibition of living, breathing self-portraits that laugh in the face of our filtered Instagram culture."
South Kensington, TONIGHT, free. It’s time once again for the monthly late opening of the museum. Check out the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition or join an expert-led discussion about digital image manipulation.
Islington Green, Saturday, free. An initiative originally run in Cape Town and now spreading kindness far and wide, The Street Store sees groups of volunteers gather donations from their local community and display them in an outdoor ‘shop’, making items of clothing and accessories available for free to homeless people in the area.
Trapeze, TONIGHT, £7, £5 adv. Southern Hospitality’s night named after an annual hip hop bash in Chicago promises the ‘buckest, hypest and widest’ music around. Founders Rob Pursey and Davey Boy Smith will be banging out beats from the likes of Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, Three 6 Mafia, Lil Boosie, Outkast, Cash Money and Ludacris.
Whichever way you look at it, going on holiday can be an expensive business. Here's where we have your back: we've selected 10 awesome luxury hotels that are surprisingly affordable. From Bali all the way to Budapest, all of these hotels are SAINT LUKE approved - so you can relax in style and comfort knowing you've got some spare bucks for those late night rums...
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Located in the trendy enclave of Seminyak, Bali’s upscale play paradise, L Hotel is the quintessential luxury resort and only minutes away from the beach. From its chic decor and personal butler service, you’ll be spoiled silly from the moment you step off the plane.
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http://www.hotelcampodefiori.com/
This handsome, ivy-draped hotel is a romantic refuge located right in the heart of Campo de' Fiori. The hotel's colorful, elegant furnishings, frescoes, and exposed brick make it unique, as do the riveting views from the rooftop terrace. In addition to the guest rooms, the hotel also offers apartments in the area that can accommodate two to five guests.
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Join the kite surfers and koi fish at Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa, which spawls across three heavenly hectares in beachy, off-the-radar Mui Ne. Villas are spacious and well designed, the area is untouched, and the hotel’s food and cocktails exploit the local vanilla and dragon fruit plantations to delicious effect.
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More than just a boutique bolthole, Brody House – a sometime film and fashion-shoot set – also has a members’ club with a stylish bar, a block of shabby-chic apartments, and gallery and printing studio Brody ArtYard, in four city-centre locales. The club and ArtYard have calendars crammed full of exhibitions, live music and book readings, and rooms at the hotel are an extension of this creative streak: like our bags, each is named after the artist whose work hangs on its walls. The communal spaces have high ceilings, lots of natural light and original parquet floors; yet somehow the townhouse still has the air of a (very cool) private home, and the apartments even more so.
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Retro and full of attitude, The Burrard is one of Vancouver’s most character-filled hotels —and it's affordable. The Burrard's décor channels ‘70s L.A. and the downtown hotel is touted as “like Melrose Place, only there’s no pool to drown in.” It offers free movie channels in the guest rooms, free super-fast WiFi, free Electra Cruiser bike rentals, and even free umbrellas for rainy days.
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A quirky 60-room hotel just a tome's throw from the New York Public Library, this lovingly book-themed tower is a bibliophile's dream stay. It's also within walking distance to many Midtown tourist attractions, several transportation hubs, and enough bars and restaurants to keep one's non-lettered hours plenty busy. Fashioned from a landmark 1900 brick and terra cotta structure this building has been beautifully restored into a mansion-style hotel of the highest caliber.
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http://www.lapurificadora.com/
If another architect had had their way with the former water-purifying factory of La Purificadora, the end result might be a slap in the face for the baroque buildings of Puebla, but Ricardo Legorreta’s sensitive reinvention is more a pat on the back. Combining the weathered woods, peeling paintwork and other original elements of industry with vast black-granite staircases, glass panels, and rich purple couches arranged around open coal fires, this boutique hotel in Mexico is an inspiring shrine to industrial chic.
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http://www.finca-valentina.com.ar/index_eng.html
Valentina has brought light and space to traditional Salteño style, combining white walls and lofty ceilings with classical modernist hallmarks: a whole wall of paned glass in the dining room, a soaring minimalist fireplace and a stunning swimming pool. Mid-century modern classics are everywhere, but so are antique chairs, and the hall is hung with ancient woven ponchos. The result is delightfully crisp and airy, but you know you’re in Salta. All bedrooms mix high-end comfort with vintage finds, and the bathrooms are perfect little havens. The food is superb. It’s like staying with relaxed, very welcoming friends.
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Despite its high-rise size, Hotel Muse in Bangkok feels refreshingly intimate, thanks to its seductive Euro-inspired decor and lofty layout. The ambience is playful yet elegant and its sensual city-view bedrooms are offset by super-styled interiors, including some of the most hedonistic wining and dining spots in town.
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http://www.riadanyssates.com/en/
Simple and spacious, with white walls and brightly coloured fabrics, Riad Anyssates’ suites are named after the owners’ children and friends. Staff radiate the impression that working here is barely a chore. Everyone seems totally delighted to be at the hotel, and, after a leisurely afternoon supping mint tea on the rooftop terrace and watching the Marrakech medina bustle away below, you will be too.
