The best private travel experiences in Asia

By: Joanne McFarlane

When luxury travel to Asia soon returns, there are those of us with the budget and the desire for a private travel experience. Whether flying via private jet, chartering a private yacht, or renting a luxury private villa, the demand for seamless and exclusive travel is on the rise. Asia is well suited for this type of tailored travel experience, with exemplary concierge service, stunning hideaways, and luxurious destinations which afford privacy and luxury.

Luxury hotel private jet experiences

Since launching in 2015, Four Seasons have offered life-changing experiences aboard their private jet. They now have the new, fully customised Four Seasons Private Jet, which offers exceptional journeys for a small number of fortunate travellers. Covering Asia, “Timeless Encounters” is their longest-running journey around the world. Enjoy culturally rich destinations, stunning natural beauty, and iconic wonders of the world along the way. Over 24 days, guests board in Hawaii and travel to Bora Bora for some much-needed rest and relaxation, before heading to Sydney for a thrilling urban experience. Spiritual Bali is next on the map, followed by Northern Thailand, and then a visit to the Taj Mahal and other fascinating sights in India. The bright lights of Dubai await and then a European stop in Prague, before this amazing journey ends in London. Setting guests back USD 168,000, based on double occupancy, it’s not for the light of pocket but well worth the experience!

Aman Resorts have taken their famed concierge service to the skies and seas with exclusive experiences. The Aman Private Jet offers all the luxury and superb service enjoyed at their luxury resorts worldwide. Catering for both short and long-haul trips as well as multi-destination itineraries, it is ideal for group, family and corporate travel. The jet can host up to 12 passengers and is available for charter over Aman properties worldwide, return flights home, or flights to other destinations. Aman also own a custom-built Phinisi yacht, the Amandira, which is available for sailing and diving journeys. It has 5 spacious cabins and a welcoming crew of 14. You can travel under sail or by motor and adventures travel across Indonesia’s Flores Sea, including the Unesco-protected Komodo National Park, and the magnificent coral reefs and marine life of Raja Ampat. They have an experienced divemaster onboard, a private chef, waiter, and massage therapist. For on-land privacy, Aman resorts tend to be small and spacious, but if you really want to escape it all, you can create your own private island by booking the camp exclusively at Amanwana on Mojo Island. Enjoy jungle treks to waterfalls, snorkelling, diving, and relaxing spa treatments galore.

Asia private villas

Asia is unsurpassed when it comes to luxury private villas, complete with private staff. The Villa Manager acts much like a concierge, arranging guests personal wishes onsite, a private chef can tailor to dietary requirements and source the freshest ingredients, and the cleaning team ensure that the villa is always spotless. In Bali, visitors can book a private villa within a hotel complex and enjoy both privacy and all that the resort complex offers. Established Bali resort ‘The Legian’ includes a private ‘Beach House’ with a secluded garden and 16m pool which looks out onto Seminyak beach and beautiful ocean views. The beach house comes with a private butler to attend to all your needs of course. Over in Uluwatu, luxury private villa The Istana re-defined itself in recent years to offer a meditative experience for guests. Formerly recognised as one of Bali’s most exclusive villas for weddings, events, and high life luxury, it now offers yoga and mindfulness retreats and boasts sensory deprivation tanks, infrared and dry heat saunas, and hot and cold plunge pools.

Luxury private yacht charters

Nothing says luxury like a private yacht charter in the tropics. For a mere USD 110,000 per week, you can rent the Ocean Pure, a 41m super yacht complete with a jacuzzi and water slide. Moored in the Gulf of Thailand, it comes with an experienced crew and hosts up to 12 guests. Imagine taking the kayaks out into the Indian Ocean or enjoying the thrill of water skis and wakeboards. For those who prefer a more traditional yachting experience, Indonesian luxury Phinisi sailing yachts are sublime. Originating from South Sulawesi, these beautiful boats are crafted using wood and sail peacefully to far away destinations.

Asia offers so much in terms of cultural experience, natural beauty, and exemplary service, where no request is too small. In an age where air travel requires social distancing, compulsory mask-wearing, and additional check-in requirements, private travel is becoming a more enticing option. In addition to this, the drastic cut in flights results in loss of spontaneity and ease of travel. If budget isn’t an issue, private travel can deliver a seamless, VIP entry and exit, spacious and serene surroundings, and the experience of a lifetime.

Joanne McFarlane is the Founder and Managing Director of Soul Sanctuaries. Soul Sanctuaries is a luxury wellness travel company specialising in tailormade healthy holidays and bespoke spiritual retreats across Asia.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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Convert Your Foreign Driver’s License in Montenegro [Montenegro Driver’s License]

By: Fatima Turla

This article will show you a guide and steps on how to convert your foreign driver’s license in Montenegro.

Photo by Knar Bedian CC BY-NC 2.0

Living in another country is more challenging than it sounds. From processing the papers and documents to the adjusting period, it is definitely not easy. You need to remember a lot of things: laws, culture, language, cost of living, local daily lives, etc., but here, we will talk about how you can convert your foreign driver’s license in Montenegro. This applies to those who already have a driver’s license in their home country.

Other articles you can read:

Steps on How You Can Convert Your Foreign Driver’s License in Montenegro

Step 1:  With the help of a certified interpreter or translator, translate your driver’s license into Montenegrin. Bring this document with you when you apply for getting a Montenegrin driver’s license. 

Step 2: Submit the application/request to the Ministry of the Interior Affairs (MUP) at the branch in the municipality that issued your residence permit. You will receive the application form at the branch of MUP. 

Step 3: Attach your valid foreign driver’s license

Step 4: Show proof that you have lived abroad for at least 6 months. It can be a certificate from a travel document, a confirmation from the company where you worked or a school certificate, etc.

Step 5: Submit a medical certificate (LJEKARSKO UVJERENJE) not older than 6 months. You can get this at the health center in the municipality that issued your residence permit. This document costs around 30 euros and is not needed by persons under 40 years of age. 

Note: The Diplomatic and Consular Missions, the Missions of the Foreign States, and International Organizations’ staff’s Representations do not have to submit this paper either.

Step 6: Pay specific amount/fees for issuing documents. Fill in the payment slip and pay the sum requested at a nearby bank or post office. Always keep a copy of the payment slip because you will need to submit it as a proof of the requested payment. Here’s how you can fill out a payment slip:

MUP account 825 – 50 – 71 (Broj ralučna primaoca plaćanja), model 05. 

Reference number (poziv na broj) is different for every municipality. 

Purpose: Ostale uplate. 

Amount: 100.00 EUR

Step 7: Pay the 5.00 EUR fee in the same way as in step 6 to this bank account: MUP-a: 825-42-95, model 05

Reference number (poziv na broj) is different for every municipality. 

Purpose: Isprave

Step 8: Pay the 10.00 EUR fee in the same way as in step 6 to this bank account: MUP-a: 825-50-71, model 05

Reference number (poziv na broj) is different for every municipality. 

Photo by Still Burning CC BY-NC 2.0

About the Writer

Hi there! I’m Fatima. My first major travel was in 2016 in the beautiful city of Cebu. After that, I got interested in traveling. Now I enjoy learning languages and other country’s cultures. My goal is to visit at least one country each year and to share my experiences with other people through writing or blogging. Witness my journey by following me on Instagram.​​​​​​​

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Restaurants in luxury Mallorca hotels featured in the Michelin Guide

By: Gail Hewitt

Sometimes, it’s not just simply about getting away from it all, appreciating guaranteed sunshine, and feeling the sand between our toes.  It’s also about the opportunity to enjoy some wonderful food, and sampling local produce and perhaps some freshly caught seafood.

One of the names associated with good food and restaurants is, of course, Michelin. We have done the hard work for you and set out below restaurants located in luxury hotels in Mallorca that feature in the Michelin Guide.  From modern cuisine to top restaurants, and from seafood to those attaining the coveted Michelin Stars, there are plenty to choose from.

Many restaurants are rated with a ‘Michelin Plate’. When a restaurant is rated with this, it signifies very good food. A few are also awarded with a coveted Michelin Star.

You do not necessarily have to travel outside your hotel in order to experience some fine dining.  Your luxury hotel may well have a superb restaurant within its own grounds, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the facilities and surrounding to which you have become accustomed. Alternatively, you can venture further afield and enjoy many of the restaurants resorts have to offer.  The choice is yours!

1. 365 at the Son Brull Hotel & Spa

Located in the town of Pollensa to the north of the island, the 5-star Son Brull Hotel & Spa enjoys a rural setting at the foot of the Sierra de Tramuntana. The hotel certainly has an ambience of peace and serenity, making it an ideal getaway from a busy lifestyle.  Occupying an historical, 18th century monastery, the hotel retains old-world charm, successfully combined with luxury and contemporary elements.  The hotel has just 23 rooms and suites and 4 two-bedroom villa suites.

The chef at 365, sources traditional Mallorcan ingredients to create a la carte dishes. Many of the ingredient are from the hotel’s own gardens and groves. Dishes also include locally caught fish.  The restaurant is open in the evenings from February through to November. You can be seated in the dining room or on the terrace overlooking the countryside.

According to the Guide: “An interesting dining option due to its setting, high level cuisine and attentive service. The menu is creative in character with a focus on top quality ingredients, which can be enjoyed in an avant-garde atmosphere”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

2. Oleum at the Gran Hotel Son Net

The hotel and restaurant are located within the village of Puigpunyent in the western part of the island of Mallorca. Surrounded by countryside, mountains, groves and woodland, yet only 20 minutes’ drive to Palma, the island’s capital.   This charming hotel building dates back to the 17th century and has just 31 rooms and suites.

The elegant Oleum is the hotel’s main restaurant. Serving Mallorcan cuisine with locally sourced ingredients, the restaurant offers diners an intimate atmosphere. Some ingredients will be from the hotel’s own garden, and others from local farmers.  Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Oleum.

The Guide says: “Named after the Latin word for oil, this restaurant is housed in a former oil mill decorated with the millstones from the original building. The contemporary a la carte menu is varied and extensive.”  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

3. El Patio de Glòria at the Hotel Glòria de Sant Jaume

Located in the heart of the island’s capital, Palma, the Glòria de Sant Jaume is a 5-star hotel. Located in the old town part of the city, the hotel has just 14 rooms – all individually styled.

The restaurant – El Patio de Glòria – is both elegant and cosy with a relaxed atmosphere. There is an open courtyard with a water fountain, as well as an interior section. Serving local ingredients, the restaurant combines Mediterranean and classic cuisine. The Patio de Glòria is open for breakfast, morning coffee, a lunchtime drink, and evening dinner.

The Guide says: “An elegant dining option with a stylish cocktail bar and its own personality vis-à-vis the Hotel Glòria de San Jaume in which it is located. Eclectic Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with a modern touch and a nod to other cultures”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

4. Marc Fosh at the Convent de la Missio

A 5-star hotel located in Palma’s old town. Surrounded by small street, the hotel was built during the 17th century for the purpose of educating missionaries.   Today, it has become an exclusive hotel.

Restaurant Marc Fosh has been awarded a One Michelin Star, and serves tasting menus highlighting the best local produce from around the Balearics. The restaurant is located on the lower level of the hotel and is modern and relaxed.

The Guide says: “Occupies a 17th century seminar now revamped in an avant-garde style with open spaces, designer details and minimalist decor”.  It has been awarded a One Michelin Star for high quality cooking.

5. Quadrat at the Sant Francesc Hotel Singular

The Sant Francesc Hotel is a luxury 5-star hotel in the centre of Palma.  A former mansion, it has been transformed with ultra-modern design, but retaining its elegance and comfort.  Rooms are spacious and range from a superior room through to the Sant Francesc Suite with original frescoes and two French balconies.

The Quadrat restaurant is divided into three areas.  Open for breakfast daily, lunch on Sunday, and dinner from Thursday to Sunday inclusive and dishes are based on local and Mediterranean produce.

The Guide says: “Mediterranean cuisine with a modern touch in a restaurant occupying the former stables of a mansion in the centre of Palma. At lunchtime, the only option is the ‘executive’ menu, while a rice-based menu is also available at the weekend”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

6. Bala Roja at the Hotel Es Princep

This sophisticated 5-star hotel in Palma was built in 2017 and is just 900m from the centre. The hotel is easily accessible on foot to a host of places of interest including the cathedral, chic boutiques, galleries, and the marina. Enjoy the spectacular views from the rooftop bar – Almaq. This is open until late and features live music. During the day, guests can relax on the sun terrace and even cool off in the small rooftop pool.

The Bala Roja restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Run by Michelin-star chef Andreu Genestra, the restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine, all prepared with fresh local produce.  There are two menus for dinner and an executive menu for lunch, all served in a relaxed atmosphere in a stylish restaurant with wooden beams, white-washed walls, and plenty of natural light.

The Guide says: “Its name refers to the incandescent ‘red cannonballs’ that were once fired from the Baluard del Princep bastion. Traditional Spanish cuisine based around local products that has been given a pleasant contemporary twist”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

7. Es Fum at the St Regis Mardavall Hotel

The 5-star St Regis Mardavall is in the up-market resort of Portals Nous, to the west of Palma city. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, it’s just 1km from the beach and a few minutes’ walk from the exclusive marina of Puerto Portals.  The hotel has 16 single rooms, 28 doubles, and 4 suites.

Guests can enjoy fine dining at the hotel’s Es Fum restaurant.  Awarded with the prestigious one Michelin Star since November 2011, you can enjoy your meal either inside the restaurant, or on the outdoor terrace overlooking the gardens and sea beyond.  Open Wednesday to Sunday inclusive from 19:30 to 22:30 and offering a Petit Menu comprising 6 courses, and a Tasting Menu with 10 courses.

The Guide says: “This superb restaurant is considered to be one of the jewels of the St Regis Mardavall hotel, with its elegant, classic – contemporary décor and magnificent Mediterranean-style covered terrace. Modern creative dishes with a clever combination of textures, all made from the best locally sourced ingredients”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

8. La Fortaleza at the Hotel Cap Rocat

This luxury hotel is located in the bay of Cala Blava in a privileged area of Palma. It’s only 20 minutes from the centre of Palma.  The hotel has just 30 rooms housed in an old military fortress that was resorted in 2010. The old building of the fort has been transformed into seating areas. The old windows for the cannons, located on the cliff overlooking the Bay of Palma, have been converted into spectacular suites and private patios and terraces.

La Fortaleza restaurant is an impressive area, only intended for 30 diners.  You can start your dining experience outside with an aperitif and then moved to the more formal setting for dinner.  Enjoy the music from the piano, or a Spanish guitar playing in the background.  The restaurant was one the troops’ mess hall, but is now a cosy and intimate area with soft lighting.  Open from 19:00 – 21:30 Tuesday to Saturday.

The Guide says: “An elegant, unique and very special restaurant offering menus which showcase contemporary cuisine with an innovative touch, one featuring typical Mallorcan dishes, the other seasonal products”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

9. Kairiku and Tess de Mar at the Sa Creu Nova Art Hotel and Spa

A 5-star luxury hotel in the Campos area of Mallorca. Located between the countryside and beaches makes this a hotel for those wanting to escape the busier resorts of the island. This historic house has been completed restored but retains much of its traditional Mallorca architecture.

The idyllic beach of Es Trenc is just 10 minutes from the hotel where you can enjoy white sands and crystal-clear sea.  Within the hotel are two restaurants featured in the Michelin guide – namely …

Kairiku is a new Japanese restaurant concept in Mallorca. This is an Omakase restaurant located within the Sa Creu Nova hotel. Omakase cuisine means trusting the chef’s selection and is described in more detail below. The chef executes a menu which he chooses and creates for guests. Located in the old winery of the hotel, it has a single table where diners interact with the chef. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Open for lunch Wednesday – Sunday.

The Guide says: “A unique and intimate restaurant with just a single large table for 10 guests. Here, Kairiku’s chef recreates the Japanese ‘omakase’ concept that fully respects tradition but which is not restricted to a set menu”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

Tess de Mar is also located at the Sa Creu Nova Hotel, this restaurant serves Mediterranean and Mallorca cuisine with fresh local produce. The restaurant has a wine cellar with 50 types of pre-selected wines including Mallorcan, national and international.

The Guide says: “A restaurant with a contemporary feel occupying a former coach house. This renowned restaurant in the local area serves modern zero-miles cuisine overlooking an attractive garden”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

10. Fontsanta at the Fontsanta Thermal Spa Hotel

The 5-star Fontsanta Hotel is an exclusive adults-only hotel next to the natural area of the beach of Es Trenc and Es Salobrar in the south of the island. The architecture of the hotel is typically Mallorcan and boasts the only thermal water spa in the Balearics.  The waters emerge from underground and as they rise, they acquire mineral elements.  This is a hotel for guests wanting the most from their relaxation time.

The Fontsanta restaurant located within the hotel offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the tranquil interior space of the restaurant, private rooms, and terraces. Open for both lunch and dinner.

The Guide says: “Occupying old stables and embellished with an open fireplace, the dining room provides the backdrop for traditional Mediterranean cuisine along with the occasional local dish”.  It has been rated with the Michelin Plate for good cooking.

You may also be interested in reading more about some of the above hotels in other articles we have written.   In ‘A breath of fresh air in the Balearics’, we bring to your attention those luxury hotels throughout the Balearic Islands that have attractive outdoor space allowing you to make the most of the fresh air which has become an important factor in reducing the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Also in ‘5 of our favourite villas within luxury hotels in Mallorca’, you can read a little more about 2 of the hotels featured above – ie Cap Rocat and Gran Hotel Son Net – as we introduce some luxury villas with private pools available within the hotel.

Gail Hewitt is Owner and Director of Corona Holidays. Corona Holidays are specialists in tailor-made holidays to the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and European city breaks.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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The original content (article & images) is owned by Gail Hewitt. Visit the site here for other interesting stories.

Tuvalu: The Least Visited Country in the World

By: Gary Arndt

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Podcast Transcript

Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is one of the smallest countries in the world. The country has only one proper hotel and that has just 9 rooms. 

Once you visit the country, there is no car rental service, there isn’t an ATM machine anywhere in the country, and the entire country doesn’t take credit cards. 

Oh, and good luck trying to get online.

Learn more about Tuvalu, the least visited country in the world, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

———————-

To start, let’s get the pronunciation of the country out of the way. It is pronounced TuVAlu, with the accent on the second syllable, not Tuvalu, with no syllable accented. 

Tuvalu lies in the South Pacific, about 700 miles due north of Fiji, and about 7 degrees south of the equator. 

The entire country consists of nothing but coral atolls. In fact, the word Tuvalu means “eight together” in Tuvaluan, a reflection of the fact that eight of the nine islands in the Tuvalu archipelago were originally inhabited. 

Tuvalu was settled by Polynesian navigators, and here I’ll reference my previous episode on the topic, who probably came from Samoa which is located about 700 miles to the southeast. One island, according to legend,  also might have come from Tonga. 

The remoteness and small size of the islands meant that they had little contact with the outside world, even as Europeans began mapping the Pacific Ocean. 

A Spanish ship first sighted the islands in 1595 but never bothered to stop. They just made note of the island in their log.

It was 160 years until another European ship passed by in 1751 when a British Royal Navy ship sailed past, but they too never bothered to stop.

In 1819, a British ship captained by American Arent Schuyler de Peyster sailed through and named the islands the Ellice Islands. 

Through the 19th century, there were American whalers that stopped, and there were some Europeans who established small trading posts on some of the islands. 

In 1892, the Ellice Islands had become a British protectorate as part of British Western Pacific Territories, and in 1916 it became part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. 

In World War II, the Ellice Islands were spared a Japanese occupation. The Americans eventually came to the islands and built the first airstrip on the island of Funafuti as well as a port facility. 

Funafuti served as the staging point for the Battle of Tarawa which took place in November 1943.

After the war, the airstrip and port facilities built by the Americans became the basis for Tuvalu’s only airport and their main facility for shipping.

In the aftermath of the war, there began a process of decolonization of British Territories.

In 1974, the Ellice islands had a referendum on if they should separate from the Gilbert Islands to form a separate territory. An overwhelming 93% of the electorate favored separating. The Gilbert Islands went on to become the independent country of Kiribati. 

As part of the separation, the revenue-producing phosphate islands remained in the Gilbert Islands. 

In 1976, they became the Ellice Island Colony. 

The Ellice Island Colony was only a transitionary institution. The eventual plan was to become independent, which happened on October 1, 1978.

If you remember back to my episode on the country of Nauru, they had a heyday from the 1960s through the 1980s, where the country, very briefly, was the richest country in the world per capita from their phosphate reserves. 

Tuvalu never even had that. The islands which make up the country are literally all sand. The country is 100% coral atolls. The highest point in the country is 4.6 meters or 15 feet above sea level. 

In terms of land area, the country is only 26 square kilometers or 10 square miles making it larger than only Nauru, Monaco, and Vatican City. However, its territory extending out into the sea is significantly larger. Its exclusive economic zone is approximately 750,000 square kilometers or  289,000 square miles. Almost 29,000 times larger than their land area.

The population of Tuvalu today is only about 11,000 people, which makes it the second smallest country in the United Nations, with only a few hundred more people than Nauru. 

With so few people, and so little in the way of resources, the economy of Tuvalu is very small. Its entire GDP is about $40 million per year, which to put that into perspective, is less than the annual salary of the Kansas City Chief’s Patrick Mahomes. In fact, Mahomes could double Tuvalu’s GDP and still have $5 million left over for himself. 

What little economy they do have comes from a few sources: selling fishing rights and foreign aid are two big ones. A third major source of revenue comes from a quirk of the internet. 

Each country has a two-letter top-level domain for their country. Canada has .ca, the United Kingdom has .uk, and Mexico is .mx. Tuvalu lucked out and was given the .tv domain. 

A full one-twelfth of their economy consists of selling rights to the .tv domain. There are currently over 85,000 domains registered using the .tv domain, usually for TV stations or sites doing video. 

Revenue from this source is expected to increase significantly over the next few years. 

While Tuvalu makes quite a bit of money off the internet, it doesn’t mean that the people in the country have good internet. I visited Tuvalu and stayed several nights there back in 2016. The internet was…..bad. That is putting it mildly. Given their location in the middle of the ocean, it is very difficult and expensive for them to connect with the rest of the world. 

There are plans to install a fiber optic cable to Tuvalu, which would radically improve life for its citizens. 

Life in Tuvalu is different. 

The largest island in terms of population and area is Funafuti, which is also the capital of the country. 

By far, the largest feature on Funafuti is the airport runway. Because it takes up so much land, and because there are so few flights, people just use it throughout the week. People might dry clothes on the runway, play games, or ride their bikes. 

About an hour before a plane is about to land, a siren goes off warning everyone to stay away from the runway. 

As I noted in the introduction, Tuvalu is considered to be the least visited country in the world. It gets only about 500 actual tourists per year. 

Nauru, which is similar in size, has its own airline and there are regular flights with fly through their airport. It is also much close to Australia. 

Tuvalu, on the other hand, is really far away from anything. The only flights to the country come from Fiji, and then only twice a week. Fiji Airways is the only airline that services the country, so flights are expensive. 

Once you are in Tuvalu, commerce can be challenging. There isn’t an ATM anywhere in the country and no place takes credit cards, as processing them is so difficult because the communications with the rest of the world is so poor. 

There is only one real hotel in the country, and that only has 9 rooms. It is on a par in terms of quality with a roadside motel in the United States. There are a few other guesthouses where you can stay as well. 

To top it all off, Tuvalu uses the Australian Dollar as its currency, but all its flights come from Fiji, which doesn’t use the Australian Dollar. When I flew to Tuvalu I had to take out Fijian money, then covert it to Australian Dollars at the Nadi Airport which was expensive to do. 

Everywhere in the country is no more than about 200 meters from the ocean, no matter where you are. I rented a motorbike one day and literally drove as far as I could from one end of Funafuti to the other and you were never far from the shore. If you don’t bother to stop, you can probably get from end to end in 15 or 20 minutes. 

There is one issue that tends to overwhelm all discussions of Tuvalu. If you do a search on Tuvalu, many articles will pop up on the same topic: global warming. 

Tuvalu is in danger of disappearing entirely. Because the entire country is coral atolls, most everything is just one or two meters above sea level. The tides have been rising about 3.9 millimeters per year.

It is entirely possible that at some point in the future Tuvalu could get wiped off the map. 

Australia and Fiji have both offered to relocate the citizens of Tuvalu, but the government says that would only be a last resort. 

So if you truly want to do something different, to go someplace where no one else goes, consider a trip to Tuvalu. Just get yourself to Fiji to catch a flight and make sure you have enough Australian currency with you. 

Also, you might not want to wait too long, because you never know how much longer Tuvalu is going to be around. 

The original content (article & images) is owned by Gary Arndt. Visit the site here for other interesting stories.