Oceania

Travel through Oceania by country:

Australia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Travel through Oceania by popular city:

Auckland, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Wellington

Travel through Oceania by popular things to do:

Cook Islands, Sydney Opera House

Travel through Oceania with our writers:

In the Corner of the World, Work and Play in Queensland

10 historical hostels with unique pasts

by Jessica Festa on

Former prisons, renovated brothels, converted convents; sometimes, you get more than just a cheap bed when choosing a hostel. In fact, with a little research you can find yourself relaxing in the same room a king once did, or dining in a kitchen where soldiers from WWII slept during the war. To help make your next trip a bit more historical, here are ten hostels from around the world with unique pasts.

Hostel Celica
Ljubljana, Slovenia

While Hostel Celica is currently a cultural and creative hostel that features an art gallery, debate forum, inspirational workshops, concerts, and special events, the accommodation is actually a former military prison. Its use dates back to 1882, when the jail was within the military barracks of Metelkova Street. It wasn’t until Solvenia gained independence and the barracks were no longer necessary that the space was converted into what it is today. While there are no longer prisoners of war here, guests can still spend the night in a jail cell. Moreover, symbols of peace, like prayer rooms with alters for the world’s five major religions and a “Point of Peace” meditation space, celebrate the positive transition of the building.Bluehostel Rome
Rome, Italy

The Bluehostel Rome is not only well-situated near historical sites like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, it’s also a historical site in itself. Once a 17th century convent, the basement of the hostel has been renovated from a 1st century Roman dwelling. Today, guests can still enjoy this unique past through old-world decor and the 150-year-old traditional wooden ceilings, which were recently discovered during a renovation in May of 2010.

Clink 78
London, United Kingdom

Located in central London is a trendy backpacker hostel that is actually a renovated 200-year-old courthouse. There are also seven original prison cells which guests can sleep in. Some fun facts about the hostel: The Clash once stood trial in what is now the TV lounge, and the current internet space, which was also once a courtroom, gave Charles Dickens his inspiration for “Oliver Twist.” With all of this history, it’s not surprising that Clink 78 is on the official National Heritage List for England.

Ethic étapes Cannes Jeunesse
Cannes, France

Located on a protected and nearly deserted island in the Mediterranean, this hostel is a historic fort from the 17th century. Built by architect Marquis de Vauban, well-known for advising Louis XIV on how to condense France’s borders, it was later made famous by the movie “The Man in the Iron Mask” as the place where the prisoner was held captive.

Belford Hostel
Edinburgh, Scotland

When visiting a Gothic city like Edinburgh, it would only be right to stay in an accommodation that reflects its rich history. Belford Hostel is actually a historic church building from the 19th century that has retained its features over the decades. High ceilings, stained glass windows, details and decor from the original building help take travelers back in time and to feel as if they are living in old-world Scotland.

Historical Ryokan Hostel K’s House Ito Onsen Accommodation
Higashimatsubara-cho, Japan

This historical building is over 100 years old and is the only hostel registered as a cultural property in Japan. Because of this, guests are metaphorically taken into the past as the property has changed very little in terms of structure and decor. What guests of this property enjoy more than anything is the 100% natural age-old hot springs with relaxation and healing properties, making it one of the most historical as well as luxurious hostels in the world.

Back of Chapel Backpacker
Melbourne, Australia

While the name of the hostel sounds happy and light, this newly renovated hostel has a bit of a seedy past. Over 100 years ago, the building was actually a brothel used by politicians and ministers, and a stay here will allow you to see firsthand the hidden escape door these men would sneak out through during police raids. You can actually read about the old brothel in the novel “My Brother Jack.” Today, this social hostel takes on a more moral air and features modern amenities to help backpackers feel comfortable and safe.

Jailhouse Accommodation
Christchurch, New Zealand

Jailhouse Accommodation has everything a backpacker could want: comfortable beds, TV lounges, a communal kitchen, a fun game room, and prison-style accommodation. The thick concrete walls of the building held not only a jail, but also a military camp and women’s prison. Although the prison was shut down in 1999, it wasn’t until 2006 that a couple transformed the building from a gloomy jailhouse to a friendly backpacker destination. Today, you can still experience the Gothic architecture from 1874 as well as sleep in a prison cell for yourself (they even have prisoner outfits that you can wear for photos). Jailhouse Accommodation is also listed as a New Zealand Historic Places Trust Heritage Building.

Old Firestation Backpackers
Fremantle, Australia

This fun and social destination is well-known for offering an array of free amenities, such as WiFi, video games, linens, lockers, an outdoor cinema, and a game lounge. According to the Australian Heritage Database, Old Firestation Backpackers is a restored heritage building from 1908 and was originally planned to house four horse-drawn carriages including an ambulance. Another interesting tidbit is that during WWII, the firemen were evacuated so the U.S. Marines could move in. Today, guests can still experience the history of the building, as little has been changed inside, from high ceilings to a fireman’s pole.

Hostelling International- Ottawa Jail Hostel
Ottawa, Canada

Located in downtown Ottawa, this hostel was once the Carleton County Gaol (Jail), and a stay here will allow you to sleep in a prison hospital room or a renovated jail cell with barred doors and arched ceilings. You can also take a Haunted Walking Tour of the jail, which will give you a spooky look into the history of the building. If your appetite for history still isn’t satiated, you can head over to nearby sites like Parliament Hill, the Museum of Civilization, the Canadian War Museum, or the National Gallery of Canada.

10 museums that will make you feel like a kid again

by Jessica Festa on

Usually when you hear about a “family-friendly museum,” you can assume that what the experience will be tailored around is children. But why should kids be the only ones who get to have fun?

With these ten museums, adults will be able to travel back to a time when playing with dolls, watching cartoons, riding rocking horses, and running through rooms full of fun-house mirrors was acceptable. Carefree days, heartfelt laughs and being immersed in a world where everything looks and feels brand new are easily attainable no matter how old you are.

To learn more about these museums and how to experience being a kid again for yourself, check out the gallery below.

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10 best natural spas around the world

by Jessica Festa on

Who doesn’t love a great spa experience? While a traditional Swedish massage or hot stone treatment is always relaxing, why not try something different and 100% natural?

All over the world, there are regions featuring geothermal pools, hot springs, and water heated by volcanic activity that also contain healing and curative properties. And this isn’t something new; even the Incas and the Romans enjoyed taking a dip in these natural spas. Minerals in the water help to alleviate ailments and diseases like asthma, psoriasis, muscle pain, acne, arthritis, neuralgia, and more. And not only is it healthy, its relaxing too.

For a closer look at some of the world’s most amazing natural spas check out the gallery below.

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The two worlds of Waiheke, New Zealand’s paradise island

by Kyle Ellison on

Sipping a succulent syrah inside of the beachfront tasting room at Man O’ War winery, a quick glance of the room is all it takes to confirm I’m out of my element.

To my left, a middle-aged man sporting crocodile shoes and hair of a dubious authenticity casually flashes a credit card for $500 of the vineyard’s finest vintage. To my right, a suntanned yachtie with a bushy white mustache gesticulates to an acquaintance about the strength of the new varnish recently applied to his helm station.

Then, sandwiched between the two socialites, is me, a wandering travel writer who temporarily lives in a van which was shipped to the island on a 45-minute ferry. Meekly performing a free wine tasting just trying to learn a little about Waiheke wines, the contrast is pretty black and white.

Luckily for all parties involved, however, Waiheke Island is more multi-dimensional than simply being a playground for the uber-rich. Sure, there are expensive rave-parties at vineyards, hidden beachfront mansions, and trendy, high-priced boutiques lining the island’s main thoroughfare, but there is an entire other side to Waiheke which can’t be invested in, can’t be corrupted, and definitely can’t be bought.

I am here to explore that side of Waiheke.”It’s paradise island!” claims my friend Barlow, a couldn’t-be-happier Waiheke Island resident.

“It’s like living in the 1970’s! Come stay for a year!”

A recent transplant to the island from Australia, Barlow is one of the few workers swimming upstream against the river of Kiwis “jumping the ditch” to Australia for a share of the booming mining business, an industry where average salaries hover around $124,000 U.S. dollars per year. Don’t believe me? Check out this chart.

Barlow, however, wants no part if it. Instead, he’s enamored with the antiquity of Waiheke and the pervasive sense of island calm. There are no malls on Waiheke, and there are no freeways. With a population of only 8,000 residents, Waiheke is the third most populated island in New Zealand, yet still retains a small town feel. He instructs me to park my van on the grass just off the side of the road.

“You can leave it there for a month” he claims. “And no need to lock it.”

Later in the afternoon we take a hike along a coastal trail accessible only at low-tide. Although the island is only 36 square miles and crawling in private boats over from Auckland, there are still a surprising amount of hidden coves with nary a person on them.

Confirming the notion there are still places to escape the “see-and-be-seen” areas of Waiheke, the first person we encounter on the two mile amble along the coast is a woman opting to sunbathe in the total nude. A turquoise t-shirt placed ever so delicately over her face, we decide to scamper further down the trail and allow her to erase her tan lines in peace.

Meandering around a few more empty points, we find a lone fisherman seated calmly on a rocky outcropping, a faded straw hat protecting his sun-shriveled neck. Though I notice no fishtails poking out of his white plastic bucket, he exudes the feeling he hasn’t a care in the world.

“Nice spot for fishing you’ve found out here” I acknowledge upon approach.

“Ah, the fish are just a bonus mate. I come out here to find myself. Have some time for my thoughts. Might dive for some kina when the tide backs out a bit.”

A local seafood delicacy, kina is a a type of sea urchin endemic to New Zealand waters where the bitter tasting roe can reach prices of $25/pound. Climbing a densely forested pathway away from the pensive fisherman, I reason that kina can, in a way, speak to the dichotomy of Waiheke. Some people on Waiheke prefer to buy their kina; others would rather dive for their own.

Treating myself to a glass of Te Whau syrah at the end of the hike, followed by a pint of Onetangi dark ale from Waiheke Island Brewery (what? I’m on vacation), I eventually find myself wandering Oneroa Beach beneath a sky painted pink by the setting Kiwi sun.

There on the beach is when it hits me.

This, I realize, does not cost any money. This soft white sand beneath my feet, the smell of salt wafting off the tranquil Hauraki Gulf, the easygoing atmosphere of the locals strolling the beach alongside me, this is all part of the Waiheke charm that doesn’t have a price tag dangling off the end.

So although Waiheke Island may boast a glitzy reputation, travelers to New Zealand should remember that Waiheke is still just an island, and as is often the case, the best parts of island life always comes free.

Exciting hotel packages for springtime travelers

by Jessica Festa on

Wondering where you should travel this spring? Take advantage of one of these season-inspired packages and enjoy fun activities in great locations for a discounted price.

De L’Europe
Amsterdam, Netherlands

The city of Amsterdam is well-known for its flower markets, lush gardens, and picturesque parks. To help visitors experience the natural beauty of the city, De L’Europe is featuring an Enchanted Gardens package from March 22-May 20, 2012. The package includes accommodations in the spacious Deluxe Room, breakfast for two each morning, and two tickets along with an all-inclusive guide to the Keukenhof, where myriad flora and fauna displays will be featured as well as over 7 million flowers including hundreds of tulip varieties.

Packages start at $595 per night based on double occupancy. Call +31 20 531 17 77 or click here to book. Troia Design Hotel
Troia, Portugal

The Troia Design Hotel is located on a picturesque peninsula on a nature reserve about an hour away from Lisbon. This spring, guests of the hotel can custom create their own packages to experience the great outdoors. Simply give your dates of travel and choose from a variety of activities, like kite surfing, diving, wine tasting, horseback riding, dolphin watching, rock climbing, visiting ancient ruins, bird watching, relaxing on the beach, indulging in the spa, scuba diving, and exploring surrounding castles.

Package rates vary depending on length of stay and activities chosen. Click here to custom create your spring package.

La Tavola Marche
Le Marche, Italy

La Tavola Marche is an organic farm, inn, and cooking school all in one. From March 29-April 2, 2012, the property is hosting a Cooking with Spring’s Wild Edibles package where guests can experience cooking and savoring the flavors of the season. The package includes four nights of accommodation, daily breakfasts, a guided wild edible walk, two half-day cooking classes as well as an apron and cookbook to keep, two wine-enhanced meals, and a five course dinner.

Packages are $641 per person based on double occupancy. Click here to book.

Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort
Solvang, California

The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort is a romantic, “old-west” accommodation located in the picturesque Santa Barbara Wine Country. The property is also home to a 100-acre lake that makes for a popular fly-fishing retreat, especially with all of the Northern Strain Large Mouth Bass. This spring, the ranch is helping guests experience this relaxing past time by offering a Alisal Anglers’ Package for Two. The promotion includes a two night stay in one of the property’s deluxe accommodations, a welcome basket with fruit, cheese, wine, crackers, and fishing lures, three meals per day, an Alisal Lake hat, a $100 credit for a guided fishing trip for two, and all taxes and fees.

Packages start at $1,295 for two nights for two people. Call 1-888-4-ALISAL or e-mail reservations@alisal.com.

The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel
Washington, D.C.

In 1912, Japan gave Washington, D.C., 3,000 cherry trees which grew into a beautiful icon for the nation’s capital. From March 20 to April 27, 2012, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will take place, marking the 100 year anniversary of the gift. To help celebrate, The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel is featuring a Cherry Blossom Getaway from March 22-April 22. The package includes self-customized accommodations via My Affinia, a commemorative cherry tree branch, picnic treats from Art and Soul, chocolates inspired by cherry blossoms from Artisan Confections, and two metro passes.

Packages start at $199 per night. Call 1-866-246-2203 and mention promotional code CHER12 or click here to book.

Wolcott Hotel
New York, NY

The Wolcott Hotel is a comfortable and cozy 100-year old accommodation located near Murray Hill. It’s also in close proximity to the Empire State Building and the beloved Macy’s in Herald Square. To help guests enjoy the beauty of spring in New York, the property is lowering its rates for the season as well as inviting guests to enjoy the annual Macy’s Flower Show with free entry and a guided tour of the flower towers and floral decor.

Rates start at $150 per night. Call 212-268-2900 or click here to book.

Sunset Beach Resorts Spa & Waterpark
Montego Bay, Jamaica

Sunset Beach Resorts Spa & Waterpark is an all-inclusive beachfront property with lush gardens, a relaxing spa, and a thrill-filled waterpark. To help celebrate the coming of the warm weather, the resort is offering a Spring Madness promotion which includes beach games, pool parties, a bonfire experience, free transfers to Margaritaville, and 15% off all spa services.

Promotion rates start at $152.75 per person per night based on double occupancy. The promotion is valid for travel through April 13, 2012. Call 877-734-3486 to book.

CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa
Anguilla, British West Indies

CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa is a 5-star resort that features something for everyone, including a luxurious spa, expansive golf course, hydroponic farm, and fusion-style restaurants. In order to help their guests say goodbye to winter and welcome the changing of the seasons, the property is featuring a Tee Up & Revive package, which includes five nights of accommodation in a beachfront suite, two 50-minute spa treatments or a couples’ massage, three rounds of golf, use of tennis courts and fitness center, daily breakfast, lunch for two at Cafe Mediterraneo, dinner for two at Le Bistro at Santorini, airport/ferry pickup, and the use of non-motorized water sports.

Packages start at $5,255 based on double occupancy from now until April 13, 2012. Call 264-498-5602 to book.