Millennial-approved holiday inspiration.
Photography: Augustin de Montesquiou
Written by Zoe Brindley
Havana, Cuba
Setting foot in Havana is like stepping back in time. Vintage cars, colourful buildings and intermittent injections of American culture, Havana is weird and wonderful. You will rarely see any form of advertising or well known brands in Havana, as this communist nation continued to incubate its own culture as the world rapidly grew and changed around it. When I went in 2017, there was only one spot in the city with Wi-Fi access (and we were at a loss on how to use it), which only added to our memorable experience going off the grid for a week.
We entered Cuba via Mexico, and stayed in a bed and breakfast (standard accommodation offering). The nightlife was a highlight, with intimate, candle-lit bars dotted around the city centre with pianists and live jazz bands. Havana is a must-visit if you’re in Central America or the US.
Highlights
Rum, cola and lime
Jazz bars
Fascinating local history
Photography: Lindsey LaMont
Chefchaouen, Morocco
This incredible (blue) piece of the world is just as striking and remarkable each day you wake up here. I spent almost a week in this city following a week in Marrakech, and Chefchaouen is a world all its own. Without any of the mania of Marrakech’s streets, Chefchaouen is refreshingly still and mysterious.
Chefchaouen is in northwest Morocco, perched atop the Rif Mountains. The closest main city is Tangier (avoid), but we were able to access the city via overnight train from Marrakech.
Highlights
Goat cheese
Genuine local handcrafts (better than the rest of Morocco)
Innumerable photo opportunities
Image via Discover Mount Gambier
Little Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, South Australia
What sort of Yes Queen would I be if I didn’t rep the natural beauties of my own country? The Little Blue Lake is a unique swimming and diving spot 11km away from Mount Gambier, and makes for a fantastic summer’s day experience. The swimming hole is 20m deep, and the local council has provided a ladder and wooden platform for safe access.
For the adventurous, there are many points around the edge of the lake to dive from (we were content on the rock face with our books admiring these people from afar). There is a local rumour that there’s a car at the bottom. Maybe you’ll find it?