This is an excerpt from our December 2015 Editorial.
As a full blooded Lagosian, I know that no year is complete without a vacation to ease of the stress that is a part of all of our daily routines and completely unwind from the road rage (Lagos traffic can drive you mad sometimes). We plan our leave days so perfectly so we spend maximum time with our families and are free of the buzzing phones and endless emails. Sometimes, we may even have the luxury of taking a travel vacation outside of the country in order to soak in new sights and sounds. Unfortunately, choosing a vacation location can cause a headache with so many cities to choose from, travel options to consider, accommodation and cost of travel and vacation expenses.
So here’s my vacation wish list. Five cities I’d love to spend my vacation in, given the opportunity and maybe a bonus or two. If you can afford to, make sure to see all five cities. If you can’t, wait until you can and make sure to see all five cities (yeah, they’re definitely worth it).

Dubai, UAE
Dubai is one the fastest emerging cities in the world and a popular tourist destination within the middle-east. A city characterized by immense luxury and incredible architecture, it provides a rich middle-eastern experience without losing any of the comforts of today’s modern cities. Tradition blends with innovative technology to create a wonderful tourist experience you will not soon forget.
Where to Stay: Home to the world’s first seven star hotel, Dubai is teeming with luxury accommodation that caters to your every comfort. Even if you can’t afford to stay at the Burj al Arab, you can always book a room at any of the Hilton hotels all around Dubai known for their great locations and excellent staff. There are also a couple of Sheraton Hotels including the Four Points that provide a memorable experience. The excellent locations of luxury hotels all over the city coupled with top-notch architecture ensure you have wonderful accommodation anywhere with great views of the city.

Tour Guide: Begin with the dashingly new metro, going everywhere in the city, and then head for the traditional souks and magnificent malls, the lofty creek and the stupendous towers, and the breath-taking fountains show. Conversely, start at the Burj Khalifa which has one of most interesting architecture in the planet. The tallest building in world with more than 150 floors is an excellent symbol of engineering and lots of visitors come consistently to take a perspective of this incredible building design. Proceed to the Dubai Museum with its architecture and uniqueness that shows the culture of the city. Here you can explore the interesting history of the nation, and light effect give a mesmerizing view over there at night. A tour of Dubai of course wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Burj Al Arab and except you’re lodged there, this marvel of engineering is wonderful place to visit.
The Palm Island in Jumeriah is also another amazing feat of engineering in a city that is constantly pushing the boundaries and is an artificial island shaped like a palm frond. You have just got to see it from an aerial view; majestic. Then, there’s the Dubai aquarium complete with a diving experience, the Jumeriah mosque, the Al Badia Green hill, the Dubai creeks and the Wild Wadi Water Park which can provide fun for the kids; all a part of the excellent Dubai experience.

Dublin, Ireland
If you wanna visit a metropolis much similar to London without all the crowds or the extra cost, then Dublin is the place to be. With its small city feel and Irish charm, the city is as easy to drink in as a smooth pint of Guinness and although the Irish capital has undergone a number of changes over the years, it has managed to retain its history despite that. With its down-to-earth, friendly atmosphere and welcoming, open-hearted people; it is no wonder this vibrant city is one of Europe's top tourist destinations.
Where to Stay: There’s the hip new Dean Hotel located downtown, capped by a beautiful rooftop restaurant. If you don’t mind a 20-minute walk to the city centre, opt for a private room at the Generato Dublin, a design-forward hostel housed a former Irish folk-dancing hall. The Dylan, Shelbourne and Clarence hotels, all from the 19th century are also very wonderful accommodation steeped in the history of the city.
Tour Guide: Dublin has a myriad of visitor attractions to suit all interests so that you enjoy maximum fun during your stay in the city. Top on the list of attractions to visit during your time in Ireland has to be the Guinness Storehouse located in the heart of the St. James Gate Brewery. Whether or not you’re a fan of the black stuff, this is a must-see. This seven-storey building has been remodelled into the shape of a giant pint of Guinness and its tour comes with a complimentary stout at the Gravity Bar. The St. Patrick Cathedral and the Book of Kells are a pointer to the city’s rich religious history and a time when it wasn’t so metropolitan and will make for a divine tourist experience. The Book of Kells was written around the year 800 AD and is one of the most beautifully illuminated manuscripts in the world. It contains the Latin texts of the Four Gospels and it was deposited for safe keeping in Trinity College Dublin in 1653. The Botanical Gardens and Dublin zoo are also wonderful for nature lovers. Art enthusiasts are welcome to indulge at the National Gallery or the National Museum of Archaeology as a part of a wonderful Irish experience. Finally, there may not be leprechauns in Dublin but there is a world’s first; The Science Gallery at Trinity. It’s a masterpiece that is now being cloned all over the world. Their collection is always changing and there’s always something new to see. Make sure to visit different pubs, art galleries and shops and get the feel of the city through the eyes of locals.

New Orleans, U.S.A.
Home of jazz music and known as the Crescent City for the curving shape of the Mississippi as it snakes through town, New Orleans is truly cosmopolitan. It is also one of America’s most astonishing cultural melting pots. The French left their language, and the Spanish their flamboyant architecture. Africa donated the rhythms that morphed into jazz and the blues. The Caribbean left a love of celebration and a touch of voodoo magic, while Cajun Americans pulled all these influences together to create one of America’s most eclectic cuisines. Whether you come for Mardi Gras or the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival or any other reason, a visit to this unique destination is never the same trip twice. Now getting over the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina, the city seems to be on the rise again.
Where to Stay: The French Quarter is the ideal neighbourhood for anyone coming to New Orleans. It’s historic, festive, artsy and at the centre of everything although it’s usually in high demand and kinda expensive. I would recommend other places but the French Quarter is just too awesome. So find a way to get yourself accommodation in the Hotel Mazarin or the Hampton Inn (or even any Bed and Breakfast) cause staying anywhere else isn’t even half as amazing.

Tour Guide: The attractions of New Orleans are the same as they have always been – riding rattling streetcars and the Algiers ferry, snapping your fingers to hot jazz in colonial cafes, seeking out occult relics in ancient cemeteries, or just admiring the stately architecture in the French Quarter, Bywater, Faubourg Marigny and Tremé. Then of course there’s the greatest-show-on-earth that is Mardi gras, held in late February or early March. If you miss it, don’t panic; there are few weeks in the year when there isn’t some festival or other filling the streets with crowds and music. As the locals say: “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” (“Let the good times roll!”). There’s just so much to do that you’re never at any moment, bored. Immerse yourself in the city’s rich cultural history and incredible body of art. Make sure to visit the National WWII Museum and enjoy incredible music on Frenchmen street or Jackson Square.

Looking for more great vacation spots?
Visit http://thengmag.com/Blog/2016/7/5-places-we-want-you-to-consider-for-your-next-vacation-tour-guide-inclusive

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