Mongolia in Devon

Devon might be best known for its seafood restaurants and beaches but a new style of getaway is now welcoming travellers from across the world. Head to the 30-acre Cuckoo Down Farm, near Ottery St Mary and you can experience life like Genghis Khan – with a few extra creature comforts.

Guests can expect spacious double beds, with Mongolian inspired rugs, cushions and carpets. You might be camping, but with a shower on hand and plenty of space in your personal yurt you’ll never be wanting for comfort.

Mongolia, Devon, UK

Bus station on the Shetland Islands

Consider yourself a connoisseur of all things quirky? Then why not head to this truly unique bus shelter located on the remote Shetland Islands. Originally used by just three local children, the shelter was badly damaged in a storm in the late 1990s. When Bobby Maculay, a local schoolboy complained of the chill when waiting for the school bus, the council updated it.

Then some strange things started happening. The bus station was slowly transformed to include a range of unexpected creature comforts, like a television, a wicker sofa and even a stuffed parrot. This is certainly a bus station with a twist.

Unst Bus Stop, Shelter Islands, UK by Anne Burgess

Narrowest street in Exeter

Want a quirky fact to impress your friends with? What about having explored Britain’s smallest street, located in Exeter? Parliament Street (formerly Small Lane) dates back to the 14^th century and measures just over 60cm at its tiniest point.

Keep an eye out for a miniature doorway, which is the former home to the independent newspaper, The Exeter Flying Post.

Parliament Street, Exeter, UK by J Morley

House in the Clouds in Thorpeness

Some of the best accommodation experiences are the ones that you can’t wait to tell your family and friends about. House in the Clouds in Thorpeness, England is just that sort of accommodation, offering guests all the usual creature comforts with a dash of altitude.

Located several stories high and situated on beautiful private acreage, this fascinating home away from home includes a dishwasher, fridge, freezer and television. The building was designed for a children’s book author and today still exudes a mystical and creative feeling.

House in the Clouds, Thorpeness, UK by Martin Pettitt

Sleeperzzz in Scotland

Ever wanted to journey through the Scottish highland on a beautiful first class train? Well now you can do just that, with a slightly quirky edge.

Sleeperzzz in Pittentrail offers accommodation in three carriages from an old railway car. There are bikes on hand to explore the beautiful local townships and stunning natural scenery.

With all three carriages named after Scottish whiskies, they are the perfect place to kick back and enjoy a local tipple after a hard day of sightseeing. Best of all Sleeperzz is also surprisingly easy on your wallet.

Ecopod in Scotland

Ecopod offers quirky and fun accommodation, whilst allowing guests to also do their bit for the environment. With views over the stunning west coast of Scotland, the Ecopod features innovative technology to lower every guest’s carbon footprint. You also can enjoy a fun goodie bag on arrival, including hand-dived scallops, locally brewed beers, hand-made chocolates and Scottish malt whisky.

Written by: Sheryl Lovenkrandz – a freelance blogger who loves to write about travel and accommodation.

The post Strange and Wonderful Places in the UK appeared first on Best of European Union.

Mykonos, Greece by Richard Martin

Catching the Bus

During the busiest times a bus runs from the airport to Fabrika, one of the two bus stations in Mykonos Town (otherwise known as Chora). Like the taxis, the busses are good value for money if one is already there but as they are very infrequent, this is unlikely.

For travelling around the island itself, the busses are a little better and more frequent. Fabrica bus station has busses going to Platys Gialos, Paraga, Paradise, Ornos and Agios Ioannis, most with one or two busses departing every hour. In the evening, there are hourly departures to Platys Gialos and Paradise, from which much of the south side of the island is accessible.

The Northern bus station on Mykonos situated near the old port has departures for Ano Mera, Elia (departing at 11AM, noon, 2PM, 4PM, 6PM and 7PM, returning 30 minutes later) and Kalafatis. If you need to get from one bus station to the other, it requires a short walk across the town.

If you intend to purchase your ticket directly from the bus driver, be warned you will need the exact change ready however you can also buy a ticket prior to boarding from a ticket vending machine, special kiosks, mini markets and many other shops around Chora. If you find yourself without the change needed while on the bus, don’t be tempted to try to sneak on as tickets are checked regularly.

Hiring a car or Scooter

While the public transport on Mykonos is great for getting to and around the southern beaches, it is not so good when it comes to discovering the rest of the island. The east, west and northern beaches are generally less populated as a result which is one good reason to want to visit them.

There are many little spots and hidden beaches that are great to explore and some of which have nearby small, local restaurants and taverns that offer a change from the usual tourist scene. To do this, it is best to hire a car or a scooter for one or more days to enable you to get around more freely. There are a number of rental agencies available, most of whom are located either near Fabrika Bus Station or behind the Archaeological Museum.

This article is a contribution of Hotel Palladium, a boutique hotel mykonos.

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