Author: Rose Carluci

Underground lake of Saint-Léonard, Switzerland

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The underground lake of Saint-Léonard is the largest underground lake in Europe, 300 m long and 29 m wide. It lies between the towns of Sion and Sierre, in Switzerland, in the Valais Alps. It was discovered in 1943 and operated since 1949. It is navigable and its water is constantly at 11° C. As the cave is completely submerged, all tours are done aboard rowing boats with around 40 people at a time. Inside the cave, there is the statue of Saint Barbara, patron saint of geologists. You can also enjoy the beauty of the vineyards which lie just outside, above the lake.

Tips

To make the visit, you must register online. It is possible from March, 19th to November 1st. The visit lasts half an hour in the company of a multilingual guide.

Children under 5 enter for free.

Occasionally there are acoustic concerts. You can find information on their official page.

If you usually feel the cold, bring a sweater or jacket because the temperature there is around 15 degrees.

Whala!bávaro, Punta Cana

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Whala! Bávaro is an all-inclusive hotel located 25 km from Punta Cana International Airport, Los Corales, El Cortecito, Bavaro, Punta Cana. It is a small hotel complex of 263 rooms only, divided into 5 different sections being the number 1 building the only one directly on the beach, inaugurated in 2018 with building number 2; there is a small street that separates the 2 buildings with oversight all the time to cross but there is very little traffic because it is not a main street, just a passage to join other properties. There are 5 swimming pools, a small children’s corner, a buffet and an à la carte restaurant, a sushi restaurant, a snack bar (next to the beach), 3 bars and a sky bar located on the 5th floor facing to the sea. You can choose between 5 room options that can accommodate up to 4 people. There are garden, pool or sea view rooms, standard or superior. All rooms have a small fridge, safe, flat screen TV with a wide selection of local and international stations, air conditioning and fans. Free wi-fi arrives everywhere in the complex. There are different activities offered during the day (yoga, step, board games, volleyball, etc.). In the evening you will find various performances and you can also dance with lessons of Latin rhythms on the spot. The hotel tries to protect the nature so you will find two bottles of water in your room upon arrival and you will be asked to keep them and refill them on the water tanks that you will find everywhere. The staff is very kind and smiling.

Tips

If you are a family with 3 children, on request, they will be able to add an extra bed for the third child.

It’s ok to book with a minimum of one or two months of anticipation due to the hotel’s capacity and the large amount of frequent guests.

You will find souvenir shops, pharmacy and small stores right next to the hotel.

Ketchikan, Alaska, United States

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Ketchikan is a city in the state of Alaska, United States, located on the southwestern side of Revillagigedo Island (in the Alexander Archipelago); Ketchikan Gateway Borough headquarters. The town is part of the Tlingit territory (an Aboriginal nation that inhabits all of Southeast Alaska) and is oriented along the Tongass Gulch within the Inner Passage. Tourism is the city’s largest revenue entrance, and its growth is also significant with cruise ship tours that bring in thousands of passengers every year. It is also known for salmon, wood and totems that you can find everywhere just walking sround the city. Many activities are offered to visitors, amphibian excursions, scenic flights, guided tours to discover the fauna and flora of the region, etc.

Tips

If you decide to travel the city for yourself, there is the tourist office at the port where you can find out about the activities to do in town or simply ask for a map to better guide you.

If you’re traveling with kids, you can visit First City Salmon, a guided tour to learn more about salmon with a tasting and of course you’ll be able to take the famous photo with the salmon while having Ketchikan’s harbor as a backdrop.