British Virgin Islands / Caribbean / Lesser Antilles
by Maria and George Pemberton · Published February 28, 2026
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) cater mainly to “cruisers”. Cruisers who travel the Caribbean in sailboats and yachts, and passengers off the mega-cruise ships. And of course, the multimillionaires who can afford getaway homes on private islands. Being independent travellers exploring in our rent-a-car gave an entirely different perspective.
Albania was isolated from the world for 45 years, finally opening up in 1991. Since then it has laid out the welcome mat. Its friendly people, complex history, wild natural beauty, hearty food and endless beaches are drawing tourists by the millions.
Montenegro is so small you can see it’s entire length and breadth from the peak of Mount Lovcen. But it’s packed with so much history, culture, architecture, and natural beauty – towering mountains; long, sandy beaches; majestic fjords – that a month wasn’t enough to see it all.
Serbia has a fascinating history, impressive historic architecture, spectacular mountains and parks, the Danube River, high-end restaurants and shopping. Everything you could want. What is lacks is foreign visitors. Why?
If you like cheese, seafood, beef, and/or hiking, the Azores is for you. Part of Portugal, the Azores is an archipelago of nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic. There are relatively few tourists, but plenty of cattle and scores of volcanic calderas to hike into and around.
A month in the Dominican Republic. From the congested bustle of Santo Domingo to the solitude of one of the world’s best beaches to the colourful, noisy streets of Las Terrenas.
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