Holiday hotspots to let your hair down in

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Holiday hotspots to let your hair down in – but beware of landing up in hot water
Expedia.co.nz names the best holiday destinations to act up but also warns travellers to take the necessary precautions

Auckland, 18 November 2009 – If it has been a while since you went a little wild on holiday, maybe now is the time to travel someplace where letting your hair down is the order of the day. Whether your ideal holiday is letting off a bit of steam at some of the world’s best parties, or jumping in head first into some heart-stopping outdoor adventure activity, there is something for every thrill seeker.

From full moon parties in Thailand to adrenaline-filled activities in South Africa, Expedia.co.nzTM, operated by Expedia, Inc., the world’s leading online travel company, has named the best places around the world to get the endorphins positively zinging.

Louise Crompton, Marketing Manager of Expedia.co.nz, said, “It’s great to embrace your wild side, and there are plenty of amazing destinations around the world where you can do just that.”

Trip Advisory
On a more serious note, if you are planning on pushing the boundaries on your next trip, make sure you plan ahead and take out travel insurance.

Louise Crompton, Marketing Manager of Expedia.co.nz, said: “Letting your hair down and doing some daring things comes at a higher risk, and our advice at Expedia.co.nz is to do so sensibly, and to take the necessary precautions, like travel insurance.”

Expedia.co.nz top 10 destinations to misbehave:

Ko Pha Ngan – Thailand
Known for its wild full moon parties, Ko Pha Ngan becomes a haven for many travellers who plan their holidays in line with the lunar cycle. The all-night parties have become known as one of the biggest beach parties in the world. The exact date of when the first party was held varies, but it has grown from a mere 20-30 partygoers in the mid 1980s to global notoriety, amassing close to 30,000 partygoers each full moon during the high season. December and January are a great time of year to visit and to enjoy one of the biggest and best beach parties on offer.

Queenstown – New Zealand
Queenstown is often referred to as the adventure capital of the world and for good reason. For adrenaline junkies you cannot go past the renowned ‘Awesome Foursome’. This action-packed day combines a helicopter flight, white water rafting down the Shotover River, a high-speed jet boat ride and a 134 metre bungy jump from the Nevis Highwire, all of which are sure to leave you on a high.

Ibiza – Spain
Ibiza is one of four of the Balaeric Islands of Spain and provides a postcard-like setting with picturesque beaches and high, towering cliffs. It has now become more widely known as one of the party capitals of the world and attracts travellers from across the globe to party along with some of the world’s best known DJs in some of the most sought after night clubs. Top nightspots include Privilege, arguably one of the largest nightclubs in the world, Es Paradis, known for its pool parties, and Amnesia, which is known for its foam parties. The party season usually begins with opening parties at Space and DC10 in June and finishes on the first weekend of October.

Las Vegas – USA
Known as ‘the’ place for the quintessential boy’s weekend, Las Vegas offers an abundance of opportunities to misbehave. It is hard to go past ‘the strip’, which is littered with hotels and casinos offering all types of table games and slots, and open to all hours of the night. But if you are looking to cool down, pool parties are all the rage in the hot climate of Las Vegas and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino stages one of the more well known ones called ‘Rehab’, where world class DJs perform. If you are suffering gambling withdrawals, there is even swim-up poker so you can gamble without having to miss out on the party. Las Vegas is also home to some of the biggest and best performers and sporting events attracting thousands of visitors.

Cancún – Mexico
Cancún is the infamous party town for American college students for Spring break, which brings in close to 4 million visitors each year. There are plenty of activities on offer, which are all designed for those looking to ‘misbehave’. There is plenty of excitement to be had, whether it’s taking part in a Caribbean Carnival Cruise with plenty of on board competitions, music and drinks, or driving your own boat on a jungle cruise through the lagoon mangrove jungles. There is no shortage of nightlife and for those wanting to experience a local activity you can watch the toreadors take part in bullfighting – one of the oldest traditions in Mexico.

Mykonos – Greece
Mykonos is ‘the’ place to party on the Greek Islands. Often referred to as the world’s adult playground, Mykonos offers some of the best bars and nightclubs of anywhere in the world. It’s unabashed and unapologetic, but travellers will remember it as a holiday of a lifetime. The Tropicana beach bar is the place to be and it will be hard to say no when the bar staff come requesting your presence to party all night. To recover after a big night out, you can enjoy some of the best snorkelling or scuba diving on offer in the Aegean Sea or you can simply enjoy the warm sun whilst relaxing on the beautiful Paradise beach.

Cape Town – South Africa
Cape Town is hard to ignore if looking for fun and adventure. For the adrenaline junkies there is the world’s highest bungee jump at 216 meters, skydiving over Robben Island and the whole Cape Peninsula or abseiling off the famous Table Mountain. You can even dive with Great White Sharks! If water is your thing, there are also great surf beaches and deep sea fishing adventures. And, if you want to walk on the wild side there is also the opportunity to go on safaris in the area and hopefully spot the Big Five.

Monte Carlo – Monaco
Full of high fashion, fast cars and incredible scenery, Monte Carlo is a popular choice for a luxurious European holiday. It’s also home to the rich and famous and provides travellers with the opportunity to rub shoulders with the elite while trying to pull off your best James Bond impression at the famous Monte Carlo Casino. Don’t forget to order your martini, shaken not stirred. If you’re feeling lucky you can always try your hand at one of the games in one of the most famous casinos in the world.

The term ‘boys and their toys’ reaches new heights in Monte Carlo. Outside the Casino sits millions of dollars worth of horsepower with some of the most prestigious cars and boats parked for all to see and drool over. If you have already had a boys weekend in Vegas, then Monte Carlo should be next on the list.

New Orleans – USA
Home to the famous Mardi Gras, New Orleans brings out the best and worst in people as they party the night away. Hundreds of thousands of travellers converge on New Orleans, predominantly on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, to witness the annual event where people can drink on the street and enjoy the festivities. The party has grown into an iconic world event with the Carnival season starting on January 6 with a masked ball event. The best time to visit for Mardi Gras is Fat Monday and Fat Tuesday but also the weekend before as some of the biggest parades occur on those days. Remember to dress for the occasion.

Dublin – Ireland
There is no better place to be for St Patrick’s Day than in the capital of the ‘emerald isle’, Dublin. Instead of a one day event in a number of places around the world, in Ireland it is a six day event starting on the 12th of March and ending on the 17th. The festival includes street theatre, Irish music, dance, street spectacles and of course as much Guinness as you can handle. The highlight of the festival is the St Patrick’s Day parade, which each year provides onlookers with a dazzling display of entertainment and attracts thousands of visitors each year to embrace their Irish heritage.

ENDS

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