Hear about travel to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kathy Condon from the Palm Springs Insider Guide about this desert tourist area she calls home.

Why should you go to Palm Springs?

Kathy says, "Imagine living in a place where you have 350 days of sunshine. It's hard to explain that how alive Palm Springs is with the arts."

Kathy highlights the region’s year-round sunshine, boutique hotels, midcentury modern architecture, outdoor adventures, arts and culture, and vibrant dining scene.

Below is a detailed guide based on her recommendations:

Palm Springs has 75 boutique hotels (50 rooms or less), many with unique themes reflecting the area’s midcentury modern charm. Kathy suggests:

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-palm-springs-california/

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Hear about travel to off-the-beaten-track regions of Colombia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Justin Barnes about multi-color rivers, granite monoliths, giant palm trees, and deserts.

Why should you go to these places in Colombia?

Justin says, "These locations are all extremely unique. Caño Cristales is unlike anything we've ever seen. It's full of colors, red, green and gold in the river. The area near Inírida called Mavecure is three giant hills. Just imagine something like if you took a half dome or El Capitan and just drop them in the middle of the rainforest, sticking up 2000 feet above. The forest area I was talking about has just thousands and thousands of the tallest palm trees in the world. They're all fairly close to Bogota."

Justin suggests an off-the-beaten-path itinerary in Colombia, visiting four unique destinations, all within 90 minutes by plane from Bogotá:

1. Caño Cristales (La Macarena, Meta) – 3 days, 2 nights

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-hidden-colombia/

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Hear about travel to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as the Amateur Traveler talks about an unexpected trip to the region.

Why should you visit the UAE?

The United Arab Emirates is an odd combination of new and old. It is a multi-cultural country where 90% of the people who live there are guest workers from around the world. It is very modern, but if you look closely, you can find historic sites.

Travel on this trip was sponsored by United Airlines. They wanted me to review their Polaris Business class as a solo international traveler.

Here's the itinerary that Chris recommends based on his trip to Dubai and the UAE:

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-dubai-and-the-united-arab-emirates/

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Hear about travel to Timor-Leste as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane about this small out of the way tropical country where he is doing volunteer work.

Why should you go to Timor-Leste?

Jonty says, "... Because nobody else goes if that's your thing. It was quite a shock when I went to Australia, and there were tourists. Whereas going around Timor, there's almost no tourists. So that's a bonus. And it has world-class snorkeling, world-class diving, world-class hiking."

Jonty recommends an itinerary for Timor-Leste that spans approximately a week, balancing time in Dili, nearby islands, and exploring the mainland. Here's the suggested breakdown:

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-timor-leste/

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Hear about travel to the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia as the Amateur Traveler talks to James Schomburgk about his adventures in this out of the way destination.

Why should you visit the Eyre Peninsula?

James says, "Because of its remoteness, it's probably the lowest number of tourists in Australia. And yet it's listed as one of the biggest hidden gems in the world because of the scenery. The scenery is magical. If you're looking for classic Australian beaches, pure white sand, stunning water, fantastic cliff scenery, and some of the best surf beaches in the world. The wildlife is certainly what attracts intrepid travelers to go there because it has all the wildlife that people are looking for."

James recommends a 7-night itinerary for visiting the Eyre Peninsula, which includes a mix of scenic drives, wildlife encounters, beach visits, and unique experiences. Below is the itinerary based on his recommendations:

• Suggested stop: Pikes Wines for wine tasting and lunch.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-the-eyre-peninsula-of-south-australia/

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Hear about travel to the Languedoc Region as the Amateur Traveler talks to Craig from Dallas about his road trip through the historic cities of Southern France, including Montpellier, Albi, Sete, Beziers, Carcassonne, and Toulouse.

Why should you visit the Languedoc?

Craig, says, "We've been trying to spend more time in smaller regions [of France]. I think this is a really, specific and unique region to try to go to because it does have some regional differences that make it interesting, say from other parts of France. You're going to find a lot of the same things here that you would think of going to France in general. Very good food and wine, churches, castles, palaces, art museums."

Craig recommends a 7-day itinerary for visiting the Languedoc (Occitanie) region in southern France. Here's the itinerary he outlines

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-the-languedoc/

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Hear about travel to Machi Picchu as the Amateur Traveler talks to Michael from Rochester about his bucket list visit to this famous Inca site and more in Peru.

Why should you visit Machu Picchu?

Michael says, "I'm going to tell you why I wanted to go to Machu Picchu. First, as I have to say, probably a fifth-grade student, it was just one of those iconic historical places that I remember from my childhood. Always saying, 'I'm going to go there someday.'"

Michael recommends a carefully planned itinerary for visiting Machu Picchu and its surrounding areas, focusing on acclimatization, cultural immersion, and maximizing the experience. Here's the itinerary he outlines:

Day 1: Arrival in Lima (Miraflores District)

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https://amateurtraveler.com/ travel-to-machu-picchu /

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Hear about travel to Paraguay as the Amateur Traveler talks to Alex from AdventureToEveryCountry.com about this lesser-visited country that he has come to love.

Why should you visit Paraguay?

Alex says, "So Paraguay is more about the culture than anything else. It's not a country that you come to for bucket list tourist attractions. That's something where you might go to neighboring Brazil for Rio or Iguazu Falls on the border with Argentina. Paraguay is much more low-key. It's more about authentic culture, getting to know the locals, and getting off the tourist trail."

Alex recommends several attractions and experiences for visitors to Paraguay, focusing on its unique cultural, historical, and natural offerings:

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-paraguay/

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Hear about travel to Menorca, Spain, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kristin Henning from travelpast50.com about her visit to the northernmost of the Balearic Islands.

Why should you visit Menorca?

Kristin says, "In a nutshell, it is so appealing because the entire island of Menorca is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is just stunning, nature wall to wall. It's just a small, relaxed island. It's one-fifth the size of Mallorca, with only one-tenth the population. So it's very easy to relax and enjoy the outdoors and all that this very historic small island has to offer."

Kristin recommends several activities and experiences for a visit to Menorca, Spain, emphasizing its natural beauty, historical significance, and relaxed atmosphere. Here’s a summary of her recommendations:

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-menorca-spain/

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Hear about travel to Ushuaia, Argentina, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Naomi Linford from "Forever Out Of Office" about her winter trip to the southernmost city in the world.

Why should you go to Ushuaia?

Naomi says, "I think it has the kind of status as one of those places that you go to, to say you've been to the most southern city in the world. But there's just so much more to see: glaciers, national parks, and a lot of history. The area has to offer that you can explore by spending a bit more time there. It's where the tail of the Andes meets the open ocean, and you get that final frontier feeling."

Naomi recommends a one-week itinerary for Ushuaia, Argentina, encompassing a variety of activities and dining experiences. Here's a summary of her suggested itinerary:

Day 1: Cruise the Beagle Channel

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-ushuaia-argentina/

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