It’s a good thing I never look forward to the warm season, because no amount of legwork, or for that matter, serendipity, can ever seem to save my summer from becoming one hot mess.
Summer 2014 is no exception — being caught up in the maelstrom of the Middle East could try the patience of even the most seasoned travel planner. With current events and flight cancellations derailing itineraries right and left, I ricocheted from airport to airport, dipping into destinations just long enough to discover some gems before moving on. Here are the hits, and some of the misses.
Tel Aviv
For two days in July, an FAA ban on flights in and out of Israel created travel chaos for thousands. One headline you might have missed is that despite adverse circumstances, the beat went on in Tel Aviv, if with less noise than usual, as evidenced at the beaches and restaurants with international flair, like the excellent Bindella. This modern place is located in the heart of the city’s famous Bauhaus architectural center, a fine setting for fresh and creative Italian-inspired fare. The Bindella family runs over 40 restaurants in Switzerland and under the deft stewardship of young Chris Bindella, this restaurant represents the first foray into Tel Aviv. (bindella.co.il)
Cyprus
Thanks to the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Justin Bieber, resort islands like Ibiza and Mykonos tend to steal the spotlight, but don’t forget that Cyprus is the easternmost island in the Mediterranean and one of the sea’s best-kept secrets. Just a 90-minute flight from Athens and a 40-minute flight from Tel Aviv, Cyprus is a place to discover. Anchor yourself along the west coast at Pafos and a great family resort like the Annabelle, where many rooms overlook the seaside promenade. Service is exemplary and so is the food: Cypriot cooking is a variation on Greek with other influences, and very tasty. Room rates include a copious breakfast buffet. (www.thanoshotels.com)
Athens
When axed New York Times editor Jill Abramson sought some downtime this summer, she found succor in the arms of Athena, that most Levantine of European cities. There’s no better Mediterranean city in which to linger, if for no other reason than to partake of the famously healthy Greek diet.
Stefanos Pertsemlidis, a leading Greek nutritionist, said, “The traditional Greek diet, which is a major representative of the Mediterranean diet, is a very healthy and balanced diet. It can help maintain a healthy weight, as long as there is energy balance. Compared with the American diet, the Greek diet is rich in healthy fat [monounsaturated fat], mainly from olive oil, and poor in saturated and trans fat, which are a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.”
Stefanos recommends a restaurant in the heart of Athens called Mani Mani (www.manimani.com. gr). Sample Greek yogurt, craft honeys and artisanal olive oils to your heart’s content here – it really is all good.
Rome
Rome’s Fiumicino Airport is a great place to miss your flight – especially when doing so might necessitate an overnight stay. Should that occur, dodge the backpackers crowding the airport train to Rome and take a $1 bus ride to the charming town of Fiumicino itself – literally opposite the airport but in all other ways authentically Italian. This is where the Tiber River flows into the sea, with plenty of restaurants and cafes wide open to the breeze.
Word to the wise
One of the worst mistakes an American traveler abroad can make is renting a car from an American car rental company. You will invariably get socked for higher fees than you would by going with a local company. In Cyprus, for example, Budget wanted to take a chunk of change from my debit card as some sort of ridiculous security deposit – with Astra Car I paid in cash and was on my way (www.astracarrentals.com).
New York
If you can stake a claim to Manhattan for any length of time, do so: there’s always something new to see or do in New York. Just keeping up with new hotel openings can be a full time job, but as always I tell people to avoid the Times Square throngs and park yourself downtown. Problem is, downtown hotel options are still limited, which is why the opening of Hyatt Union Square late last spring was such welcome news. All the rooms here are modern and cheerful; an elusive combo in Gotham. (unionsquare.hyatt.com)
Airline surprise
And the summer Oscar for best “secret” airline goes to Aegean Airlines. Voted Europe’s Best Regional Airline in 2013, Aegean is the best way to zip from Athens to Larnaca, Santorini and dozens of other destinations throughout the Aegean, Middle East and beyond.
Anthony Grant is a commentator at i24News. You can follow him on Twitter: @TGi24.
