Sea, sun, sand and South Africa:

Readers’ favourite beaches

The Wild Coast five­day hike from Kei Mouth to Coffee Bay in South Africa is surely the best experience for beach lovers.

Robben Island beaches

On a visit to the prison museum here, be sure to leave time to explore the island’s beaches. Few visitors realise that the island’s shores are the natural habitat of sizable penguins: enjoy watching them with far fewer tourists here. Bird life is plentiful and includes oystercatchers, ibis, egrets and cormorants.Sharks and dolphins can often be spotted offshore too.

Sand, sea and sculpture, Durban

There’s more to Durban’s Golden Mile than sunbathing and surfing. Not only is there a gallery of sand sculptures and drawings, but Lucas, one of the best local artists, offers lessons. His amazing rhino (犀牛) is the only permanent item in a frequently changing exhibition. Lucas charges a modest R50 (￡3) for a fun and surprisingly physical hour of creativity. Or, you could ask him to create a personalised sculpture for a special occasion.

Paternoster, Western Cape

Paternoster is a small beach community about 150 km north of Cape Town. The town has a number of rentals (租赁), all the Cape Dutch architecture you could want for a weekend away and some great food. Long walks on the beach, eating and drinking and watching the fishing boats make for a peaceful break.And, unlike in Cape Town, you can dip your toes in the sea without your legs freezing solid.

I've been really lucky this year. Not only did I have the opportunity to live in France, but 1 was able to see some other countries with my girlfriend. Now she is studying in Essen, a large city in Western Germany. I recently went to stay with her----it was my first visit to Germany! Essen is a very large city. It has all the conveniences of any large city so I felt immediately at home. I love the variety of shops, restaurants, shopping malls, cocktail bars, nightclubs, parks and even a lake. There is also a city-wide network of trams（有轨电车）, which makes getting around a piece of cake!...

I found the people to be really friendly, and most Germans speak very good English, which made life easy for me. I was surprised by the casual attitude to alcohol in Germany, where it seems normal for people to drink beer on the street or on the tram. My girlfriend and I visited two famous local cities. Dusseldorf and Cologne, which are both on the Rhine River. Dusseldorf is an urban metropolis with a great variety of restaurants. We took a boat tour on the river and went up the Rhine tower, a really tall building which offers great views across the city. Cologne, as you might know, is world famous for its perfumes. The cathedral（大教堂）there is an unmissable landmark. We made the effort to climb to the top of one of the cathedrals tower, The spiral（螺旋的）stairs seemed endless. but it was worthwhile for the impressive sights from the top.

We also went in a cable car over the river and tasted a German delicacy called "Spaghettieis” which is ice cream with strawberry sauce! I also got to try the famous German sausage. I must admit, I really enjoyed the food! The only disappointment was the grey and rainy weather, which proves that Britain does not have the worst weather in Europe!

Today’s modern travelers are journeying further to explore Europe off the beaten track, and bringing home new skills and experience. Here are 4 ideas for an unusual holiday in Europe.

Teach skiing in Austria

Austria is one of Europe’s top skiing destinations. If you’re looking for a more unusual way to spend a winter holiday, why not consider training to be a ski instructor there? You’ll gain a qualification that is recognized worldwide, and this programme includes a guaranteed paid instructor job at a ski resort once you have finished your training.

Volunteer in Transylvania

Transylvania is a top choice for an unusual European city break, with wonderfully preserved medieval towns and castles that inspired the famous novel Dracula. In addition, you can take your unusual holiday experience even further by volunteering in Eastern Europe’s largest bear reserve and working with bears.

Go diving in Spain

For a European holiday with a difference, take part in a plastic cleanup project based in Barcelona, help to empty plastic waste in the Mediterranean Sea and help protect the environment as you travel. This volunteer project combines diving with collecting plastic or other waste from the water, alongside giving you the chance to explore the city.

Explore Tuscany on horseback

Tuscany, one of the best places in Europe to explore on horseback, has witnessed a sharp increase in travelers. There are various activities that combine sightseeing with basic horse riding lessons and you can stay in Renaissance villas (文艺复兴风格的别墅) and farmhouses. You don’t need to have any experience for horse riding holidays, and they are a brilliant alternative to your typical guided tour.