From the familiar to the exotic, Japanese chefs have truly thought up some crazy concoctions. Take a gastronomically unique adventure when you indulge in these must-try Japanese favourites.

When you think about Japan, hiking probably isn’t the first activity to come to mind. With so many cultural experiences in the big cities and iconic spots to see, it’s hard to make time for hiking. But trust us, it’s actually really great. In fact, it’s more than great – it is one of the hiking world’s best-kept secrets.

If you take the time, you can master the basics of polite conversation in most languages. When you are learning Japanese it can be a little trickier because the alphabet is different from the English dictionary and many of the characters are unrecognizable. Therefore, it's in your best interest to learn a few useful travel-related words and phrases in Japanese before you take off. It will help you navigate the streets, reduce your confusion and save you time getting from Point A to Point B.

Where the past meets the future and the future evolves from the past, the “land of the rising sun” is a culture that has adopted and created much of the latest fashions and many of the latest trends, while still honoring timeless traditions.

When you decide to hit the shops in St. Barth’s there are two ways to go about it. You can head to the high-end stores that make up a majority of downtown Gustavia or you can try to explore fashion and style in St. Barth’s by visiting the local merchants and getting a better understanding of their fashion sense. Regardless of the one you want to do (or if you do both!) you’ll get your mind off other things and relax as the sea breezes and beautiful scenery follows you from shop to shop.

St. Barth’s cuisine is famous for its intense flavours, high quality and wide variety. This French-owned island boasts mainland-French culinary influences that are impossible to ignore, though many restaurants take liberties with traditional meals and add their own flair. Every meal is an occasion to celebrate and to take the time to savour every flavour that’s in front of you. Don’t be surprised to see Creole-favourites on most menus as the island’s culinary masterminds experiment with locally-grown ingredients.

For such a small Caribbean island, St. Barth’s is blessed with 14 pristine beaches that are free and open to the public. Even in the high season, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a beach that is crowded. Pack your sunscreen, your most fashionable swimsuit, a bottle water and a towel to head out for a beach experience unlike any other in the Caribbean.

You can imagine it now…warm sand, bright skies, and nothing to do but relax and enjoy everything on St. Barth’s. Before that dream becomes reality, there are a lot of small decisions and reservations that need to be made. You’ll need to confirm travel plans from Australia. You’ll need to pick how you want to arrive on St. Barth’s (air or sea?), what car you’ll need to get (if any), and where to buy essentials once you land. Fret not—use Cover-More’s Guide to planning your St. Barth’s holiday to get you through the tough decisions and help you get on track. Before you know it you’ll be arriving on the island and starting your holiday in paradise.

When packing for a Midwest getaway, layering is the name of the game. In the middle of America, temperatures not only vary between seasons, but also between days. Use our guide below for the must-pack items for any season in the Midwest.

If you are looking for great pizza, cold beer, and friendly faces, Chicago is where you’ll find them. Chicago has so much to offer in each neighborhood, properly exploring the city would take a lifetime. If you are only here for a short while, though, see our list of travel highlights below.