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30 Great Places to Chill On Your Career Break Travels: Part 1

Written By: jeff

Posted On: February 4th, 2011

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Enjoying a nice meal outdoors in Istanbul, Turkey. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

After being on the road a while, sometimes you just need to chill, relax and catch your breath.  Because career break travel is active travel, all that constant moving around can take it out of you.  Even if you aren’t getting burned out, sometimes you just need a break from the action.

This is a 3-part series of the places I recommend for kicking back and taking it easy.  Part 1 of this series are my city picks. Part 2 looks at mid-size cities and towns. And, Part 3 includes my picks for the small, remote, out of the way towns. I start with big cities.

Each of these places offers something different.But, they all have 3 things in common.

  1. They are traveler friendly.
  2. They have a cool vibe
  3. They make it easy to connect to the city, the country and the culture

Sometimes you need the modern conveniences to reconnect, access to the museums or want a wider selection of restaurants.  These are all places that I’ve visited and have found to be great for nesting until you’re ready to hit it again.

10 Great Cities To Chill and Recharge

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Cafes in Caminito in Buenos Aires. Good for tango watching. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

1. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Often portrayed as a playground city. There are lots of places and neighborhoods to get away from the hustle and bustle.  While the city’s late-night culture may leave you groggy in the morning, the city’s cafe culture will get you centered again.

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Te Papa Museum in Wellington is one of many great things to see on foot. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

2. Wellington, New Zealand. This windy city is perfectly positioned to be your entryway from the south or the gateway to it. It’s a walkable city with lots of access to the water and lots of great sites and museums. If you fly to the city, be sure to buckle up upon landing. Those winds can really be fierce!

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Cape Town and it's famous landmark, Table Mountain. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

3. Cape Town, South Africa.  Known as the Mother City, Cape Town has a relaxed vibe so you’ll never feel in a hurry to do anything. And, if you’re really in need of a way to relax, go up Table Mountain on the cablecar. The views from there will calm you down in no time.

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Melbourne from Princes Bridge. Copyright Adrianna Mooney.

4. Melbourne, Australia. This city boasts great architecture and a burgeoning arts scene. It’s a city that can inspire you with its diversity and you can take it at your own pace.  The food is varied so you can find just about any type of food you need to get your hunger fix.

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Skyline of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

5. Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Whether or not you walk the Camino de Santiago, this welcoming historic city will have you in a zen moment in no time.  The old streets, cafes, restaurants, parks and sites will give you a sense that you have stepped back in time. And, the local hospitality will endear you to the area.

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Lots of architectural beauty throughout the city. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

6. Barcelona, Spain. What can I say about Barcelona that hasn’t already been said? One of the things I love about this city is the public transport. You can get around on bus, subway, or even bike. Best thing to do here is find a neighborhood off the main center and know that you can get back to it quickly whenever you want.

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Overlooking the Bosphorus River in Istanbul, Turkey. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

7. Istanbul, Turkey. At first glance, Istanbul is a little overwhelming. There is so much and so many neighborhoods to know. But, even the main touristed centers calm down at night.  At the nexus between East and West, you will feel like you are at the center of the world here.

Amsterdam Bridge
Photo Credit: David Silverline
8.Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Thoroughly modern with hints of its past still evident.  Just watch out for all the cyclists!  I love the spirit of the city. And, it’s large enough for you to find your own nook with lots of public transport for you to get around as needed.

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

Outside of the Mandela House in Soweto. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

9. Soweto, South Africa. On my last trip to South Africa, I was really blown away by Soweto. Lots of museums, B&Bs and smart cafes and restaurants are popping in some parts of the city. It’s got a great vibe and charm that I find superior to Johannesburg.

Travel advice, career break travel, career break ideas, world travel, travelling the world, travel the world, around the world travel

The La Candelaria District downtown showcases Bogota's colonial heritage. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

10. Bogota, Colombia.  I have to make a plug for my adopted home city. While it does cool down at night, I find the weather refreshing outside of the rainy season.  You can find whatever you need here and there are lots of neighborhoods to explore.  Whether you seek culture, good food, cafes or the nightly rumba, Bogota will help you get centered and give you good access for your next stop within Colombia or for accessing the rest of South America.

What other big cities around the world do you suggest for nesting during your travels?

Next up, my 10 Great Mid-Size Cities and Towns!

And finally, my 10 Great Small, Off the Beaten Track Towns

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11 Responses to “30 Great Places to Chill On Your Career Break Travels: Part 1”

  1. Erin says:

    Great choices here. Definitely agree with Buenos Aires – we spent 2 months there and we’d love to go back. We really want to visit Cape Town, Barcelona and Istanbul too.

  2. Alisha says:

    You’re right. this series is really fantastic. I agree with you about Barcelona – when I was there I couldn’t believe how easy, efficient, and speedy the subways were (buses I never am good at!). I fell in love with riding their metro, I took it everywhere I could and it’s insane how different each neighborhood is, it’s amazing. I definitely loved that while everyone was partying at night in the clubs, I could still wander the streets unbothered with some peace of mind and join locals at a cafe for a late night snack and coffee. I definitely felt relaxed in Barcelona even though there’s so much to see and do. And i think the best part of the city is that you can totally make it your own – you don’t need to go see all the tourists attractions because there’s so much buried in those side streets to explore on your own.

    As for Bogota, it better live up to this “chill” vibe you speak of because I need a serious career break … even if it’s for 10 days!

    Congrats on this new series and I’m excited to read more of this!

  3. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lisa Lubin and Alisha M., Jeff Jung. Jeff Jung said: Fun 3 Part series starts today: 30 Great Places to Chill On Your Career Break Travels. Part 1 highlights 10 big… http://fb.me/TOyJltnA [...]

  4. Sherry Ott says:

    hmmm – I think I go for the more ‘raw’ and cheaper places….Kathmandu, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok (yet Bangkok is pretty darn modern).

  5. jeff says:

    Thanks for the comments guys.@Sherry, I haven’t been to any of those cities yet so I couldn’t include them. But, will make sure I plan some chill days in them when I finally get over to Asia.

  6. Rebecca says:

    Great list! Thanks for including my home town of Melbourne. Yet to make it to Europe but Spain and Turkey are definitely up the top of the list.
    Rebecca recently posted..Photo of the Week- Bridge Over the River Kwai

  7. Abby says:

    Great list! It includes some of my favorite cities, and one I’m beyond excited to meet for the first time next month. Your post caught my eye because I have almost the exact same photo of me on an Istanbul rooftop with the water in the background — taken the week before my career ended. Love it!
    Abby recently posted..Weekend in Napa

  8. Darlene says:

    I’m heading to two of the cities on this list in the next 6 weeks – Istanbul and Barcelona. Any tips? How to avoid the pick pockets of Barcelona?

  9. jeff says:

    @Darlene, both are great cities. Both are great walking cities and if you want to cheat a bit, take the Hop On Hop Off buses. On the pickpockets, just take what you need for the day and always be mindful of who’s around. I never had any troubles but know quite a few who did. The subway (which is great) seemed to be where people were at most risk. So, be aware of your bag when you are on the subway. Also, both cities have great markets, so check them out. In Istanbul people will invite you in for apple tea. Do it. You don’t have to buy. But, it’s a great way to chill with some cool locals.

  10. jeff says:

    And a big thanks to all for the comments. Very much appreciated. The list could’ve been longer!

  11. Jeff, this is a fantastic list. I love your selection of BA as the top place. If it’s not my favourite city in the world I’m not sure which is :)
    Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Smiles of Thailand | Photo Essay | Part 1

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