When planning a city getaway, you might be more likely these days to pick spots like San Sebastian, Nice and Manchester over tried and true holiday destinations like Barcelona, Paris and London, as more of us seek out less obvious experiences and perhaps plan our holidays with the perils of over-tourism in mind.
But for those of us looking for an extra special trip, you might need to go further off the beaten track.
Food and travel content creator Éadaoin Fitzmaurice joined Lottie Ryan on RTÉ 2fm to talk about alternative bucket list destinations. Read her selections below:
Instead of San Sebastian, visit Logrono on the Camino
Fresh off her fourth Camino with her parents, "who are in their 70s and pass me out every year", Fitzmaurice knows how busy the renowned route can get, which is why she has another alternative.
"We started the bottom of the French way last year, which is the actual full Camino route, so it takes five weeks to complete and we're doing it in nine-day segments each year", she explained. One stop they made this year was in Logrono, Spain.
Similar to San Sebastian when it comes to food, Fitzmaurice praised the "local-focused" spot's vibrant communities, architecture and wine - being situated in the Rioja wine region.
You can reach Logrono by flying into Bilbao and getting a private shuttle to the city, which takes roughly 90 minutes.
Instead of Rome, visit gladiator ruins in Tarragona, Spain
Located very close to Salou, this stunning city is filled with Roman ruins that drews deeply on its history. These ruins are in "immaculate condition", Fitzmaurice said, and allow visitors to walk the same tunnels that gladiators would have walked - something you can rarely do in Rome's Colosseum.
The amphitheatre also overlooks crystal blue waters, and only a short journey away is Reus, the birthplace of the architect Antoni Gaudí, the mind behind Barcelona's many breathtaking buildings.
Don't miss Casa Navàs, a house that looks like a large indoor garden but is covered in stained glass windows, that Fitzmaurice said is one of the best indoor attractions she's ever been to in Spain.
Instead of Mykonos, visit vibrant, buzzing Tirana and Ksamil in Albania
After a trip to Albania with her partner last year, Fitzmaurice became evangelical about the lesser visited European country. "I was just blown away", she recalled. "It's a real mix of your Adriatic beaches, your rugged mountains but yet your Ottoman kind of architecture, so it kind of feels like you're in Eastern Europe, but Turkey at the same time."
She went on to call capital city Tirana one of her favourite capital cities she's ever visited, noting how alive and buzzing the city was. The food was a particular highlight, with influences from everything from Jewish to Mediterranean food.
Head south to Ksamil for sandy beaches that would give Mykonos a run for its money. "They are a fraction of the price", Fitzmaurice said. To rent day beds by the beach for the day for three people cost her €70, compared to "a couple of hundred" in Mykonos.
Instead of Switzerland, visit Montenegro
Despite being right beside to Albania, Montenegro couldn't be more different, Fitzmaurice said: "It's more like a Switzerland vibe."
"You've got your tiny but dramatic towns, fjord-like bays and Venetian towers", she added. Her group stayed in Kotor, which was filled with winding streets, clock towers and dozens of cats. She recommended visiting off season, as during peak months some cruise ships stop off in the area.
For more recommendations, listen back to the interview above.
