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Travel Blog

First hand experiences, destination guides and stories for the open minded traveler.

Flexible European Summer Travel: The Best Beaches, Festivals & More with Stoke Travel

5/7/2017

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The Essential Stoke Travel Passport

When you’re in the city that has it all (Amsterdam, duh), the only thing you really need is a ticket out of there and maybe a little more sun. Stoke Travel, your infamous friends with the €10 open bar and unbeatable ambience across Europe’s greatest festivals, can offer you both, simultaneously, and we’ll tell you how in three easy-to-follow steps.

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Top 10: New Years Eve parties around the globe in 2016

12/20/2016

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New Years Eve, NYE, the final Hurrah! A time to get together with loved ones, to drink, to dance, to sin, to love, to celebrate the year that was. Here's to the New-Year-New-Me's, the October surprises, the well meaning gym memberships and the hangover from hell. Cheers to these top places to bring in the new year around the world in 2016!
Dam Essential Blog Top 10 New Years Parties around the world
Photo: Agency Brazil

10) Rio De Janeiro, Brazil


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Festivals: Top 5 Festivals for your next Eurotrip

11/10/2016

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La Tomatina, Bunol, Spain
Europe is a continent so vast and diverse that every time you think you’ve finally worked out what you want to do with your time there, someone will say, Oh, are you going to check out [insert festival/place/sight here] while you’re here? and then you have to start planning all over again. To help you decide which famed European festivals will best suit your tastes, we’ve put together a short-list of five must-see European celebrations. ​

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Andorra: Europe’s Best Kept Snow Secret?

11/10/2016

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Have you heard of Andorra? It’s a tiny nation nestled in the Pyrenees mountain range between France and Spain, where glamorous Europeans go for tax-free shopping and Europe’s most shreddable slopes. Thanks to its altitude and numerous snow cannons, the resorts of Andorra guarantee powdery slopes even when runs elsewhere in Europe have turned to icy slush. But the best thing about Andorra? it's only a hop, skip and jump from Barca and you can join the snow bunnies even if you’re on a budget. ​

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Winter Surf Getaways in Morocco

10/29/2016

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European winters are long, and winter in Amsterdam is no exception. The average temperature hovers below 10 degrees for months on end, it rains all the bloody time, and daylight hours dwindle away into darkness. Luckily, being based in Amsterdam means you are only a quick flight away from taking advantage of the warmer weather of Morocco in North Africa.
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Chefchaouen (The Blue Town), Morocco
From October right through until April, Stoke Travel offers all-inclusive stays at their surf camp in Taghazout, Morocco for just €400 for the week. Trips include 6 nights Surf Palace dorm accommodation, three meals a day, daily surf lessons and equipment hire, daily yoga, Agadir party nights,  trips to the souk, in-house jacuzzi and Hammam (bathhouse) and into the oasis of Paradise Valley. If that’s not enough, optional extras include quad bikes, camel rides, jet ski rides, and desert safaris.

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For The Beer Lovers: Springfest vs Oktoberfest

6/24/2016

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One beer festival a year isn't enough for the Germans. Oktoberfest, widely publicised as the biggest and best, is now being challenged by Springfest, which if it was a person, would be arguing “even though I’ve got it, size isn’t everything”. And as Spring is just around the corner, we thought we’d look take a look at the differences between the two. ​

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Thailand: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan & Koh Tao Highlights

6/11/2016

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Self Explanatory © Dam Essential
With raging parties, white sand beaches, world class diving, beachfront resorts and dirt cheap alcohol; it's no surprise the islands off the eastern Thai peninsular are so popular. From waking up on the beach with a fresh ass tat and no wallet in Koh Phangan, to scoring a PADI dive cert in Koh Tao, we've got you covered with this blog on the Eastern Thai Island's.

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Amsterdam: Top 5 Summer Waterfront Hangouts

6/8/2016

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Summer's here so we thought we'd chuck together a list of our favorite canal front hangouts for 2016. Fill the boat or jump on your fiets and head down to one of these local spots this summer for a few cold one's in the sun.

5. Amsterdam Roest

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Amsterdam Roest. A new love, creative city oasis, café and bar, town beach and cultural sanctuary.

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Get the Most out of Amsterdam: 5 Hacks

6/7/2016

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5. Get on a Bike

Life's too short to walk. It's also too short to drive a car and ride the metro! You're only here for a while so get among a special part of the culture that is whizzing through the city's ancient, cobbled streets on a fixed speed bicycle. 

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Oktoberfest: What's to lose?

5/17/2016

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Unless you've been living under a rock for the past 200 years, there's no doubt you've heard tales of the annual 16 day Bavarian beer fest. Running from late September through til the first week of October, young and old strap on their Lederhosen, lace up their Dirndl's and gather together to consume copious amounts of golden nectar and Bavarian cuisine. 
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A visitor reaches for of the one of the first mugs of beer after the tapping of the first barrel during the opening ceremony for the 180th Oktoberfest at the Hofbraeu tent in Munich, Sept. 21, 2013. (REUTERS/Michael Dalder)

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The Dam Essential Amsterdam guide for the Stokie in all of us.

5/4/2016

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What's a Stokie you ask? The backpacker on a budget, the student with some study abroad holidays to burn, the gap year gapper with a gap in their galavanting, the solo traveler looking for some soul mates or the group travel group! 

 Started by a bunch of expat mates running a muck abroad, Dam Essential quickly evolved from a loose pack of animals roaming the streets and into a network of expats, travelers, local businesses and fun loving criminals chasing good times in Amsterdam.  Whilst blazing a trail of glory through Amsterdam's cobbled streets and winding canals (You like what we did there?) we discovered tonnes of epic shit, some not so epic shit, and we too, fell sucker to your typical tourist traps. 
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Up shit creek without a paddle

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Top 5 Dutch Music Festivals of 2016

4/19/2016

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As our Californian counter-parts are coming down from their weekend in Coachella, the Dutch are coming up as we enter the European  festival season. As our mates back home wake up early and race to the computer to lock in their Tomorrowland tickets, you could've slept in knowing there's a bunch of equally epic festivals next door in the Netherlands. With the European summer quickly approaching and with the Dutch affinity for high quality ecstasy,  it's time we bring to light some of our must-do Dutch music festivals for 2016.

Mysteryland

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Mysteryland 2015
Beginning in 1993, Mysteryland is one of the longest running dance festival's in the world playing host to many top Dutch and world renowned DJ's. The festival focuses on electronic music, art, culture, talent, and sustainability. Mysteryland has been awarded by Julie's Bicycle with a “3 Stars Green Industry Certificate” which is the highest designation for sustainability within the creative arts, music, and theater industries. That means you can feel clean and green as you and your friends rave holes in your shoes.
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This year, Mysteryland is celebrating a multi-day edition for the second time on the former Floriade Terrain in Haarlemmermeer. Extended international editions of Mysteryland take place at the foot of the Andes in Chile, and the legendary Woodstock '69 site of Bethel Woods in New York, USA. Mysteryland is a concept of ID&T. 

This years festival will be held Aug 27 - Aug 28, 2016 at Paviljoenlaan 1, Haarlemmermeer.
For more information and ticket sales visit 
www.mysteryland.com

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3 Must Do Club Nights in Amsterdam

2/23/2016

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Tuesday: Sugarfactory

Techno fiends, this one's for you. Sugarfactory brings to you every Tuesday, Techno Tuesday. With a line-up of Amsterdam's best techno DJ's, it's advised you lace your boots up tight and wear something loose! Located in Amsterdam's buzzing Leidseplein, it's as central a you're going to get.  Organised by local label Deep and Dance Records, expect the deliverance of a blazing techno rave! 
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Thursday: Paradiso

For those looking to kick off the weekend early, Paradiso throws down a wicked party. On Thursdays, Paradiso's basement transforms into the party space for Dondergrondse. Expect new indie initiatives, underground live acts and a varied selection of DJs. Located in the the extremely popular party location, Rembrandtplein, Paradiso is a must do for a night to remember (or forget).
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    Festivals: Top 5 Festivals for your next Eurotrip
    Dam Essential Blog: Top 5 Fetivals for your next Eurotrip
    Amsterdam: Top 5 Waterfront Canal hangouts
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    Thailand: Mainland Must-do's and Western Island Wonders
    Dam Essential Blog: Thailand: Mainland Must-do's and Western Island Wonders
    What To Do In Amsterdam: An Expat's Top Picks
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