I grew up in Athens. Here are 8 things I wish tourists would stop doing when they come here.

When travelers think about Greece, they probably think of hot spots like Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos.

With low-whitewashed buildings, narrow stone alleyways and labyrinthine staircases, the town Binibeca Vell is nicknamed the Mykonos of Menorca.

The Olympics are rooted in tradition, with the first official Summer Olympics staged in 1896 in Athens, Greece that drew athletes from 13 nations. Ever since then, the marathon has been a mainstay in Olympic programming.

Traveling in Greece is always an adventure — even for a local like me.

Brussels is one of the coolest cities in Europe—and it doesn’t even have to try. The Belgian capital is a hub for foodies and pop culture fiends alike but it also has its fair share of outdoor things to see and do, which particularly come alive in the spring time.

It’s not uncommon for many folks to start their vacation with a celebratory cocktail or glass of wine: at the airport lounge, on board the flight, or as a welcome nip at the hotel check-in counter. This ritual can also flow throughout the day with meals and as a night cap before bed. Many sober-curious travelers are thinking about holidays in a newfangled way, eschewing alcohol for a “dry tripping” experience, which enables them to revel on a getaway without the inevitable dreaded hangover, fully lucid for the next day’s activities.

Europe’s legendary libraries rank among some of the world’s most famous buildings.

Cala Galdana beach – and its neighbours – are spectacular. Turn off at Ferreries and take the attractive Me-22 road that brings you to a breathtaking horseshoe bay shrouded by pine trees. The golden sandy beach is peaceful, even on a busy day. There are beach toilets and a cafe. There are also water sports facilities if you want a bit more activity. Neighbouring Cala Mitjana, a beautiful beach a short walk to the east, is wilder, as is Cala Macarella, two miles by footpath to the west. If I could be teleported to any beach on my day off here’s where I’d go to.Bethan Patfield

Norse Atlantic Airways , the Norwegian low-cost, long-haul airline, flew its inaugural flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Paris’ Charles De Gaulle (CDG) on May 1. Norse flights from the movie capitol to the French capitol start at $239 one-way Economy (including taxes and fees) and $705 one-way in Norse Premium.

Passengers on an EasyJet flight cheered, clapped, and chanted as police escorted two disruptive fellow fliers off the plane.

I cycled into birdsong, into colour, the light glimmering against the white of the low stone walls. There was a spaciousness as I cycled, a lateral stretching of soundscape, big skies, birds fluting. I didn’t meet anyone else on the narrow lanes and had a sense of being completely alone on an island of 2,000 people. Is there anything happier than being on a bicycle early in the morning, heading to the sea?

It sounds like a dream: working on a laptop at a charming café, sipping some of the best coffee in the world while staring out over the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean or Aegean seas. Now, remote workers can make that lifestyle a reality thanks to Turkey's just-launched digital nomad visa.