Dubai is one of those places you simply have to put on your bucket list. The nightlife there is very interesting, the desert safari is looking so good and you just love all those luxury things around you. Before you go there, you just hear so much about it, but you never know what to expect. And that was exactly my case, but after spending some time roaming around the city and experiencing it for myself, I somehow figured out how it works there. After seeing many people going to Dubai all the time and asking about the local culture, how to dress or what is allowed and what not, I decided to put this list together with some handy tips which might show you what to do and what not.

Let´s make it clear - the UAE is a Muslim country. That simply means that it is not a democratic country and follows Muslim and sharia laws. Even though there are many expats from all around the world (around 150 nationalities), the UAE is built on generations of Islamic traditions which are rooted firmly in its culture and tribal heritage. The Emirati are very friendly and respectful people and they are very open minded, but you should always respect their values and culture, doesn´t matter if you are just a tourist or you want to settle down in Dubai or the UAE for longer time.

Is is expected from you to dress modestly. Especially in the public areas (streets, shopping malls, public transport, cafes, the airport etc.) the shoulders should be covered and you shouldn´t show too much skin, so make sure that your thighs, belly, bum and chest are well covered. Nobody is probably going to call the fashion police if you flash too much skin, but you might be asked to cover yourself up or get indignant looks from the others. Be aware of transparent clothing or clothing with offensive slogans or graphic as well. However, the hotels, some private resorts, beach and pool are usually considered as "international zone", where you can relax in shorts, tank tops or bikini. 

Alcohol consumption is allowed only by Non-Muslims and only in licensed restaurants, clubs, bars, private venues, hotel restaurants or at home (but you have to obtain a special license first.) Normal tourists and travelers can´t buy alcohol in stores or supermarkets on their own and they can consume alcohol only at those special places mentioned above. Being drunk in public areas is considered to be a crime and you can be fined or jailed for that. The drinking age is 21 years and it is strongly recommended not to try to get alcohol if you are younger.

Drugs are strictly forbidden and you can be jailed and deported for that. Smoking is allowed from 18 years old, but there are special places for smokers, you can´t light up simply everywhere, especially  don´t try it in shopping malls, shops or government buildings. 

Any kind of sexual relationship outside of marriage is illegal. Cohabiting of unmarried couple is also considered to be against the law, including hotels, but most of hotels in Dubai don´t really enforce rule "only married couples." Especially luxury hotels designed for foreigners shouldn´t have any problems when you book a hotel room and you have different surnames. However, one my friend from Dubai told me that it is always better to book a twin bed room, especially if you travel with a friend of same sex. Who should be very careful are homosexual couples. Homosexuality is not accepted in the UAE and you can be jailed or deported for homosexual behaviour. For all couples, doesn´t matter if they are homosexual or not, holding hands, kissing, cuddling up is considered unlawful in public. There are various stories of couples being jailed for kissing or hugging in public areas, so don´t do it, rather keep it for your hotel room and try to keep it low key as much as possible.

Don´t harass women, don´t use offensive language, don´t make offensive hand gestures, don´t spit. All these actions are considered to be criminal offences and you can be jailed for this. Dancing or playing loud music in public can be fined, so dance and play music at your private place, not in public places.

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The rules for driving are not really different, but it is strongly recommended not to break them. So try to avoid speeding, tailgating, racing, lane jumping, using mobile phone while driving or driving with alcohol in your blood. The speed cameras are all around the city and fines can be pretty heavy. Wearing a seat belt is mandatory. Also don´t try to cross the road where it is not allowed, you can be fined for this.

You can either use public transport or taxi service. Taxi is very cheap service in Dubai. There are many taxis on the road and it is really a great and handy way how to get around the city. Just one tip - make sure that the taxi driver puts on the meter and understands well where you want to go. Always leave to your destination in advance, the traffic in Dubai can be pretty insane. There is also really great public transportation which can take you pretty much everywhere around the city - subway or bus lines.

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You don´t have to start learning Arabic to communicate well in Dubai. English is widely spoken there and I think that everybody knows it there and can use it there. So don´t worry, if you are good at English, you shouldn´t have any problem.

I know you want to take as many photos as possible, but be very careful what you take photos of. It can get you into serious trouble if you take photos of locals or government buildings without any kind of permission. This also applies to videos, so be careful and respectful.

So these are just some basic tips I got while staying there, some of them are also tips from my friends living in Dubai. Of course it is definitely worthy to go there and experience it for yourself, but try to be as much respectful as possible. Dubai, but also the UAE, are really interesting places to see, so make sure you have enough of time to go around and enjoy it as much as possible. However, as I mentioned above, respect the local culture. Thank you.

Have you ever visited Dubai? How did you like it over there?

Oxford is probably best known for the famous University of Oxford, but there are so many other things you can do over there. This one day trip from London is only an hour away from the capital, so you will definitely have so much time to wander around and visit places such as Ashmolean Museum, Christ Church College, Bodleian Library or just get lost among the buildings and colleges. I can also recommend you to visit Pitt Rivers Museum, it is just one of the best museums I have ever visited, it just has that "wow" appeal and feeling. You just won´t regret seeing all the interesting expositions they have there. 

One day, one my friend said that if you haven´t seen Stonehenge while being in the UK, you just can´t say that you have visited the country at all. I don´t know if I should agree or not, but I can agree with a statement that this famous prehistoric monument is something what you definitely should see for yourself. It has interesting history and it might help you to understand the past of the Great Britain a bit more again. Only problem which I had with this destination was the huge amount of tourists, but I think that it definitely shouldn´t discourage you and just...go there. 

Do you know that can be the worst scenario if you decide to go and spend some time around the Cotswolds? Your camera just runs out of battery. Yes, it happened to me and that is why I want to go back and take some wonderful photos of absolutely stunning and magical villages, green hills, gorgeous buildings and gardens. If you want to relax, this one day trip or weekend getaway is perfect for you. 

This ancient town is really beautiful one and if you want to take a break from busy London, this one day journey is perfect for you. Salisbury is well known for the impressive 800-year old cathedral. If you look for other places, I can recommend you Larmer Tree Gardens, it is really peaceful place and I really liked it over there. And one my special tip - try to pay a visit to Church of St. Mary and St. Nicholas. I think it is really beautiful church which can remind you lovely Italy and her awesome architecture.

This charming Roman city called Bath is one of the places you should not miss while traveling around the United Kingdom. You can visit famous Roman Baths, stunning Bath Abbey or bathe in the rooftop pool at Thermae Bath Spa. If you are interested in local famous residents, follow steps of Jane Austen and don´t forget to visit the Jane Austen Centre. I really liked to discover more things about the famous writer´s life over there. And if you love the views, then find some wonderful ones from Alexandra park or Bath Skyline. 

Warwick Castle is only a couple of hours from London and you know what, it has it all. Stroll through the landscaped gardens, descend into the dungeons, wander the stately halls and enjoy views from the towers. If you want to explore the town a bit more, you can head to amazing Charlecote Park (I really enjoyed visiting it, it has really nice interior) or my favourite gem of the town, Collegiate Church of St Mary´s. We had really wonderful guide in the church and she made the visit to church much more pleasant and I think that this church should definitely be included on your bucket list for the United Kingdom. 

What about you? What are your favourite getaways for the United Kingdom? 

As the new year kicks off, it is time to start saving for new trips and planning your next adventures. Most of my friends say that one of their most important new year´s resolution is to travel more. I can understand that discovering new countries, cities and cultures is very attractive way how to spend your holidays. It doesn´t matter if you want to wander around cities in your country or if you want to go somewhere abroad, everything counts and as long as it makes you happy, keep doing it. Because one day, you will have really huge regrets for not doing this and that thing. But let´s move on. I decided to put together my travel bucket list for this year AND I also decided to invite some other travel bloggers to share their dream destinations for year 2016. Here we go!

Happy New Year to you and I hope all of you had wonderful celebrations wherever you were. One year ago I made an important new year´s resolution - to travel more. And I actually achieved it. My never ending bucket list is a bit shorter again, my heart is full of memorable moments and my Facebook friends list happily welcomed new buddies from all around the world. While there were many moments from the last year travels I could talk about for ages, there are still top seven highlights which totally deserve to be mentioned above all of them. 

A new year is knocking on the doors and we are writing down our new resolutions and aims we want to achieve in the following year. It can be getting rid of bad habits, making your secret wishes come true or learning something new. It does not matter what your list consists of, I would like to suggest you one activity which you may enjoy, especially if your heart and soul are full of never ending wanderlust. It is volunteering. Have you ever thought about it? Not yet? So you should definitely take this option into account, because you can visit very interesting and gorgeous destinations just because of it. It can be also less expensive than your other travels and just let your mind and body discover new cultures, people and what is the biggest plus - you actually do something for a good cause. That  sounds like a great offer, doesn´t it?  Oh wait, so there is a plan in your head, but you still don´t know where to go? Well, let me show you my ideas and tips which countries and places deserve your attention. Let´s see five destinations, which are the top ones for your year 2016. 

Experiencing new destinations is always exciting for me. I love discovering new places, new cultures and also meeting new people. Because I have been studying French language at my high school for 8 years already, one of my biggest wishes was to visit France. And my dream came true in September 2011. 

Walking down the wide streets, meeting tourists from various countries and hearing Hungarian all around. This is Budapest. One of the most favorite cities in the world when it comes to architecture, food or bridges and also a capital city of Hungary. Because Budapest is large and there are so many things to see, it might seem a bit overwhelming figuring out what to see and do. Don´t worry, I´m here to help you to pick the best spots and cover the best what Budapest can offer. 

I volunteered in Mathare slums in Nairobi during my stay in Kenya in July 2015. Because of my work especially at the local school, I had an opportunity to spend a lot of time with little kids. The youngest ones were around 3-4 years old, the oldest ones were around 12-13 years old, I guess. I was looking forward to meeting these little ones so much and when I finally got a chance, it was much better than I had thought it could be. If you ever get any chance to meet the children from Kenya, here are just a few reasons why you will love them.  

1. They are so friendly

I even did not have to make a first step, because they did it instead of me. I loved their smiles, and how they made me happy all the time. They were asking me - "How are you?" everytime they had a chance to talk with me. I had to answer many of their questions about my country, my family or my school. However, I never felt somehow annoyed by it. I enjoyed their company pretty much and it was hard to leave them.  

Before going to Kenya, I asked some kids in Czech schools about their dreams or wishes. The answers were various. The girls want to work as teachers, models or singers. The boys wish they could work in the army or IT industry. Then I asked them - Why? The girls replied - We want to be beautiful, we want to have expensive dress and makeup. The boys replied - We want to use tanks and weapons, it has to be cool. I decided to ask same questions the kids in Kenya. Their answers did not surprise me a lot. Their dream careers also included teachers or soldiers. What was different were their reasons why they want to do so. "I wish I could be a teacher, so I could teach poor and disabled kids who can´t go to normal school." "My dream is to be a doctor because I could heal sick people," says another child. They want to help others. 

In my country, almost every child has a mobile phone, tablet or computer. It is a common thing that children have Facebook account, they post photos on Instagram and share their thoughts on Twitter. It is different in Kenya. The Kenyan kids are not affected by modern technologies so much as kids in other parts of the world. It touched my heart to see them playing with each other and not being on mobile phones all the time. It was much better to see the kids playing the football than to see them sitting in the corner with tablets or smartphones. 

I mean, do I have to say something more? Just look at the photos! I think I don´t have to explain anything anymore. 

Who does not love the babies and kids? They are all so sweet, cute, adorable and beautiful. When you add friendly personality and admirable character, you will get Kenyan kids. These kids go through a lot and if you give them love, they will give back to you much more than you need. I know that if you ever meet them and you make a strong bond with them, you will never regret it. Trust me. 

Switzerland is well known for absolutely awesome and wonderful nature. Who wouldn´t know the famous mountains or lovely lakes? Apart from nature, there is also nice architecture and magical villages.

Traveling solo is thing which you should experience at least once in your life. Not because you are traveling, but also because you can learn so many things just from being somewhere alone and on your own. It doesn´t matter if it´s in your country or if it´s abroad, I can guarantee you will gain something from it.

5 minutes! My eyes widened, I quickly jumped to the cash desk, paid for my souvenirs and ran out of the store. I was supposed to be almost on the other side of this beautiful city in just a few minutes. Fortunately my sense of direction is very good so I usually don´t get lost. I did my best and ran through all tiny streets in of my best time ever - 3 minutes and 10 seconds. It´s quite good, don´t you think? Plus I was one of the first of my group who arrived to the place of the meeting.

After spending good and quality time with my friends, I had to say goodbye and continue in my journey. And my next destination was somewhere where I had never been before - Assisi. I was excited, because visiting Assisi and discovering places in this part of Italy had been my dream for long. But let me start from beginning.

Warm weather, blue sky and lovely view everywhere. I didn´t expect this when I was checking weather before I went to Italy. Actually the weather forecast was making me quite distressed and I wasn´t very sure what to pack till the day of my depart. Fortunately when I arrived to Italy, there was no sign of any rain, storm or low temperature. But one thing was fulfilled - strong and cold wind.