Thrillist-Approved Guy Getaways
When looking for a few man-sized vacations we turned to our friends at Thrillist. With daily city-centric emails throughout the nation, they’re pros at seeking out the best destinations and recommendations for dudes. Here they weigh in on some guy getaways full of once-in-a-lifetime thrills:
Isla Guadalupe Shark Cage Diving
Ready to whisk you 20 hours away across the sea to an island 150 miles off the coast of Baja for “guaranteed” Great White swims, Divers is run by an adventure-seeking dude who’s braved everything from Australian crocodiles, to Peruvian landslides, to Kiwi cyclones. Anchoring in the 100+ ft visibility-waters near volcanic Isla Guadalupe, the most active white shark spot in the world, divers’ll descend in 4-5 person, 50 sq ft cages which are air-supplied via surface hoses (eliminating the need for bulky tanks).
More info online.
Treehotel
Inspired by a documentary about three city slickers who build a treehouse, Treehotel in Harads, Sweden wants to help you attain “harmony with nature” by bunking up in uniquely themed rooms—plus a sauna!—planted 20 ft off the ground in a remote pine forest, accessible only by electronically retractable ladders.
More info online.
Abyss Discovery
Located on Honduras’ tiny Roatan island, the Abyss Submarine Discovery is a Caribbean getaway highlighted by a pair of expert-piloted mini submarine trips through the 25,000+ ft depths of the Caymen Trench, a journey filled with bioluminescent creatures.
More info at online.
Bon Beer Voyage
Started by two longtime industry vets/beer-&-travel junkies who wanted to step up to the level of vino tourism, BBV’s Belgium trek’s an exploration of the country’s storied ale history from Bruges to Brussels via a series of canals in a barge. Each day you’ll disembark at a different port (Ghent, Baasrode, Antwerp…) to take in the local flavor…of beer, through seminars, expertly-paired gourmet meals, and expeditions to vaunted watering holes and mind-boggling brew stores guided by a personal “beer hunter.”
More info online.
Golden Eye Hotel and Resort
Originally a lush tropical postwar retreat where the British intelligence-officer-turned-scribe penned the entire James Bond series, this just reopened resort paradise (named for a secret WWII spy mission) on Jamaica’s north coast is nestled amidst 50 acres of exotic gardens, warm seawater lagoons, and private beaches and coves. Guests can feast on home-cooked Jamaican cuisine (parrot fish, fried plantain, freshwater crayfish), hike through a forest of native Cannon Ball/Banyan trees, or get your activity on with deep sea fishing on the hotel’s 26-footer or a private jet ski trip to two isolated beaches accessible only by water.
More info online.
Camelback’s Mountain Adventures
Camelback Mountain Adventures include a smattering of activities that’ll test your fear of heights. Ground-based activities includes a 9-hole frisbee golf course running in and out of ski routes and woods, a Euro-bungee (essentially a slingshot/trampoline), a 24-foot rock climbing wall, and a two-hour excursion on a souped-up off-road Segway with beefier tires. Elevation’s achieved via 1,000-foot ziplines that’ll have you careening 85 feet in the air across ski slopes, as well as the mack-daddy attraction, the Tree Top Challenge.
More info online.
