By Gunnar Garfors for Thrillist. But this time, when they wanted my favorite small towns population under k , things got a hell of a lot harder. As before, these picks are based on the people, the food, the fun, and the atmosphere. And for the sake of fairness, I have resisted the temptation to list more than one town from any country. With that said, here we goβ¦. Population: 45, This town is great except for the resorts. But I still say avoid them if you can, or at least ignore the exaggerated lies about crime and venture off resort property to take in the island.
Population: 28, The capital of this island nation stretches over a large section of the narrow atoll, so prepare to do some walking. Definitely hit the communities of Laura in the west, with a great beach and Rita to the east, also known as Djarrit , and if you can afford it, charter a boat to the Bikini Atoll where β despite a lack of bars β the locals are party people. Just follow the crowd. Also, expect to stumble across cultural performances, especially near the Trongsa Dzong β an impressive Buddhist fortress.
However, be aware that a visit to Bhutan requires an arranged guide and that your trip must be fully prepaid. Population: 35, This little beach town maintains a number of good restaurants, but what really got to me was how the locals party at night β rather than sit inside the bars, they bring their drinks, chairs, and tables out on the street instead.
Talk about an electric atmosphere. Sure, the beaches here are top notch, but venturing outside Guaratuba is highly recommended as well. For example, the car-less island Ilha do Mel β where you can only get around on foot and sandy path β is a couple of ferry rides and a short drive to the north, and well worth the trip. So, prepare for a journey. If you do make it and can afford to, organize a boat ride to the Dahlak islands. And lots of it too. Although, admittedly, the place is more than just beaches β the mountains and some of the lakes are equally stunning.
In fact, just the opposite. Stay in town but take day trips to the beaches on either side of the main island; I rented a scooter and got to the isolated beaches and blowholes β geysers created when the waves push water through tunnels in the bedrock β in no time.
