With Spring in the air and a holiday weekend stretching ahead, you may be thinking about getting away from it all - but where? We've scoured the globe for the most mysterious and off-the-beaten-path destinations and adventures, from hidden bunkers to a former KGB spy hotel. And for those seeking a unique thrill, why not try a spy-training getaway run by former FBI & CIA agents in none other than Sin City - Las Vegas, baby! It’s time to toss a few spy essentials into your travel bag and journey into the unknown.
Secret Cities
Some cities are so top-secret they can’t even be found on a map. Others are padlocked, hidden in the forest, or buried deep underground. From America’s WWII mystery towns to Poland’s 800-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mines (above) - which boasts the world’s largest underground chapel - SPYSCAPE explores the world’s most intriguing secret cities.
Switzerland has a network of 300,000 secret bunkers and they’re not just for emergencies. Some house wine cellars, underground offices, and even a hotel - a restored Army fortress with dynamite-blasted corridors leads to a buried swimming pool and restaurant. It’s not the only spooky hotel we’ve uncovered either. Here is our pick of the perfect hideaways.
Puzzle lovers will adore this unique custom cube. Each of its six sides features a different design. With 43 quintillion unique positions it’s more complex than any spy story! Get ready to have fun and be challenged.
Tradecraft training weekends are as close as it gets to the real deal so don’t be surprised if your first brush with G-men involves a background ID check before you begin. Courses are taught by ex-FBI, CIA, and other pros and involve surveillance, brush passes, and even weapons training. If you're not ready for prime time, we’ve also checked out a few online courses and spy tours run by real-life operatives.
Cold War bunkers once used as command centers are being converted into survival condos and high-end hangouts for travel adventurers. Silicon Valley’s well-heeled tech gurus even have ‘apocalypse insurance’ - their own underground bunkers in case of disaster. If you’re thinking about renting a holiday home or buying a safe house abroad, we’ve found the ultimate in bombproof luxury.
Get a FREE copy of a hot new thriller, spy story, or crime novel every Monday with a special Story Mondays ticket to SPYSCAPE HQ. Next Monday it's Double or Nothing - the start of a brand-new trilogy following MI6’s Double 0 agents with a license to kill that blows the world of James Bond wide open! Don't miss your FREE copy when you experience SPYSCAPE HQ next Monday.
You may not be an international spy or foreign correspondent but the trend toward ‘dark travel’ now allows adventurous visitors to tour disaster sites and forbidden cities once banned as no-go areas. Descend into a nuclear bunker or explore the vampire communities of New Orleans. Step out of your comfort zone and discover a new perspective on the world.
You’re being followed. Your phone is tracking your location while apps, hackers, and the government devour your data. This isn’t a Bourne movie. We live in a world of electronic surveillance where AI processes huge amounts of data and cross-references it with phone records and facial recognition software so you must be savvy on the road. Three spies explain how they protect electronic intel.
