101 Holiday ideas
101 holiday ideas personally selected by two of the UK's leading travel writers
David Wickers and Mark Hodson
Click on an image to discover your perfect holiday...
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North Cyprus
If you believe much of the Med has been ruined by high-rise hotels, head to North Cyprus. Although the main tourist hub of Kyrenia – with its perfect Venetian harbour – fairly bustles, surrounding villages appear to be stuck in a time warp. Explore hilltop castles, ruined abbeys and the remote beaches of the Karpas Peninsula, amongst the wildest and most beautiful in Europe.
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Watersports in Greece
Some people are happy just lying beside the Mediterranean. But those who want to do something in it, on it or under it should consider a beach club holiday where a full range of watersports, from sailing to diving, windsurfing to waterskiing, is on the menu, along with land-based activities such as tennis and biking.
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St Lucia beach adventure
There are plenty of gorgeous hotels on the beaches of St Lucia where you’ll be tempted to stay put. But don’t get too comfortable – this is a spectacular island crying out to be explored, from its glistening forests and volcanic peaks to its sleepy fishing villages and colonial plantation houses.
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Florida’s Disney World
Disney World is more than a theme park. It’s a complete holiday resort with waterparks and shows, nightly fireworks and discos, hotels and restaurants as well as rides and attractions - and it’s just one small part of the offerings of Orlando, the most popular holiday destination on the planet.
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Luxury Seychelles
Some places have that elusive “wow” factor, others don’t. The Seychelles has it in spades. The silky beaches, the tropical forests, the super deluxe hotels. Swim with turtles in the morning, spend an afternoon unwinding in the spa then dress for cocktails at sunset. Perfect? You bet.
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Cycling in France
Sun-baked Provence is a richly rural landscape, spreading between the mountains and the Med, from the Alps to Antibes. Explore at your own pace by cycle, through scenery both natural and nurtured with vineyards and olive groves, stopping off to enjoy ancient villages, art galleries, markets and superb food and wine.
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Costa de la Luz
Tucked away in the south-west corner of Spain, the Costa de la Luz offers superb sandy beaches, pine forests, rolling dunes and fishing villages. If you can drag yourself from your lounger, the sights of Seville are just 90 minutes away by road. Go west and you can hop into Portugal. Or just lie back and watch the terrific sunsets.
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Amalfi Coast
The dramatic scenery of the Amalfi coast, with its vineyards, citrus groves, almond trees, camellias and bougainvillea, is stunning. You’ll find resorts for all tastes, from popular Sorrento – an ideal hub for boat trips to Capri and Ischia, and outings to Pompeii and Vesuvius – to super-chic Positano, historic Amalfi and the exquisite hilltop retreat of Ravello.
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Baltic summer beaches
Some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches are in . . . Lithuania. No, really. The Curonian Spit is a 60-mile sliver of sand and pine forests strung between a deep blue lagoon and the Baltic Sea. Wild and unravished, it’s an Eden of rolling dunes, cycle paths and endless beaches where you can swing on a hammock or stroll around fishing villages.
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Walking in Northern Spain
Though most visitors to Spain give the North the cold shoulder, this is a region rich in natural beauty, with a rugged twisting coastline, gorgeous sandy beaches, dramatic mountains and fertile valleys. Get under its skin on a walking tour, perhaps tackling part of the ancient pilgrims’ route to Santiago de Compostela. Calories duly burned, indulge in epic dinners in family-run village restaurants.
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Rio de Janeiro
With its sweeping beaches and dramatic mountains, Rio de Janeiro ranks amongst the world’s most beautiful cities. But it’s more than that. Rio is a way of life, buzzing with beautiful people, glamorous nightspots and hip-shaking music. It gets under your skin. You may never want to go home…
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Health and fitness retreats
If you want to arrive home feeling refreshed and reinvigorated, try a luxury health and fitness retreat. Head to a glamorous hideaway with an expert team of yoga teachers, personal trainers, nutritionists and massage therapists to have your body toned and mind cleansed. This is no boot camp: the vibe is friendly and the food superb.
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Dude ranch holidays in America
Anyone who imagines a dude ranch to be little more than a bunkhouse with outside bucket showers, a cracked mirror for shaving and pork and beans for supper, will be mightily impressed by the high levels of comfort to be found in the not-so-wild west of North America. Several ranches also offer plenty of non-horsey activities, from spas to golf, swimming to tennis.
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Las Vegas in style
Once a handful of casinos surrounded by desert, Las Vegas is now the fastest growing city in America. Its hotels are the most lavish anywhere. Its restaurants, shopping malls and theatres are out of this world. You can do Vegas on the cheap, but where’s the fun in that? Splash out and do it in style!
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Caribbean sailing
The dense seascape of lush green islands in the British Virgin Islands offers some of the best, and certainly the easiest, sailing in the Caribbean. These are the nursery slopes of yachting, with an amazing variety of anchorages just a short hop apart. Join a flotilla, take a bareboat charter or sail with a skipper.
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Magical Puglia
With 500 miles of superb beaches, the magnificent baroque city of Lecce and hobbit-like whitewashed trullo architecture (think igloos in the sun), Puglia – the heel of the boot - is one of Italy’s most appealing holiday regions. The food and wine are terrific and nowhere is more than 15 miles from the coast.
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Gorillas in Rwanda
It’s one of the most thrilling travel experiences on Earth: hike high into the jungles of Rwanda for an intimate encounter with mountain gorillas. Combine the trip into the Volcanoes National Park with a visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to chimps and Colobus Monkeys, then kick back on the seductive shores of Rwanda’s Lake Kivu.
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Villas in Umbria
Umbria is sometimes regarded as a postscript to Tuscany, its more glamorous neighbour. In fact, it is a slice of Italy unclotted by tourists. See great works of the Renaissance, shop in markets in medieval hilltowns, discover vineyards and explore stunning towns such as Orvieto, Perugia and Assisi. Umbria has everything you want from Italy except a seaside – but it does have a jolly nice lake at Trasimeno.
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Skiathos and beyond
Skiathos is a rich pick ‘n’ mix of a Greek island. It’s green and scenic, the beaches are long and sandy, the lively nightlife is readily tapped (or just as easily ignored) and with frequent ferry links to neighbouring and very different Skopelos (star of Mamma Mia!) and Alonissos, you can explore a trio of islands without having to switch accommodation.
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Luxury safari in Botswana
With its diverse mix of habitats, from the doily of waterways and lagoons of the Okavango Delta to the salt pans of Nxai and Makgadikgadi and the sands of the Kalahari, Botswana is a supreme safari destination. Explore it in an amazing variety of transport: elephant and horseback, mountain and quad bike, dug-out canoe and camel, as well as the more familiar 4WD vehicles.
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Cape Cod tours
Nowhere in Cape Cod lies more than six miles from the sea. Soak up the atmosphere of a “proper” seaside resort, or explore the protected dunes of the National Seashore. Easily reached from Boston, the Cape offers whale watching, ferry trips to the nearby islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and old sea captains’ houses.
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Walking safari in Zambia
Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is Africa for connoisseurs. Stay in small owner-run camps – far from the tourist crowds – and head out into the bush on intimate walking safaris and dawn game drives to experience thrilling encounters with lion, elephant, leopard and wild dogs.
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Normandy: hotels for foodies
For a rich slice of France - and we do mean rich - hop across the Channel to Normandy, famed for its creamy sauces, heady cider, cheeses and apple brandy. As well as food, you can feast on the region’s historic towns, lush countryside, charming fishing villages and a coastline that inspired the Impressionists.
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Luxury villas in Mallorca
Mallorca leads a double life. Parts of the island are overwhelmed by cheap package tourism but vast swathes remain untouched, from the mountains of the west to the “secret” sandy coves in the east. Throw in some of Europe’s most elegant villas with private pools and you’re in paradise.
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Luxury Maldives
Most destinations fail to live up to the glossy brochure hype. The Maldives is an exception. No photographer can do justice to the splendid natural colours – the cobalt seas, the turquoise lagoons, the fiery orange sunsets. The standards of hospitality are outstanding and, best of all, the modern world is a million miles away.
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Bahia beach party
The Brazilian state of Bahia offers beach life in the raw: endless stretches of sand, blazing sunshine, a seductive samba soundtrack and a copious supply of caipirinhas. There are chic retreats, trailblazing eco-hotels, rustic fishing villages, turtle sanctuaries and canoe trips through mangrove swamps. The vibe is easy-going and unbuttoned, and the time difference is just three hours.
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Visit Santa in Lapland
Take a pre-Christmas trip to Finnish Lapland and see the real Santa on his home turf. Children get a private audience with the bearded one, and there is plenty of time for fun in the snow with husky sled rides, snowmobile jaunts, tobogganing and ice fishing all part of the package.
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Costa Rica tours
With more protected land than any other country in the world, more bird species than the whole of North America and more butterflies than Africa, Costa Rica could have been put on the planet as a living classroom for natural historians. Enjoy rainforests and river rafting, volcanoes and cloud forests plus beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean.
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Sailing in Greece
The seas around Greece are heaven for sailors. You can potter from one picturesque island to the next with a choice of sailing conditions, from the gentle breezes of the Ionian to the open, Meltemi-wooshed waters of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. If you are not sure of your skippering skills, join a flotilla and sail under the eye of a lead boat.
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Ile de Ré villas
The Ile de Ré on the French Atlantic coast is where smart Parisians decamp in summer. A long thin island of beaches, sand dunes and pine forests, it’s criss-crossed by family-friendly cycle paths connecting sleepy villages and historic ports. The restaurants are outstanding, specialising in fish and local oysters.
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The Alps in summer
Once the last of the snow has melted and summer comes around, the Alps spring back to life, with hillsides carpeted with flowers and sunshine glistening off lakes. Stay in a cosy Alpine village and choose from a menu of thrilling activities, from mountain biking and rock climbing to glacier skiing and white-water rafting.
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Alaska cruise
The best way to inspect Alaska’s dramatic coastal scenery, home to half the planet’s stock of glaciers, deeply-indented fjords and remarkable wildlife, including whales, sea lions and bald eagles, is from the deck of a cruise ship that will also thread a wake through the fabled Inside Passage.
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Cottages in the Cotswolds
The limestone escarpment that makes up the Cotswolds is rural England at its most exquisite. Its well-wooded and gently-farmed contours are studded with biscuit-tin villages, with their grand manor houses and churches, all built of local golden-grey stone in the Middle Ages by wealthy wool merchants.
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Historic villas in France
A villa holiday is all about freedom, escaping the overcrowded resorts of the Med and sinking back into your private domain, splashing in your pool, cooking on the barbecue, sipping wine on the terrace. Don’t go for a new-build concrete box. Instead, rent a historic house or chateau in rural France within driving distance of the Channel ports.
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First time India
India’s Golden Triangle, of Delhi, Agra (for the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur, is the classic ‘India for beginners’ itinerary, with Udaipur often squaring the triangle. The diversity of experiences is spellbinding, from maharajas’ palaces to incandescent colours, heritage hotels to iconic sights.
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Walking in Tuscany
There’s more to walking in Italy than the nightly passegiata. In Tuscany you can follow the so-called “white roads”, or gravelled rural tracks that link the region’s medieval hill towns, passing through a landscape little changed since it was painted by the masters of the Renaissance.
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Trekking in Nepal
Cash in your gym membership and take one of the most exhilarating trips in the world, a trek into the snow-capped Himalayan peaks of Nepal. Join a small escorted group walking on ancient trails and sleeping in tea house lodges. Whether you opt for a vigorous hike or a gentle tour, you’ll return feeling super-fit and spiritually recharged.
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Moscow and St Petersburg
Russia is home to not one, but two of Europe’s most thrilling cities. Moscow is rich, decadent and fast moving, St Petersburg cultured, genteel and a place of rare beauty, whether in the depths of winter or the white nights of summer. Travel with a tour operator that can open doors and get you beyond the velvet ropes.
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Holidays in Bali
As well as the familiar stock of tropical seaside pleasures, including beaches and top hotels, your memories will be shaped as much by the Balinese countryside. You’ll see emerald rice paddies one minute, immense volcanoes the next. Bali is also a spiritual place where daily life embraces ceremony and ritual, fascinating temples and stone gods. And Balinese craftsmen are amazing, so bring an extra suitcase.
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France’s Atlantic Coast
Stretching from La Vendée down to the yawning mouth of the Gironde, France’s Atlantic Coast is virtually one long sandy beach. While it cannot match the Côte d’Azur for glamour, it is far less crowded, less expensive, less developed and less pebbly with the green pastures of the Charente-Maritime virtually on your doorstep.
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Ecuador and Galapagos tours
Ecuador offers a potted version of the entire South American continent. Join a tour to take in jungle, Andean peaks, exquisite Spanish colonial architecture, nights in haciendas, Indian markets and Inca ruins, with the added bonus of a guided cruise to the Galapagos, Darwin’s own laboratory.
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Archaeology tours
It’s one thing to gaze upon archaeological sites, wandering amongst the bones of ancient empires or mysterious prehistoric monoliths. But another, far more rewarding, approach, whether at home or abroad, is to be guided by an expert archaeologist who can bring the sites alive and translate fragments of the past into living history.
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Luxury villas in Ibiza
If you think Ibiza is just a party island for teenage ravers, wise up. Out in the hills are some of Europe’s most glamorous villas where the likes of Kate Moss and Jade Jagger hang out. Take excursions to remote coves and mountain restaurants. Clubbing is optional. Chilling isn’t.
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Tour of Japan
No matter what you think you know about Japan, nothing prepares you for the raw thrill of landing in a country that is so exotic, so refined, so modern and yet so steeped in tradition. Get your pulse racing in Tokyo then explore the serene and majestic countryside of Japan before taking the Bullet Train to the temples and gardens of old Kyoto.
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Sail Croatia’s coast
The pristine coastline of Croatia ranks among the most beautiful in the world, with strings of unspoilt islands, hidden coves and nothing to spoil the peace but the chirrup of cicadas. To explore the Dalmatian coast in style, take to the water in a sailing boat, luxury motor yacht or traditional gulet.
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Sani beach resort
In the unspoilt Greek region of Halkidiki, Sani is one of Europe’s most attractive family resorts set on an eco-reserve of pine forests, jagged cliffs and superb sandy beaches. In addition to a choice of hotels within the resort, there is a marina stuffed with posh yachts, authentic tavernas, a crèche, tennis centre and outdoor cinema.
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Oman in style
Dubai may have all the glitz and gloss, but its next-door neighbour Oman retains the mystique and romance of ancient Arabia. Along the coastline you’ll find dolphins, turtles, pristine beaches and world-class hotels. Head inland for historic forts, camel markets, windswept mountains and golden desert dunes.
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Polar bear holidays
Polar bears are awesome creatures - graceful, powerful, fierce yet vulnerable. Canada is the place to see them. From your base in Churchill, the only town in the world where the bears can be viewed in the wild, you can take helicopter flights and expeditions across the frozen tundra. You might even witness the Northern Lights – ticking off two of the world’s greatest sights in one trip.
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Morocco luxury tours
Nowhere within a four-hour flight of the UK is as exotic and alluring as Morocco. The undisputed highlight is Marrakech, with its swirling souks, ornate palaces, elegant back street restaurants and stylish riads, but you wouldn’t want to miss the soaring Atlas Mountains nor the majestic kasbahs of the south.
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Cape Town and the Garden Route
The aptly-called Rainbow Nation offers a spectrum of different experiences including beaches, game reserves, indigenous heritage, cities and handsome winelands, all readily savoured on a single trip. With overnight flights in both directions and no jet lag, South Africa is also remarkably easy.
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Sandy Lane, Barbados
You’ll find exclusive hotels throughout the Caribbean but Barbados has the lion’s share, most of them bang on the narrow sandy beach in the west, hence the nickname: the Platinum coast. If you tire of sybaritic living you can emerge from your luxurious cocoon for a spot of golf, or dinner at a fancy restaurant.
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Lamu island
Kenya’s coast is lined with good-value beach hotels, but for something really special, head north to Lamu, an old Arab trading post with an eight-mile beach, some legendary hotels and an atmospheric old town with rooftop restaurants. There are no cars - you get about by donkey or aboard a traditional dhow.
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Luxury Mauritius hotels
It’s known as the three-star island with the five-star hotels, but that’s not saying enough for the white sandy beaches or the forested highlands in the southwest. And maybe it’s not saying enough for the hotels either, many of which are six-star retreats staffed by some of the nicest people on the planet.
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Hidden Canary Islands
Not all the Canaries have been over-developed. On the little-known island of La Palma, you’ll find soaring volcanic peaks, wild forests – and few other tourists. The capital Santa Cruz is a cobbled colonial outpost with great charm, but the real joy is to explore the rugged interior on foot and by car.
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Gîtes in Brittany
With its colossal beaches and coquille-shaped coves, terrific seafood and quirky Celtic roots, Brittany has long been a favourite destination for British families. The ferry crossing is easy and there are many characterful gîtes to rent, making it ideal for those who want to feel they are immersed in the “real” France without having to travel too far.
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Center Parcs
With an array of activities, both outdoors in the forest and under cover, the UK’s four Center Parcs – in Wiltshire, Suffolk, Notts and Cumbria – are ideal for an affordable family break. Their enormous subtropical domes, heated to 29.5C, offer insurance against bad weather. And for a touch of luxury, you can sleep in one of the stylish new lodges.
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Orient Express to Venice
The world’s most romantic and evocative train journey begins when your British Pullman glides out of Victoria Station in London. Once across the Channel, you take your private compartment on the sumptuous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, reaching Paris by 9pm, waking in the Swiss Alps then rolling into Venice at around 6pm. A water taxi awaits to whisk you to your hotel.
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Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
You can shop for gold or charge across the desert dunes in a 4WD, but what Dubai does best, besides offering almost guaranteed winter sunshine, is hotels. They range from the sophisticated to the sensational. If bling isn’t your thing, don’t worry - there are some seriously stylish alternatives.
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Kenya safari
Nowhere in Africa can match Kenya for spectacular scenery and the sheer volume and diversity of its wildlife. The Masai Mara should be on everyone’s list of must-sees, not only during the annual summer migration of millions of wildebeest, but throughout the year to view lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and hundreds of species of birds.
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Villas in Catalonia
Forget all you’ve heard about the Costa Brava. The northern, knobbly, genuinely ‘Brava’ - or wild - stretch of coast is as scenic as anywhere on the Med but without coachloads of Brits. The resorts are tiny, the food superb, the walking and cycling trails well defined and, when you fancy a change, the foothills of the Pyrenees beckon.
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Fly-drive California
If there’s a single US state that conjures up the American dream, it’s California. As well as its surf and sunshine, cities on the sea (San Francisco, LA and San Diego), vineyards and national parks including Yosemite, visitors can experience one of the world’s most scenic drives, the Pacific Highway.
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Corsica, the perfect island
It’s arguably the most gorgeous island in the Mediterranean, with perfect beaches and an interior carpeted in a wild herb garden and dotted with medieval hilltowns. Yet compared to islands such as Mallorca, Corfu and Ibiza, it is curiously overlooked by British visitors. Corsica, in our book, is the Med to perfection, with a thick layer of French polish.
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Beaches, desert and culture in Tunisia
Though it is often sold on price rather than place, Tunisia is more than a beach. Think archaeological sites and palm shaded oases straight from the pages of The Arabian Nights, desert scenes that starred in Star Wars, souks, spas and a remarkable collection of Roman mosaics.
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Drive New Zealand
The scenic wonders of New Zealand have stolen the show in many Hollywood movies. In real life, the landscapes of the newest country on earth are even more impressive than their on-screen portrayal, populated by a cast of friendly Kiwis, featuring a host of thrilling activities and served with some of the best food and wine on the planet.
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Historic Sicily tour
Sicily is a place to tour rather than loaf on beaches. Historic sights, from ancient Greek temples to baroque architecture, are thick on the ground – hardly surprising when you consider that the Greeks, Arabs, Spaniards and even Normans have all left their mark. If you really want to understand Sicily, rather than just see it, we would recommend exploring on an escorted tour.
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Iceland short breaks
Head to Iceland where the summer sun barely sets and the collapse of the local currency has sent prices tumbling. Linger in the capital, Reykjavik, for a couple of days then embark on an action-packed road trip taking in volcanic craters, lakes, waterfalls, geysers, black sand beaches and seal and puffin colonies.
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Boating on the Canal du Midi
One of Europe’s oldest arteries, the Canal du Midi is a marvel of 17th-century engineering, chiselled through the heart of France to link the Atlantic with the Med. Travelling by boat, enjoying the peace, the snail-like pace, the food, wine and good looks of the southern French countryside, offers a far more intimate experience than touring by car.
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South Africa Cricket Tour
A sports tour provides the perfect excuse for a holiday abroad – the chance to witness momentous events in the company of fellow fans, and explore one of the world’s great destinations. England’s cricket tour of South Africa this winter is a case in point: go to a Test match, visit Cape Town and the Winelands, stay in superb hotels and enjoy hosted dinners with legendary ex-players.
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Tall ship sailing
A voyage aboard one of the three Star Clipper ships is a vastly different experience to a conventional cruise. Modelled on historic sailing vessels, they fly great clouds of billowing sails and offer passengers a timeless adventure as they explore the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, South East Asia and the islands of the South Seas.
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Boating on the Norfolk Broads
Boating on the Norfolk Broads has to be one of the most relaxing ways to spend a long weekend, or more. Pottering along at just 5mph is the perfect speed to wind down, relax and take in the National Park scenery, with long stretches of reed marsh and woodland, the banks dotted with picturesque thatched cottages plus the occasional pub for vital victuals.
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Intimate villas in Crete
Crete is so much more than sun and sand. Away from the package resorts, it’s an island of mountain villages, hiking trails, archaeological treasures, wild flowers and unspoilt coastlines. The season is long: you can get a tan in March and swim in the sea as late as November.
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Luxury villas in Corfu
Many Brits are sniffy about Corfu but never those that have visited the island’s northeast corner. Far removed from mass high-rise tourism, it is a place of tiny unspoilt coves, lush green interiors immortalised by Gerald Durrell, white pebble beaches, friendly tavernas and a choice of villas among the best in the Med.
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Verona Opera holiday
Often staged in historic settings, such as the 2,000 year old amphitheatre in Verona where audiences applaud divas from the same seats as they once cheered their favourite gladiators, Italy’s opera season extends far beyond La Scala, with al fresco performances both magical and musically memorable.
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Borneo tours
Borneo boasts sandy beaches, luscious scenery and luxury hotels, but what distinguishes this huge island from its Asian neighbours is the abundant wildlife. Most famous are the orangutans, easily inspected in Sabah’s Sepilok sanctuary, but Borneo also has Probiscus monkeys, turtles and exotic birds. For adventure, climb Mount Kinabalu or stay in a village longhouse.
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Cornwall cottages and coast
Spend a day walking the coastal paths of Cornwall and you might wonder why Brits ever bother to travel abroad. The undulating hills, the secret sandy coves, the soaring cliffs are as fine as you’ll see anywhere. With excellent local restaurants and superb self-catering cottages, this is paradise on your doorstep.
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Tour Sri Lanka
The beauty of Sri Lanka lies in the easy proximity of cultural treasures and world-class beaches. Spend a week touring temples and national parks then relax at one of the excellent resort hotels. Sri Lanka offers great value, as well as friendly people, excellent food and direct flights from the UK.
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Isle of Wight breaks
Deeply etched into the history of English summer holidays, the Isle of Wight still delivers traditional seaside pleasures along with a host of other activities. Enjoy a walk on the rolling chalk downs, take to the Solent in a sailboat, sample the mouthwatering local produce or set up camp at the isle’s famed music festival.
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Canadian Rockies
The tallest peaks and most awe-inspiring views of the Rockies, the spine of mountains that form the backbone of North America, lie in Canada. More precisely, within a single World Heritage Site that straddles British Columbia and Alberta. For the ultimate in scenic rail journeys, travel from Vancouver aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.
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Cultural walking tours
One of the best ways to experience a destination is on foot. A guided cultural walking tour gets you up close and personal – whether you’re exploring the backstreets of Venice, the monasteries of Armenia or the mountain trails of Bhutan. The trick is finding a tour operator that combines imaginative itineraries with expert guides and organises small groups of like-minded travellers.
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Luxury Nile cruises
Cruise the Upper Nile between Luxur and Aswan on a dahabiyya, a modern recreation of a 19th-century sailing boat. With just six colonial-style cabins and attentive service, this is a throwback to a more genteel age: breakfast served on deck, wicker chairs, dressing for dinner. Pack a well-thumbed Agatha Christie.
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Tour of China
Beijing’s Olympic legacy goes way beyond the Bird’s Nest stadium. Stylish hotels, gleaming new airports and improved road and rail infrastructure mean there has never been a better time to witness the dizzying mix of old and new in the Chinese capital, along with the superstar cities of Shanghai and Xian.
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Vietnam tour
Vietnam is rising in popularity as a winter sun destination, but to get the most out of this fascinating and beautiful country, take a tour, with interludes on the beaches as opposed to full-time loafing. Temples, sampans, hill tribe villages, historic ports and breathtaking mountain scenery contrast sharply with chic boutiques, fancy restaurants and stylish beach hotels.
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Family cruises
Although the idea of small children and a big blue fathomless ocean is more likely to trigger alarm bells than a rush to pack the suitcases, cruising is an ideal family holiday. But you do need to pick the right ship, one that caters for children by way of clubs, night nurseries, flexible dining and lots to do rather than simply letting them come along for the ride.
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Madagascar wildlife and beaches
Renowned for its profusion of wildlife and flora, 80 per cent of which can be found nowhere else on Earth, Madagascar is a nature lover’s dream. The island’s unique evolutionary path has produced elephant birds, giant lemurs and pygmy hippos. It also offers amazingly diverse landscapes, dazzling beaches and clear turquoise waters teeming with marine life.
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Luxury Scotland cruise
There are numerous ways to experience the majestic coastline of Scotland but none better than from the deck of a small luxury cruise ship. Pottering from one island to the next, you can either sit back and enjoy the views, or join guided walks across hills and coastal paths – so pack your walking boots along with posh frocks and dinner jackets.
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Chiva-Som: the ultimate spa
For the ultimate spa experience, head to Thailand. The standard of treatments, the quality of food and the sheer natural beauty of the place is unsurpassed. Top of the tree is Chiva-Som in Hua Hin, where rates includes daily treatments, full-board spa cuisine, a personal training session and meditation.
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Calabash Hotel, Grenada
Grenada offers the complete Caribbean experience on one island. Its beaches are dreamy, including Grande Anse – one of the finest in the region – plus it boasts a lush forested interior and a great mix of hotels, topped by the elegant Calabash, chosen by Gary Rhodes as the venue for his first restaurant outside the UK. And you can fly direct.
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Italy’s secret haven
Draw up a list of all the wonderful reasons for going to Italy – Blue Flag beaches, medieval hill towns, historic palaces, nights at the opera and galleries full of Renaissance masterpieces – and you’ll find them in abundance in Le Marche, the barely-known back garden of Italy, sandwiched between the Apennines and the Adriatic.
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Affordable luxury in Mexico
Both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Mexico have world-class resorts set on superb beaches with prices significantly lower than their peers in rival destinations. Besides affordable luxury, visitors can tap into a rich seam of culture, from remarkable Mayan archaeological sites and colourful Indian markets to Spanish colonial towns.
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Cambridge Beaches, Bermuda
This low-lying, warm-weather Atlantic island is a well-groomed and bloomed world of pastel houses, poster-pretty beaches, umpteen golf courses and, with red pillar boxes and 4 o’clock teas, an unmistakable stamp of Britishness. Safe, dependable, jacket-and-tie respectable Bermuda makes a perfect spring or autumn getaway.
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Croatia’s Dalmatian coast
The Dalmatian coast of Croatia is dotted with delightful beaches overlooked by mountains and pine forests. Whether you opt for beautifully-restored Dubrovnik, the historic city of Split or one of the island hotspots like Hvar or Brac, throw in good food and friendly people and you have one of Europe’s most underrated destinations.
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Scilly Isles holidays
On a sunny day, the blindingly white beaches and clear turquoise waters of this archipelago of low-lying granite outcrops can more than match the Caribbean. The Isles of Scilly, just 28 miles off the western tip of Cornwall, are a world apart, their style and pace of life closer to the pages of an Enid Blyton novel than 21st-Century reality.
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Peru tours
Whether you travel just to Peru and back, or combine it with visits to other South American countries, don’t underestimate the time you’ll need to experience its rich seam of culture, from ancient Inca – most famously revealed in the Lost City of Machu Picchu – to Spanish colonial, as well as the immensity of its Andean peaks and vast Amazonian rainforest.
And finally...
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Cruise Norway’s fjords
Cruising Norway’s fjord coast with Hurtigruten is a unique experience. Not only is the setting breathtakingly beautiful, but the fact that the ships also transport cargo and local people – who use the service to hop between ports – make it a fascinating cultural experience. It’s extremely comfortable, whether you want to take a long round trip or a short break.
