Everyone's idea of a perfect holiday is different. Here are my suggestions for different destinations to visit next year depending on your tastes and interests.
FOR SUN-WORSHIPPERS
When people are thinking of an Indian Ocean escape they tend to think of the Maldives, Mauritius or the Seychelles. But the Zanzibar archipelago is a beach-lovers paradise, with gorgeous white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. It’s a perfect destination for relaxation after a safari in Tanzania, but it definitely stacks up as a beach destination in its own right. Granted, it’s not easy to get here from the UK, but your journey will be worth the wait. There are some wonderful hotels here – from stylish boutique properties to larger resorts with all the bells & whistles you could possibly hope for. The best time to visit is between July to September during Zanzibar’s dry season.
FOR CULTURE VULTURES
India’s rich heritage can be seen throughout the country – with beautiful temples and shrines ten a penny whichever region you choose to visit. First time visitors will likely head for the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, but elsewhere there’s the most remarkable architecture – from the Chola Empire temples in Tamil Nadu to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. India assaults the senses in so many different ways and is an amazing destination for a complete break from the 9 to 5. The best time to travel here is from November to March, when the weather will be warm but not suffocatingly hot and you’ll be able to explore incredible sites in relative comfort.
FOR WINE BUFFS
If you’re partial to a drop of the red stuff, and you’d like a holiday in beautiful surroundings where there’ll be plenty on offer, you can’t really do better than a trip to Argentina. It might come as a surprise, but Argentina is the fifth largest wine producing country in the world – and there are numerous fabulous wineries which are also luxury boutique resorts where you can relax in the most beautiful surroundings. You can head for the region of Mendoza or Cafayate in the North West of the country - both with the stunning backdrop of the Andes mountains. And with Argentina’s amazing range of landscapes, you can combine time in the winelands with visits to the glaciers of Patagonia, the Lake District or jaw-dropping Iguazu Falls – as long as you leave yourself enough time. The best time to visit Argentina is November to March.
FOR NATURE LOVERS
Costa Rica is top of many people’s Bucket List – and for good reason. This small country is a nature-lovers paradise with its amazing bio-diversity. Make 2024 the year you finally travel here. On a 2-week holiday you can travel from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean, taking in the incredible variety of landscapes en route - Arenal volcano, the cloudforest at Monteverde and Tortuguero National Park. And you can finish your trip with a few days at the beach on one of the beautiful beaches on the Pacific Coast. Amazing birdlife, sloths and turtles are all part of the lure of a holiday here. It’s worth considering a visit in Costa Rica’s green season, from May to June or in November. This is when you catch the seasons in transition, and the national parks are quieter.
FOR THRILL SEEKERS
Home of adventure tourism, New Zealand has plenty of exciting and thrilling one-of-a-kind experiences. From zip lining, bungy jumping and canyoning through to less well-known activities such as zorbing and jet boating, both the North and South islands have a range of heart-pumping experiences to choose from. And then of course there are multiple areas for mountain biking and off road driving. And when you’ve had your fill of more active pursuits, New Zealand has a wealth of beautiful places to visit – sample world-class wine and food, cruise the fjordlands or visit the hot springs in Rotorua. It’s worth considering travelling to New Zealand in Spring or Autumn when there will be fewer visitors and flight prices with be lower.
Part Two of my suggestions for destinations to travel to in 2024 coming soon...
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