Travel Trends
I am sure it will come as no surprise that personal holiday travel has changed significantly, with popular destinations such as Egypt , Turkey and Tunisia being very unpopular or simply impossible to travel to.
What has happened is that many old favorite destinations in the Western Mediterranean, including Spain and Portugal, are extremely popular choices, resulting in dropping availability and increasing prices, perhaps, one observation is that there is no such thing as a low cost airline to these countries in 2016.
What are the alternatives in 2016 and looking forward to 2017, obviously much will depend on your vision of your ideal holiday, nevertheless, there are significant opportunities to experience new destinations both near and far.
The Italian Job
Sardinia and Sicily, the two largest islands in the Med, are fantastically interesting with hotel and villa choices that will suit most budgets, from wonderful Spa hotels to authentic self catering villas. There is so much to see and do, from the constantly grumbling Mt Etna in Sicily to some amazingly un-spoilt beaches and crystalalline waters of breathtakingly beautiful Sardinia. The Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) was a favourite of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Greece Bearing Gifts
The Greek islands, as well as many parts of the mainland, have an economy that is significantly based on tourism, and offer a diverse choice, from the party islands of Corfu and Mykonos, the spectacular Santorini, to the mountains and beaches of Western Crete, including the stunning walk through the Samaria Gorge. With hotels and resorts in marvelous locations and airlines offering direct flights, this presents Greece and its Islands as a holiday gift that is worth opening..
The New Kid on the Block
Croatia, the newest member of the EU, as a result of the war in the early 1990’s , was a forgotten destination for many years . Now, very much back on the list of potentials , its stunning un-spoilt coastline, eight national parks and centuries old coastal towns offer many different places to choose to visit. For example, the very chic island of Hvar with a number of minimalist hotels and seafood restaurants or Korcula with its Zrce beach hosting open-air music festivals throughout the summer.
More than a Stones Throw
Long Haul destinations are increasingly offering excellent value for money, as a result of exchange rates South Africa is proving to be increasingly popular with British Airways offering more direct flights. The diversity of experiences include safaris, wine tasting , deep see fishing and fantastic golf packages as well as some amazing beaches.
Although July and August temperatures are exceptionally high, resulting in fantastic bargains, there are many competitive luxury resorts in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah offering superb facilities that are excellent possibilities for the rest of the year, including Christmas and New Year.
Another location offering exceptional value with amazing quality is Thailand, an excellent country for a multi-centre holiday experience combining the Beach, city and jungle, definitely worth more than a passing thought.
If is so much fun simply planning the adventure or relaxing trip, these are just a few ideas.
Enjoy the Summer!