New year, new travel wish-list! But where will you be packing your bags and your curiosity to discover in 2024?
Ahead of Sunshine Saturday, one of the busiest days of the year for holiday bookings, research for UK travel association ABTA (abta.com) shows almost half (47%) of holidaymakers plan to visit a new city or resort this year, with four out of 10 (41%) heading to a country they’ve not been to before.
Graeme Buck, ABTA’s Director of Communications, said: “The first Saturday in January, known in the travel industry as ‘Sunshine Saturday’, is one of the busiest days in the year for people to book a holiday as they look to take advantage of the great availability and good deals on offer at this time of year.
"Good value is increasingly important for customers, and many have told us that they will be looking to use a travel professional to get the best possible deal with ABTA members being extremely busy helping people achieve their dream break.
“We know that many people are looking for inspiration and new suggestions of where to go, so our team of experts at ABTA has put together a list of ‘Destinations to Watch’ which offer varied and memorable experiences around the globe. Some are a little unexpected, and all are well worth a visit. The destinations showcase the amazing range of experiences that our world offers to holidaymakers.”
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Here, we’ve picked a selection of those ABTA’s up-and-coming hotspots and a few old favourites to whet your appetite for the next 12 months…
Albania
Saranda port, Albania (Shutterstock / Andrew Mayovskyy)Savvy holidaymakers are discovering this scenic, friendly and good value destination which is increasingly well served by UK tour operators.
Capital Tirana is cosmopolitan with interesting museums, second city Durres offers a Roman amphitheatre and other archaeological charms, while UNESCO world heritage site Gjirokaster showcases architectural riches.
Most Brits will head to the well-priced Albanian Riviera for fine beaches and resorts such as Saranda. Inland, Lakes Shkodra and Bovilla plus Theth National Park’s mountains beg to be discovered. Albanian food features tasty and healthy Mediterranean dishes.
- More info: albania.al
Aruba
Fofoti tree overlooking the Caribbean in Aruba (Shutterstock / sampathcreations)This Dutch Caribbean island is now easier to reach with direct British Airways flights.
Its Netherlands legacy is symbolised by authentic Dutch windmill ‘De Olde Molen’ in the resort of Palm Beach and colourful colonial buildings in capital Oranjestad.
Highlights include superb beaches, Arikok National Park’s desert scenery, trails and caves, excellent scuba diving and snorkelling plus an array of top-notch hotels.
American-style food is widely available, along with fresh seafood and Dutch-influenced flavours. Bon Bini! (welcome!) as the locals say in the Papiamento language.
- More info: aruba.com
Crete
Knossos palace in Crete (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Greece’s largest island comes with a zest for life and warm hospitality for visitors.
Must-sees include capital Heraklion with its Venetian port, numerous bars, museums and restaurants, the Minoan palace of Knossos, site of the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, and Rethymno, again with Venetian tones.
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Holidaymakers looking for glamour and five-star properties gravitate to Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, embarkation point for poignant trips to former leper colony Spinalonga island.
Crete is also home to scenery such as the Lasithi Plateau and its Psychro Cave, said to be the birthplace of Zeus, the Lefka Ori Mountains – snowcapped in winter – and Samaria gorge.
Cretan food would please the gods too, based on the freshest of local ingredients. Dare you try the feisty local Tsikoudia raki?
It’s part of Cretan life so would be rude not to!
- More info: incrediblecrete.gr
Extremadura
Extremadura's Pata Negra ham (Getty Images)This central Spanish region is home to three UNESCO world heritage sites and historic cities.
Capital Merida boasts well preserved Roman remains, Caceres’s walled medieval centre has survived largely intact from the 1500s and Trujillo has a wealth of churches
and upmarket houses fringing
Plaza Major.
Out of town, the landscapes are largely unspoilt and recommended for bird watching, particularly Monfrague National Park.
Foodies will love Extremaduran cuisine with its prized smoked paprika ‘pimenton’, Jerte Valley cherries, and ham and pork of the little black pigs, Pata Negra, which live on acorns.
- More info: spain.info
Mauritius
Port Louis, capital of Mauritius (Shutterstock / wsf-s)A friendly Indian Ocean bucket lister with perfect beaches, watersports and majestic landscapes.
Start in the capital Port Louis to see the colourful market and some of the word’s rarest postage stamps.
Le Morne beach lies at the foot of the UNESCO world heritage site mountain of the same name; climb it for glorious views. Inland sights include the ‘Seven-Coloured Earths’ in Chamarel with its 272ft waterfall and the nature reserve at Ebony Forest. The zipline at Casela Nature Parks feels like you are jumping off the edge of the world.
Add in fabulous resorts, fine food and Mauritius is an unforgettable destination.
- More info: mymauritius.travel
Saxony
Sunset over the Leipzig, Saxony (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Visit this east German region for historic cities and the table mountains, pretty half-timbered towns and iconic Bastei bridge of ‘Saxon Switzerland’, all easily accessible on Germany’s superb rail network.
Capital Dresden is the ‘Florence of the North’ and has baroque buildings flanking the River Elbe, while cultural Leipzig is home to composer Bach’s grave at St Thomas Church, museums and galleries complemented by a street art and nightlife scene.
Meissen is a must for its world-famous porcelain factory and 13th century Gothic cathedral.
- More info: visitsaxony.com
Shropshire
The Iron Bridge over the River Severn in Shropshire (Getty Images)A rural delight, yet also the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
History lovers will want to see Coalbrookdale in the Ironbridge Gorge with its eponymous bridge, the first in the world. For sports lovers it’s pretty Much Wenlock, the site of the first attempt in 1850 to revive the Olympic Games.
The Shropshire Hills is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and towns to see include foodie paradise Ludlow, Bridgnorth with a high and low town connected by a funicular, and Bishop’s Castle, with the oldest working brewery in the country. Cheers!
- More info: visitshropshire.co.uk
Vietnam
Halong Bay fruit sellers, Vietnam (Getty Images)UK visitors to friendly Vietnam can now visit visa-free for up to 45 days, giving even more time to explore this beautiful, captivating country.
A great way to get a taste of the it is on a leisurely rail trip between the main cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi.
Ho Chi Minh - formerly Saigon - is a dynamic blend of the old and new while capita Hanoi is a joy, with parks, lakes and the historic buildings of the Old Quarter.
Halong Bay by boat is a must for the unusual limestone formations, and Vietnamese food is delicious, sophisticated and full of flavour - and can be very cheap, perfect with an ice cold local beer.
More info: vietnam.travel
Zambia
Victoria Falls, Zambia (Getty Images/500px Plus)Victoria Falls – ‘The Smoke That Thunders’ – is a must and the mighty Zambezi River also offers spectacular white-water rafting.
Almost a third of the country is set aside for wildlife, with 20 national parks. While the Big Five of lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo and elephant are a huge draw, Zambia is also home to hundreds of other fascinating species.
The capital Lusaka is a proud showcase for the country’s increasing prosperity and visitors can enjoy its restaurants, bars and nightlife.
- More info: zambiatourism.com
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