Where are you going on holiday next year? Tour operators have all got their predictions and YourHols will be telling you what they are over the next couple of weeks. Let’s start with Directline Holidays who have put the Dominican Republic (above), Moscow, Morocco and Croatia at the top of their list – with breaks from £136.
They’ve based their choices on changing preferences of visitors to www.directline-holidays.co.uk and boss Maria Whiteman says: “While price remains at the heart of holiday booking decisions, new airline routes and value for money in resort are also key factors for British holidaymakers. Old favourites like the Spanish Costas and Paris endure in popularity, but travellers are fearless in exploring less familiar places so we’re delighted to see cities like Moscow, and parts of Croatia and northern Spain emerging as new choices – 2013 is set to be an exciting year for British travellers.”
Dominican Republic: Continuing to emerge from the shadow of Caribbean rivals including Cuba and St Lucia, the island saw an increase of 8.4 per cent in visitors in the first quarter of the year. More airlines are flying to its eight airports and cruise business is booming. Seven nights all-inclusive at the four- star Sirenis Suites in Uvero, flying from Gatwick on July 2 from £811 per person based on two adults sharing.
Moscow, Russia: Holidays to the Russian capital are more affordable than ever now that easyJet links the city to the UK from Manchester, with Gatwick flights set to launch in 2013. Check out World Heritage site Red Square, The Kremlin and those uber-glamorous restaurants and boutiques. Three nights B&B in the three-star Maxima Irbis Hotel, close to the major attractions, including flights from Manchester on April 11 from £238 per person.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain: This medieval city is also set to benefit from a new easyJet route from Gatwick offering an alternative to the traditional Spanish city break destinations of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville. Santiago is at the end of the Way of St James pilgrim trail, which dates back to the ninth century and the magnificent cathedral should not be missed. It’s a perfect base from which to explore the rest of Galicia, famous for its wild coasts and fresh seafood delicacies. Flights from Gatwick start in June but you can go from Stansted on April 19 and have two nights B&B at the three-star Petit Palace Arena in central Bilbao, northern Spain, from £136 per person.
Marrakech, Morocco: Increasingly good value for high quality accommodation and an exhilarating experience. The famous central marketplace – Djemaa el Fna – is where performers gather, a cornucopia of lights, colours and smells after dark, with food stalls and plenty of locals to meet. Only three and a half hours away, Marrakech offers an authentic and exotic short break or longer holiday. Three nights room-only at the four-star Moroccan House Road Hotel in Marrakech including flights from London Stansted on February 7 from £148 per person.
Croatia: Boasting one of the finest coastlines in Europe (including 116 Blue Flag beaches), Croatia has steadily grown in popularity in recent years, especially because of good value self-catering accommodation – lower food and drink prices here make it a sound alternative to Italy, Spain and the south of France. Jet into Split for the northern Dalmatian coast and islands, Pula for the Istrian peninsula or Dubrovnik for a city break. Seven nights half-board at the four-star Iberostar Albatros in Cavtat on the Dalmatian Coast, including flights from Gatwick on April 8 from £319 per person.
