Qatar Airways has long impressed us as a fantastic choice for our customers thanks to its excellent in-flight service. In 2022 alone, Qatar Airways was voted Skytrax Airline of the Year (based on traveller feedback) for a record seventh time, as well as receiving the awards for Best Business Class, Best Airline in the Middle East and Best Business Class Airline Lounge Dining.
Stuck for ideas on where to visit for your dose of Vitamin D this year? We’ve picked out some popular destinations that have piqued our interest for the coming year.
“Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius”, pronounced Mark Twain, quoting an islander. And now this tropical nirvana of palm-fringed white-sand beaches is opening again in time to welcome those longing for some winter sunshine.
Something of a scuba diving Mecca, Mauritius’ beaches are almost entirely encircled by coral reefs to discover, and there are shipwrecks to investigate too. Among the most thrilling sites are Coin de Mire, with the Djabeda wreck (almost fully covered in soft pink coral) and a wealth of marine life including octopi, dolphins and stingrays, and Cathedral, an extensive cavern and cave system. Due to the trade winds, the best time to dive there is through the winter months, roughly November through to April.
While the East Coast may be the tourist hotspot of Australia with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane drawing in the crowds, the perimeter of Western Australia is littered with extraordinary attractions, both manmade and natural.
As visitors generally arrive in Perth, the first step is to head south to Margaret River wine region where miles of rolling vineyards, well-stocked breweries and elegant restaurants await. A stay in Margaret River itself is a must for any visitor but if you have the time, head to Dunsborough and Busselton for some of Australia’s best surf.
If you decide to head up north, you’ll pass by hundreds of miles of deserted talcum powder-white sand beaches with popular stop offs including Lancelin with its sandboarding. We recommend heading up to Exmouth and the surrounding region for some of the most incredible diving and snorkelling opportunities on earth along the Ningaloo reef.
Made up of 1192 islands, which group into 26 atolls, the Maldives is widely considered to be the ultimate destination for a tropical island getaway, with its away-from-it-all feel, lavish resorts and postcard-perfect scenery.
Throughout the past year, a clutch of new resorts have opened in the Maldives, including Jumeirah Maldives and OBLU SELECT Lobigili, creating opportunity for new experiences amongst even the most seasoned of Maldives visitors.
The crowd favourite ‘land of smiles’ is open once again and we can’t wait to get back. With so much to discover, the best way to do it is on a twin-centre break.
Chiang-Mai, in the North, delivers laid back authentic Thailand against a backdrop of misty mountains and lush green paddy fields, best enjoyed with a warm fragrant bowl of khao soi. Meanwhile Phuket, in the south, represents the classic Southeast Asian island experience with its luxurious resorts, playful bars and warm shallow coastal waters. And, with the newly opened Bush Camp from Elephant Hills, you can look forward to an ethical elephant encounter during your time in Chiang Mai.
There are so many great reasons to experience certain destinations in the shoulder seasons – that sweet spot between a region’s peak season and off-season. Think fewer crowds and queues for major attractions, better-value flights and other travel, and a more authentic experience of the destination. We’ve put our heads together to share a few of our favourite places that can be just as good or even better outside of high season.
Seeing the world, or parts of it, by cruise is more popular than ever as people realise just how fantastic it can be to float from place to place, discovering more than one destination in a single trip. Our Travel Counsellors say, ‘There’s a cruise ship to suit everyone, and yes you can get off at every port, as many times as you like!” If you’re in any doubt over whether a cruise is right for you, there are mini cruises of just a couple of nights that will help persuade you.
