Going on holiday is becoming easier and easier, and we are spoilt for choice when it comes to where to go.
Holiday experts from the travel firm Hayes & Jarvis shared some of their favourite destinations and experiences that might help you decide where you want to go before the year ends.
Adventures in Africa
Nick Wilson, Regional Destination Manager at Hayes & Jarvis, picked Africa as his top destination for summer 2018.
Top tip: “Talk to a specialist. The region is so diverse and you risk trying to cram too much stuff in, which means you might miss things that would have appealed to you.”
Hailing from West Sussex, Wilson’s first ventured to Africa in 2002 to visit Namibia and fell in love with it.
He said, “It’s unique, compared to the rest of Africa and has sand dunes, coastlines dotted with shipwrecks and salt pan reserves. As a result, the animals you find there are often unique to the region too.”
He added that South Africa is perfect for a multi-centre itinerary because it offers game experiences, scenic garden routes, the battlefields region and metropolitan Cape Town.
‘But each country is different. I love the warmth of the African people; they’re proud to show off their home and their culture. It’s a very welcoming place,’ said Wilson.
The charm of Canada
Rachel Buckman, Destination Executive said Canada tops her list for the summer.
She said, “The Atlantic Coast is easy to get to and is closer to the UK than it is to the Canadian West Coast – just five hours away from London.
“This means you can take a shorter trip, unlike with the West Coast where you may feel you have to take a two-week trip. It’s also very relaxed and you can get amazing seafood there.”
She added, “Vancouver is one of Canada’s most amazing cities and has been voted as one of the best in the world. Everyone there is active, which means it has a lovely outdoor culture. They’ll all be out in the parks running and cycling and as a tourist, you’ll get caught up in that lifestyle.”
Relax in the Seychelles
Zoe Betchley, Regional Destination Manager, said the Seychelles archipelago is her dream destination.
Top Tip: “Island-hop as much as you can. When you arrive in Mahé, you’re going to see more of Seychelles life; you could then just stay there and not see anymore, but you’d be missing out.”
She said, “The Seychelles is laid-back and family-orientated, everything you’d expect from an island paradise.”
She added that the capital Victoria comes to life on Saturday mornings when the local catch comes in and the market is on.
“From a tourist’s perspective, it’s very easy to get involved and learn about what’s going on there,” she said.
For great beaches she suggested Anse Lazio on Praslin because it is always being voted by travel magazines as one of the world’s top 10.
“Make sure to see the famous black parrot while you’re there, as the bird is only found on that island,” she said.
Delights of the Deep South
Hayes & Jarvis Destination Executive Isla King dubbed America’s Deep South as a hot travel trend for summer 2018.
Top tip; “One thing you have to try if your going to New Orleans is a beignet from Cafe du Monde. Once you try these square doughnuts, you’ll quickly learn what all the fuss is about.”
She said, “One of my favourite spots is the countryside outside Lexington, Kentucky, where you can do a Bourbon Trail and explore the area while trying fantastic bourbon.
She added that the Deep South offered a lot of historic sites like the US Civil Rights Trail, which goes across 14 different states and covers areas involved in the Civil Rights Movement.
“You must visit 16th Street Baptist Church in Alabama (which was blown up in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement). There, you get to hear the gospel choir sing – it’s a really moving experience,” said King.
Beautiful Bali
Christie Hill, Destination Executive at Hayes, said Bali is her pick for 2018.
Top tip: “Some of the islands, such as Nusa Lembongan, offer underwater walks: you’re given a helmet pumped with oxygen, enabling you to walk on the seabed among the fish, which is amazing.”
Hill said the people in Bali were lovely, welcoming and smiley and that there’s so much to see.
“I saw my first Komodo Dragon there in 2016 when I visited Indonesia and did the Hayes & Jarvis Komodo Trail Tour, there were quite a lot of them there and as it was the middle of the day, they were sleepy and peaceful so we could get really close to them,” said Hill.
But it’s not just Komodo Dragons. Christie said, “If you visit Lovinia in the north, you can see wild dolphins on a Sunrise Dolphin Cruise – it’s a really amazing experience seeing them approach the boat to jump and swim around you.”
Live it up in Latin America
Mark Young, Destination Manager of East & Southern Africa and Latin America, said Latin America is his ultimate paradise.
Top tip, “Watch the sunset over the vast ocean from Easter Island, the remote Chilean island in the south-east Pacific. It’s simply beautiful.”
He said, “Peru is my favourite country, because it has Incan history, the amazing Rainbow Mountain and beautiful Machu Piccu. Try guinea pig while you’re there (which I did). It’s a surprisingly delicious dark meat that tastes like venison.”
If you love festivals Young said Rio Carnival is a must-see, his personal favourite is the Day of the Dead Festival.
“It’s celebrated across South America and takes the acronym of gone but never forgotten very seriously, commemorating the lives of peoples’ ancestors. But it’s not a mournful period at all – it’s like Rio in that it’s one big party. And it’ll go on for several days and usually through the night too,” said Young.
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