There really is nothing quite like booking a trip. Knowing that all your hard work and dedication will eventually pay off in the form of a holiday that will have the neighbours green with jealousy and your friends eager to copy your idea.
For those with a keen eye for a deal there are plenty of them out there to be snapped up. So we thought we’d dust off some dream trips for you to consider, full of mouth watering food, stunning landscapes and natural wonders.
Kick Back in the Bahamas
Whether you’re a beach lizard that trawls through hardbacks on a lounger or an adventure junkie on the search for your very own island paradise, the Bahamas really are the ultimate destination.
Most tourists arrive there via Nassau airport. The city itself is a vibrant and beautiful place to wile away a couple of carefree weeks, boasting a veritable smorgasbord of seafood spots as well as vibrant night life. However, it’s away from this main island that the natural beauty and authentic culture really ramps up.
Of all the Bahama islands perhaps Anguilla is the most romantic. It is only reachable by boat and maintained by a small population of fun loving locals. This is the sort of place that Instagram obsessives will have a field day with, thanks to its idyllic beaches, turquoise waters and mouth-watering food, such as famous dishes made from conch, including raw conch salad.
For those travellers who are unable to stay still on a sun lounger for more than ten minutes, the likes of the Dominican Republic and Jamaica may be better bets, allowing you to explore everything from mountain ranges to the spiciest jerk chicken you’ve ever clapped lips on.
Reach for the Stars Among the Himalayas
What should a dream trip consist of? Should it be about decadence and relaxation or should it transport you to an alien culture and land you never thought existed, broadening your horizons in the process? For those who think the latter applies to them then where better to head than the tallest mountains on earth.
Many visitors to this vast mountain range tend to gravitate towards the Everest and K2 peaks. But there’s plenty more to savour in Nepal, Kashmir, Bhutan and Burma. With rich cultures to delve into and lower valley landscapes that consistently take the breath away.
The best time to visit is in Autumn, when skies tend to be clear, although you’ll need to wrap up warm. There are numerous trekking companies, all at different ends of the price scale. With some even offering luxury treks for those who need their wilderness walk rounded off by a soft pillow and a tongue teasing curry that will linger as long in the memory at the spiralling snow-capped peaks.
Go Wildlife Crazy in Madagascar
5% of all animal and plant species that exist today have refuge in this East African island paradise, and for anyone who’s a wildlife nut it really is the Mecca of all trips.
Whether it be humpback whales, sea turtles, chameleons or tree lemurs that set your heart racing you can see them all in Madagascar and often with striking regularity.
The best thing about the accommodation options in Madagascar is that they are forced to adhere to being environmentally sustainable, meaning that even the more luxurious hotels won’t be dumping your sewage straight onto to a whale shark’s feeding ground or a turtle’s nesting site.
Another beautiful natural site to go and behold is the Allée des Baobabs. The trees found there are known as Mothers of the Forest and are a surviving relic of a bygone era when the whole island was covered in dense rain forest.
