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HELLO, WORLD!

We reveal the next big travel destinations at home and away…

IT'S fair to say we all need a holiday after the last year. So following months trapped in lockdown, big bucket-list trips and getting back to nature look set to be top trends when we are finally allowed to spread our wings. Plus, we won’t just be rethinking where we go, but how.

Sustainable travel – from eco-friendly getaways to spending our holiday money in places that really need it – will be huge, too. Here are our top picks for you raring-to-go jet-setters (and armchair adventurers).

1. KENYA

Have a giraffe in Kenya
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Have a giraffe in KenyaCredit: Getty Images

The lowdown

Kenya reopened its borders in August, earning a Travel Safe stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council, thanks to its Covid-combatting measures of widespread temperature checks and testing. Its vast African plains offer once-in-a-lifetime encounters with the animal kingdom, as well as being perfect for a socially distanced escape.

“Most conservation work in Kenya is funded through tourism,” says Justin Francis, co-founder of sustainable tourism operator Responsible Travel. For that reason, a trip here isn’t just bucket-list brilliant – it helps protect the wildlife, too. 

Don’t miss

The annual Great Migration, when millions of species stampede across Kenya’s savannah from late June to October.

Best time to go

July is the driest month – perfect for pairing a safari with beach time on Kenya’s gorgeous coast.  

2. SLOVENIA

Don't be a square! Open your eyes to Slovenia's rustic beauty
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Don't be a square! Open your eyes to Slovenia's rustic beautyCredit: AWL

The lowdown

“Visiting Slovenia is like seeing all of Europe’s greatest hits in one small, convenient country,” says James Atkinson, co-host of DK Eyewitness travel guides’ podcast Where To Go.

Brilliant ski scene? Check. Ancient castles? Check. Alpine mountains? Sunny coastlines? Check and check. If that weren’t enough, the European Region of Gastronomy 2021 is heaven for foodies: Slovenia is obsessed with its locally produced cheese, honey and wine – and so will you be!

Don’t miss

The wine scene. Slovenia has three distinct vine-growing regions – Podravje, Posavje and Primorska – and is well-known for both its natural and orange wines, which are oh-so on-trend. 

Best time to go

August for an active break with beach time, and autumn for the foodie harvest and fab fall colours.

3. COSTA RICA

Keep palm and carry on Costa Rica's gorge beaches
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Keep palm and carry on Costa Rica's gorge beachesCredit: Getty Images

The lowdown

For a tropical adventure, it’s got to be Costa Rica. It’s not just one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, where rainforests teem with sloths, toucans and all manner of monkeys, it’s also among the most fun to explore, with countless ziplines, rope bridges, and horse-riding trails.

Plus, the best bit is it’s one of Latin America’s biggest Covid-19 success stories, thanks to the government’s swift containment of cases. “One of the most surprising things about Costa Rica is how much you can pack in,” says Justin. “You can go from forests to beaches to volcanoes within just a few hours.”

Fall in love with Costa Rica's stunning rainforest
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Fall in love with Costa Rica's stunning rainforestCredit: Getty Images

Don’t miss

Ziplining through Monteverde’s cloud forest, then hiking the Arenal volcano (making sure you take a dip in the natural hot springs at its base). Finish up on Manuel Antonio National Park’s pristine beaches. 

Best time to go

Late December to April is driest and sunniest. Temperatures hover around 25°C until March, when the mercury rockets into the 30°Cs.

4. PUGLIA, ITALY

Baroque and roll through Puglia's pretty lanes
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Baroque and roll through Puglia's pretty lanesCredit: Getty Images

The lowdown

A holiday in the heel of Italy’s boot comes stuffed with beautiful Baroque towns, some of the country’s best beaches and fresh seafood. Plus, it’ll help Italy’s tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic, without risking getting stuck in a crowd.

“Under-visited Puglia has a primarily open-air lifestyle due to the warm southern temperatures,” explains Nic Crosse, destinations expert at accommodation specialist Sawday’s. “So in many ways it’s already prepared for post-Covid travel.” 

Don’t miss

A cycling tour through the Torre Canne National Parkto the seaside. Stop at any one of the terraced restaurants facing the sea for the best spaghetti with fresh sea urchins, ever!

Best time to go

May or October are ideal for sunny, mild temperatures while also being outside peak tourist season.

5. THE WELSH COAST

The coast is always clear at Rhossili Bay
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The coast is always clear at Rhossili BayCredit: Alamy

The lowdown

When it comes to beautiful beaches, Wales has it licked. Three Cliffs Bay and Rhossili Bay have been named among the most scenic shorelines in Europe in recent years. “Wales was one of our most searched-for destinations in 2020,” Nic reveals.

“But you can beat the hordes by visiting Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, a unique mix of wide-open country and coastal wilderness: all secluded forests, beaches and coves.”

Don’t miss

Glimpsing harbour porpoises and grey seals from isolated Skomer Island. It’s had no permanent human inhabitants since the ’60s.

Best time to go

September gives the best chance of spotting seal pups and other marine life off the coast. 

Foreign travel advice

Check with the FCO before planning any trip.

6. LILLE, FRANCE

Lille is toy-town beautiful
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Lille is toy-town beautifulCredit: AWL

The lowdown

The World Design Capital for 2020 has been busy reinventing its industrial past, with old factories and warehouses now transformed into artists’ studios, colourful skate parks and pop-up fashion boutiques. But the city isn’t just cutting-edge cool. “Lille shows a really different side to France than Paris or Bordeaux – it’s more local and rustic,” says James.

Delve into the historic centre, where cosy restaurants on cobbled streets serve hearty dishes cooked in beer and a vast 17th-century citadel draws pockets of picnickers. Best of all, the carbon-friendly Eurostar train from London to Lille takes just 1 hour 22 minutes. 

Don’t miss

Lille’s multicultural food scene. The open-air Wezammes Market on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings has an incredible mix of street eats, from Lillois specialities to traditional dishes of Sri Lanka, Albania and more.

Best time to go

Spring, for temperatures up to 18°C but without the summer tourists.

7. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Push the boat out in the Caribbean
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Push the boat out in the Caribbean Credit: AWL

The lowdown

This Caribbean country’s white-sand beaches are popular with the all-inclusive crowd, but it’s now turning eco. “Nature lovers will go crazy for the national parks here,” James promises. “Especially Cotubanamá National Park, where you can take the plunge in crystal-clear natural swimming caves and spot horned rhinoceros iguanas.”

Local communities are being trained in conservation, and small, secluded eco lodges are cropping up, which make a more post-Covid-friendly option than a sprawling hotel. The Ministry of Tourism is also issuing Safe Travels stamps of approval to businesses it has vetted. 

Travel in style over the Dominical republic's spectacular scenery
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Travel in style over the Dominical republic's spectacular sceneryCredit: Getty Images

Don’t miss

The 27 waterfalls at Damajagua. A guided four-hour adventure combines jungle trekking with swimming through narrow canyons, climbing cliffside ladders, and jumping off the top of the waterfalls into sparkling aquamarine pools below. 

Best time to go

December to April is dry season, when both outdoor adventures and beach days are at their best.  

8. YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND

The Yorkshire Dales are pretty as a picture
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The Yorkshire Dales are pretty as a pictureCredit: Getty Images

The lowdown

When the staycation pack flock to Devon and Cornwall, consider an alternative. “Yorkshire is England’s largest historical county, with masses of space for exploring,” explains Nic. “And the diversity of the region is its biggest appeal.”

Think charming seaside towns like Whitby, acres of rolling hills in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, spa time at Harrogate’s Victorian-era Turkish baths, and infusing your own gin at Malton’s Rare Bird distillery.       

Don’t miss

York is unmissable for its history, from strolling along the top of its miles of medieval city walls, to The Shambles – Europe’s best-preserved medieval shopping street. But York’s student population gives it a fun feel, too. Hit speakeasy-like, candlelit bar Sotano, or Evil Eye cocktail bar and shop, with its world record-breaking number of gins.

Best time to go

All year-round. Spend sunny days walking the moors, and wintery ones cosied up by the fire in one of its many pubs.

9. IBIZA

Get your dose of vitamin sea on the White Isle
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Get your dose of vitamin sea on the White IsleCredit: Getty Images

The lowdown

During the pandemic, the more boho side of this buzzy Balearic island has continued to flourish, with yogis, hippies and celebs flocking to its quiet north. “There are lots of very Instagrammable yoga retreats and vegan cafes in this part of Ibiza,” James says.

“So after a very stressful 2020, a wellness holiday here could be the perfect way to get away from it all.”  

Don’t miss

One of the north’s best experiences is Ibiza Horse Valley. The sanctuary rehabilitates mistreated animals and reintroduces them to riding, offering horseback trips to forests, mountain tops and beaches.  

Best time to go

Early May has summer temperatures before the crowded party season kicks off.

10. NEW ZEALAND

Have a whale of a time in New Zealand
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Have a whale of a time in New ZealandCredit: Getty Images

The lowdown

New Zealand’s smart Covid-19 response has, so far, kept its number of cases right down. And thanks to the rollout of vaccines, it’s hoped the country’s borders will reopen to long-haul travellers later this year. Fingers crossed, because the country’s incredible landscapes (snow-capped mountains, ice-blue glaciers and bone-white beaches) make the perfect escape.

“One of the things we’re noticing is that, post-Covid, wilderness is the new luxury,” Justin reveals. “And that is, of course, what New Zealand really has to offer.” 

Don’t miss

Whale-watching from Kaikõura. Think up-close encounters with giant sperm whales, as well as orcas, blue whales, humpbacks and more. 

Best time to go

READ MORE SUN STORIES

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