Is there anything more exciting than planning a holiday away? Once you’ve booked your flights, you can sit back, relax and have all the fun of deciding what you want to do while away. But where to go?
New research from Holiday Hypermarket has just revealed that holidaymakers in the UK are opting to travel further afield at the moment, rather than choosing European destinations closer to home.
According to the Daily Express, Phuket in Thailand is proving particularly popular among British jet-setters at the moment, seeing an 850 per cent hike in bookings… so if you’re looking for inspiration as to where to go, why don’t you see what Phuket has to offer? Don’t forget to arrange High Wycombe minibus hire to take you to the airport and back, so you can travel in serious style and won’t have to panic about getting a taxi early in the morning!
Other destinations Brits are finding favour with right now include Goa, which saw a rise of 900 per cent in hotel enquiries compared to before the Brexit referendum, while Costa Rica and Cuba are also proving to be especially popular these days.
Holiday Hypermarket rep Ian Crawford was quoted by the news source as saying: “Of course, EU destinations remain incredibly popular, but it seems that all the discussion about life outside of the EU is giving people more inspiration to travel outside of Europe as well.”
If you pick Cuba as your holiday destination this year, make sure you visit the Maleçon seawall, which runs along the coast in Havana. It’s amazing at night when musicians take to the streets and it’s the perfect place to wind down after a busy day of sightseeing with a beer, looking out to sea.
Those of you who’d rather head to Costa Rica, meanwhile, must make your way to the Manuel Antonio National Park. You’ll see sloths in their natural habitats, iguanas sunning themselves and lots of monkeys hanging around in the treetops (although keep a close eye on your sandwiches, as they’re likely to be pinched in a heartbeat!).
Monteverde is also a must if you’re in Costa Rica, a stunning cloud forest reserve that’s perfect for hiking and checking out the local coffee and sugar plantations. And for stunning beaches, you must head off to Manzanillo, a little off the beaten track so relatively tourist-free and the perfect place to do some snorkelling around the coral reefs.
As for Phuket, there’s Phang Nga Bay, where the waters are an incredible emerald green and the huge limestone cliffs are a sight to behold. Old Phuket Town is also worth a visit, with an interesting blend of Chinese and colonial architecture – so don’t forget your camera.
If clubbing and having a few beers in local bars is more your style, head off to Bangla Road in Patong, where there is a dazzling array of nightclubs and drinking holes. You’ll be up all night, though, so make sure you’re prepared!