The great ESCAPE
Travel experts share their insider tips on where to book for this year and next
A year spent at home has reignited many people’s wanderlust. According to a recent survey, 58% of UK travellers were planning to take as many holidays as usual, if not more, this year*. If you’re in need of a change of scenery, we spoke to three travel insiders to get their tips on where to go – whether you’re planning something close to home this year or an overseas adventure for 2022.
Summer staycations
Holidaying at home offers a more eco-friendly way to travel and a chance to explore our incredible landscapes. Perennially popular Cornwall is apparently already fully booked for this summer, with tourism bosses reporting waiting lists for some accommodation. However, other beautiful coastal destinations are available. “Right now, I can’t think of anywhere better to escape to than Scotland’s Hebrides, with their staggering scenery, seafood galore and tons of wildlife,” says travel journalist Lizzie Pook. “I’m desperate to get away from the crowds this summer and head somewhere totally remote, like the otherworldly island of Jura. Heaven.”
Will Collins, a tour director for escorted touring specialist Cosmos, who uses his local knowledge to give guests a truly unique perspective on their destination, recommends exploring the Welsh valleys. “Snowdonia National Park in North Wales is one of the country’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty,” he says. “Local people really make a conscious effort to preserve their traditions and language, so visitors from elsewhere in the UK will definitely feel like they’re on holiday.”
Autumn getaways
The hope is that travelling abroad will become easier as the year goes on, so many of us are looking to book autumn and winter getaways a little further afield. The land of fire and ice is Lizzie’s top seasonal pick. “Iceland delivers what lots of people will be looking for: space, beauty and that priceless sense of getting back to nature,” she says. “The remote Deplar Farm on the Troll Peninsula is possibly the world’s most idyllic spot from which to search for the Northern Lights – if you’re lucky, you might be able to watch them from the steamy outdoor thermal baths.”
If you’re looking for a sunshine break instead, travel editor Amanda Statham suggests Portugal. “It makes an ideal autumn escape weather-wise. I have my eye on Quinta da Comporta, a rustic, chic retreat an hour outside of Lisbon. It has a beautiful infinity pool overlooking rice fields, a spa housed in a converted barn, an organic restaurant and a lovely beach close by.”
Bucket-list breaks
If you’re itching to broaden your horizons in 2022, it’s time to start planning that dream trip. “Everyone has missed out on so many experiences over the past year,” says Cosmos sales and marketing director Janet Parton. “I think people will be yearning for those bucket-list destinations, and we’re already seeing a rise in bookings for Japan, safaris in South Africa, trips on the Rocky Mountaineer railway through the Canadian Rockies, and tours along Route 66 in the USA.”
“I’ll be going big and booking a trip to Western Australia,” says Lizzie. “It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs, fill your lungs and remind yourself what travelling is all about after being cooped up for so long.” For Amanda, her dream destination is Grenada in the Caribbean: “Those white sand beaches and cocktails are calling.”
Cosmos offers expert escorted tours to more than 80 destinations. Thanks to the Cosmos Peace of Mind Travel Plan, if travel restrictions change, you can move your holiday to any 2021 or 2022 date, destination or itinerary. Discover more at cosmos.co.uk or call to book on 0330 058 8248