Now for the good news
Believe it or not, a big part of your holiday just got cheaper
GET ready for a double dose of good news if you plan to hire a car on holiday this year: for prices aren’t just falling, they’re falling fast.
Research from Which? reveals that a week-long rental on Madeira that cost £412 last Easter will cost just £266 this year. That’s a hefty 35 per cent saving. Rent a car on Rhodes last summer and you’d have paid £419 a week. This summer deals start at £259. And the savings are just as big in Alicante, Corfu, Palma and Faro.
Further afield, prices p have also dipped across Florida and beyond. So this really could be the year to try one e of the Great American an Road trips that at we’re showcasing ing on page 12.
GREAT CITIES
Or is this the year for a really exciting holiday in one of the world’s great cities? On page 17 we show why Hong Kong is the place to be in the Year of the Dragon – and I can certainly vouch for the amazing dim sum and incredible views you’ll see from the Star Ferry and Peak Tram.
Taking a friendly, small group tour is another way to see more and pay less this summer. On the facing page we recommend re six terrific tours and explain how h each of these holidays holiday can be such good value. If I you’re dreaming of seeing the best of Tuscany then turn to pages 18 & 19 where we’ve got the lowdown on a Titan Travel holiday taking in Florence, Chianti, Siena, Lucca, Pisa and San Gimignano.
RELAXED
Fancy going further afield? Read about Travelbag’s relaxed, self-drive holiday across South Africa’s winelands and its brilliant Costa Rican adventure on pages 14 & 15.
Cruises also offer extraordinary value for money. I’m tempted by one of the Expert-led Astronomy and Northern Lights voyages with Hurtigruten (especially with the lovely discounts on departures this year and next.) And as we reveal on page 20, the food on board will be as good as the views. Happy travelling!