A market for Xmas
IF you love a Christmas market (and who doesn’t?!) the UK now has many to rival those on the continent. Winchester, Oxford, Cheltenham and Bath are just some of our beautiful cities playing host to chalets filled with yuletide delights. And Mulberry Cottages has some stunning places to stay in all these cities – so you can indulge in the gluhwein. See mulberrycottages.com.
HUNT out some winter sun in some of Asia’s best beach destinations, which also happen to have some superb food, fascinating history and exotic culture. Prices are dropping too, meaning the long-haul holidays are not out of reach.
Bali Hai Bali, Indonesia
The island of Bali has its own version of Hinduism, its own cuisine and its own unique style, in its architecture and arts and crafts.
Completely unlike the rest of Indonesia, its spiritual people live in a beautiful land sculpted with rice terraces and dotted with temples, particularly around the artist village of Ubud.
Beach resorts line the southern coast, particularly at Kuta and Legian, and are very popular with Australian travellers.
Its main drawback for Brits is its accessibility, with no direct flights.
GO: A week-long break in Kuta’s medium-range Bali Rani Hotel costs from £962pp, B&B, with flights via Dubai. See tui.co.uk.
Spice isle Sri Lanka
Lonely Planet’s top tip for 2019 has been the spice island of Sri Lanka, and for good reason.
It has a lovely climate, mountains, rainforests and tea estates as well as a fringe of golden beaches and an exotic temple culture.
Popular beaches such as Negombo, Bentota, Unawatuna and Matara in the southern corner, not far from capital Colombo, are just coming into play at this time of year, at the end of the monsoon season.
Anybody spending any time on the island should allow for a couple of days to travel inland, climbing into the highlands – preferably by train – to visit the many tea estates. They supply so much of the raw material for the world’s best hot drink.
Go: Six nights’ B&B in the Jetwing Beach in Negombo, plus flights, costs from £1,124pp. See kuoni.co.uk.
Surf and turf Khao Lak, Thailand
Phuket, on Thailand’s southwest coast, has long been its biggest beach destination, best known for nightlife, shopping and water sports. But it has become a heavily built-up international resort, losing out on the local flavour.
So instead we recommend its near neighbour, Khao Lak, a couple of hours north. Here the beach is excellent and the style is still very much Thai, with massage booths on the sands, great street food and a rainforest park.
Khao Lak is a good base for trips inland to fabulous Khao Sok national park, effectively a giant flooded valley system where you can stay in floating bungalows and go on wildlife boat trips along jungle fringes.
GO: A seven-night holiday in the four-star The Waters Khao Lak by Katathani Collection costs from £706pp, including flights and accommodation. See kenwoodtravel.co.uk.
Fusion island Penang, Malaysia
Its beaches may not be as pristine as those of its neighbour, Langkawi, but the tear-drop shaped island of Penang is more appealing for anyone with an ounce of curiosity about Malaysia’s diverse cultures.
Chinese, Indian, Malay and British colonial influences are strong in its Unesco-registered main town, Georgetown. Here, there is a mix of posh shopping complexes, traditional Chinese clan centres, artsy boutiques and cafes as well as wonderful food in the likes of Little India.
All this is within an easy drive of main beach re resort Batu Ferringhi, on the island’s north co coast, where regional and international ho holidaymakers mingle.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B in the Holiday Inn Resort on Batu Ferringhi costs from £679pp, including fl flights. See travelbag.co.uk.
Grill n’ chill Goa, India
What is not to like about Goa? A long line of broad, sun-blasted white sands fronting a w west-facing enclave, where the architecture is a m mix of leftover colonial Portuguese and Indian, an and the food also a fusion of both.
Goa is cheap, and things can be a bit disorganised, but there is loads of charm in places such as Panaji and resorts like Calangute