Raise a glass in Tuscany
selection of Heathrow, Gatwick and even London City Airport. WHY GO THERE: Britain’s favourite Spanish holiday islands s need little introduction n here. Suffice to say that, t, for many years, the no-frills airlines and charter carriers had a strangehold on flights to Menorca and Mallorca.
The return of BA means that holidaymakers can now travel in a bit more style. From £66 one-way, britishairways.com. In May, a new airline arrives on these shores. Air Corsica is, as its name suggests, based in the SPEND Good Friday in a converted 16th century farmhouse near Florence with home-produced p wine on tap. C Citalia is offering a fiven night break at the Borgo di M Montereggi & Il Casale a apartments for or £382 per p person, a saving ng of up to M Mediterranean – and up to now it has flown mainly lo local French and Italian routes.
Now, however, it is reaching out to the UK. Its full se service means your luggage and an on-board snack, co come free of charge. Flights will depart from St Stansted to the island’s Ajaccio, Bastia and Figari. WHY W GO THERE: Corsica has long been a M Mediterranean island with a touch of distinction. It is not a place of mass market tourism and big resorts. Inland it is rugged and wild, its towns and villages are a stylish synthesis of France and Italy, and its coastline is pristine, with crystal clear waters. And it thinks Brits should visit more, hence the new flights. From £49 one-way, aircorsica.com. This month sees the introduction of the longest non-stop flight from the UK, when Australian airline £203 on a room-only basis, and the owners make their own olive oil on the site too. To book the trip, which flies out of Luton on March 27, call 01293 831 970 or go to citalia.com. Qantas introduces its formidable 17-hour marathon from London to Perth.
It’s going to run every day, and it will be the first flight between Europe and Australia that doesn’t require refuelling en route.
Book it – then load up with Netflix and wear compression socks. WHY GO THERE: Perth is the main city for Western Australia and it is shedding its reputation as something of a hick town, with a range of new cocktail bars and smart hotels.
It also has more sunshine than any other Aussie state capital and a fine array of beaches, as well as the Margaret River wine region.
Beyond the city, tourism becomes a real adventure – with ancient forests, desert camping, aboriginal encounters and exploring the extraordinary beehive-like rock formations of the Bungle Bungles. From £691 one-way, qantas.com. IS it worth going skiing in April after Easter? Will the snow still be there? ABSOLUTELY. It can be the best time to go. However, we advise that you aim high even though this season has been the best for snow in almost half a century.
Slopes lower down can melt fast. But higher resorts such as Tignes, Val Thorens and Val d’Isere in France stay open until the first week of May. And last year – when the snow had been awful all season – they were the best weeks. Long days, lots of sun and good snow cover.
Iglu Ski has a week in Meribel, with access to Val Thorens, staying at Chalet Cervin for £629, including Gatwick flights. For details go to igluski.com or call 0203 811 6381. THIS card-sized multi-tool has much more to offer than its size suggests. The knife can cut through food, rope or bits of wood. Other features include string, a tin opener, scraper, a tiny ruler and bottle opener for that beer on the beach. But do not get caught with it in your wallet at the airport security gate.