Here's to THE JOY OF travel
Long haul or closer to home? Check In’s Neil Simpson has plenty of amazing holidays to consider
DOES anyone look forward to long flights as much as me? I genuinely love the whole first hour, settling down with a drink in a plastic cup and a packet of pretzels the size of a postage stamp.
I love the next stretch, the chicken or beef bit where you try to spread a pat of frozen butter on an oddly weightless, white-bread roll.
I love the movies, the mid-flight cup of tea with the over-priced shortbread bought in the terminal and stored in the overhead locker for emergencies.
I don’t even mind if I can’t sleep. Because I’ll daydream about the place I’m flying to.
That’s why I love it all. Because to me, a long flight means I’m going on a real holiday. Which is what this issue of Check In is all about.
FABULOUS
We’re focused on fabulous breaks in far-flung destinations. But don’t worry if you don’t quite share my love of long flights. We’ve also found plenty of fabulous breaks closer to home.
On the page opposite, we kick off with three fantastic places to relax. There’s a new hotel in the Maldives for health-conscious holidaymakers. There’s inspiration on St Lucia, one of my favourite Caribbean islands – volcanos and chocolate being two of my favourite things. Or how about visiting the Galápagos Islands – a place unlike anywhere else on earth?
Another trip I can heartily recommend is on page 10. Ed Sanderson shares the magic of a fantastic American fly-drive, taking in the golden triangle of Los Angeles, Palm Springs – another favourite place –and Las Vegas.
Booking can be easier than you expect. Holiday companies such as American Sky, Kuoni, Trailfinders and more have self-drive specialists to tailor the perfect trip.
I also pass many a happy hour searching the Holiday Types page at ba.com/ holidays. The Fly-Drive section is a joy. Though I’m just as keen on the City Breaks, Lakes & Mountains and All-Inclusive options.
Another tip is to click on the airline’s Travel Guides. They suggest what to eat, what to see and where to stay from the Seychelles to South America.
THRILLING
Talking of South America, don’t miss our special report on page 7.
Years ago, I decided Lima was one of the most stylish, under-the-radar capital cities I’d ever visited. I’m thrilled to discover our writer Peter Davenport enjoyed it just as much this year.
He also tips the surf town of Mancora as Peru’s best-kept secret. So it’s on my wish-list for a future visit. And he’s got unbeatable suggestions for touring Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Of course, you can still enjoy a fabulous holiday closer to home. That’s why companies such as Great Rail Journeys and Titan Travel are so important. With Great Rail, you don’t just get the chance to take a small group, no-fly holiday from London. You also have a tour manager with you from start to finish.
That’s also part of the package with Titan Travel’s tours. I’ve always been impressed by the itineraries on its fully escorted holidays – and I can’t stop thinking about the one to the USA, featured on pages 4-5.
It’s the Southern Sights and Sounds tour taking in New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville – three cities that
I’ve always wanted to see.
EXOTIC
Or why not consider Morocco? It’s a sunny, genuinely exotic spot, but it’s little more than three and a half hours from London. Turn to page 11 to see how exciting the country can be. I defy anyone to visit Casablanca, Fez or Marrakesh without feeling they’re on an old movie set. Stay in a boutique riad or a beachside resort for one of the best holidays of the year. Our final suggestions are holidays that don’t involve flights at all. Great British newcomer Ambassador Cruise Line has voyages leaving from no fewer than seven UK ports this year, including Liverpool, Newcastle and Belfast. Its British Isles Discovery cruise is hugely tempting, taking in ports from the Channel to the Orkney Islands. Or how about the Grand Canada, Greenland & Iceland itinerary? The Norwegian Fjords and Northern Lights? The West Indies and Dutch Antilles? Better still, with Ambassador Cruise Line you can look ahead. As you’ll see on pages 8-9, it’s already booking for 2023 and 2024. Time to update my bucket list and my calendar.