Easter Holidays
With Easter just a month away, it's time to get planning a holiday. You don't just want to follow the crowds though, do you? You want somewhere off the beaten track, somewhere different, somewhere with a wow factor? Thought so. Here are five destinations that promise to be hot this year.
Less than four hours away
Marrakech is so last week – and we've all got the rugs/lamps/slippers to prove it. Don't dismiss Morocco for an Easter break though because, apart from the fact that it's a fascinating country, it's one of the few places close to home almost guaranteed to be warm at this time of year. Instead of Marrakech, consider the ancient city of Fes (also known as Fez). Not as hot as Marrakech, it's not as humid either, making sightseeing and shopping trips in the frenetic yet fascinating alleyways of the medina more pleasant. Ryanair started flying there last year but appears to have axed the route, at least temporarily. Royal Air Maroc (www.royalairmaroc.com) flies direct from London Heathrow, however, with return fares from £192. Best of Morocco (www.morocco-travel.com) has 3 nights in a traditional Moorish riad just outside the old city walls for £515pp, including flights, over the Easter weekend.
For something more relaxed, try the Azores, 9 volcanic islands jutting out of the Atlantic Ocean, boasting a year-round sub-tropical climate, so it should be pleasant in March and April. Sao Miguel, the largest of the islands, will become much more accessible following the launch of a second weekly flight from Gatwick in May — until then, there's a chance you'll have the place largely to yourselves. Attractions include whale and dolphin watching, swimming with dolphins, off-road safaris, boat trips, mountain climbing, hiking and cycling. Sunvil Discovery (www.sunvil.co.uk) has a 7-night whale and dolphin watching holiday in April from £2,944 for a family of 4, including flights, accommodation with breakfast and transfers.
Less than 6 hours away
Looking to just fly-and-flop? Be one of the first to lie on the bone-white beaches of the Cape Verde, a cluster of tiny islands off the west coast of Africa, which are already being dubbed ‘the new Caribbean'. Choose from the lunar-like landscape of Sal or the might peaks and coconut plantations of Boavista. Both offer almost deserted sandy beaches and a unique blend of African, Brazilian and Portuguese flavours.
The islands don't yet offer the sort of luxury found in the Caribbean but, with new direct flights from London Gatwick it takes only five hours to get there and packages are much cheaper. Thomson Holidays (www.thomson.co.uk) has 7-nights bed and breakfast in a two-star hotel in Sal for £698pp over Easter.
Less than 8 hours away
Oman is how Dubai used to be before all the footballers and their WAGS descended on the tiny emirate, turning it into a playground in the desert for the rich and tasteless. Not that Oman is totally undeveloped; some pretty swish five-star hotels now grace its golden beaches, but this land of Sinbad the Sailor is still steeped in ancient traditions. The capital, Muscat, has lots of sightseeing potential with its preserved old town and history souk, a couple of museums, a palace and a fort. Beyond is the desert and mountains. Direct flights with Oman Air from London Gatwick to Muscat are available through consolidators like Airline Network (www.airline-network.co.uk) from £282. Kuoni (www.kuoni.co.uk) has 5-night packages with breakfast at the Muscat Intercontinental from £1,093pp including flights and transfers over Easter.
A bit further…
Our short-lived love affair with Bollywood might be over (for the time being) but the availability of more flights to India from Virgin Atlantic and Jet Airways means that this is a country that is going to be hot for a long time to come. Mini breaks to Delhi are just about feasible; after all, it's only as far as Miami. See the Red Fort (closed on Mondays) and ride a rickshaw along the twisting lanes and crowded bazaars of the old city. Go for longer and see the two other cities that make up the Golden Triangle: Agra and the Taj Mahal and the Pink City of Jaipur. Somak (www.somak.co.uk) has 3-night packages to Delhi from £955pp in April; a 7-day Golden Triangle tour costs from £1,082pp. For the cheapest flights, consider one-stop services with European airlines like KLM and Austrian Airlines, which start at £315 return; faster, non-stop flights cost about £500.
Bookmark this article
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 