Picking 2011 holiday destinations

For a peaceful and serene experience, try out Alghero in Sardinia. As open and stunning a coastline as could find anywhere in the Mediterranean, but this Italian island has never experienced the mass tourism and development typical of the mainland. Though the nightlife isn’t wild, Alghero has a decent number of bars and restaurants on […]

For a peaceful and serene experience, try out Alghero in Sardinia. As open and stunning a coastline as could find anywhere in the Mediterranean, but this Italian island has never experienced the mass tourism and development typical of the mainland. Though the nightlife isn’t wild, Alghero has a decent number of bars and restaurants on its cobbled streets, and its natural beauty on both land and at sea makes it the perfect place for holiday sports, like diving, sailing, trekking and cycling.

To enjoy great structural and architectural pieces explore Split, Croatia. Croatia’s popularity grows year on year, and its second largest city emerged from a palace built by Roman Emperor Diocletian, after he decided to retire and found no rest homes to meet his impeccable standards. These days the palace walls surround pavement cafés, cosy bars, quaint shops and lively markets, as well as many of the city’s historical and cultural monuments.

Art and culture enthusiasts should head for Tallin, Estonia as it promises good times for Estonians this year with the celebration of her 20th anniversary since their independence from Soviet rule as well as the fact that the Estonian capital is European Capital of Culture 2011. Celebrations include daily art, music, literature and cultural exhibitions, festivals and performances, as well as a different large festival every month. It has a great nightlife to boot – many of the Old Town pubs stay open until the last customer leaves.

To add some historical spice to your holiday Antalya, Turkey is where to go. If you love a good history lesson in a holiday then Turkey is jam-packed full of it – particularly Antalya, known as the ‘Turkish Riviera’ because of its archaeological and natural beauties. Along with its charming winding streets, traditional architecture, stunning marina and striking beach, it’s within easy reach of the best cultural attractions in the country – the ruins of Pamphylia and the ancient theatres at Side and Aspendos.

For a big and luxurious bang in your holiday, Bangkok, Thailand is the right choice. Some associate the Thai capital with a dirty-mattress, bunk-beds-in-a-box style of accommodation, but unless you’re backpacking on a shoestring there’s no reason you can’t live it up in style. There’s an abundance of 5-star hotels where you’ll be pampered to within an inch of your life, for a fraction of what that standard would cost in most places. The same goes for the best of the local cuisine and the most glamorous bars for a cocktail.

For a bit of everything in your travel try out Albufeira, Algarve. A small fishing village until the 1960s, it’s got everything covered these days. There are glorious beaches, picturesque scenery, top cuisine, historic ruins, good golf courses, and of course a vibrant night life. If you’re a party animal head to the Areias de São João area for the ‘strip’, or for a more relaxed scene stick to the Old Town, where you’ll still find bars open until 4am.

If exotic and memorable night life is what you are looking out for, there is no better place to be than Benidorm, Spain.

If you have never been then don’t be put off by any bad connotations you think its Brits Abroad reputation implies – there’s a good reason we flock there in the summer. If your idea of a holiday is soaking up the sun by day and letting your hair down at night then this spot on the Costa Blanca coastline is just the ticket, with two great beaches, over a thousand restaurants and more than thirty discos.

For that romantic break, the destination for many has always France. This time around rather than stick to the heart of Paris occupying oneself with fashion go further into the sites that besiege the city. A cliché perhaps, but clichés are clichés for a reason and there’s little comparable to the French capital in the romance stakes. Perhaps it’s the number of high-standard candlelit restaurants or the way aesthetically pleasing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre are lit up at night, or maybe it’s just the accent, but something about Paris makes it feel like Valentine’s every day.