It’s a New Year and as you look ahead to where to go on your spring / summer / winter vacation, you might be tired of the usual tourist hotspots and fancy somewhere a bit different; but the only problem is, you don’t have a clue where to start!
Well never fear; us girls at FemaleFirst anticipated your indecision and have come up with an A - Z (yes, that’s 25 in total!) different places for you to go and ’discover’ in 2009. What could be better - unless of course you spent all your cash getting drunk over the festive period then it could just be a tent in your back garden!
In the heart of Eastern Europe, Poland has become a hidden hotspot for cosmopolitan travellers, despite its tragic associations to WWII. Warsaw, the capital of Poland, has become increasingly popular for history fanatics due to the vast amount of museums the city offers. Although many buildings were destroyed during the war, Poland offers a glimpse through the eyes of a growing city.
For those who don’t care for city adventures, the southern mountainous regions are great for hiking, and skiing resorts are on the rise.
Not the first country that springs to mind for the family vacation, but certainly far from dull. Located in the Middle East, the country is near enough the Equator to be a heated holiday, and the modernised capital city of Doha holds 80% of the country’s population, making it ideal for those who love to keep busy. Doha has erected a number of Vegas-style hotels in recent years especially for tourists.
Museums and galleries focusing on their thriving pearl industry should make for an interesting visit. Stunning beaches accommodate for the sunsoakers, but for those with a bit more adventure inside of them, desert safaris are an unmissable excursion.
Famous for its nightlife and casinos, “The Biggest Little City in The World†in Nevada, United States, often falls short to its sister city Las Vegas; but is still a great attraction in its own right.
A more adult-orientated break, the city provides an all round American experience with bowling alleys galore and museums to keep you busy until the evening kicks in.
Known to many as the most beautiful island in the Caribbean, St. Barts is popular to those with a more disposable income due to its gorgeous white beaches and picturesque views. With it being a small island, a beach lies untouched around every corner, each with its own distinctive name and view.
Despite the obvious lounging around to be done in such a destination, water sports, museums, cruises, submarine trips and fishing are some of the facilities available at most resorts; impressive for such a small island.
The African republic of Tanzania holds some of the greatest characteristics for a great family holiday. With a warm climate and a large amount of exotic animals which inhabit there, Tanzania provides national parks and conservation zoos to not only protect these animals but for tourists to see them as well. Varied safaris remain popular with backpackers and families alike who wish to investigate the wilderness, in a jeep, or even in a tent.
Home to the highest peak in Africa at 15,100 ft, Kilimanjaro is an inactive stratovolcano in the North of Tanzania which can be walked up for stunning dramatic views over the surrounding plains.
By Karen Asbury