INSPIRATION • January 2022

Insider tips from our destination managers

Whether you’re standing atop New York’s famed Rockefeller Center, running the Caribbean’s warm sands through your toes or dining out on juicy kofta in Greece, there’s little doubt that the experience will be memorable. That’s why we’re handing the mic to three destination managers who know all there is to know about these three rock-star routes...

Greece
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Greece

As told by: Susan Gellatley
Describe your region in three words
Gods, gastronomy, gloriousness.
Favourite hotels currently in your region?
Ikos Aria – try the Deluxe collection rooms for something extra special. Or the Iconic Santorini for the most incredible attention to detail in a small boutique cave hotel. Head to Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, in Corfu for beachfront luxury at its best.
Best time to visit?
Spring for couples and summer/autumn for families.
What Greek destination should be top of our travel bucket list?
Zakynthos (pictured). It’s rebranding itself as Greece’s greenest island and ditching its previous party-lover reputation. Much of the south coast is now a nature reserve, where endangered loggerhead turtles hatch in the sand, and there are countless coves in beautiful emerald waters you can explore by boat. The Blue Caves and Shipwreck Beach are two major attractions, while the interior mountains make for the best hikes.
What should we look out for in 2022?
New hotel openings! Dreams Corfu Resort and Spa, AluaSoul Zakynthos, Lesante Cape Resort and Villas and Domes Aulūs Zante are set to stun. There are also up-and-coming, emerging destinations, such as Paros and the Mani Peninsula to keep an eye on.

Book your dream holiday to Greece

New York
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New York

As told by: Nicole Lawson
Describe your region in three words
Iconic, diverse, unforgettable.
Favourite hotels currently in your region?
There are so many. However, I would have to pick the famous Lotte New York Palace – a historic landmark in the centre of midtown Manhattan. The Hotel Indigo Lower East Side and Equinox Hotel New York are other favourites of mine. Indigo is placed in a fabulous, artistic neighbourhood with amazing city views. Equinox is just in a league of its own.
Best time to visit?
December! New York has so much energy and buzz in the festive period. The city is covered in Christmas lights and decorations. It’s magic. Seeing the exceptional Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a must-do, as well as ice-skating in Central Park… just like the movies.
Top tip for those booking New York?
Most people book three or four days, but I recommend you stay longer, as there’s so much to see and do. And, if your annual leave allows, I would recommend you book a twin centre trip using the ‘create custom trip’ option on our website. Thanks to this and the easy availability of domestic flights from JFK and Newark airports, you can fly to almost anywhere after a few days in NYC. For me, personally, it’d be the south, New Orleans or Nashville, where we have direct flights back to London Heathrow.
What should we look out for in 2022?
Since the pandemic, the city has introduced so many new and exciting experiences, including Summit One Vanderbilt – NYC’s newest observation deck with glass floor ledges (pictured) – plus City Climb at Edge, which is the highest open-air building ascent in the world, and Pier 55 on the Hudson River. A few new hotels are also opening, too – watch this space!

Book an unforgettable city break to New York

Caribbean
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The Caribbean

As told by: Mark Tanner
Describe your region in three words
Leave. Feeling. Pampered.
Favourite hotels currently in your region?
BodyHoliday in St Lucia, as it has a daily spa treatment that’s included in the rates. Then Coconut Court in Barbados for its prime location, great service and glorious beach. Or, if you are really in need of an escape from reality, Carlisle Bay in Antigua (pictured).
Best time to visit?
January to April – shake off those New Year blues.
What Caribbean destination should be top of our travel bucket list?
Tough choice but I would go for Grenada. It was voted the Culinary Capital of the World in 2021 by the World Food Travel Association and is also home to one of my team’s all-time favourite beaches, Grand Anse.
What should we look out for in 2022?
With Barbados becoming an independent nation back in November, expect some elaborate partying to continue throughout 2022. Plus, don’t forget the England cricket team’s tour of the West Indies in January and March, which is taking place across Barbados, Antigua and Grenada.

Book your relaxing Caribbean getaway

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This article has been tagged Destination, Travel Tips