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January 22 2017 Sunday Independent
What’s hot in 2017 – the experts’ top sun destinations Glittering blue waters, cloudless sunny skies, beautiful panoramic views… we all dream about packing up our bags and exploring some of the world’s amazing sandy shores. But with so many choices of locations available, what are some of the best sun destinations to consider travelling to this year? Clodagh Dooley finds out SPAIN “Out of the approximately 1.3 million trips Irish people take to Spain every year, the majority would go to Andalusia in the south,” Cormac Meehan, President of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), tells me. “This would cover everywhere from Seville and Granada to Cadiz and Malaga. Up to recent years, nobody really went to Malaga city, they turned right at the airport and went straight down south. Now, Malaga city has become a huge location for a break away. And while the weather in Spain is fantastic for lying out in, people visit to explore the scenery and taste the exquisite food and wine culture.” Having been to Malaga myself, namely Benalmádena, a town on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, I can certainly agree there is much to explore in Andalusia. Staying at the Sunset Beach Club complex on the seafront, strolls along the beach would often end up in explorations through streets with whitewashed houses and flower pots. Adventurous types would love the journey on the Benalmádena Cable Cars to the Peak of Mount Calamorro, at more than 771 metres altitude – once there, you can hike and discover many spectacular viewpoints of the entire Costa del Sol. Meanwhile, Benalmádena Puerto Marina, among the best ports in the world, is ideal for a day (or night) trip. Visit the aquarium, hire a boat, go scuba diving or stroll through the many quirky shops. Try the Spanish tapas at one of at least 20 little terrace bars, where you can sample fresh fish and other delicacies while soaking up the atmosphere of the port, the luxurious yachts and shimmering Mediterranean. ITALY Flights from Ireland to the Italian tourist regions in 2016 amounted to 98 per week and Alessandra Smith, Press and Communications Executive at the Italian National Tourist Board for UK and Ireland (www.italia.it) believes this may be to do with Italy’s almost 8,000km of glorious coastline. “The sun holiday destinations popular for 2017 will possibly be Sardinia and Sicily, which have seen a steady rise in interest
Benalmádena Puerto Marina. Image credit: Clodagh Dooley
Chris Lee, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Fascinating fish at Sea Life, Benalmádena, Spain. Image Credit: Clodagh Dooley
Sardinia beach, Italy. Image credit: Fototeca Enit
lesser-known, but equally as appealing, attractions. “Some of Le Marche’s attractions include the art city of Urbino, birthplace of Raphael and home of the imposing Palazzo Ducale with its rich collection of paintings; the village of Recanati where Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi was born and lived; and Monti Sibillini with plenty of walking trails and opportunities for hiking. “In Sardinia, if you stay in the northwest of the island, make sure you swim at the stunning La Pelosa beach, located on the Stintino peninsula facing the island of Asinara. The beach and the sea are extraordinary. If you’re staying in Puglia, take an excursion to Alberobello (province of Bari). This little town is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unusual districts of Trulli, the characteristic white-washed conical-roofed houses of the area. Some can now be booked as B&Bs, offering an opportunity to stay in such a traditional building.”
Hua Hin, Thailand
THAILAND Everyone returns saying it’s the With over 60,000 Irish people highlight of their holiday. travelling to Thailand per “I would encourage annum, this is one of people visiting to really Asia’s prime holiday live the Thai life. Get to destinations. Chris Lee, to know a more local kends e e e w o the tw t prices hav d , Tourism Thailand, Thai experience. s r a e “For y get the bes ust 28th an says: “Thailand’s Instead of spending g d , u n n a A a f k h o o e bo ac Me biggest resort islands two weeks on the kends e m e r e k o w a C e s m h been t er 5th,” say en booking, r are Phuket and Koh beach, go and see a b h Decem of ITAA. “W as possible fo Samui. There are, local project or how t r n u ly e o r Presid o do it as ea make sure y e in fact, nine beach the local kids are sure t flights and ry day of th resorts around the living and interact r e e v p E a . n e d li bli ch island of Phuket; it’s with them. It can rt is va e at Du passpo people arriv f-date about the same size of really enhance a o , k t e ou we t with Singapore. holiday and put a new Airpor ssports!” pa “The fastest-growing perspective on life.
✱ TOP TIP ✱
Cormac Meehan, President of Irish Travel Agents Association in the UK market. Puglia too has been one of the up-and-coming destinations of the last few years, thanks partly to the good availability of low-coast flights. Le Marche also has the potential to become an interesting new destination for sun holidays as it offers beautiful locations and an interesting coastline, and is still little known and quite unspoilt. I ask Alessandra about some of Italy’s
beach resort is one called Khao Lak – this was made infamous when the tsunami hit eleven years ago, but now it’s been fully turned around and is proving really popular for visitors. There are stunning beaches, amazing hotels and beautiful islands just off Khao Lak called Similan Islands, which are ideal for diving or snorkelling. Chris says there are plenty of unique activities in Thailand for all ages to experience. “There’s a fantastic elephant experience called Elephant Hills Tented Luxury Experience in Khao Sok, near Khao Lak – there are two luxurious campsites where you might spend two nights and you get a chance to wash and feed elephants.
“Visit a floating market, particularly the Damneon Saduak near Bangkok, where you can buy local crafts and Thai food while seeing the ladies in their boats. It’s a colourful experience. Be brave in terms of where you go, what you do and what you eat. There are many rooftop restaurants in Bangkok, such as Sorocco and Vertigo, but some of the best food is the street food. Try everything because a main part of the whole Thai experience is definitely eating!” Many sun holiday travel experts will be on hand to answer your questions at the Holiday World Show, RDS, 27th-29th January – visit the centre pages to browse the exhibitor listing
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FREE with special guests! FRIDAY 27th JANUARY 2017
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12.30pm Q&A Session with Aer Lingus
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Gary and Paul O’Donovan, Olympic silver medallist rowers.
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Ireland’s Regions Joe Dolan, President of the Irish Hotels Federation and Managing Director of Bush Hotel; Adrian Cummins, CEO of The Restaurant Association of Ireland; Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO of The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation.
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