Plastic Free St Ives

Travel: Welcome back to some of the world’s most wonderful places

by Jo and Paul Mooney of Stunning Escapes

There’s a chill in the air here, as autumn arrives – so it’s fantastic that more of the world is now opening up for travellers!

The USA will start accepting visitors in November, Australia is tentatively looking at the end of the year to open borders – and for our clients, the news that the Maldives and Sri Lanka are finally off the red list was met with jubilation. For more than a year, the Maldives has been our top-selling destination, although the USA is snapping at its heels! It seems many of you have been dreaming of those white sandy beaches, spectacular reefs, turquoise seas and glorious sunsets. However, with Walt Disney World celebrating its 50th anniversary, the children – and the young at heart – may prefer Florida!

Another exciting destination opening its borders is Mauritius. For us, this is long-awaited news, as we love its friendly people, paradise setting, activities for all to enjoy, and some of the best food in the world. We’ve converted many of our clients to this stunning island, and we’re over the moon to be able to send them back there.

Since the government review of the much-loathed traffic light system, the demand for travel has skyrocketed. We enjoyed our busiest month in over four years in September, fuelled by families and couples eager to chase some autumn sunshine. There are, of course, still protocols to follow, and every destination has a different approach, but it’s certainly much more straightforward to travel now.

Here are some suggestions to inspire you in the next few months:

Caribbean: Many Caribbean islands are now open for business and doing all they can to ensure you can have that relaxed rum-punch-in-hand experience! St Lucia has excelled during the pandemic in its response to travellers. We’ve sent many clients to this captivating tropical island with lush rainforests, soaring volcanic peaks and mesmerising waterfalls. You can also enjoy zip lining over the rainforest – and a Segway tour to bathe in warm spa pools is a personal favourite. You must also try the chocolate!

Indian Ocean: Mauritius and the Maldives offer fantastic temperatures. Both sometimes see liquid sunshine, but Mauritius is often fine until the end of December, and late December to March is absolute peak time to visit the Maldives and marvel at the wildlife in the crystal-clear sea.

Christmas Markets: How we’ve missed these atmospheric markets! The best way to enjoy them is on board a small ship river cruise that effortlessly takes you to multiple markets and offers luxury boutique-style accommodation and superb meals. It’s one of the most relaxing and rewarding ways to travel.

Canada: So many of you have missed the exhilaration of your ski holiday. How about experiencing some of the best slopes in the world? Canada has re-opened its borders and this year, it rivals many European ski destinations for good value, with special offers and excellent prices on flights to entice us back.

If you would like to discuss your travel plans with us, please get in touch – we’re always happy to help!

Best wishes Paul and Jo x

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