Beat the rush: 50 amazing holidays you should book before January

The art of travel is not just about knowing where to go and when, it is also about knowing when to book. And for many holidays, the answer is now. Every year, just after Christmas there is a spectacular surge in the number of people researching and booking their holidays for the next year.

The travel industry is well used to it and each January gears up for the demand. By contrast, however November and the first weeks of December are the quietest time of all. People are focused on the build up to the festive season and travel agents and tour operators are left drumming their fingers. 

So, assuming you are able to commit, you would do well to forget about stirring the Christmas pudding mix for a while and set aside some time to thinking about planning your holidays for next year, and in some cases beyond.

Not only are you likely to be able to secure a better price, but you will have the most flexibility, the best choice of rooms, seats, cabins or departure dates. And you will also find that consultants have more time and hopefully more inclination to help you find exactly what you want.  In short, you will get a much better holiday for a much better price.

To help you plan, we’ve picked out 50 examples of holidays that you would do well to book much sooner rather than later. Of course, there are some exceptions. If you like to travel off peak to places where there are lots of flights and plenty of accommodation, you will do well to wait. Otherwise, act now to beat the rush.

Cruises

Opinion varies among expert cruisers about how do get the best deals and cabins. But much depends on what sort of cruise you want to book. The best cabins on those with very limited availability or at peak times can sell out a long time in advance, especially in places like Antarctica and Galapagos. Prices below are per person, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights and transfers unless otherwise stated. All meals are included onboard cruises.

1. Book blooming early

For about eight weeks from mid-March to mid-May the Keukenhof gardens in Lisse, in northern Holland put on Europe’s most dazzling flower show. Over six million tulip, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs all bloom at once, and the world’s amateur gardeners and flower-lovers all want a piece of it. Tours are already booking up, especially itineraries which are combined with  tour with time in Amsterdam and Antwerp. Brightwater offers limited cabins on river cruiser, MS Gérard Schmitter with bulb field excursion. 

From £1,295 for a four-night Dutch Bulbfield Cruise departing April 14, 2019 in a twin-berth cabin (brightwaterholidays.com)

2. Cabin fever

The Transatlantic crossing to New York ending in the glorious view of Manhattan and the statue of Liberty is one of the most sought after of all cruises. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, makes this iconic journey regularly, year round. If you aren’t fussy about the departure date, direction of cruise or accommodation you can always find a space - but this is not the case if you want a higher, ocean-facing cabin on the westbound leg. These are already disappearing fast for 2019 dates.

From £1,179  for a westbound Transatlantic Crossing departing Southampton on April 28, 2019 in an oceanview stateroom (cunard.co.uk)

3. D-Day anniversary

June 6, 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in 1944, when over 150,000 Allied soldiers disembarked on the Normandy beaches, the launch of Operation of Overlord. Tight security and limited hotel space means visiting by land will be difficult in June, but there’s still some availability on cruiser, MS Marco Polo’s commemorative itinerary which takes in the beaches, plus Antwerp, Honfleur and Rouen, and is accompanied by a WWII historian.

From £839 for an inside cabin on a six-night 75th D-Day Anniversary Cruise departs Portsmouth departing June 2, 2019 (cruiseandmaritime.com)

4. Call of the high C’s 

It may be a year away, but autumn is the most popular season for themed cruises in the Mediterranean and they sell quickly. Three categories of cabin are already booked out for next October’s departure on the 382-berth Silversea’s Silver Shadow which features evening operatic performances by members of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala. Ports of call include the Greek islands of Mykonos, Patmos and Rhodes, plus ports in Turkey, Cyprus and Israel.

From £5,130 for an 11-day Mediterranean Cruise departing Piraeus on October 22 in a vista suite excluding flights and transfers (silversea.com)

5. Duoro demand 

Classic cruises, particularly the more compact, week-long itineraries on Europe’s great rivers, sell like hot cakes for departures in peak months. Whether you fancy the Rhine, the Danube, the Rhone or the Douro opportunities to book the best boats for spring and summer departures are dwindling. Scenic’s eight-day Douro cruise on Scenic Azure, taking in Porto and rural landscapes of northern Portugal, is already sold out from April to September, so act now to secure options for later in the year.

From £3,295 in a river view suite on the Delightful Douro cruise departing October 3 (£2,245 in standard suites departing October 30) (scenic.co.uk)

6. Single-minded

Single cabins on cruise ships are thin on the ground and you need to be quick out of the blocks to book them. P&O has a few which are specifically designed for solos on seven of its eight ships. Of these, the newly-refurbished Arcadia, a mid-size, adult-only ship has a small number of inside and balcony single cabins on its sundeck and you need to act now to get one.

From £4,478 in a single balcony cabin on a 28-night Madeira, Caribbean and Azores cruise, calling at Barbados, Grenada and St Kitts, departing Southampton October 29, 2019 (pocruises.com)

7. Christmas cruising

More than a year in advance some categories of cabin for iconic river cruises in winter sun destinations are already sold out for Christmas and New Year 2019. For example, all junior suites available on Viking River Cruises Christmas and New Year itineraries on the Mekong river from Hanoi, Vietnam to Phnon Penh in Cambodia (including the temples of Siem Reap) have been sold. However, some less luxurious cabins are still available.

From £5,825 in a standard cabin on a 15-day Magnificent Mekong cruise departing December 23 or 27, 2019 (vikingrivercruises.co.uk)

8. Early-bird deals

For more general cruise itineraries, November and December are generally quiet months for bookings so this is the time when river and ocean cruise operators promote their best-value early booking deals. These typically include money-off savings or “value added” elements including complimentary airline and cabin upgrades, hotel stays or excursions, with deals running on a time-limited basis.

From £3,095 for a 13-day Assam & the Mighty Brahmaputra  rail and cruise tour in India departing September 26, 2019. Includes a discount of £200 for bookings before December 26 (use code IBRNEW). Excludes flights and transfers (greatrail.com)

9. Snow bound

Antarctica’s short season - November to March, and the small size of the expedition ships (only 100 people are allowed to disembark onto the region’s shore at a time) means it is essential to book a year or more in advance for a decent choice of departure and cabin type. Discover the World is taking bookings on its 88-berth ice-breaker, Ushuaia, up to March 2020, for example.

From £4,492 for a  ten-day Antarctic cruise on M/V Ushuaia, excluding flights and transfers (discover-the-world.co.uk)

10. Galapagos: 2020 vision

You are only likely to visit the Galapagos once in a lifetime, so it’s worth making sure you are on one of the smaller boats which cruise the islands - you have a much more individual and personal experience. Not surprisingly they sell out a long time in advance, especially for Easter or Christmas departures.

One of the most popular is the 14-berth motor-schooner The Beagle which is currently taking bookings for 2020, but other top picks include the 18-berth 1920s-style cruiser, Grace and the elegant tall ship, Mary Anne, accommodating up to 16 passengers.

From £3,225 (year round price) for an eight-day cruise on The Beagle, excluding flights and US $100 park tax (galapagosspecialists.co.uk)

Prime properties

Demand for high-quality, decent-sized houses, villas, and chateaux in  excellent locations at peak times is extraordinarily strong, especially those big enough to sleep more than one family. Nearly all will be gone by January, and in some cases you need to forget about 2019 and look to 2020.

Prices quoted below are for one week, rental-only unless stated otherwise.

11. Warwickshire Castle

The Landmark Trust won the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2013 for its adaptation of the ruins of Astley Castle, a 13th-century manor house, and is one of its most popular properties.The accommodation includes four bedrooms, a woodburning stove and moated grounds and is already fully-booked until 2020.

£2,484 for four nights from August 3, 2020 (landmarktrust.org.uk)

12. Georgian beach house

Close to the shingle beach and stylish shops of Southwold, South Green House, sleeping 12, suits groups and families who want a roomy base with easy access to restaurants and pubs. It has almost sold for peak weeks in 2019, but, if you’re fast off the mark, the Whitsun half term is still available and families with pre-school children or adult groups have a better choice of dates in June and September.

£4,275 (plus £35 booking fee) from May 24, 2019 (suffolk-secrets.co.uk)

13. Captain’s House, Cornwall

Close to Mounts Bay beach, with views over the sea towards St Michael’s Mount, and a secure walled garden, the Captain’s House in Marazion near Penzance, sleeps up to ten people in five bedrooms. August is completely booked, but there’s still time to bag a July week or a stay at Whitsun half term. 

£3,628 from July 19, 2019 (ruralretreats.co.uk)

14. Lakeside hideaway in Cumbria

A private jetty with boat mooring is a key reason why The Osprey, a family house sleeping four on the shores of Lake Windermere, is in such strong demand. But there are a handful of peak weeks still available for 2019 for anyone looking for  Swallows and Amazon-style holiday overlooking the lake. 

£4,095 from August 2, 2019 (uniquehomestays.com)

15. Seaside rectory in Wales

A stone’s throw from the long stretch of golden sand at Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula, The Old Rectory is among the most sought-after properties in the National Trust’s holiday cottage portfolio. Although almost entirely booked for next year, there’s a lone week in August still up for grabs, and a choice of peak months in 2020 (bookings taken until September 2020).  It sleeps seven people, in four bedrooms, and has cosy interiors with outdoor sitting area and garden. 

£3,467 from August 8, 2019 (nationaltrust.org.uk)

16. Umbrian farmhouse

Stylishly renovated, rustic hideaways in popular Italian regions are always best-sellers. Villa Tesoro in Umbria is a prime example. Sleeping eight adults and four children, this recently-refurbished, sixteenth-century farmhouse has fenced swimming pool and views over an unspoilt valley. An indoor soft-play area for small children is a particular USP.

€8,625 from August 10, 2019 (scottwilliams.co.uk)

17. Good value retreat in Menorca

Sa Tanca near Cala Morell is one of Vintage Travel’s most popular villas. Sleeping six, with a grassy, landscaped garden and sea views. It’s already booked out from May to the end of September, but has a couple of July weeks still available.

£1,752 from July 5, 2019 (vintagetravel.co.uk)

18. Chateau in the Loire

Perfect for big groups, French chateaux offer both space and sense of occasion, as well as some fascinating history. The 17th-century Chateau Le Brun in the Loire sleeps 12 in six bedrooms  and is set in a 52-acre park. It has a large heated pool and beamed living rooms filled with striking arworks. A handful of summer weeks are still available.. 

£4,084 from August 24, 2019 (oliverstravels.com)

19. Beach house in Corsica

Corsica’s largely undeveloped coastline means that there is a shortage of accommodation with easy access to its powder-sand beaches. Pinarello Beach House on the east coast is a sought-after exception. Sleeping six (including a handy, separate ensuite annex for two), it has its own pool a shady, shoreline garden and is simply furnished and decorated in cool blues and terracottas. Availability in peak weeks is dwindling fast.

£1,333 per person from August 25, 2019, based on six sharing, including flights and car hire (simpsontravel.com)

20. Family villa in Corfu

Holiday houses in the fashionable, north-eastern corner of Corfu fill early with repeat bookings year on year. Already the pickings here are becoming either eye-poppingly priced or thin on the ground. Petrino is a stone-built house sleeping six within a five-minute walk of St Stephano’s shops, harbour and beach, with private pool, large sun-terrace and views of the bay. The Easter holidays and early summer months are heavily booked and the window of opportunity in August is beginning to vanish. 

£4,935, starting August 26, 2019 (cvvillas.com)

2019 peak weeks

The biggest contingent of bookers come January will be families looking for holidays during the school vacations. If you are in that camp, don’t wait any longer, act now. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights and transfers for a week unless otherwise stated.

21. Flights to Europe

Airfares can go up as well as down according to demand, but for peak dates they rarely drop. So getting as soon soon after bookings open can save a fortune. EasyJet (easyjet.com) opened bookings for its flights until September 2019 a few weeks ago. And this month, its next booking window open for travel between September 2 and October 27, 2019 (which includes Michaelmas half term). Jet2 (jet2.com) which operates to Med destinations from eight UK airports, has also opened bookings for summer 2019 while Ryanair’s current booking window also extends until October 2019. 

22. Florida at Easter

Easter is one of the best times for a family trip to the Florida theme parks and packages for this region are available nearly two years in advance). For best choice of hotel and departure plan ahead to 2020, as most family-favourite hotels are already sold out for 2019. A rare exception is the three-star Rosen Inn International in Orlando, conveniently located for the parks, with availability in rooms for up to five people.

From £1,094, for 14-nights at Rosen Inn International, based on a family of four sharing, room only, departing April 8, 2019 (thomascook.com)

23. Easter sunshine in Tenerife

Tenerife’s sunny south coast is a favourite destination for families looking for an upmarket stay in accommodation like the five-star suite-hotel Villa Maria which has spacious villa-style rooms and child-friendly vibe. Christmas and February half-term are sold out, but a handful of larger, three-bedroom villas, with private pools, are still available during the Easter school holidays. 

From £1,534 per person, based on six people sharing a villa with car hire, departing April 9, 2019 (cachet-travel.co.uk)

24. Whitsun half term in Cyprus

Cyprus is a good bet for reliable balmy spring sunshine at May half term: temperatures peak at around 24C with ten hours of sunshine. The five-star Almyra Hotel on the seafront in Paphos is one of Sunvil’s best selling hotels and rooms here are already filling for this peak week. Facilities include a kid’s club and creche, playgroom and family rooms plus watersports and landscaped gardens. Nearby bars and nightlife will suit older children.

From £1,038, half board, based on two interconnecting rooms, departing May 22, 2019 (sunvil.co.uk)

25. Channel crossing in summer peak

If you’re planning to take your car abroad in July and August, and know your travel dates for 2019, you’ll get book by far the best choice of crossing times and lowest fares if you book now. Day-time, weekend departures on the Dover to Calais crossings and longer, overnight southbound crossings from Portsmouth to St Malo (which are currently at 90 per cent capacity for some peak Thursday and Friday crossings) are first to fill. Eurotunnel opens its summer booking soon.

From £118 Dover-Calais return for a car plus a family of four (two adults and two children under 15 years) in August  2019 (ferry.dfdsseaways.co.uk)

26. Flotilla sailing in the Greek Islands

The months either side of the school holidays are peak period for flotilla sailing holidays in Greece. Specialist operator,  Sailing Holidays says its most popular Saronic Island flotilla is already fully booked from May to mid-June and throughout September and October. However, July and August are also filling and choice will be very limited by Christmas.

£1,675 (£1,560 for under 18s) for a 14- night Saronic Island-hopping Flotilla based on a hire of a Beneteau 331 yacht, departing August 4, 2019 (sailingholidays.com)

27. Summer stays in US National Parks

The national parks of the Western US attract huge numbers of visitors particularly in the summer months  - the Grand Canyon alone draws in over six million a year. Visiting for the day is not a problem, but if you want to stay overnight there is only very limited accommodation inside the parks and you need to think about booking it now. Campsites for tents and motorhomes and and rooms in park lodges generally sell out for stays from April to September (see nps.gov).

From £2,099 for an eight-night Grand Circle fly-drive holiday, including car hire, National Parks pass and accommodation. Excludes flights (trailfinders.com)

28. Overnight sailings to northern Spain

Some of the peak Spanish sailings (from Portsmouth to Santander and Portsmouth to Bilbao) on Brittany Ferries ship, Cap Finistère, are already 75 per cent sold and are expected to sell out by Christmas. The ship offers limited cabin space compared to vehicle capacity so overnight accommodation is snapped up quickly. Popular southbound sailings depart to Bilbao on Wednesday and Sunday, and to Santander on Fridays.

From £837 return from Portsmouth to Santander, for a car with two passengers, including ensuite cabin during July and August 2019 (brittanyferries.com)

29. Best hotel rooms in Majorca

Hotel regulars are not only quick off the mark in booking up stays in a favourite hotel many months in advance of travel, but also bag the best rooms. For example, higher floor, balcony sea view rooms at the family-run, four-star superior Illa D’Or hotel in the popular Majorcan resort of Puerto Pollensa, which are above the tree-line and command long views over the bay, are guaranteed to fly off the shelf first.

From £1,833 in a sea view room with balcony, departing August 8, 2019 (classic-collection.co.uk)

30. Christmas in the Caribbean

Forget this year, organised bookers are already planning more than a year in advance for their Christmas break in the Caribbean in 2019. Despite some eye-watering prices and minimum stay requirements, top rooms and suites are reserved by the same guests year after year. Caribbean specialist, Caribtours has a team which is dedicated to Christmas bookings and says Blue Waters Resort and Spa is one of its top-selling hotels with popular room categories selling now.

From £8,999 in a deluxe beachfront room, departing December 20, 2019 (caribtours.co.uk)

Best escorted trips

31. Family Morocco

Organised families are already snapping up child-friendly activity tours with departure dates at February half term and in the Easter holidays. Warm weather and a fascinating culture makes Morocco one of the favourite destinations for camel riding, desert camping and exploring around the souks and palaces of Marrakech.

From £1,039 (adult), £935 (child) on an Camels & Kashbahs Family Holiday departing February 16 and April 13, 2019. Includes some meals (exodus.co.uk)

32. Inca Trail in South America

The four-day trek to Peru’s mountain citadel, Machu Picchu, requires a permit which are restricted to 500 per day for trekkers and accompanying guides and crew. Next year’s permits were released in early October [2018] and the most popular period for walking the trail is May to August. Specialist operators include the cost of a permit in their tours, around $190, (£144) and advise booking at least six months ahead of travel for a reasonable choice of availability.

£1,550 11-day Classic Inca Trail tour from with a four-day trek and some meals, excluding flights and transfers, departing May 27, 2019  (worldexpeditions.com)

33. The Milford Track in New Zealand

One of the world’s most scenic walks, the 40-mile Milford Track in the Fiordland National Park opens from October until April. A maximum of 40 people per day are allowed on the four-day hike with pre-booked accommodation in huts provided along the route (camping isn’t permitted). Ramblers Walking Holidays, offers the track as an add-on to its New Zealand itineraries but early booking is essential to be sure of overnight availability. 

From £4,205 for a 17-night South Island Discovery including some meals, excluding flights and transfers, departing Nov 8, 2019 (ramblersholidays.co.uk)

34. Venice Simplon Orient Express

The once-yearly journey from Paris to Istanbul on the VSOE is already fully booked in 2019. Tickets for 2020 go on sale in spring 2019 and rail specialist, Luxury Trains, is taking pre-registrations now. There are more frequent departures for the overnight trips between London and Venice (taking the Belmond British Pullman from Victoria to Folkestone and joining the VSOE at Calais) but peak time journeys are currently at 70 to 80 per cent capacity. 

From £3,100 for a  one-night London to Venice trip, full board, based on a twin compartment, departing June 9, 2019 (luxury-trains.co.uk)

35. Offers for singles

Voyages Jules Verne is one of the few cultural tour operators which has no-supplement offers for singles who book onto its group tours – as well as offering departures that are specifically geared to solo travellers only. These departures are limited and inevitably popular so you need to be booked as early as possible.

From £995 for a Amalfi, Pompeii and Sorrento tour departing between March and November, 2019. No single supplement departures (saving £195) are available on April 

Nature and wildlife

By definition, the window of opportunity for seeing the world’s the most spectacular natural phenomena is a narrow one and demand is usually high.  Prices are per person, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights and transfers unless otherwise stated.

36. Cherry blossom in Japan

The best time to visit Japan for the spectacular spring blossom which transforms its gardens and avenues is a three-week window from late March to mid-April. The Japanese are also keen to see it, so you need to get organised now. There is still a fair choice of departure dates on  highlights of Japan trips (which include gardens in Kyoto and Osaka) with Far East specialist, Wendy Wu.

From £3,890 for a Week in Japan tour departing on various dates between March 24 and April 8, 2019. Full board (wendywutours.co.uk)

37. New England in the Fall

The spectacular oranges and reds of the autumnal leaves make this east coast region of the US a big draw for visitors. Luxury Gold’s new itinerary combines excursions along the scenic Kancamagus Highway with a visit to Boston and a trip to the top of Mount Washington. Limited to 24 guests, three departure dates are already sold out. Two guaranteed tours still have availability.

From £4,001 for a ten-day New England’s Magnificent Autumn tour departing Sept 28 and Oct 5, 2019. Includes some meals, excludes flights (luxurygoldvacations.com)

38. Solar eclipse in South America

On July 2, 2019, there will be a total eclipse of the sun visible across parts of northern Argentina and Chile. Adventure specialist, Explore, offers an itinerary which is sold out on the outbound departure but has some spaces on the reverse, southbound leg. Departing from Buenos Aires, a local astronomer joins the group to watch the eclipse at around 4.25pm in San Juan before taking in the Humahuaca Gorge and National Parks of Talampaya and Ischigualasto.

From £4,339 for a 12-day Northwest Argentina and Eclipse Reverse tour with some meals, departing June 28, 2019 (explore.co.uk)

39. Grizzly bears in Canada

From late August and into September, grizzly bears congregate by the rivers of western British Columbia to feast on the leaping salmon. Lodges get booked up quickly with keen bear-spotters through from May to October but the feeding frenzy is the highlight and needs advance planning. 

From £3,895 for a Whisperer itinerary including four nights, full board, at Pyna-tee-ah lodge with guided bear-viewing and three nights in Vancouver, departing late August or early September, 2019 (frontier-canada.co.uk)

40. Gorilla-spotting in Africa

The forests of Rwanda and Uganda are home to endangered mountain gorillas. Access is tightly controlled with a limit of ten or 11 permits for groups of up to eight people, issued per day. These permits can sell out months in advance. The most popular times to visit are in the drier seasons from mid-December to early February and from June to August when less rain means gorillas gather round water sources making them easier to spot. 

From £6,099 for a nine-day Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Discovery adventure, full board, including mountain gorilla, golden monkey and chimpanzee trek permits, departing July 12, 2019 (trailfinders.com)

Cultural breaks

Cultural phenomena generate similar levels of interest and demand as natural ones, and it’s already starting to get late to book for some anniversaries next year. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights and transfers unless otherwise stated.

41. Leonardo 500

Next year marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Italy’s great Renaissance artist and polymath. Milan was da Vinci’s home at turn of the sixteenth century and the place where he spent some of his most creative years. Travel Editions is offering two tours (one is already sold out) in the company of art historian, Andrew Spira with visits to the Ambrosian Library to see the Codex Atlanticus notebooks and the Last Supper in Santa Maria Delle Grazie.

£999 for a four-day Leonardo da Vinci’s Milan – 500th Anniversary Tour departing  March 21, 2019. Includes some meals (traveleditions.co.uk)

42. Exclusive access in Rome

Queues and crowds can turn visits to top sights into an endurance test and nowhere more so than in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. Small group specialist, Andante Travel has lined up a tour which offers private evening access for uninterrupted viewing of Michelangelo’s ceiling and the Raphael Rooms next door. Itinerary highlights also include tours of the Colosseum, Forum, Borghese Gallery and Rome’s ancient port of Ostia Antica with archaeologist, Oliver Gilkes.

From £2,395 for a six-day Rome & the Sistine Chapel tour departing on May 13 and Sept 23, 2019. Full board (andantetravels.co.uk)

43. Russian ballet with Darcey Bussell

There is a rare opportunity to meet dancer, author and presenter of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Darcey Bussell who is joining a Telegraph Tours trip in St Petersburg in May. As well as a ballet performance, there is also a q&a session with The Telegraph’s dance critic, Mark Monahan. Itinerary includes a river cruise to Moscow for an exclusive talk by Telegraph Russia correspondent, Alex Luhn.

From £5,190 for a 14-night The Cultural Heritage of Russia with Darcey Bussell departing May 19, 2019. Excludes flights (telegraph.co.uk/travel/tours)

44. Caves of Northern Spain

There are tight controls on numbers granted access to the prehistoric caves in the Cantabria and Asturias regions of Northern Spain, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where wall paintings date back more than 20,000 years. A tour limited to six people organised by Steppes Travel allows access to the key caves. 

From £3,225 for an eight-day Prehistoric Cave Art of Northern Spain including full board and transfers, excludes flights, departing June 24, 2019 (steppestravel.com)

45. Berlin Wall 30th anniversary 

The fall of the wall in November 1989 was one of the most momentous political events in the lifetime of all us old enough to remember it. Next year marks the 30th anniversary and the world’s attention will be focused on the city once again. Ace Cultural Tours has unveiled a one-off itinerary in the company of Dr John Greenacre, historian and lecturer. 

From £1,745 for a six-day Cold War in Berlin tour departing Sept 11, 2019. Includes some meals (aceculturaltours.co.uk)

46. Arnhem 75th anniversary

Another big anniversary will mark 75 years since “Operation Market Garden” – General Montgomery’s plan to capture key bridges on the route from Belgium into Holland. The events at Arnhem inspired the film A Bridge Too Far. Battlefield tour specialist, Leger, has launched two new small-group tours which coincide with local anniversary events accompanied by an expert Second World War lecturer. 

From £349 for a five-day Arnheim 75th Anniversary tour departing Sept 16, 2019 with a shorter four-day departure on Sept 20, 2019. Includes coach travel and Channel crossing (leger.co.uk)

47. Bauhaus Centenary

Bauhaus is regarded as one of the most important design movements of the twentieth century and next years marks the centenary of the founding of the movement in Weimar. A handful of special interest operators are offering tours such as Arena Travel’s one-off itinerary which visits Weimar, Berlin and Dessau (where a new Bauhaus museum opens in September), in the company of art and architectural historian, Thomas Abbott. 

£2,195 for a six-night Bauhaus – Design for Living departing Sept 17, 2019. Includes some meals (arenatravel.com)

48. Partying at the Rio Carnival

The highlight is the parade of  outlandish floats and costumes in the Sambadrome. Adventure specialist, Intrepid Travel organise tickets for the spectacle or secure a place in the parade, with costume, if booked before Dec 1, 2018. The 2019 departure has six places left and bookings are being taken for 2020.

From £1,690 for a six-day Rio Carnaval Package Original excluding meals, transfers and flights, departing March 1, 2019 and Feb 21, 2020 (intrepidtravel.com)

49. Rugby World Cup in Japan

Act now – entries for the ticket ballot close on Monday. You will know if you are successful on Monday Nov 26. Then it’s time to book flights, or go make travel and accommodation arrangements through an operator such as Trailfinders (trailfinders.com). Matches are scheduled between Sept 20 – Nov 2, 2019.

Tickets from £20 for some of the early rounds to £700 for the best seats for the final (tickets.rugbyworldcup.com)

50. Salzburg Festival

Salzburg is arguably the world’s best classical music and opera festival and tickets for the top productions for the six-week summer event from July to August sell quickly. Bookings open later this month, though the tickets for the Whitsun festival (June 7-10, 2019) went on sale a couple of weeks ago. 

Ticket prices have yet to be confirmed but go from £10 for the cheapest seats in smaller concerts to £300 for the best seats at the big concerts (salzburgerfestspiele.at)