Reasons to be cheerful about travel in 2021 – and 21 amazing holidays to book
In ordinary times, suggesting that a four-decades-old comedy ditty that rounded out a bawdy biblical pastiche is an appropriate theme tune for the current year would seem a strange idea. But then, 2020 is a strange year, and there is something about “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” – as seen at the end of Monty Python’s Life Of Brian in 1979 – that suits our present tension.
“When you’re chewing on life’s gristle, don’t grumble, give a whistle” is a nice slice of optimism. Of course, optimism has been in short supply for travellers and the travel industry in recent months. Borders have closed, quarantine windows have been imposed, and a grand pause has shuttered parts of the UK. Although the national lockdown that began in England on Thursday will nominally finish on Dec 2, while the firebreak lockdown in Wales is set to end on Monday, it seems unlikely there will be further holidaymaking in 2020. A grim year will achieve a grounded conclusion.
But what of up-and-coming 2021? A new year? Well yes, obviously. A clean slate? Probably not, if we are realistic. A reason to be hopeful of both an improvement to life in general and the chances of a proper getaway to foreign shores? More than you may think.
“We saw some green shoots when the travel corridors to the Maldives and the Canaries were restored last month,” says Erin Johnson of luxury beach-break experts Sovereign (sovereign.com). “We even had last-minute bookings when the second lockdown was announced – including a 28-day trip to Tenerife.”
This note of positivity is echoed by Michelle Ventre at hiking and biking specialists Headwater (headwater.com). “Before the latest lockdown, our self-guided walking and cycling programmes in the UK were doing very well,” she explains. “The revived travel corridors had also stimulated bookings in Europe – we saw a huge increase in interest in hiking in the Canaries two weeks ago. I expect this to continue when lockdown is eased.”
This belief in travel’s durability reaches up to the most gilded corners of the industry. “I am very confident that leisure travel will go back to a robust position, particularly in the luxury sector,” says James Riley, group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental (mandarinoriental.com). The five-star accommodation brand has big plans, including the delayed opening of a property in Madrid (a renovation of the city’s belle-époque Ritz hotel in Retiro). “People live their lives to have experiences, and to travel,” Riley adds.
These two hotel unveilings will cater to expensive tastes, but they are not unique in an industry where signs of recovery are visible. A case in point is Destinology (destinology.co.uk), the Bolton-based travel agent. If its closure by parent company Saga in September was a bleak indication of the damage wrought by Covid-19, its resurrection is a cause for cheer.
“We anticipate an uptick in bookings,” says Duncan Wilson of new owner the Brooklyn Travel Holdings group, “and we will formulate our plans [accordingly] for what we think we will sell in January for August onwards. This was a good, strong business prior to this unexpected Covid disaster. This year will continue to be tough, but there is no reason why we cannot get it back to its former glory.”
But if there is a sense of expectation in some areas of the holiday industry, what of holidaymakers themselves? Heather Green of Italy aficionados Citalia (citalia.com) believes travellers will be rewarded. “Next year will be a good time to visit traditionally busy destinations such as Venice, Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast without the usual crowds,” she says. “Visitor numbers will probably remain below pre-Covid levels for most of 2021 – and there will be savings to be had as everyone tries to entice tourists back. I expect demand for city breaks in Italy to be high as soon as restrictions lift. A long weekend in Florence or Rome may be what we all need when we are free to travel again.”
The benefits may also extend to straightforward beach breaks. “We know from past shocks to the market that bargains drive recovery,” says Phil Salcedo of travel deals comparison site HolidayPirates (holidaypirates.com). “Dubai was at the top of our search data last month because there are amazing deals available. At the moment, you can buy a trip to Dubai – including flights and accommodation – for what you would usually expect to pay for the flight alone, and for dates well into 2021. The question is how long these prices will last, but if companies can afford to be flexible, we will see a lot of pent-up demand released.”
While sunshine getaways will certainly be popular, so will trips that have health and space in mind. “There is definitely going to be a trend towards holidays that naturally allow social distancing, and consumers will be thinking about travel from a perspective of staying safe,” says Michelle Ventre of Headwater. “With people looking more at their fitness during lockdown, I predict there will be a move towards outdoors adventure”.
Stella Photi of Wellbeing Escapes (wellbeingescapes.com) agrees: “Over the past few months, a lot of people have recognised how important health is. We’ve had inquiries from people who want to have greater control of their lives; who want to learn what they can do to have stronger immunity.”
This includes being in solid mental shape. “When I started this company 15 years ago, clients were very focused on physical improvement,” she continues. “Weight loss and detox were the important requirements. The impetus has shifted towards emotional health. Now, prospective clients say they want to get away to manage stress. If they also manage to shed a few pounds, great. But that isn’t a key objective.”
Industry voices are in unison that airport testing and a vaccine will be crucial cogs in the recovery. “Our projections rely on an effective vaccine by the middle of 2021,” says Sam Seward of group adventure mainstay Exodus Travels (exodus.co.uk). “On that basis, we are hoping for a strong late summer and autumn. We are already seeing booking habits along these lines, with demand for Asia and Africa, as well as Europe. If a rapid testing system, making for shorter quarantine periods, is in place, I expect to see adventure travel bookings back to as much as 50 per cent of pre-Covid levels in the first half of next year.”
Each of the 21 holidays for next year detailed is predicated on these pandemic-controlling measures – and on a relative normality of open borders and safe passage. But there is nothing wrong, as 2021 looms, with the instinct to “purse your lips and whistle” (Eric Idle once again). That’s the thing.
Europe
1. Montenegro
Spring 2021 cannot come soon enough for One&Only. Until now, the luxury-travel group has confined its five-star finesse to Asia, Africa, Australia and Mexico. But it will make its European debut in March, eight months later than planned, when its Portonovi resort (oneandonlyresorts.com/portonovi) opens on the Montenegrin coast at Herceg Novi (its July 2020 due date having gone back to October, then the new year). Amenities will include a Giorgio Locatelli restaurant. A seven-night stay will start at £1,650 per person (flights cost extra) via Elegant Resorts (01244 297730; elegantresorts.co.uk).
2. Epirus
Just a little to the south, another portion of the European shoreline will be introducing a welcome element of glamour in 2021. The Epirus region of mainland Greece is big on craggy scenery and rustic peace, yet relatively short on sophisticated accommodation. Step forward the MarBella Elix (0030 266 107 1123; marbellacollection.gr/marbella-elix) – which will open outside the pretty coastal town of Parga on April 30. Rooms will start at £121 per night half-board. Airlines including British Airways (0344 493 0787; ba.com) and easyJet (0330 365 5000; easyjet.com) fly into the closest airport (at Preveza).
3. The Peloponnese
If the tribulations of 2020 have left you dreaming of a calming type of travel, one possibility may be elsewhere on the Greek mainland. Pitched towards the south coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, the five-star Euphoria Retreat (euphoriaretreat.com) offers holidays that reinforce body and mind. The surrounding Greek countryside – all soaring hillsides and archaeological sites such as the ruins of ancient Sparta – is inspiring enough, but options such as the seven-day Yoga and Mindfulness programme offered by Wellbeing Escapes (020 3735 7555; wellbeingescapes.com) can soothe restless spirits with sessions of meditation and nutritional advice. From £2,996 per person (flights extra).
4. Croatia
Offering an element of social distancing that no other holiday can really match – a self-contained unit; your own pool – villa breaks have assumed extra value in the Covid-19 era. “We are already seeing high demand for 2021,” says Victoria Hooberman of Scott Williams. “We are getting inquiries from families longing to reunite with grandparents, and groups of friends keen to holiday together.” The company has a wealth of properties in southern Europe, including in Istria, the north-west edge of Croatia, which tends to be quieter than other parts of the country. The three-bedroom Villa Angelo, near Motovun, can be rented from €4,290 (£3,820) per week, flights extra (01749 812721; scottwilliams.co.uk).
5. Ravenna
Covid-19 has overshadowed many of 2020’s commemorations, but the 700th anniversary of the death one of Italy’s greatest poets will (hopefully) be beyond its reach. Dante (Alighieri) will be saluted in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna (see viedidante.it) – and maybe nowhere more so than in Ravenna, where he wrote part of his Divine Comedy. He also died there in 1321, and is buried (to the continued sorrow of his birthplace, Florence) next to its Basilica di San Francesco. Martin Randall Travel (020 8742 3355; martinrandall.com) has a five-day Ravenna & Urbino cultural group tours slated to begin on April 7 and Sept 29 2021. From £1,710 per person, including flights.
6. Burgundy
Ocean cruising remains one of the most precarious travel options as Covid-19 rages on, but if you still like the idea of a holiday by boat, a river voyage should be more feasible. Jules Verne (020 3811 5939; vjv.com) has added a Péniche Bourgogne break to its range of European barge holidays for 2021 – a week’s cruise from Paris to Dijon on the Petite Saône and Canal de Bourgogne, with bicycles available if you want to stretch your legs. Sailings are scheduled for July 15 and Aug 12, from £2,295 per person including Eurostar tickets.
7. Finnish Lapland
There is always an element of escapism to the Nordic lands – and March should provide sights to assuage all ills. Geomagnetic activity tends to be enhanced around the equinoxes – which makes them ideal time-frames for the Northern Lights. The Aurora Zone (01670 785012; theaurorazone.com) offers three-night Wilderness Weekends at Nellim in Arctic Finland. A getaway (March 18-21) timed to coincide with the spring equinox (March 20) costs from £1,095 per person, with flights. If this sounds too soon, the company has also released dates and prices for the following winter season. An identical package from Dec 16-19 2021 will cost from £1,430 per person.
North America
8. Trinidad & Tobago
A break in the Caribbean does not have to mean endless hours on busy beaches. It can also poke through the leaves of forests in search of bright fluttering in the branches. Motmot Travel (01327 359622; motmottravel.com) specialises in wildlife-focused holidays in the region, and has a 16-day nature tour of Trinidad and Tobago scheduled for April 16-May 1. This will split its time evenly between the two islands as it seeks out violaceous trogons, bay-headed tanagers and white-cheeked pintails (as well as leatherback turtles). From £3,690 per person, with flights.
9. Colorado and New Mexico
The same principles of fresh air and broad horizons apply readily to the Resorts and Ranches of Colorado and New Mexico escorted tour that will be unveiled by Luxury Gold (0800 533 5620; luxurygold.com) in 2021. This nine-day trip will begin in Denver, and make its way to Santa Fe – via Colorado Springs, a ride on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, and a stay on the vast Vermejo Park Ranch, which spans the border between the two states. The first departure is scheduled for May 9, from £5,265 per person, excluding international flights – with further trips planned for July 4, plus Aug 15 and 29 (prices vary according to date).
10. The Capital Region
Families who have endured months apart during lockdown(s) could make up for lost time in the United States next year. Bon Voyage (0800 316 3012; bon-voyage.co.uk) has started selling a multi-generational road-trip through Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. The 13-day Family Fun in the Capital Region tour is partly aimed at children, with potential stops at the International Spy Museum in the capital, the Busch Gardens theme park in Williamsburg, and by the sea at Virginia Beach. A May half-term break costs from £1,655 per person, based on four adults and two children, including flights and minivan hire.
11. Atlantic Canada
It is not unrealistic to envisage a post-virus future where wary travellers still prefer to avoid larger cities in favour of wide open spaces. In which case, the Atlantic Canada Small Group Tour operated every summer by Discover the World (01737 887122; discover-the-world.com) may well appeal to those wishing to play it safe. The itinerary takes a leisurely 14 days to roll through the ocean-blown provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. And with only 13 guests per trip, it lends itself to social distancing. Scheduled dates for 2021 are July 1 and Aug 4. From £3,685 per person, including flights.
South America
12. Colombia and Argentina
The 2021 sporting schedule will leave no room for anyone to catch their breath. Not only have the Olympics and Euro 2020 been put back 12 months; the Copa America has also been postponed to next summer (June 11-July 10 2021). It will be hosted by Argentina and Colombia, and will turn both into a rush of noise. If this sounds an ambience you want to sample, Sunvil (020 8568 4499; sunvil.co.uk) is offering a two-week Complete Colombia break from £3,253 per person, including flights – while Journey Latin America offers a 13-day Signature Argentina holiday from £2,702 per person, flights extra (020 3131 2661; journeylatinamerica.co.uk).
13. Peru
Next year will see the realm of Machu Picchu and mountaintops celebrate its bicentenary (bicentenariodelperu.pe) – the party pinned to July 28, an exact 200 years after it declared its independence from Spain. The festivities will, though, tick along for much of the 12 months, making 2021 an ideal time to visit a country that is much more than its endlessly photographed Inca citadel. Last Frontiers (01296 653000; lastfrontiers.com) is offering an 11-day Northern Peru itinerary that flits to less-seen places such as Trujillo, Cajamarca and Chachapoyas, while still offering plenty of epic history. From £3,555 per person, including flights.
Asia
14. Mongolia
Should you have come to the same conclusion – that it is better to go further for a greater amount of time – few countries feel as distant or elusive as Mongolia. Elusiveness is also the big idea for its snow leopard, but that hasn’t stopped Wildlife Worldwide (01962 302086; wildlifeworldwide.com) adding a new tour – Cats of Mountain and Steppe – to its 2021 brochure. This small-group trip (for a maximum of 12 people) will play hide and seek with Panthera uncia in the Altai Mountains and Hustai National Park, and can be booked as a 13-day package (with flights) from £6,995 per person. Departures on Aug 13 and 26 2021.
15. Bhutan
The smallest national chunk of the Himalayas also falls into the “under the radar” bracket – which may make 2021 a year to visit. Perhaps to coincide with Tshechu – the religious festival that finds form in costumed dances and the gathering of remote communities. The elevated town of Paro stages one of the biggest incarnations – and will burst into colour between March 21 and 24. The spectacle can be glimpsed in comfort via Scott Dunn (020 3811 5738; scottdunn.com), which offers an eight-night Highlights of Bhutan tour from £4,000 per person, with flights – including three nights at the Naksel Boutique Hotel in Paro.
16. United Arab Emirates
The UAE is not seen as a place that revels in history. Epic hotels, yes; devotion to its own heritage, no. But Dec 2 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the Act of Union that spliced Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah as one country (Ras Al Khaimah joined later). If you fancy seeing more than the obvious, Hayes & Jarvis (020 8106 2403; hayesandjarvis.co.uk) offers an eight-day Dubai & Ras Al Khaimah Multi-Centre trip for £1,699 per person. If you just want Dubai, in time for the big day, Kuoni (0800 056 0517; kuoni.co.uk) can offer you seven nights at the five-star Jumeirah Al Qasr, flying from Gatwick on Nov 28 2021, from £2,930 per person.
17. The Maldives
Next year will witness a milestone in the Maldives as well – the 10th anniversary of Baa Atoll’s designation as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, where coral and marine life are protected. Not that this means you cannot enjoy it as a tourist. A week’s all-inclusive stay at the atoll’s five-star Finolhu resort, flying from Gatwick on Sept 4, costs £3,443 per person through British Airways Holidays (0344 493 0787; ba.com/holidays).
Africa
18. South Africa
While the pandemic has stomped across the diaries of the planet’s Olympians, it has yet to throw a spanner into the scrum that is one of rugby union’s biggest extravaganzas – the quadrennial British and Irish Lions expedition into foreign fields. South Africa is due to welcome these travelling try-scorers in 2021, for a tour that will run from July 3 to Aug 7, ending with three Test matches against the home nation (two in Johannesburg, one in Cape Town). Packages are still on sale via the official operator (0344 788 4070; lionstour.com). These range from a lightning dash to watch the first Test (Tour YZ; from £2,495 per person, with flights) to an 18-night Platinum odyssey to see all three that also goes on safari to Kruger National Park. (Tour PE; from £22,545 per person, with flights). Packages come with guarantees of a full refund if the whole event is cancelled.
19. Namibia
If one of the after-effects of Covid-19 is that you want to avoid too much human contact, Namibia may be a welcome answer to your travel prayers. With just 7.6 people per square mile, it is the second least densely populated nation on earth (eclipsed only by Mongolia). Its scenery is all the more striking for its semi-emptiness. Windows On The Wild (020 8742 1556; windowsonthewild.com) is offering a 16-day Classic Namibia Self-Drive trip that explores the likes of the Naukluft Mountains and Skeleton Coast, from £3,460 per person including flights.
Australasia
20. New Zealand and Fiji
Australia and New Zealand remain the great question marks – with their borders seemingly as bolted down now as in March, and any talk of reopening pushed into the middle-distance. But one result of the pandemic and the stresses it has placed on travel may be that, in future, we take fewer short breaks, to avoid wrestling with new inconveniences more often than we are ready to. Black Tomato (020 7426 9888; blacktomato.com) sees this as a plausible scenario, picturing a world where people plan “longer adventures rather than tick-box weekends”. The luxury specialist’s See It All In New Zealand and Fiji tour – joining Auckland, Lake Taupo and the wineries of Hawke’s Bay to the Pacific archipelago – may fit the bill. It costs from £11,400 per person, flights extra) for 15 days but can be extended.
Antarctica
21. Solar eclipse
The only continent not to have been affected by Covid-19 beckons with an icy finger next year, when a total solar eclipse will throw a brief shroud over Antarctica on Dec 4 2021 – and several cruise operators will head south to witness the show. These include Aurora Expeditions (0808 189 2005; auroraexpeditions.co.uk), which has a 16-day voyage from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula and back planned for Nov 23-Dec 8. Prices start at $18,795 (£14,208) per person, flights extra.
