Here Are Five Great Destinations To Celebrate The Holidays

I used to really like air travel—largely because of a Disney movie from the late seventies called The Rescuers. The leads are mice: a chic one, voiced by Eva Gabor; and a frumpy one, voiced by Bob Newhart. They’re on assignment to save an orphan girl who was abducted for the purpose of retrieving a diamond from the Louisiana bayou—but first they have to get there from New York City, which involves riding in a sardine tin strapped to an albatross. When the bird wings off the roof of a skyscraper at sunset, poor Bob is practically peeing himself. But not Eva. “Oooo! I just luv takeoffs!” she says. “It’s just like being on a rollerscoater.”

Where are travelers planning to go in 2024? I asked some of the sharpest minds in travel to look into their crystal balls and advance bookings to give me a sense of where people are eager to go.

One summer, many years ago when I was 17, I met a Dutch girl in a pub who was backpacking around Ireland. She said she was staying in hostels and was off to Doolin in County Clare the next day. Somehow, I hadn’t realised it was that easy to strike out and see the world. The next morning I took the bus to Doolin and began a lifelong love of independent travel and the open road. I never saw the Dutch girl again despite a full search of every pub in the village.

Hanoi is the bustling capital of Vietnam. This storied city is known for showcasing a stunning array of centuries-old buildings with impressive architecture, and a rich culture blending Southeast Asian, Chinese, and French influences.

Europe is home to 63 of the top 100 city destinations in the world, according to a new ranking.

Global market research company Euromonitor International has released its annual rankings of city destinations based on tourism, sustainability and economic performance. Europe dominates the field. Paris was crowned the most attractive city destination in the world in the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023, with seven European destinations landing in the top 10 and the continent owning 63 spots in the top 100 overall. Nadejda Popova, Senior Manager (Loyalty) at Euromonitor International, said: “Paris has retained the title of the world's leading city following exceptional performance across the Tourism Policy and Attractiveness, Tourism Infrastructure and Tourism Performance pillars.” Paris was followed by Dubai in second place, Madrid in third, Tokyo in fourth and Amsterdam in fifth. The top 10 was rounded out by Berlin (6), Rome (7), New York (8), Barcleona (9) and London (10).  

Get ready to unwrap your holiday spirit this festive season on Yas Island Abu Dhabi with an extravaganza of unparalleled entertainment, exclusive family-friendly packages and fun-tastic experiences for guests of all ages. This multi award winning destination, Winner of World’s Leading Theme Park Destination 2023 Yas Island also won awards for World’s Leading Theme Park 2023 - Ferrari World, Middle East’s Leading Water Park 2023 - Yas Waterworld and Middle East’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction 2023 - Clymb at this year’s World Travel Awards

The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means you probably need to secure a few great gifts for the incredible women in your life. Whether you're shopping for your mom, your wife, your sister, or any other fellow traveler you know and love, you'll want to give them something meaningful that they don’t already have but know they'll appreciate.

Drab winter nights prompt dreamy thoughts of warm balmy evenings in a setting more tropical than December in the UK. Winter sun destinations like the Dutch Caribbean Island of Aruba are ready, willing and able to make those desires come true and even offer a new twist.

Europe’s airports are regularly ranked from best to worst to help travellers make informed choices.

As options for the traditional chalet ski break have dwindled and prices risen, venturing to Europe’s far corners and beyond for a ski break can reap rewards. Costs are often lower, while luxury accommodation can be similarly priced to budget options in mainstream European ski resorts. As well as being potentially cheaper, skiing in territory off the beaten track can offer a rich cultural experience, plus better flight routes, less crowded slopes, sunnier days and a friendlier welcome.

Passengers planning winter getaways to USA, Europe and Asia on Qatar Airways in December 2023 and January 2024 can immediately benefit from greater choice and seamless connectivity to exciting destinations across the globe.