10 Great Travel Ideas From Index Digital For 2024
If you're thinking of making it a year for travel, we've rounded up some great reasons to get away from it all, both near and far.
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EXPLORE EUROPE
Kaunas, Lithuania
Kaunas, the second-largest Lithuanian city, was named the European Capital of Culture 2022. To celebrate, it hosted a variety of events through the year, but for those in search of culture on their travels you will find it ingrained in the city. Lithuania Travel say: "Kaunas draws its charm from the streets which are a thrilling sight for art-starved travelers. The city’s spin on Art Deco style and modernist interwar architecture has permeated buildings, museums, hotels, as well as both residential and industrial sites. Even 44 modernist objects are listed as European Heritage Sites. The most esteemed testaments of modernist interwar architecture are found in Kaunas Central Post Office Palace, Vytautas Magnus War Museum, Romuva Cinema, and Aleksotas Funicular – one of the oldest cable cars in Europe. Visitors enthralled by the possibility to learn all things Art Deco, might find their match in Kaunas Art Deco Museum. It offers a unique experience of immersing oneself in architecture, real-life interwar stories, and authentic Art Deco and Bauhaus furniture. Yet the city’s visual treats do not end at architecture as Kaunas’ streets are spruced up with gigantic graffiti murals, converting the city into an impressive open-air art gallery."
• To read more of the feature on Kaunas – The European Capital of Culture, click here.
Transylvania, Romania
If you're looking for something a little different and don't want to head to one of the obvious desitnations for your holidays, then why not put Transylvania on your list? Located in central Romania, Transylvania is best known for its connection to Dracula, however there is much beauty and cultural history to be explored on a trip there. You can visit some of Romania’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites including fortified churches, the six Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains, the town Sighisoara with its connection to Transylvanian Saxons, and its mining cultural landscape in Alba County. Highlights on a trip include heading to Apuseni Mountains Park for its wildlife and over 400 caves and glaciers, the medieval quarter of Old Town Brasov, Rasnov Fortress and the national monument Bran Castle which is a landmark in Transylvania – open year round for you to explore it is set in beautiful surroundings. Visit https://romaniatourism.com/transylvania.html
• For more alternative winter holiday destination ideas, click here.
Freiburg, Germany
As travel journalist Rebecca Underwood says, "with sun-drenched natural settings, a charming cityscape and all sorts of tasty treats, Freiburg has everything you need for a perfect city break". "It is very much a green city: quiet oases of green and lovely attractions are all close by and easy to reach. From the historic old town with lots of wonderful shopping, you can walk past the famous Freiburg Minster and through the bustling market full of regional specialities. The nearby Schlossberg mountain has lots of viewpoints affording panoramic views over the city and the Rhine valley. It is perfect for relaxing, exploring and spending time in the great outdoors, with lots of fantastic places to eat and drink. A trip to Freiburg can easily be combined with activities in the surrounding area. There is something to suit all tastes around Freiburg, including gentle walks, indulgent tours of the wine-making villages and challenging mountain bike trails."
• To read more of Rebecca's feature, click here.
GO FURTHER AFIELD
Cape Town, South Africa
One of South Africa's three capital cities, Cape Town, a port city on the south-west coast, offers the chance to see stunning natural wonders. A big hit with the tourists, a trip to World Heritage Site Table Mountain is a must – where you can get stunning views of the city – and its national park is the most visited in South Africa. There is a cableway you can take to get up there or for the more adventurous you could hike! With a rocky coastline and stunning views, you should also visit Cape Point Nature Reserve which is home to a variety of wildlife including baboons, Cape fur seals and birds. Back in the town are the beautiful blue waters of Table Bay where you can relax and unwind while staring out at the Atlantic Ocean. The Victoria & Albert Waterfront is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa with its variety of shops and restaurants, events, plus the Two Oceans Aquarium and food markets home to fresh produce and local specialties. Visit https://www.capetown.travel
• For more winter holiday destination ideas, click here.
Bermuda
For those looking for sun, sea and sand, then just a seven-hour flight from the UK is Bermuda which "offers a perfect retreat where the locals practice that enviable laid back outlook on life". The 21sq m island, lying 600 miles off the North American coast, has three regios to explore – West End, Central Bermuda, and East End – where the Bermuda Tourism Authority say you will find "a blend of cultures, unique neighbourhoods, and breathtaking natural wonders pack Bermuda's deceptively small 21 square miles with incredible things to see, do, and discover. See Gombey dancers swaying and jumping in time to the infectious beats of steel drums and shrieking whistles. Watch vibrant patterned kites bobbing in the breeze overhead." Things to try while you are there include snorkelling and going in search of shipwrecks, exploring the Crystal and Fantasy Caves that have formed over millions of years, heading to Gibb's Hill Lighthouse, visiting Tom Moore's Jungle, or simply relaxing with a book on one of the many stunning beaches and coves to be found.
• To read more about Bermuda, click here.
Dominican Republic
A Caribbean nation made up of rainforest, savannah and highlands, the Dominican Republic is best known for its beaches, but if you are looking for a holiday with a once-in-a-lifetime experience then head there between 15 January and 25 March when if you go to the town Samana you may well get to meet the North Atlantic Humpback whales that have travelled 3,000 miles to see you! The whales stay in the warm Samana Bay during winter before migrating and while they do not all travel in the same group, there are at least 300 whales in Samaná Bay at any one time. And that is just one reason to visit the Dominican Republic, for those who enjoy a sporty holiday you could see the sights while mountain biking, go kite surfing or trek to the Salto de Jimenoa Uno waterfall, or for the culture and museum lovers visit the La Aurora Cigar Factory or the Museo de La Resistencia. Plus there are so many beautiful locations to visit and wildlife to see such as Monte Cristi National Park, Cotubanamá National Park and Sierra de Bahoruco National Park.
• Check out: Why Visit The Dominican Republic In The Caribbean?
Tokyo, Japan
For those looking to experience the best of both worlds – the ultramodern and the traditional – a trip to Tokyo in Japan is a must. Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolis, Tokyo is not for those looking for a quiet holiday and for those who want to feel the fast pace of the city head to the Shibuya Crossing! With its shopping megaplexes, elegant hotels, and futuristic skyscrapers there is much to see in the city. But as Japan Travel say it is "as futuristic as it is historical" and there is plenty of culture to be discovered, with top spots to visit including the Meiji Shinto Shrine, The Imperial Palace and the city's many museums and Buddhist temples. A top tip not to miss from Japan Travel is "visiting Tokyo' s most famous temple, Sensoji, before ferrying down the Sumida River and learning the role the city's waterways played in Edo-era Tokyo".
• For more on Japan, visit https://www.japan.travel/en/uk/
STAYING CLOSER TO HOME
The Pig at Bridge Place, Canterbury
If you want to get away from it all, but don't have the time to travel far or be away for long, you don't need to leave this corner of our country to feel like you have been transported to a luxury location. The top boutique hotels in the UK were revealed recently with The Pig at Bridge Place coming fourth – with another six hotels in the South East joining them in the top 50. With far-reachiong views across the countryside, The Pig at Bridge Place is tucked away just outside the historic village of Bridge, three miles south of Canterbury, in Kent described as "a red-bricked musical honeypot". With a rock n roll vibe, the building has been home to some renowned parties and gigs – playing host in the 70s to Led Zeppelin and the like. It has lots of period features, including large fireplaces, secret stairways, panelled rooms and endless nooks and crannies. There are seven bedrooms in the main house, 12 in the Coach House, two family friendly lodges, plus The Barn, a rustic romantic two-storey hideaway in the old stables. Additionally, seven Kentish Hop Pickers’ Huts on stilts sit alongside the river in the grounds. While you are there head to the Potting Sheds for a relaxing treatment and then sit back and enjoy a meal in the restaurant.
• To check out the top 50 boutique hotels in the UK, click here.
Inhabit, London
For those looking for time to relax and recharge in 2023, then a spa or retreat may be just the ticket. With two mindful hotels in calm and leafy pockets of west London – Southwick Street and Queen’s Gardens – Inhabit offer guests much more than a place to lay their head, with "considered spaces, nourishing food and staff that share a passion for maintaining a healthy mind and body". Inhabit is home to a dedicated wellness programme, including uplifting offerings such as morning meditation sessions, guided nature walks, Pilates, and five styles of yoga, from vinyasa flow to relaxing yin. Encouraging mindful living, Inhabit Southwick Street has 88 restful rooms, a peaceful library, an atrium for yoga and fitness, a meditation pod and an infrared sauna. While Inhabit Queen's Gardens rewards for guests include 158 calming bedrooms and suites, Inhale at Inhabit spa and the Kitchen restaurant, serving inventive, meat-free cuisine. Visit https://www.inhabithotels.com
• To check out 10 Top Kent & Sussex Retreats To Relax And Revive click here.
Black Mountain Pass, Wales
Staycations continue to be popular and 2023 is likely to be no different. So why not pack up the boot of you car, take to the road and explore what the UK has to offer? If you like the idea of a road trip, then the car experts at Design 911 say the 20-mile Black Mountain Pass has been described as the "perfect antidote to escaping desk life". "Located in Wales, three hours from the South East or the Midlands on the A4069 cutting across the Brecon Beacons, through Brynamman where it peaks 1,600ft before its drop into Llandovery. This deserted land which was used as a quarry for limestone is now only inhabited by the occasional animal passing though so you will feel isolated. The spectacular driving route will pass rivers, mountains, bridges, stone walls and hedges. Visit the Brecon Beacons National Park or nearby village Myddfai to learn about the legend of Lady of The Lake. This picturesque village has a number of traditional pubs for lunch from local farmers and suppliers."
• To check out 5 road trips in the UK for the perfect staycation, click here.
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