Our 2020 Holiday Wishlist.
Posted January 21, 2020 by seventyten
One of the most common questions we get asked as Travel Experts is “what’s on your holiday wishlist?”
So as we begin a New Year (and decade), we’re proud to share our Travel Wishlist for 2020.
We hope it will inspire you to take some time away in the coming months and see some of this amazing world we live in.
Please let us know what’s on your wishlist for the year ahead – I’m sure we’ll be able to help make that wish come true!
Ed - South Africa
South Africa is a country I’ve been fortunate enough to visit numerous times over the last 15 years. However the country is constantly evolving with exciting new hotels, lodges and experiences opening up.
Our ground crew in South Africa have recently launched some fascinating day tours across the country that I’d love to check out. Particularly in the Western Cape, where to be honest the tour options had become a little stale. The new tours are built around carefully chosen local specialised guides and customised vehicles stocked with inflatable SUP’s and sofas, coolers, gourmet food and hiking packs. It would be great to join one of these tours, get away from the masses and see this beautiful region from a different and much more rewarding perspective.
The Karoo is a breathtakingly stunning region, which is an easy drive from Cape Town, it would be fun to jump in the car with the family and visit some of the nature and game reserves.
I’d then revisit the Greater Kruger area, there have been some great improvements in Hazyview accommodation and services which adds another dimension to the region. It seems a shame to just fly in and out of the parks, as you would be overlooking the stunning natural wonders like Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels. As visitor numbers increase in the Sabi Sands (which has the best game viewing in the country) there are some other private reserves bordering the Kruger, which are unfenced. I’d love to have another look at the Timbavati and Klaserie in particular.
Rosie - Cambodia
Cambodia was one of the destinations I visited on my first ever work research trip to South East Asia, so it’s always been somewhere particularly special to me.
The country has changed so much over recent years, with some world-class luxury beach hotels opening up in the last 12 to 18 months and others to come, such as Six Senses Krabey and Alila Villas Koh Russey. The food scene in the country is also experiencing a real boom, with some excellent restaurants cropping up all the time.
Having such a tragic recent history has always made Cambodia such a fascinating and inspiring destination – it’s people are extraordinary. I would love to return to Angkor Wat, the idyllic islands off Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh, but I’d also get off the beaten track and head up into the Eastern parts of the country such as Ratnakiri which are much less developed. I’d spend more time exploring the countryside and seeing more of the local life staying in local homestays and simple lodges. Finally I’d love to spend some time on the Mekong and have the chance to spot the rare Irrawaddy freshwater dolphin.
Ed - Family Holiday in Greece
For our family summer holiday, Greece would be a fantastic option. In an ideal world, we’d spend a week in a comfortable resort for some much needed downtime. With a baby, a 6 and 8 year old, you still can’t beat some quality time by the sea with a nice pool. Most of the day will be spent in the pool or the sea with the children. One of the Ikos resorts would be perfect for us, we’ve had numerous rave reviews from clients. The high quality all-inclusive will give us a break from cooking and mean we won’t have to worry about where to eat and the extras bill at the end.
Then as with all family holidays, I’d like to explore a little, maybe take a villa in Paxos or Zakynthos or take a ferry to some of the less accessible islands like Naxos or Paros and stay in some of the lovely boutique hotels and guest houses we work with.
Rosie - Iceland
A land of ice and fire… Iceland has long been on my wishlist, it has such a fascinating variety of scenery and experiences to offer. We work with some incredible partners on the ground who really put together so many magical experiences such as mobile tented camps on ice-blue glaciers to private viking dinners served up in the woods with whisky tasting to keep you warm on those cold evenings!
The incomparable Deplar Farm, located on the Troll Peninsula right up in the North of the country is somewhere I long to visit; many think of it just during the winter months for the amazing skiing, but they are open all year round and their setting (in the middle of nowhere!) is stunning, with so many gadgets and activities available along with delicious food. I know it will be somewhere extremely memorable.
I’ve also always wanted to dive the silfra rift, where the North American and Eurasian plates meet; it’s chilly but with 100 metre visibility and the extraordinary opportunity of diving between two tectonic plates makes it pretty special!
I can’t not mention the Northern Lights, having never been lucky enough to see them I would adore to get a glimpse, ideally whilst husky sledding through the snowy wilderness or perhaps from the back of my own snowmobile…I think perhaps it’s just the activities and the toys that are tempting me here, but why not?!
Ed - Cuba
Quite frankly, I’d like to see the country before it changes any further. I’m fascinated to delve deeply into the workings of the country, meet the people, observe the old traditions of ballet, games of dominos on the street, visit the Jazz clubs, try my hand at the Rumba and of course a glass or two of local rum. It must be as close to time travel as you can get.
I’d like to take a restored 1950’s Cadillac up to the Viñales Valley to visit a traditional tobacco plantation where they still plough with ox and use thatched drying houses. I’d also like to visit a traditional Cigar rolling factory. In Havana I would stay in one of the classic hotels such as The Saratoga or Parque Central. From here I would take a road trip out of the city to see the faded beauty of the less visited National Parks, towns and cities . Staying in B&B’s or homestays would be a great way to get a glimpse into day to day life, get to know some locals and try some proper home cooked food. I’d slow down a bit and try to observe some of the intricacies of daily life.
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