CHILLED OUT: A polar bear enjoys a refreshing swim in glacial waters (Image: Daily express)
GREENLAND
Intrepid travellers looking for a cool adventure should look no further than Greenland.
A Danish territory straddling the Arctic Circle, this wild and rugged island – the world’s largest (Australia is considered a continent, not an island) – is celebrating 10 years of self-rule and embracing tourism like never before.
Easily reached with flights from Iceland or Denmark, hardy travellers will discover landscapes of towering icebergs, whale-filled fjords and glaciers cut through bedrock.
There’s culture, too, with a strong Inuit heritage present in places like Ittoqqortoormiit. No, we can’t pronounce it either.
Regent Holidays (01173 215 337/regent-holidays.co.uk) has two days from £790.
Price includes flights from Reykjavik, accommodation and tours. Greenland tourism: visitgreenland.com
Get a culture fix in Ittoqqortoormiit (Image: Daily Express)
PRECIOUS METAL: Golden Temple of Dambulla (Image: Daily Express)
SRI LANKA
Named by Lonely Planet as its top country of 2019, Sri Lanka is preparing for its moment in the spotlight.
For a relatively small island – it’s slightly smaller than Ireland – the variety on offer is impressive.
Think leopard spotting and whale watching, misty rainforest, historic fort towns and miles of perfect beaches.
What more could you want?
TUI (020 3451 2688/tui.co.uk) offers 11 nights from £1,262. Departs May 8. Sri Lanka tourism: srilanka.travel
RICH IN HISTORY: BA will offer direct flights to Bastia (Image: Daily Express)
CORSICA
With pristine white beaches and crystal turquoise waters that rival those of the Caribbean, along with stunning coastal cities, medieval hilltop towns and dense chestnut forests, the French “Isle of Beauty” more than lives up to its name.
It’s rich in history too, as next year sees the Mediterranean island marking the 250th anniversary of its most famous son.
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio, the island capital, just a year before France seized the island from Genoa.
Following the launch last spring of direct flights from Heathrow to Figari in the south, British Airways will start direct flights to the northern city of Bastia in May, return fares from £98.
And with Air Corsica operating Stansted flights to Bastia, Figari and Ajaccio, Corsica is on course to be one of 2019’s most popular short-break destinations.
Corsican Places (01489 866 931/corsica.co.uk) offers seven nights from £399. Corsica tourism: ee.france.fr
FACELIFT: The famous Raffles hotel Singapore (Image: Daily Express)
SINGAPORE
Dating back to 1887 and named after the British statesman who is credited with founding Singapore, Raffles has long been the grand dame of hotels in southeast Asia.
But recent visitors to the island city state will have noticed something amiss. It’s been closed since 2017 but will reopen this year looking better than ever after a facelift.
Follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth Taylor and Rudyard Kipling, who both stayed here – separately – and no doubt enjoyed a gin-based Singapore Sling cocktail at the famous Long Bar.
Be sure to drop your discarded peanut shells on the floor. It’s tradition.
Singapore Airlines (0208 961 6993/singaporeair.com) offers return flights from £640. Singapore tourism: visitsingapore.com
HIP SQUARES: Cube houses in Rotterdam (Image: Daily Express)
ROTTERDAM
The Netherlands’ second city will soon give the capital a run for its money.
Eurostar’s service from London to Amsterdam and Rotterdam, launched earlier this year, will introduce a third train each day from June to meet demand.
The trains are direct outward but passengers must disembark in Brussels to clear immigration on the inward journey.
However that should change by the end of the year when the UK and Dutch governments place border controls.
Better yet, Eurostar says as soon as it is in place it will run four trains a day with ambitions for five.
Eurostar (0343 218 6186/ eurostar.com) offers return fares from £70.
NEW LIFE: A fortress overlooks the transformed capital Tbilisi (Image: Daily Express)
GEORGIA
One of Europe’s most overlooked corners, Georgia – a country at the crossroads with Asia that claims to be the birthplace of wine – is a joy to behold.
Think hushed monasteries, verdant vineyards and cosmopolitan cities set against impressive mountain scenery that caters well for hikers, bikers and horse riders.
And the capital, Tbilisi, set in a valley beside the Mtkvari River, has transformed in recent years and shed its Soviet past.
Now you’ll find an atmospheric old town, a thriving arts scene and a buzzing cafe culture.
There’s also a wave of hip new places to stay with work well under way on a new five-star Radisson Red property and a $ 20million Hilton hotel.
Explore (01252 883 754) offers nine days in Georgia from £1,535, including flights. Georgia tourism: georgia.travel
MEET THE LOCALS: Quokkas inhabit Rottnest Island (Image: Daily Express)
PERTH
The vast and varied landscapes of Western Australia are not to be reckoned with – which is perhaps why Qantas has tapped into its “natural” tourism potential and earlier this year introduced a non-stop 17-hour flight from Heathrow.
To start with, it’s an eco-paradise, where swimming with dolphins at Rockingham and scouting for whales in Dunsborough is a given.
On some days, up to 600 majestic humpback and southern right whales frolic just off the coast.
And don’t forget Perth itself. Set on the lovely Swan River, this is a fiercely progressive city with modern skyscrapers that are home to international hotels. T
he Ritz-Carlton will be opening later this year, bringing a dash of five-star glamour to the city.
Visit Rottnest Island to see native quokkas, a marsupial described in the 17th century as “a kind of rat as big as a common cat”.
Qantas (0845 774 7767/qantas.com) offers return fares to Perth from £910. Western Australia tourism: westernaustralia.com
PHOTO-FRIENDLY: Boone Hall Plantation is one of Charleston’s charms (Image: Daily Express)
CHARLESTON
Dance your way to South Carolina. The Atlantic seaport city will become the latest American destination to be served by direct British Airways flights from Heathrow from April 4.
The endearing charm of this musical metropolis, one of cobbled streets and vibrant houses, is one that proves irresistible.
Cruise the harbour on an old paddle steamer and visit a traditional working farm.
The family-run Boone Hall Plantation, one of the oldest and most photographed in America, has been producing crops for more than 330 years.
British Airways (0344 493 0787/ba.com) offers return flights from £880. Charleston tourism: charlestoncvb.com
CULTURE HUB: Visit the V&A and the RSS Discovery in unassuming Dundee (Image: Daily Express)
DUNDEE
Having enjoyed a seismic regeneration over the past few years, this waterfront Scottish city is one very much on the up.
The recent opening of the V&A (vam.ac.uk/dundee) – Scotland’s first design museum – cemented Dundee’s position as an emerging cultural hub and its popularity is only set to grow in the coming months.
So, what awaits?
A city that’s laidback and unassuming in nature but delivers on surprises. Visit the old castle at the seaside community of Broughty Ferry and tour HMS Frigate Unicorn, Scotland’s only preserved warship from 1824.
And, of course, miss the V&A at your peril.
There are more than 300 exhibits on show, ranging from fashion and furniture to engineering and architecture.
Apex City Quay Hotel and Spa (0800 049 8000/apexhotels.com) offers doubles from £105, room only.
SERENE SETTING: Take in the beauty of a spring sunset at the Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto (Image: Daily Express)
JAPAN
Tokyo may be the obvious choice when considering a trip to Japan but the land of the rising sun has much more to offer – and 2019 is the year to discover it.
The Rugby World Cup kicks off in September and the neon illuminated capital is busy preparing for the Olympics in 2020.
Furthermore, a new non-stop British Airways flight to Osaka takes off on March 31, meaning you can now discover Japan’s energetic second city, with its skyscrapers and sake bars.
Better yet, atmospheric Kyoto – known for its teahouses and ancient backstreets – is only 30 minutes away by train.
You may even spot a geisha or two.
Return flights from £599. Inside Japan Tours (0117 370 9751/insidejapantours.com) offers seven nights from £980, excluding flights. Japan tourism: seejapan.co.uk
