Travel restrictions may still be leaving plans uncertain, but as 2022 begins, there’s still a sense of optimism about going globetrotting again. We might be travelling differently, whether that’s embracing more sustainable and meaningful trips, or choosing the security of a package holiday, but the desire to see the world is only stronger for two years of limited opportunities.
“Whether it’s closer to home, exploring the UK and Europe, or focusing on journeys further afield to destinations that highlight sustainable, environmental and community initiatives, this year’s list gives us an opportunity to celebrate the world as we begin to emerge from the pandemic,” says Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK), which publishes its own travel hotlist each year.
So from the latest travel trends to the best places for your next trip, we’ve picked a string of ideas to inspire the 12 months ahead.
Where to go in 2022
“After an enforced hiatus, it’s time to take those long-postponed travel plans off the shelf and make them a reality,” says Lonely Planet’s VP of Experience Tom Hall. “The lists celebrate the world in all its wonderful enticing variety.”
And along with far-flung tropical escapes — Lonely Planet’s annual hot list includes the Cook Islands, Mauritius and Anguilla, for example — you’ll find tempting destinations close to home.
Hadrians Wall VB34144371 CREDIT ©VisitBritain Andrew Pickett
Kent’s Downs and Heritage Coast
Taking fourth place in Lonely Planet’s list of best regions to visit in 2022 for its coast and countryside, there are plans to reintroduce bison to Kent’s nature reserve of Blean Woods next year, along with a planned Landscape Festival, mixing art and outdoor events — not forgetting its string of Blue Flag beaches. visitkent.co.uk
“Already recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the county is implementing ambitious plans to establish a Global Geo Park, as well as developing community projects to benefit locals and visitors alike,” explains Tom Hall.
Hadrian’s Wall
There’ll be a year of celebrations and special events to mark 1900 years since the first stones were laid for Hadrian’s Wall in 122CE, from re-enactments to outdoor art installations and even a Roman Big Birthday Bash.
The events will be taking place across Northumberland, Tyne & West and Cumbria, the three counties crossed by the 73-mile long wall, and you can expect to see everything from a Roman-themed city of light to a Japanese manga series bringing Roman history to life, as well as artwork using the landscape itself. 1900.hadrianswallcountry.co.uk
Egypt
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 2022, Egypt made both Lonely Planet and National Geographic Traveller’s lists. And after many delays, the much-anticipated new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza is also finally set to open later in the year.
Closer to the pyramids and sphinx than the city’s current museum, there will be space for more of its collection to go on display too — totalling more than 100,000 artefacts, it includes pieces from throughout Egypt’s history as well as Tutankhamun’s own fabled treasure collection. egypt.travel
F014634-10 mediteranska kraska slovenija razgledi iz visnjevika na vinograde 2-photo-m
Slovenia
Slovenia’s focus on sustainable travel helped it into Lonely Planet’s best country list, including the new Green Gourmet Route running from capital Ljubljana.
Stretching past the Alps and the Italian border towards Maribor and stopping only in green-certified destinations — designations awarded to areas developing tourism in sustainable ways — it takes you through vineyards, some of Slovenia’s most beautiful scenery and to Michelin-starred restaurants. slovenia.info
Or discover another of the loveliest areas of the country on a zero-impact day spent at Lake Bled with electric vehicles and farm-to-table cuisine, from ToursByLocals.
Romania
Welcoming its ninth Unesco World Heritage site, the Rosia Montana Mining Landscape, Romania still feels like it’s well off the beaten track while only being a three-hour flight away.
“Home to Bram Stoker’s Dracula (in actuality, Vlad the Impaler), Transylvania is steeped in an extraordinarily rich history, as well as being the most bio-geographically diverse country in the EU,” says Tom Marchant, co-founder of Black Tomato.
“One of the best places in Europe to go wildlife watching, a lack of luxury lodging options deterred some travellers but that has changed with the newly opened luxurious manor house of Bethlen Estates, as well as the belle epoque glamour of Marmorosch in Bucharest.”
Chino beach scene Galapgos - Pura Aventura
The Galapagos Islands
As Ecuador celebrates 200 years of independence, it’s the perfect time to enjoy one of the world’s great bucket list adventures following the COP26 pledge of a 60,000 square kilometre expansion to the marine reserve in the ocean around the islands.
Explore guilt-free with Pura Aventura, which mitigates 160 per cent of the carbon generated on its Ultimate Galapagos cruise and island stay.
The 15-night trip includes 10 nights on a 16-passenger luxury catamaran, plus a stay in San Cristobel, the least developed of the inhabited islands, along with capital Quito. Priced from £8,185, excluding international flights.
Dates for your travel diary
March
British Airways starts flying to 35 destinations from its new short-haul hub at Gatwick this month. The new routes will include Athens, Berlin, Madrid, Milan Malpensa and Santorini, priced from £39 each way.
June
Along with a long weekend from June 2-5 to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, there are set to be celebrations year-round, from special summer events at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to the Superbloom display in the Tower of London moat from June 1.
Superbloom at the Tower PE8A9692 Credit HRP
August
Edinburgh is celebrating 75 years of its iconic arts festivals in 2022, with a string of events to make the Edinburgh International Festival, Festival Fringe and International Film Festival extra special. visitscotland.com
2022 travel trends
The cautious catch-up consumer
One of ABTA’s key travel trends for 2022, almost half of us say holidays are more important than before with destinations like the Caribbean and the Maldives rising in popularity alongside traditional favourites such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece and the US.
But while we’re determined to seize the opportunities, we’re also relying more on travel professionals than pre-pandemic, with 47 per cent saying it’s for guidance on Covid-related travel requirements, and a similar number looking for the security of a package holiday.
Sustainable travel
A growing trend for the past few years, sustainability is the key theme of 2022 travel, with travellers ever more focused on making a positive impact as they see the world.
According to ABTA, 54 per cent say the environmental and sustainable credentials of their holiday provider are important to them, up from 20 per cent in 2011, with 38 per cent prepared to pay more for a company with a better environmental and social record.
And good habits start at home. New train service Lumo, connecting Edinburgh and London, is providing low-carbon — and affordable — travel, to encourage more environmentally friendly journeys between the two capitals.
Tourist boards are focusing on sustainable ways to explore too, such as the new walking app coming from Visit Guernsey in early 2022, with themed routes to help visitors discover the island.
TravMedia United Kingdom 1488660 Cliff walk - Guernsey
Spontaneous travel
When planning too far ahead can feel risky, last-minute trips are sometimes the only solution, with a quarter willing to be more spontaneous in 2022, according to research from Expedia.
And if flights aren’t an option, there are always road trips. Premium car rental company The Out (theout.com) found that the average time between booking and departing was less than three days, with 20 per cent setting off within 24 hours.
The company, which has free delivery/collection in London and Manchester, also offers electric models among its fleet of Jaguars and Land Rovers.
Multigenerational travel
It’s little surprise that wanting to be with family and friends is as important as where we go — and next year will be the year of the ‘BFG’, or big family get-together, according to Tom Marchant, with 55 per cent of Black Tomato’s bookings for family groups.
Research from easyJet holidays backs this up, with 25 per cent of the company’s UK customers prioritising going away with their extended family; Turkey tops the list as its most booked destination for 2022.
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