Livin' in a box: You may not have realised it yet, but you’re desperate to spend the night in a National Nature Reserve. Specifically, you want to spend a night in Elmley, Kent, the only National Nature Reserve in England you can stay in. Thanks to Canopy and Stars, you can stay in Saltbox – a quaint but modern little cabin with windows for walls and wild views over meadows when you wake up. We’ve done our fair share of staycations, but this is one we can’t wait to try out. canopyandstars.co.uk
Raise Hull: Hull has taken its fair share of flack over the years – including being named the least romantic city in the UK in 2015 (as discovered by a hotels.com poll). But now it seems the city’s fortunes are set to turn with its newest accolade – in 2017 it’s the UK City of Culture. This year will see new restaurants and hotels flooding into the city (thanks to £25m investment), not to mention the hosting of the Turner Prize. We’re still fans of the historic boozers and cobbled streets of the old town. hull2017.co.uk
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Fresh and wild: London’s great for many things, but fresh, clean air probably isn’t one of them. For a break that’s as good for your head as your lungs, try The Flash Pack’s new four-night summer adventure in Slovenia. You’ll be travelling with like-minded folk, and taking in the best of the country’s wild beauty – paddle boarding across Lake Bled, canyoning through the Bohinj Valley and glamping in a hut with its own hot tub. From £745pp, flashpack.com
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Yogic Flying: For a yoga- and Bollywood-infused tour of India, check out the new group trip from Intrepid Travel. The 12-day tour, which launches in April this year, takes in sights including the Taj Mahal and Amber Fort, while also giving you the chance to take dance lessons in Delhi and head to a local Bollywood film screening. The city section is followed by a few days in Rishikesh, the ‘yoga capital’ of the world, where you’ll practice new moves at the foothills of the Himalayas and on the banks of the river Ganges. Beats doing downward-facing dog at the local leisure centre. From £795pp. intrepidtravel.com
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The Big 375: We love a good birthday, especially when there are 375 candles on the cake. That’s right, Canada’s coolest city, Montreal, will be celebrating its 375th anniversary this year, meaning that along with the regular gritty bars, food scene and art, the city will be treated to a stellar programme of cultural events. Our pick, though, is an exhibition at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal in honour of the city’s most famous son – Leonard Cohen. It’ll include brand-new works from local and international artists who were inspired by Lenny’s work, and will run from 9 November 2017-1 April 2018. 375mtl.com
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The Big Easy, now even easier: Exciting news in the world of, er, aviation: BA has announced new direct flights to New Orleans. Launching in March of this year, the flight will drop you in the uber-cool southern US town that’s saturated with African, American and French flavours. Don’t get us started on the ass-shakin’ live music and drinking sessions that take place in those local bars. We’re shimmying in our seats just writing about it. From £585 return. ba.com
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Get the memmo: We’re big fans of Memmo Alfama, one of the Memmo hotel group’s cool little boutique hotels set in the backstreets of Lisbon (that croissant loaf, oh that croissant loaf!). It’s with huge, croissant-lusting joy, then, that we welcome the group’s new Lisbon hotel, a swanky design-led 41-bedroom property with slick surfaces and punchy cocktails. It’s located in the swanky Principe Real part of the city, a short tram rattle or wander from the best parts of town. From £174 per room per night. memmohotels.com
Snow mates: If you’re hitting the slopes this winter you may want to check out new matchmaking website, Ongosa. No, it’s not Tinder for snow lovers (although that does sound fun), but a genuinely helpful site that’ll match budding beginner skiers or advanced snow plowers with the best in-resort instructors and guides. Outline your dates and requirements and the Ongosa team will hook you up with the best in-the-know person who can show you the ropes on the slopes. From £40 per hour. ongosa.com
January sails: Of all our adventures it’s that half-day boat trip around the Greek island of Ithaca that’s really stuck in our mind. Imagine, then, a one-week version, exploring the tiny coves of the South Ionian islands on a yacht. New from Sailing Holidays, the trip takes you around the secluded bays of Ithaca, before going to the less-explored islands of Kioni, Kastos and Kalamos. From £495pp. sailingholidays.com
Volcano go: Imagine sleeping in the amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone. We know – sounds pretty crazy. Well, it’s the setting of Wilderness Safaris’ Bistate Lodge, which is set to open close to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda this June. The six forest villas are set to be the area’s most luxurious base for gorilla conservation sessions, and exploring the plentiful natural beauty of this part of the world. Prices TBC. For more info, see wilderness-safaris.com
C. Culbert
