Just Landed: What's new for Spring 2017

Gili season: If you’re going to fly across the world to visit Bali, make sure you hop over to the Gili Islands, too. Even better, try Intrepid Travel’s new seven-day sailing adventure, taking in the peace and serenity (not to mention endless white sand and yet more turquoise water) of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. You’ll be sleeping on a yacht with up to eight like-minded folks, spending your days snorkelling, swimming and exploring bays that you normally wouldn’t have access to. Not too shabby. From £1,190pp. intrepidtravel.com

Get ready for the drop: Obviously you’re planning your next romantic break, and where better to say “I LOVE YOOOOUUUU” than at the top of a 73m vertical drop? That’s just one of the rides at Europa Park, Germany, a theme park that’s seeing the launch of several more white-knuckle rides this spring. OK, it’s officially geared up for families, but with Strasbourg as the closest airport (with flights from Ryanair at £25 return), you could, in theory, combine a pretty, croissant-fuelled French city break with a day riding Europe’s newest roller coasters. europapark.de

Singapore fling: You probably don’t use the words ‘Singapore’ and ‘budget’ too often in the same sentence – a few years back it was named the world’s most expensive city. But at least getting there is cheap, thanks to new flights from Norwegian Air. Starting in September, the airline will get you there from £179 one-way, saving your more cash for important things like Singapore Slings in luxe hotels. norwegian.co.uk

By georgia: Not long ago, getting to Georgia was a slog, with lengthy stopovers. Forget that faff: new direct flights from Georgian Airways (to the capital, Tbilisi) and Wizz Air mean you can spend more time travelling the country, and less time getting there. For a comprehensive tour, check out Wild Frontiers’ 15-day group trip, which takes in the capital of Tbilisi, forested valleys, snow-capped mountains, rural villages and some of the last untouched regions of Eastern Europe. Prices from £1,995pp. wildfrontierstravel.com

Sleep with the stars: San Sebastian may just be one of our favourite city break destinations, but beyond a clutch of cute Airbnbs, the city’s hotel scene has always been a little bit sparse. Step forward Akelarre, a new 22-bedroom boutique hotel that’s opening in the city this July. Along with blinding views over the Bay of Biscay, the swanky hotel is attached to one of the city’s many three-Michelin-starred restaurants. When you’re not lounging around your airy room, be sure to check out the city’s bar-lined cobbled streets. From £379 per night. akelarre.net

Get in the paddle: Why go kayaking on the murky Thames when you could paddle through the waters of an archipelago in northern Norway, while spotting a cheeky polar bear while you’re at it? OK, time and money are required – but hell it’s worth it on travel specialist Wildfoot’s new seven-night Spitsbergen Kayak Expedition, which departs on 18 June. Expect guided kayaking around the island’s largest fjord, long, light-filled days and camping overnight in the middle of the Arctic wilderness. Curious seals come as standard. From £2,004pp, flights excluded. wildfoottravel.com

Tallinn calling: For a charming city break full of picturesque ancient church spires, colourful wooden houses and one of the best walled cities in Europe, hop on British Airways’ new flight to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It has bars (try Hell Hunt for the oldest pub in the city), hipster-mobbed flea markets (head to the Kalamaja district for that) and excellent Skype-calling potential (yep, the app was born here). From £90 return. ba.com

Recline in style: If your holiday vibe is more sunbathe sunbathe sunbathe instead of go go go, then new luxury boutique hotel Mandalina, on the Kas Peninsula of Turkey, is the one for flat-out lounging. Featuring 12 suites with hammam-style bathrooms, natural-hued, light-filled rooms and sexy sea views, it’s the perfect place to just chill on a day bed ploughing through a book, just metres from the sea. Seven nights from £1,000pp including flights. fairlightjones.com

Aaand...relax: Feeling a bit het up? Frazzled? Burned out? What you need is a five-day transformational retreat in the Arizona Desert. The festival – sorry, Restival – takes place from 14 September, and is a chance to stay in the eco-lux comfort of a bell tent while disconnecting from the stresses of daily life. Expect some interesting workshops, including ancient storytelling, art classes and Navajo language lessons. Everything you need to survive in the modern world, basically. From £1,500pp for five nights. restivalglobal.com

Smooth sailing: A group tour doesn’t have to take place on dry land, and it doesn’t have to be dry either – wahay! Gather with similarly minded folk from across the globe on G Adventures’ new sailing trip to Montenegro. Starting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, you’ll cruise (by yacht, obviously) along the Dalmatian coast on an eight-day itinerary, taking in ancient fishing villages, secluded coves and beaches, and some beer-fuelled nights out in Budva. From £869pp. gadventures.co.uk

Fly high for less: Choice is great, and that’s why we’re very happy about Wow Air’s newest flight route to Chicago. Launching in July, the budget airline will jet you to the windy city (via Reykjavík) from £139 one-way, saving you more cash for… DEEP PAN PIZZA. The route joins Norwegian Air’s new route to Seattle from £199 one-way. Welcome to Americana. wowair.co.uk; norwegian.com

Head in the clouds: In a world of glitzy mega resorts, it feels extra special to find a place where the sand hasn’t been swept and hoovered. Case in point, the tiny Caribbean island of Tobago. Go for the sublime, empty beaches, and one of the five-day yoga breaks launching at Castara Retreats this summer. You’ll be honing your moves in a treetop jumble of open-air suites, birds and a breezy new yoga deck with sea views. Afternoons are free for liming (hanging with the locals with a beer) and lazing on the nearby beach. Seven nights cost £900pp, including meals. Flights not included. castararetreats.com

Action all areas: To holiday like James Bond (although, does he ever take holidays?), check out the new lair-style Deplar Farm in northern Iceland. The former sheep lodge’s remote setting gives it access to mega-cool winter and summer pursuits (ice fishing, sea kayaking), and when the Arctic salmon season starts in April you could even heli-ski down the slopes of the Troll Peninsula then catch big sea trout the same day. When you’re not doing that, you can try snowmobiling, ice fishing, jamming in the 12-room property’s rehearsal studio or dipping in the indoor and outdoor swimming pool. Of course, all this fun comes at a price: that’ll be £8,200pp (with four days of heli-skiing, chopper included). elevenexperience.com

Pool resources: Sunshine, warm weather and blue sky: remember them? If you’re hankering for an inexpensive sun-drenched break this spring, try the new Marpunta Village Club – a chilled-out beachside resort that once functioned as a fishing village – on the island of Alonnisos, Greece. Expect fresh, laid-back interiors complete with the typical white-washed walls/blue shutters combo, three private beaches and prices that go pretty easy on the wallet. Seven nights from £480pp on an all-inclusive basis. marpunta.com

Run of the mill: Straight walls are just a bit blah really, aren’t they? For a staycation with a twist, try Red Mill, a converted Grade II-listed windmill on Haddiscoe Island, Norfolk. The property, which sleeps six, was originally built to power drainage pumps on the island, and now it’s available for long weekends and weeks of wildlife spotting, beach trips and views over the River  Yare. And Scrabble. Lots of Scrabble. Prices start from £150 per night. For more information, see norfolkcottages.co.uk

Two-wheeled tour: Most people will see Tanzania by four wheels in a jeep, which is all well and good, but what if you need a bit more action? Intrepid Travel’s new 13-day cycling trip is the answer, in which you’ll be cruising down Great Rift Valley escarpments, strolling through villages, roasting your own coffee and drifting off to sleep surrounded by nocturnal creatures. Expect dry open plains, bumpy roads that will challenge your suspension (and your arse) and some of the best game drives going. From £2,377pp. intrepidtravel.com

Suite dreams: Looking for a weekend escape without spending hours in grid-locked motorway traffic? Us too. So check out boutique inn the Shepherd House, Kent, which has just unveiled a new suite to add to its three existing bedrooms, all of which sit in a restored Georgian townhouse in Faversham, a quaint market town near Whitstable. From £140 a night. shepherdhouse-faversham.com

Cool riders: Ready for festival season? Nor are we. But this year we do know we won’t be making the same mistake as Glasto ‘08 (flooded tent, you know the deal). Instead, we’re enlisting the help of Quirky Campers and its fleet of converted vans, which have been transformed from white-van-man-mobiles into cosy, hippie rides. See the new additions at quirkycampers.co.uk

Dip into Japan: Japan is famous for its sushi, its sake and its… er… robots, but how much do your know about its onsens? A new six-day onsen tour from Walk Japan will help you explore the Oita Prefecture, taking in the best of the region’s hot springs – the highest concentration in the country – by walking forest paths, countryside lanes and remote gravel tracks. Your reward is a soothing bath in warm waters, which range from fizzy and clear to pungent and murky. And relax… £2,350pp for six days. More info at walkjapan.com

Fly south for winter: For a gritty seaside city, complete with a side of bouillabaisse, make the most of Easyjet’s newly launched flights to the French city of Marseille. Cram your weekend with an 8am visit to the port to jostle with the fishermen, and sample the region’s best craft beers at Fietje Cave à Bières, home to ten draft choices and loadsa bottles. The city is famous for its savon de Marseille soap, but make sure you get the real deal from the vendors on the edge of the cool, Panier old town district. From £22.99 one way, easyjet.com 

Greek boutique: Trend-conscious travellers don’t have to splash thousands on the latest design hotel. In fact, they – or you – can laze on pristine beaches, surrounded by some pretty cool laid-back interiors, thanks to Thomas Cook, who are unveiling a second hotel in their Casa Cook portfolio on the Greek island of Kos. This isn’t budget-looking stuff, there’s more rattan, crumpled linen and stripped wood than you can possibly handle, but it combines to create a really quite lovely boutique feel for a very reasonable price. From £525pp per week on a B&B basis, departing from London Stansted. casacook.com

Thoughtful travel: If you’re anything like us, you’ve added a vague ‘charity work’ note to your list of 2017 goals (what? You don’t have one?).  Step forward sustainable development charity Raleigh International, which has added environmental projects to its Tanzania programme. So along with trekking through the staggeringly beautiful Southern Highlands of  Tanzania, you’ll get a chance to play your part in the country’s reforestation programme, creating tree nurseries, planting trees and working with local communities to raise awareness of the issue of deforestation. Targets for eight-week expeditions are £2,100, raleighinternational.org