New year, new you? A dozen ideas for your next trip from Manchester Airport that will help you keep this year’s resolution, with flights from a bargain £28pp return
January is the time of year when New Year’s Resolutions get made – but holidays are often when those resolutions get broken.
So here we look at some holiday destinations with direct flights from Manchester Airport where your New Year’s Resolutions will be safe - and there are plenty of bargains to be had as well.
Get fit: Finland or Singapore
Finland and Singapore are known as two of the fittest countries on the planet.
In Singapore 84% of the population exercise at least once a week thanks to a range of public health facilities and initiatives.
Finland is known for its Everyman’s Right initiative that allows people to roam freely around its stunning natural environment. That means you can find people hiking, kayaking, climbing, swimming, skiing – and much more – all year round.
You can fly directly from Manchester to Singapore with Singapore Airlines from £1,262pp return and directly to Helsinki with Finnair from £224pp return.
Quit smoking: Mexico
Giving up smoking remains one of the most popular New Year resolutions, and breaking your regular routine is key to dropping the habit, so taking a trip somewhere new could be just the start to the year you’re looking for. Mexico has some of the strictest anti-smoking laws in the world including a total ban on smoking in all public places. It means that in practical terms people can only smoke in their own homes or other private residences.
Meanwhile Mexico’s attractions are well known – incredible food, great weather, stunning beaches – and much more. It’s also very good value for money.
You can fly to directly from Manchester to Cancun with Tui from £422pp return.
Cycle more: Germany
Looking to do a bit more cardio this year? With more than three quarters of the population owning a bicycle, and dedicated cycling trails criss-crossing the countryside, Germany is one of the best countries on the continent to explore on two wheels.
One of the most popular trails is the River Main cycle path (or ‘Main-Radweg’), which originates in Frankfurt and snakes alongside the river for nearly 400 miles, taking cyclists through rugged mountainous scenery, ancient forests, quaint German market towns and three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Würzburg, Bamberg and Bayreuth.
Fly to Frankfurt from Manchester with Lufthansa from £181pp return.
Cut out alcohol: Marrakesh
Cutting down on alcohol is a regular fixture on the list of the most common New Year resolutions, and Dry January has exploded in popularity in recent years. If you’re making a conscious effort to reduce your alcohol intake this year, you may find it helps to take your holiday somewhere without the ingrained booze culture found in much of the Western world.
Morocco is a longstanding holiday favourite and offers a bit of everything – from sunshine and beaches to mountains and forests, charming souks and bazaars, unique architecture and world-renowned food. It’s a predominantly Muslim country and, while alcohol is available in some places, it’s not on the menu in many of the family-run restaurants in Marrakesh’s Medina (Old Town) – so you can sample a local beverage with your meal instead, like Mint Tea, freshly squeezed Orange Juice, or a Moroccan Coffee. Marrakesh also makes a great base to explore what the rest of Morocco has to offer.
Fly to Marrakesh from £30pp return with Ryanair.
Eat more fruit and veg: Sicily
If you’re on a health kick and trying to watch what you eat this year, Sicily offers you the chance to sample the much-vaunted Mediterranean diet – as well as sun, sea, sand, and spectacular scenery.
Staples at the Sicilian dinner table include seasonal fruit, vegetables and olive oil, and whole grains, and the fertile volcanic soils around Mount Etna allow much of this to be grown locally – while red meat, processed foods and saturated fat are a rare sight but fresh fish and seafood are commonplace. Studies have shown the Mediterranean diet to lower Cholesterol and significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. Once you’ve taken a cookery class and sampled some Sicilian fare, you could burn some calories by taking a hike up Etna – or if you’re looking for a less arduous walk, explore the outstanding Nebrodi National Park in the north of the island.
Fly to Catania this summer with easyJet from £116pp return.
Save some money: Albania
Although many New Year resolutions revolve around diet, exercise and weight loss, many will be looking to tighten their belts in another way – by paring back their spending.
If this is you, you’ll be looking for a holiday destination that offers great value for money – and few places can compete with Albania. Described as the ‘new Croatia’ by travel writers, the Balkan nation saw the number of international visitors increase by more than a third last year. Its growing popularity can be credited not only to its stunning coastline but also to its very reasonable prices. According to cost of living calculator Numbeo, a restaurant meal can be as little as £5 per head and a local pint on draft can cost as little as £1.
Fly to Tirana, the country’s capital, with Ryanair from only £43pp return.
Learn a new hobby: Montenegro
Maybe you’ve committed yourself to learning a new skill or taking up a new hobby this year. If you want to combine this with getting active, you can try your hand at a huge range of water sports in another of Europe’s most popular emerging destinations, Montenegro.
The beach at Budva, with its dramatic mountainous backdrop, is a popular spot for to hire a jet ski – or have a go at parasailing and take in the view from above. Sea kayaking tours are also available, giving you the chance to take a closer look at the spectacular sea caves that dot this stretch of coast.
Further inland is the Tara Canyon – a deep gorge in the stunning Durmitor National Park that offers some of the best white-water rafting in all of Europe, and again, guided tours are available for beginners.
Fly to Tivat from Manchester direct with easyJet from £95pp return.
Get outdoors more: Oslo
Among the countries with the lowest smoking rates in Europe is Norway – and the fresh winter air in Oslo is a great way to clear your lungs, and your mind. Ice bathing is a time-honoured Norwegian tradition and the city has multiple floating saunas, which give you the chance to take a dip in the cold waters of the Oslo Fjord before you warm up in the sauna.
You can get to Oslo directly from Manchester with Ryanair, with flights still available in February for a bargain £28pp return.
Volunteer more: Crete
Taking the time to do some volunteering might be something you’ve set your sights on this year – and if it is, there are lots of opportunities to gain rewarding, enriching experiences when you travel.
The Greek islands have long had a substantial population of street cats and dogs, many of which don’t have an owner and eke out a living in tourist resorts by scavenging leftovers on outdoor restaurant terraces. The island of Crete is working hard to address this and is home to a number of cat and dog shelters and animal welfare programmes, many of which welcome and encourage the support of tourist volunteers.
This means you can spend your morning walking the dogs, feeding and playing with the animals in the shelters, helping to register and monitor the strays, or identifying animals that need urgent veterinary help – and after you’re done, you can spend the afternoon unwinding on one of Crete’s outstanding beaches.
Fly to Heraklion this summer from Manchester with easyJet, from as little as £162pp return.
Learn a new language: Geneva
Looking to learn a new language this year – or perhaps brush up on one you’ve let slip? Switzerland has four official languages (French, Italian, German and Romansh) and Geneva is a truly global city, hosting the headquarters of several UN agencies and intergovernmental organisations. A large proportion of the population speaks two or even three languages, so you’ll have plenty of chance to practice. While French is the main language is Geneva, you’ll find lots of Italian and German speakers too – and English is also widely spoken, if you do get stuck. Geneva is also a great place to explore the Swiss Alps – which are spectacular all year round.
Flights to Geneva are available with easyJet and Ethiopian Airlines, direct from Manchester. easyJet return fares start at £34pp.
Take a digital detox: Canada
Do you spend an inordinate amount of time each day hunched over a laptop, tablet or phone? Many of us want to cut down our screen time, and ‘Digital Detox’ holidays are more popular than ever. Going off-grid is one thing, but it helps if you have some awe-inspiring scenery to distract you as well.
Toronto is a bustling city but within an hour, you can be camping out in a tranquil nature reserve on the shores of Lake Ontario or Lake Huron – and if you travel a couple of hours to the north, you can be in the pristine wilderness of the Algonquin Provincial Park, which offers something incredible at all times of year, from snowy vistas in winter to wildlife spotting in spring, lakeside camping in summer and impressive autumn foliage.
Manchester Airport has direct flights to Toronto with Airtransat and Air Canada. Flights with Airtransat start at £382pp return.
Visit the Wonders of the World: Manchester
If broadening your horizons and seeing more of the world is your New Year resolution, you can catch a direct flight to no fewer than four of the Seven Wonders of the World from Manchester.
These are the Colosseum in Rome, the ancient desert city of Petra in Jordan; the Mayan temples of Chichen Itza near Cancun, and the Great Wall of China, a portion of which passes close to Beijing.
With just one flight change, it’s also possible to reach the other three – the Taj Mahal near Delhi in India, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Machu Picchu near Lima in Peru.