Where to go on holiday in 2017: Top 12 destinations

2017 is set to be an exciting and hotly anticipated year in travel with a whole host events and new holiday destinations to add to your bucket list.

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Thanks to the first-ever direct flights from the UK to Chile being introduced by British Airways, the South American country will open up to UK travellers, bringing the cities of Santiago and Valparaiso closer as well as the dramatic worlds of Patagonia and the Atacama Desert - a dream for adventure holidaymakers.

North America will be one of the most talked about parts of the world due to the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation, which will see plenty of events take place, as well as free entry to Canada's national parks, national historical sites and national maritime conservation areas throughout 2017. The USA also celebrates a major event, the first total solar eclipse in continental America since the 1970s, on 21 August 2017. From Oregon in the west, to South Carolina in the east, the centre line will cross through ten states and is a phenomenon you won't want to miss.

Despite the poor pound-to-euro exchange rate, Europe remains popular among Britons and Eurostar will launch its London to Amsterdam route later in the year, while Finland invites visitors to celebrate the centenary of its independence on 6 December 2017, with events and celebrations taking place throughout the year across the entire country - from outdoor art exhibitions and concerts, to figure skating championships and countless Finnish sauna parties.

Holidaymakers in search of value for money should look no further than South Africa. Despite already being a much-loved destination among Brits, the weakness of the South African Rand against the pound means that more families, adventure travellers and couples will be heading to the golden beaches and rolling vineyards of this beautiful country next year.