November 2016 marks the launch of a direct flight from Manchester to Tobago when you can make the most of this laidback, lush and unspoilt Caribbean island. Tobago is home to a Robinson Crusoe-style, crescent moon-shaped beach in the seaside village of Castara, where swimming, snorkelling and diving is a must. At Castara Retreats, you can stay in one of 15 wood-built treehouses nestled in the lush hillside, while enjoying the restaurant and bar with sea views, daily yoga and massages. Golden Holidays offers a seven-night holiday at Castara Retreats on a room only basis from £829 per person.
One of Greece’s lesser-known islands, Milos is the southernmost of the Cyclades, and like Santorini, owes its origins to a volcano, with a central caldera and colourful, surreal rock formations. The island and its offshore islets are home to more than 70 splendid beaches with different-coloured sands and stone, while white-washed homes dot the landscape. Greek holiday specialist Olympic Holidays is offering trips to Milos for the first time in 2016, with accommodation in the harbour town of Adamas. A seven-night holiday costs from £645 per person on a B&B basis, including flights and ferry transfers.
In late 2015, the FCO lifted its travel warning for Mombasa, opening up the coast from Malindi in the north right down to the Tanzanian border, so now the ideal time for a beach holiday in Kenya. Diani Beach is a beautiful and popular destination, offering palm-fringed coastline and calm waters. There are also many luxury hotels and year-round sunshine. Try Leopard Beach Resort and Spa, which has suites, cottages and private villas, as well as a diverse range of dining options and wellness facilities. The Residences Pool Villas cost from £100 per night on a half-board basis.
Easyjet launches new flights from Manchester to Tivat, Montenegro in March 2016, making the beautiful country more accessible for budget travellers. Around 40 minutes from Tivat lies Becici, a picturesque resort with a crystal clear bay, green coniferous forests and beautiful mountains. Stay at the Montenegro Beach Resort, where you can enjoy your days on the private beach, swim in the outdoor pool, or use the hotel as a base to explore other parts of the country. Seven nights on a B&B basis costs from £267, including flights.
Previously a private island, this tiny Great Barrier Reef island will be open to travellers from April 2016 after being renamed Pumpkin Island. It will offer eco-friendly accommodation for up to 34 guests in seven self-catering units that are powered by the wind and sun, each with private decks for watching the sunset. There will be fantastic opportunities to snorkel, dive, spot turtles, stand up paddle board and fish, as well as relax on your private exclusive island paradise if you wish to book it all for yourself. A stay costs from £1,209 per night in a cottage or bungalow, which accommodates up to six guests.
For unspoilt sandy beaches and wildlife viewing, visit North Cyprus, one of the last places in the Mediterranean where you can see rare sea turtles nesting. As development continues elsewhere, it’s getting harder to find places to see them so 2016 is a good time to go before it’s too late. Prime nesting season is from mid-June to mid-July, with baby turtles hatching from 20 July to late September. Stay in the luxury Korineum Golf & Beach Resort, just a short drive away, set in rolling countryside. Direct Traveller offers a seven-night holiday on a half-board basis from £406 per person, including flights.
UK visitor numbers to Jamaica are consistently rising, with the island soon tipped to overtake Barbados as the Britain’s favourite Caribbean destination. Until now, travellers visiting Montego Bay relied heavily on Virgin flights, as British Airways travellers had to make a lengthy transfer from Kingston. This is set to change in 2016 with the opening of a Kingston to Ocho Rios road, which will significantly reduce the transfer time to Montego Bay’s world-class resorts. Stay at the lush Round Hill Hotel and Villas, which boasts a private beach, breathtaking sunsets and an opulent infinity pool. Scott Dunn offers a seven-night holiday on a half-board basis from £2,000 per person, including flights.
Take advantage of the new low-cost Norwegian Air flights to San Juan in Puerto Rico and visit the small Caribbean island of Nevis. Fares start from just £199 one way and from San Juan there are connecting flights to Nevis from $99 one way. Stay at the boutique Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, the only historic plantation inn in the Caribbean to be set on the beach. The hotel has just 36 rooms and the white sand beach features a freshwater swimming pool, hot tub, two restaurants and a beach bar. Rates start from $435 per night in a Superior room with breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner, based on two sharing.
The charming resort of Altea is a world away from the bright lights of Benidorm and just 45 minutes away from Alicante Airport. This year, Ryanair, Flybe, Aer Lingus and Jet2 are launching flights to Alicante from the UK, making it easier for more British tourists to experience the typically Spanish resort of Altea. With its charming old town, whitewashed buildings and mile-long sandy beach, it's a must-visit and perfect for solo travellers. Travel One offers holidays staying at Hotel Cap Negret on a half-board basis from £579 for seven nights, including flights.
Done Dubai? Over Abu Dhabi? Ras Al Khaimah is the hottest beach destination in the UAE for 2016. Located just 45 minutes from Dubai, it's known for having THE best beaches, with locals from other emirate states visiting Ras Al Khaimah on weekends just to experience the pristine golden sands. Qatar Airways is also launching new flights to Ras Al Khaimah from Edinburgh, Manchester, London Heathrow and Birmingham via Doha in February. Mercury Holidays offers five-night all-inclusive holidays at Beach Resort by Bin Majid Hotels and Resorts from £649 per person, including flights.
- Slovenia celebrates its 25th birthday in 2016 after gaining independence from Yugoslavia in June 1991. As one of the youngest countries in Europe, it’s no surprise that there will be a series of extravagant events to celebrate with live music and feasts with plenty of that famous Slovenian wine flowing. Piran is one of the three towns of the Istria region and a wonderful place for a beach break. The unspoilt medieval town lies on the Adriatic coast and boasts seven Blue Flag beaches. Stay at Hotel Piran, a four-star hotel offering beautiful sea views and a restaurant serving fresh seafood. Rooms start from £82 per night on a B&B basis, based on two sharing.
Events don’t get much more major than the Olympics in 2016 when all eyes will be on Rio de Janeiro as the world’s biggest sporting event comes to Brazil. With mile upon mile of picturesque beaches, Brazil wins the gold medal every time. Whether you prefer the small, private coves and islands of somewhere like Buzios, or the long stretches of white sands and palm trees offered by Porto de Galinhas or Praia do Forte, there is a huge variety of beaches to escape to this summer. Plus, the Brazilian real has crashed in value over the past 18 months, making beach holidays in Brazil cheaper than they’ve been for years. RealWorld offers a 12-day holiday combining Rio and the beaches of Buzios from £1,295 per person, excluding flights.
- British Airways launches direct flights from the UK to Costa Rica this May, making the Central American country one of the hottest trips for 2016. With a Pacific and Caribbean coastline, Costa Rica's beaches are a highlight, offering everything from black sands to powder white stretches and many backed by lush forests. Into Latin America offers a Luxury Costa Rica itinerary that includes stays on a private reserve in the cloud forest, and time to enjoy the unspoilt beaches of Costa Rica’s western coast. Three nights are spent at Punta Islita, which is perched on a rocky hillside overlooking the beach. The seven-night trips costs from £1,699 per person, excluding flights.
- Portugal's sunny Algarve has been named the best value destination for 2016 by Post Office Travel which found it the cheapest place for UK tourists thanks to a 19 per cent fall in resort costs which include meals and drinks. The Holiday Inn Algarve offers affordable accommodation from £96 per night, while getting there can be cheap with Easyjet and Monarch. Some of the best (and free to enjoy) beaches include Praia da Marinha, Praia da Arrifana and Praia da Falésia.
- The past few months has seen a growth in infrastructure and hotels in Sri Lanka, making travel easier and allowing guests to see much more in a shorter amount of time. It's a wonderful country for families, with culture, wildlife, beaches and UNESCO World Heritage sites all very accessible. On the south coast in regions such as Galle and Tangalle, families can stay in private luxury villas that come with private chefs and private stretches of beach. Black Tomato can arrange a 10-night bespoke holiday to Sri Lanka from £4,819 per person including accommodation, flights and tours.
Travel to Myanmar is growing and as well as its golden temples and ancient traditions, there are miles of unspoilt beaches to discover. Ngwe Saung is an excellent beach resort offering fantastic scuba diving and snorkelling. It even features an island at the southern tip which you can walk to at low tide. Visitors can hire a motorcycle to explore the 15 kilometre beach in its entirety. The resort is around six hours from Yangon by road. Singapore Airlines flies from Heathrow and Manchester to Yangon via Singapore with return fares from London starting at £730 per person.
Travellers will soon be able to fly direct to Los Angeles from Manchester Airport when Thomas Cook Airlines commences the twice-weekly route in May. With even more choice outside London, there is no better time to explore Los Angeles beaches. Small, beautiful and dominated by rocky outcrops, El Matador State Beach is only six miles north of Malibu and known as the most romantic beach in Los Angeles. The secluded pocket beach has rocky shores, robust waves and some of the clearest water in LA. There are no lifeguards or facilities either, so you won't have trouble finding privacy. Stay at the nearby Malibu Beach Inn, located along Billionaires Beach. The unique boutique hotel offers complete relaxation including on-site spa services and is just minutes away from Malibu's landmarks and high-end boutiques. An overnight stay starts at £269 per room per night.