Travel Trends 2012


Looking to go somewhere a bit different this year for your holidays? Here's a run-down of up-and-coming holiday spots for the new year and a few perennial old favourites too.

1) Nellim, Finland
Forget sweating in a tuk-tuk, using bundles of talc and plastering over flip-flop blisters; heading north is set to be trend for 2012. The worldwide release of Attenborough's 'Frozen Planet' and a recent spate of films showing off the northern regions (such as 'Let the Right One In') have shown us lands of icy wonder and cultural intrigue. Whether Canada, Iceland, Scotland, or the remote town of Nellin in Finland. Why Finland? Well simply, it has some of the clearest skies in the world.
Seeing the aurorae borealis is on many bucket lists, and Canada and Lapland (northern parts of Finland) are set for a spectacular light show as the solar winds which cause the northern lights peak during their 11-year cycle, east of the magnetic north pole. It might prompt visitors to pay attention to their surroundings too, as the space weather threatens to cause havoc with GPS and telecommunications, so don't rely on your iPhone.

2) Burma
OK, so don't forget about flip-flops just yet... As Burma slowly and gradually edges towards freedom, pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi has called for the return of tourism. Films and plays about the charismatic activist abound, with Luc Besson's biopic 'The Lady' the latest to raise awareness of the region. Burma offers a taste of South-East Asia as one might have imagined before the tourist boom: temples and pagodas; fishing villages; forests and rivers; smiles and hospitality. What's more, the Irrawaddy River provides a great way of seeing plenty of wonders in comfort.

3) Cadiz, Andalucia
Cadiz remains one of the most ancient cities in Europe, but one which still knows how to party. The 200th anniversary of the Spanish constitution is in 2012, and it will be celebrated fervently in the city that gave birth to it. Plus, they're famous for one of most exciting carnivals in the world, as well as hospitality and humour.
Catch the freshest seafood you've ever eaten: lots of shellfish, as well as bass bream and squid, alongside splendid tapas and fine sherry. Enjoy beaches, warm temperatures, and expect yet more flamboyance as the city expresses its cultural connection with Latin America as the Ibero-American Capital of Culture for 2012. Then head out and join the party!

4) Weymouth
Weymouth and isle of Portland are the place to catch all the sailing events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There are plenty of vantage points to watch from this natural amphitheatre - you don't even need a ticket. Not to mention loads of free events and giant screen coverage of the Games on Weymouth beach.
Weymouth boasts its harbour, promenade, ancient fossils of the Jurassic Coast and even stunning bird and water gardens such as Radipole Lake right in the centre. Less chaotic and costly than London, but also less than three hours train ride away.

5) Amritsar
India - exotic, colourful; mysterious. And the north-west of the country has never been easier to get to with new routes from BMI and better rail connections with the rest of the country too, to the Sikh spiritual and cultural centre of Amritsar.

Amritsar's Golden Temple must be one of the few major tourists attractions in the world offering free meals, but that's not the main reason that the number of visitors per year rivals the Taj Mahal. Its centuries-old beauty sits alongside the city's rich cuisine and culture. So wherever you're headed for in 2012, have your travel money handy, and don't forget essential travel insurance.

Issued by Sainsbury's Finance
Sainsbury's Finance is a trading name of Sainsbury's Bank plc. All information correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change. Any views or opinions expressed in this article are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any part of the Sainsbury's Group of companies.