Decisions, decisions – holidays in 2023

Here is some inspiration for booking your 2023 trips according to the time of year you wish to travel.

Spring

Mauritius

If you’re seeking sun, sea and luxury, then Mauritius ticks all the boxes. There are gorgeous hotels lining the beautiful coast. One of the newest additions is the LUX* Grand Baie on the northern tip of the island, a boutique-style urban retreat.

LUX has a number of hotels on the island, such as the LUX* Grand Gaube and the LUX* Le Morne. LUX* Belle Mare is currently closed for a facelift, ready for a reopening in October.

As well as the dreamy beaches and glamorous hotels, visitors can also enjoy swimming with dolphins and colourful marine life, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden or cycling through sugar cane estates.

For those who want more adventure, there’s canyoning and rainforest ziplining, kite surfing and quad biking. Keen walkers can hike to explore rainforests, mountains and thundering waterfalls.

Amsterdam

For a springtime pick-me-up, Amsterdam could be just the ticket. In April, you’ll be greeted by a sea of tulips across its parks and gardens. The annual Tulip Festival plants one tulip for every resident – that's 800,000 blooms in the city alone. In April 2023, you’ll also see the once-a-decade Floriade horticultural show.

If that's not enough, hire a bike and see the sights. As well as flying, there’s the option to hop on the Eurostar and arrive in the centre of Amsterdam in under four hours from London. Amsterdam Centraal Station is extremely well connected to the rest of the city by the tram network and is within walking distance from most of the top neighbourhoods. Boutique hotels are also in abundance here.

Maurits at the Park is one of the newest to open from Pillows Hotels – the hospitality brand with luxury hotels and restaurants in the Netherlands and Belgium. Located just outside the hubbub of central Amsterdam, it’s ideal for a relaxing weekend break.

Summer

Jamaica

Jamaica has the best of luxury if you’re looking for bright blue seas dotted with luxury yachts, and diving and relaxing on white-sand beaches.

Jamaica has also become the best-value destination in the Caribbean, based on prices surveyed in the north-coast hub of Montego Bay, a base for beachgoers, snorkellers and rainforest explorers. There are plenty of luxurious, family-friendly, all-inclusive hotels that will help to melt away stress.

If you’re looking for grown-ups only, there’s an adult-only resort which opened in 2021 – Ocean Eden Bay, set on Montego Bay’s idyllic seafront, complete with swim-up suites.

Greece

There’s a huge choice of destination if you decide to head for Greek waters. You have the choice of many gorgeous islands as well as the mainland.

Choose from hotels and villas in picturesque seaside villages to mountain hamlets and old towns. Greece may not be synonymous with the all-inclusive break, but luxurious Ikos resorts are great for families, and include adult-only sections for travelling couples.

There are properties in Kos, Corfu and on the Halkidiki Peninsula in Northern Greece.

Autumn

Sri Lanka

If you’re looking for paradise, Sri Lanka should be on your shortlist. Whether you want culture, beaches or a safari adventure, Sri Lanka has it all. The hotels on the sweeping sandy white beaches on the south and east coast offer luxury for couples and families alike.

As well as the sandy beaches, there’s so much to do in Sri Lanka such as exploring ruins, cities and national parks teeming with wildlife, as well as visiting the iconic tea plantations.

For beachside living in the south, there’s Cape Weligama, regarded as one of the country’s most desirable and well-located luxury resorts. It sits on an elevated headland overlooking the Indian Ocean and has a 60-metre, crescent-shaped infinity pool.

To see Columbo, there’s the Marino Beach, a five-star complex complete with rooftop pool.

Algarve

If you want to catch the last of the Mediterranean sun in the autumn, try the sandy beaches and villages in the Algarve.

Famous for glittering azure waters as well as the beaches, it's also home to rolling countryside, golf courses and charming resort towns. Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago and Albufeira are popular spots, but quieter Tavira is known as the Venice of the Algarve and Ria Formosa is home to stunning wetlands.

Pine Cliffs Resort is a popular spot with rooms, suites and residences set on the sandstone cliffs above a golden-sand beach – Falésia beach, which is consistently voted one of the top three beaches on the Iberian Peninsula.

Winter

South Africa

A holiday to South Africa has plenty of appeal. Safari is perhaps the most sought-after experience here, followed by wine tasting in the famous winelands.

You could combine both at the family run vineyard Villiera near Stellenbosch. As well as the opportunity for wine tasting, there’s a game drive where you can see giraffe, springbok, kudu and eland.

If you’re into sea life, you’ll love the Hermanus Whale Festival in late September on the south-east coast of the western cape. The beaches on the southern cape are beautiful. And with the value of the rand against the pound still weak, you can get incredible value for money on top quality accommodation, food, wine and experiences.

France

A trip to the mountains might be in order for a dose of fresh air and some exercise on the slopes. Morzine in the French Alps has plenty to offer with runs for every ability whether on skis or snowboards. Morzine also connects to the three valleys, which means you can ski all the way to the Swiss border.

Skiing or snowboarding isn’t essential of course. There’s plenty to do if you prefer to stay in your snow boots. The nightlife is buzzing for those with energy left when the lifts close and adult-only hotels for couples who want to party.

Treeline Chalets have a great choice of accommodation. They have the Hox Chalet on their books – a residence brought to you by fashionable urban hotel chain, The Hoxton.