If you can make it to all 12, we’re pretty keen to swap lives…
We’re really sinking our teeth into 2018 now, and if you’re anything like us, that means planning out your travel for the year. Sure, it might not all end up happening, but we live in a flight hub. There’s no excuse for staying home the whole year.
Join us for a month-by-month holiday plan. Dreams are free…
READ:
The world’s tallest hotel is coming to Dubai this year…
These are 2018’s top travel destinations, according to Lonely Planet
JANUARY
Zanzibar, Tanzania
This East African island is the dream spot for anyone who wants serious beach time. Temperatures tend to sit around the high 20s in January, and it’s the perfect time of year for scuba diving if you stay on the south coast. We’re told it’s home to some of the world’s most spectacular sunsets – you’ll make all your Instagram followers sick with jealousy.
Flight time: Five hours, 55 minutes
Airline: Flydubai
Priced from: Dhs1,485
FEBRUARY
Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand
This is a classic holiday spot for locals, but by February, they’ve all gone back to work, leaving you to enjoy (usually) settled weather without the high summer crowds. Pictured above is one side of Cathedral Cove, one of the Coromandel’s most beautiful spots. Make the long flight worth it and stay a little while.
Flight time: 16 hours, five minutes
Airline: Emirates
Priced from: Dhs6,695
MARCH
Melbourne, Australia
Alternatively, why not stop off in Melbourne on your way home? The Victorian state capital is heaven for anyone who’s into fashion and food, plus its many parks and gardens make it a very appealing place to explore on foot. Home to some of the best coffee in the world (though half of it is made by New Zealanders).
Flight time: 13 hours, 20 minutes
Airline: Emirates
Priced from: Dhs5,095
APRIL
Krakow, Poland
This is another chance to take advantage of good weather without peak crowds. Krakow is architecturally stunning and rich in culture and history – parts of its central market have been active since the 13th century. One to take your time over.
Flight time: Six hours
Airline: Flydubai
Priced from: Dhs2,245
MAY
Baku, Aberzaijan
Fancy a long weekend in a city that’s a mix of the old and new? Of course you do. Here, you can visit the 15th century Palace of the Shirvanshahs in the morning and the Zaha Hadid-designed Heydar Aliyev Center Museum in the afternoon. Take a jacket, though. Baku is fairly breezy.
Flight time: Two hours, 50 minutes
Airline: Flydubai
Priced from: Dhs1,025
JUNE
Catania, Italy
We don’t think that Sicily is going to need a whole lot of selling. Italian food, beaches and romance? It’s got a lot going for it. Now that there are direct and affordable flights there from Dubai, it’s even more appealing. Whether you want to see Mt Etna or just soak up some history, you’re going to love it.
Flight time: Five hours, 50 minutes
Airline: Flydubai
Priced from: Dhs2,225
JULY
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm is a dynamic, lively city that’s home to some of the most impossibly stylish people on the planet. Head here for nightlife, gorgeous restaurants, art and design, and a wander along an extremely photogenic waterfront. It’s a harbour city with a strong sense of history.
Flight time: Six hours, 30 minutes
Airline: Emirates
Priced from: Dhs3,215
AUGUST
Berlin, Germany
We’ve heard Berlin described as a retirement village for 20-somethings – if you’re after art, street style, great cafes, and cheap bars, you’re going to love it here. Dubai residents may find the August temperatures of 18-23 degrees a little chilly, but it lends itself to exploring as a pedestrian.
Flight time: Six hours, 10 minutes (via Hamburg – Emirates will give you a complimentary rail pass to Berlin)
Airline: Emirates
Priced from: Dhs4,875
SEPTEMBER
New York, USA
Does New York really need a sales pitch? It’s one of the fashion capitals of the world, it’s got incredible restaurants and bars, and apart from anything else, it’s just so cool. Autumn is the perfect time to see the city at its best. Enjoy.
Flight time: 14 hours
Airline: Emirates
Priced from: Dhs3,535
OCTOBER
Istanbul, Turkey
This city is the definition of East meets West. It’s home to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s biggest covered markets, and to the Byzantine Aya Sofya, once an Orthodox church, then a mosque, and now a museum. Take a cruise on the Bosphorus and see the city from the water.
Flight time: Four hours, 25 minutes
Airline: Flydubai
Priced from: Dhs1,095
NOVEMBER
Tokyo, Japan
The Japanese capital is the ultimate mix of old and new. Take a walk in the Imperial East Gardens and look back at the city’s high rises, and you’ll see what we mean. With gold-standard public transport and a million tiny streets to explore, this is a city you’ll fall in love with.
Flight time: Four hours, 25 minutes
Airline: Flydubai
Priced from: Dhs1,095
DECEMBER
Lapland, Finland
How does Christmas under the Northern Lights sound? Finland’s north styles itself as the home of Santa year round, but you might as well see him at the right time of year. Stay in an ice hotel and go dog sledding while you’re up there.
Flight time: 15 hours, 35 minutes to Helsinki
Airline: Emirates
Priced from: Dhs5,075
Images: Instagram
