Fancy a weekend in Akureyri darling? Or what about a few days in Benebecula?
Exotic-sounding places like these which are virtually unknown to most holidaymakers are among the new wave of destinations that are being served by airlines looking for new markets to explore now that more traditional destinations are becoming saturated.
But what is there to do in these new destinations? Mark Frary consults the index of his atlas and finds out
AKUREYRI
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Who flies there
Iceland Express starts flying here from Stansted twice a week (Thursdays and Sundays) on September 28. Fares start at £177 return including taxes and charges.
Why go?
Akureyri, on Iceland’s northern coast, is the country’s biggest populated centre after Reykjavik. While many visitors to the country never get beyond the Blue Lagoon and geyser country, there is much to explore up north. One of the biggest attractions is Lake Myvatn, home to extensive lava flows and volcanic craters and one of the richest concentrations of rare bird life in the country. Each summer the town hosts Listasumar, a two-month long arts festival featuring scultpture and other visual arts, dance, jazz and classical music.
Where to stay
The Hotel Kea next to the town’s unusual 1940s church, is central and has moderately sized clean rooms. Doubles from £108.
BENBECULA
Who flies there
Highland Airways starts daily direct services from Inverness for the first time on September 4. Fares start from £79.86 return including taxes and charges.
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Why go?
The island of Benbecula sits at the heart of the 150-mile long chain that makes up Scotland’s Western Isles. Its location makes it the ideal spot for exploring the island - the neighbouring islands of North and South Uist are linked by road bridge. The islands are ideal for hiking and cycling - there are endless spectacular views and ancient monuments by the score. Benbecula is also a good place for otter-spotting on the beach. North Uist is famous for its unspoilt white beaches and birdlife.
Where to stay
The Isle of Benbecula House Hotel which has an enviable view over South Uist. Double rooms from £99 a night.
DEAUVILLE
Who flies there
Three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) from Stansted with Ryanair from October 31. Fares start at £35.85 return including taxes and charges.
Why go?
Deauville is the Cannes of the north. It has its own American film festival every September and a boardwalk that runs alongside a wide strip of golden sand, emulating Cannes’ Croisette. The town sits on the coast between Le Havre and Cherbourg so you do have to swap the weather of the Med for that of the English Channel. Horses are another reason to come here. The big international meetings take place in August but there are races throughout the year in the beautiful Hippodrome de la Touques, built in the 1860s. The bloodstock sales at the Elie de Brignac are open to the public and are fascinating to watch.
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Where to stay
Many of the town’s hotels, particularly the upmarket ones, are only open from March to October. The best hotel in town is the turreted Belle Epoque Normandy Barriere which has doubles starting at £125.
Page 2: Fez, Hanover, Rijeka
Page 3: Santiago, Le Touquet ()
FEZ
Who flies there
Ryanair starts flying three times a week to Fez from Luton on October 31. Fares on the services, which fly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, start from £31.89 return including taxes and charges.
Why go?
Fez (Fes) still maintains its position as the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco despite losing the administrative role to Rabat in 1912. As you walk through the thousands of tiny streets that make up the medina, it’s easy to imagine that you are still living in the Middle Ages.
At the end of May each year, the city is host to the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, which brings together everything from gospel to Japanese drumming.
Where to stay
The Riad Fes is one of the many riads that has been lovingly restored as Fez has become more popular with tourists. A standard double costs £120 a night.
HANOVER
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Who flies there
Flybe launches a daily flight from Southampton on October 29. Fares start from £31.99 return including taxes and charges
Why go?
Hanover has many impressive buildings including the Gothic Marktkirche and Old Town Hall and the New Town Hall, built at the turn of the 20th century. The city’s Sprengel Museum has impressive collections of works by Max Ernst and Paul Klee.
Also worth a visit are the Royal Gardens at Herrenhausen, some of Europe’s most impressive formal gardens. The 100-acre Great Garden was commissioned by Princess Sophia of Hannover, following a visit to the Palace of Versailles in which she was impressed the formal gardens there.
Where to stay
The modern Hotel Amadeus is about a mile or so away from the city centre and is a clean, modern three-star property. Double rooms from £60
RIJEKA
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Who flies there
At the end of July, Bristol got a three-times weekly link (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) to Rijeka in Croatia with EasyJet. Fares start from £46.98 return including taxes and charges.
Why go?
The city of Rijeka is a busy industrial port and while it is waiting for the Bilbao effect to happen, there is little to see here other than the unusual rotunda of St Vitus’ Cathedral.
Most people will use this as a gateway to explore the Kvarner Riviera, particularly the resort of Opatija, with its fine buildings dating from the end of the 19th century and stylish beach promenade. Rijeka also offers good jumping-off spot for exploring Croatia’s unspoilt Adriatic islands, such as Olib and Silba.
Where to stay
In Opatija, the Hotel Milenij is the most stylish place in town. From £95 a night per person half board.
Page 3: Santiago, Le Touquet ()
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Who flies there
Ryanair is expanding rapidly at Liverpool John Lennon Airport this autumn and this is one of several new routes starting on October 3. Flights operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fares start at £27.56 return including taxes and charges.
Why go?
Santiago de Compostela is the final destination of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who walk across Spain each year. Many come to kiss the golden mollusc at the altar of the city’s Baroque cathedral, thought to be the final resting place of St James (Sant Iago).
The cathedral is one of many fine buildings fronting the city’s main square, the Praza do Obradoiro. Santiago sits at the heart of the region of Galicia, a surprisingly lush corner of Spain, which was invaded by the Celts in 600BC. The region is often called Ireland with sun as a result.
Where to stay
The Casa Grande do Bachao is a typical rural manor house, around 10 miles out of Santiago. It is tucked away in the middle of a forest and, with doubles costing from £35, is a bargain.
LE TOUQUET
Who flies there
Skysouth launched flights on Saturdays and Sundays from Shoreham Airport in West Sussex on July 29, with flights timed to give you a full day in France. Fares start at £158 return including taxes and charges.
Why go?
The town’s full name, Le Touquet Paris Plage, shows its heritage as a place popular with Parisians although its swanky heyday has passed. Yet Le Touquet remains an elegant Channel town with a splendid wide beach and has long been a favourite with visiting Brits. Every Saturday morning, the town holds a traditional French market.
Nearby is the Sir Edwin Lutyens designed Etaples War Cemetery with more than 10,000 graves from the First World War.
Where to stay
The Art Deco Hotel Westminster is where the Parisian A-list used to stay. Its glitz has faded somewhat but it has a superb location. Small junior rooms from £62.