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Lisbon, Portugal

This is one of the warmest places in Europe in winter, and February is the cheapest time to visit. Another plus is that there are far fewer visitors this time of year! The weather is just about warm and dry enough to enjoy the beaches (but probably not a dip in the sea) alfresco dining, and sightseeing.

Top tip for visiting Lisbon: Try Ginjinha, a cherry liqueur served in either a shot glass with fruit, or a small chocolate cup!

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Barcelona, Spain

Spain is known for being host to literally hundreds of festivals a year, and in February it is a chance to experience the Santa Eulàlia Festival, also known as “La Laia” festival. It is a family-friendly event packed with traditional Catalonian entertainment, and in Barcelona it is held in the Old Town. The weather is a little cooler than Lisbon in February and not so dry.

Top tip for visiting Barcelona: Go to Park Güell – a surreal park filled with crazy mosaic masterpieces created by architect Antoni Gaudi.

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Sofia, Bulgaria

Head to Sophia if you fancy a bit of romantic winter weather! In February the capital is still cold and has frequent heavy snowfall, ideal for wintersports such as skiing, ice skating and snowshoeing. To warm up after, check out some of the city’s cosy jazz clubs!

Top tip for visiting Sofia: Vitosha Mountain– close enough to go ski for the day and still be back in time to enjoy the nightlife.

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Bergen, Norway

For an even more wintry treat, Bergen is a great destination. It is a UNESCO World Heritage city, and its colourful buildings are ultra insta-friendly set against the grey mountains and white snow. February is a great month to visit because the cold temperatures means you are more likely to experience snow than rain!

Top tip for visiting Bergen: Take the funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen – for some adrenaline-fuelled fun you can choose to ski or sledge your way back down, and it is open until 11pm!

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Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is close to home and an ideal choice if you only have a few days for a winter city break. Why go in February? It may be cold, and quite likely wet – but this is the best weather for experiencing the cosiness of an Irish bar and all the hospitality that comes with it! If you are a rugby fan things get even more exciting as the whole city – or every bar at the very least – is tuned into the start of the RBS Six Nations Championships. Also known as The Guinness Six Nations. Go figure!

Top tip for visiting Dublin: At the bar ask for “A stout that isn’t Guinness”.

Don’t forget your travel insurance! Even if you are only hopping across the sea to Ireland, you still need travel insurance – it can help if your belongings are lost or stolen, and even help if there is a problem with your flights, ferries or accommodation.

It may be one of the most expensive countries in Central America, but Belize has a whole lot going for it even if you are travelling on a budget. Here’s what you need to know to plan your perfect holiday in 2020.

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It’s an idyllic mix of rainforest retreats and Caribbean island getaways

In Belize you can hop from one idyllic destination to another in the skip of a heartbeat. The mainland is a network of national parks, rivers, and lagoons and home to some amazing wildlife. Take the time to hike and you’ll see tapir, howler monkeys, coatis, and beautiful birds such as the toucan. There are over 200 islands, known as Caye, that you can visit too.

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They speak British in Belize

Belize was formerly the British Honduras, and as a result English is the most widely spoken language here, in fact, Belize is the only English speaking country in Central America.  You’ll also hear Spanish and German dialects as you travel about, part of the cultural melting pot that also inspires Belize’s unique cuisine.  Rice and beans, fried meat pies, flour tortillas, cassava bread, and fry jacks – a fried dough often topped with cheese – all combine to deliver a very varied choice of foods.

Belize has got some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world

Take your pick from the barrier reef, the famous blue hole, or one of the many well-known marine sites – you won’t be disappointed! Sharks, rays, dolphins, turtles, octopus, and manatee are among a vast list of wonderful marine life you’ll catch in the waters off Belize. There is also the Belize Barrier Reef – the second largest reef in the world and a true wonder to witness. Do make sure that you book a tour with an ethical operator who has the health of the marine life and delicate reef system as a priority!

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The Mayan ruins are a must-see

The ancient Mayan civilisation at one time called this beautiful place home. Make time to hike to the top of ancient temples and you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the jungle. You’ll also find tours that will allow you to explore excavated tombs, and even learn the ancient Mayan art of making chocolate.

It’s small, so you can pack a lot into a short trip

To keep travel costs down, lots of visitors to Belize – back packers in particular – pay a visit en route to Mexico or Guatemala, packing in everything this pint-sized place has to offer in the space of a week. If you are planning a whirlwind tour make sure you:

• Fly to Ambergris Caye
• Take a water taxi to Caye Caulker
• Visit the Tikal Ruins
• Go snorkelling
• Hike in the rainforest
• Explore the ATM Caves

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Don’t forget your Travel Insurance for Belize!

Petty theft is the most common threat in Belize so keep your personal belongings safe and avoid wearing flashy items. While having the right travel insurance will give you peace of mind, it is better to not experience the stress of losing your belongings or worse, having them stolen in the first place. Travel Insurance can also provide cover for all the amazing adventurous activities you can do in Belize including snorkelling, caving, hiking, and sailing.

Happy New Year! Let 2020 be your year of adventure and excitement! To help you along we’ve complied a bunch of bucket-list faves that will set your travel itinerary ablaze and make your insta stream look awesome!

1. Montana – Glacier National Park

It’s the largest sea hole in the world and absolutely awesome for diving, but if it’s the view you are after – take a trip on a small plane!

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2. Belize – The Great Blue Hole

1,500 square miles of pure wilderness with hundreds of miles of hiking trails amongst the fabulous glacier carved peaks of the Rockies.

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3. Hawaii – Volcanoes National Park

Here is where you’ll find some of the best volcano viewing in the world. Active volcanoes are constantly adding to the flowing rivers of molten rock and lava lakes, creating a natural pyrotechnic show as the lava spills into the ocean.

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4. Turkey – Cappadocia

A lunaresque landscape like nowhere else on earth. The best views are from the daily hot air balloon rides, which take place at dawn – a surreal sight that adds to this awesome destination!

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5. Peru – Machu Picchu

High in the Andes mountains the relics of the Inca civilization will have a profound affect on your heart and soul. Take the long route there, a 4-day trek, and you’ll get to witness the Amazon cloud forest too!

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6. Brazil – Iguazu Falls

These are collectively the largest waterfalls in the world, located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. If you want to see the whole thing, head to Brazil. If you want to feel the power of the falls but with limited views, head to Argentina.

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7. Norway – North Coast

This is the only country in the world that will let you snorkel with orcas! Between November and February they appear to feast on migrating herring. You’ll likely see a host of other marine mammals during the dive too.

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8. Iceland – Vatnajökull National Park

Ice caves, glaciers, lagoons with icebergs, geothermal rivers, snowy mountains, waterfalls and endless hiking trails all rub shoulders in this part of south Iceland.

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9. New Zealand – Milford Sound

Could this be the most picturesque paradise on the planet? This fjord in the southwest is home to mountains, rainforests, waterfalls, fur seals, penguins and dolphins, and it is also the eighth wonder of the world.

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10. Japan – Kyoto

Head here in autumn for the most stunning vistas of forests, formal gardens and Shinto shrines.

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A Caribbean holiday is what dreams are made of – white sandy beaches, clear blue seas, delicious cocktails filled with fresh fruit and mouth-watering cuisine. So why haven’t you been? It’s expensive right? And hard to get to.  Maybe you’re worried about tropical storms. Well let us introduce Curacao, an under-the-radar Caribbean paradise that deserves to catch your attention.

Curacao is cheaper than you’d expect

It is actually the cheapest of the Caribbean islands to visit. It doesn’t mean the prices here are low, they are just cheaper than Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas etc. Prices here are usually in dollars, but as a Dutch destination (yes, it really is), you have the option to pay in Guilder at some places too.

Curacao is easy to get to from the UK

There are direct flights from the UK to Curacao International airport. So, no need for stopovers, sea planes or boats to get to your destination.

Curacao is unlikely to be hit by bad weather

The island’s close proximity to South America takes it more or less out of the path of hurricanes. In fact the last one to hit was in 1877. Because it is outside the hurricane belt it is actually less windy during hurricane season (start of June to end of November)!

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Curacao has over 35 beaches all within a 45-minute drive

And it is great for adventure travel. Coral reefs and shipwrecks make for great diving, and the rugged landscape is great for hiking – if you can tear yourself away from just kicking back on one of its many sandy beaches!

Curacao is culturally diverse

You’ll see a whole host of European influences on this island – but most notably, Dutch as it’s part of the Netherlands. Dutch architecture, trinkets, snacks and foods are present across the island, but fused with a distinctly Caribbean flavour. An insight into its varied past lies in the languages spoken here – Dutch, Spanish, Papiamentu, and English.

Curacao is a foodie paradise

The cuisine here is unlike food anywhere else in the world. Dishes such as iguana stew and fried cactus are served with a side of bitterballen no less! There is also the Dutch liqueur famously named after the island, made with oranges grown here. The food trucks are not to be missed either. These places serve up fusion fast food, like fries with peanut sauce, to hungry locals and tourists after a night on the town.

Curacao has a great nightlife

That brings us nicely to the fact that the island has a decent nightlife. It is a popular place for music festivals, DJs, and club-life in general. The music is as diverse as the food and many of the beaches are transformed into bars by night for a truly tropical feel.

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Get travel insurance for the Caribbean from worldwideinsure.com We can tailor your policy to provide cover for a wide range of watersports and activities, many of which are covered as standard