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What makes a great party destination? It’s a tricky question to answer, since a night of fun is often down to the company you keep. However, there are some destinations where the party clientele is more open – where meeting people is easier. And when you balance party people (24 hour or otherwise) with great bars, clubs and festivals – not to mention idyllic beaches or eye-popping cityscapes – you may well have a shindig worthy of your memoirs.

This year, we think you should consider the following party hotspots…

Athens

While you may think Greek parties are typified by the sambuca-drenched beaches of Mykonos, the capital Athens is actually the true party heart of Greece.

That said, it’s not easy to pinpoint exactly where you can expect the party to happen. Great parties seem to flare up suddenly – so you’ll need to root out where the action is. Bear in mind that things don’t even get going until 1am. It’s worth pencilling in a few Athenian nights to seek out some memorable evenings, and in the unlikely event you don’t find any, you can console yourself – and your throbbing head – with a delicious Athenian gyro (a kind of Greek taco).

Marrakech

Morocco in general is a conservative country, but that doesn’t mean you can’t track down a superb party. Take the Oasis Festival, for instance, a boutique music event on the outskirts of Marrakech that runs from mid-September 2019. In the unlikely event you don’t like the tunes, you can stare in wonder at the mighty Atlas Mountains in the distance. If you just fancy a music-centric bar or club, Marrakech has a good deal, such as L’envers which specialises in underground sounds. There are also numerous pool parties organised at hotels around the city (where the general public can’t see or hear what’s going on) by the likes of Moroko Loko.

Haad Rin, Thailand

Thailand’s monthly Full Moon Party has attained legendary status, thanks to the host town’s ravishing beaches (Haad Rin on Koh Pha Ngan), together with the sheer scale of the party and hedonism on display.

Many Full Moon veterans say it was one of the best parties they’ve ever had – yet often it’s a once-is-enough kind of vibe due to the costly and hard-to-get accommodation, and the general lunacy of it all.

But for those who desire large-scale beach-side mayhem, the Full Moon Party is a must-do. Afterwards, you can recuperate elsewhere, perhaps in one of Thailand’s numerous national parks, or a quieter corner of Koh Pha Ngan itself.

Mexico City

For a real taste of the Mexican party scene, we don’t recommend Cabo or Cancun (although they are fun in their own right). We say explore the nation’s capital city which, when the sun goes down, plays host to a myriad of EDM clubs, as well as cosy little bars where ice-cold beers combat the balmy temperatures. Best of all, Mexico City is considerably cheaper than the beach resorts, where the Mexicans you meet aren’t just serving drinks at the party – they are the party.

French Concession, Shanghai

The Gallic grandeur of Shanghai’s French Concession is a treat in itself, but behind the elegant façades are a plethora of super-cool clubs and laid-back beer-holes. Consider Tattoo Family, which combines cocktails and tattoos, for sure a risky business model – especially for the clientele. For more social beer-tasting head to the dive-esque Dada, or the retro-video-game-themed Arcade, offering low-cost cocktails which are ideal before you head to a club. Speaking of which, mid-size Arkham is one of the best-loved, attracting big-name DJs and cool bands. The French Concession is staying true to the uniqueness of its colonial-quarter past, with an ever-growing number of bohemian bars and European-style clubs that are a rarity elsewhere in the city. Visit it in 2019 – it could be quite a year!

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If you don’t like queuing – at airport check-in desks, art galleries or ice cream shops – then booking a holiday before the peak summer season is a wise move. But aside from fewer crowds, travelling before (and after) the summer holiday madness will also bag you cheaper air fares and hotels.

Here are four of our favourite pre-summer sun destinations for 2019, covering some of the top priorities for those looking to escape the UK’s unreliable weather and high prices (not to mention its relentless politics!).

Best for a classic beach break: Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

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For ravishing beaches, it doesn’t get much better than the Algarve, which draws thousands of Britons each year. Even in peak summer season it’s affordable, but there are bargains galore in the shoulder seasons of May and September. The port town of Lagos is a good bet, steeped as it is in the Age of Discovery; many epic nautical adventures began here. The town offers crumbling churches, charming squares and cobbled lanes, all of which are protected by mighty 16th-century walls. Nearby are a host of stunning beaches, where you and yours can enjoy a variety of water sports and boat trips along the rocky coast. Expect superb (low cost) seafood and plentiful nightspots. Visit in April or May and you’re sure to have plenty of idyllic sandy stretches of beach to yourself. Great for folks of all ages, but particularly families and couples.

Best for Culture: Rome

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If you’re not careful, the Italian capital can deliver a cultural overload, such is its wealth of historic monuments and art galleries. Once known as the caput mundi (capital of the world), after a day exploring Rome you’ll understand why it had such a huge impact on global history. Boasting the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain – to name but a few attractions – Rome demands a little planning. Give yourself several days to wander its old streets, or, if you’re pushed for time, decide which places you want to see in advance. The beauty of visiting before the summer season is – you guessed it – fewer crowds. Indeed, it’s challenging indeed to relax in peak summer, such is the tourist footfall. Go early and go slow(er) – enjoy the pavement lifestyle with a latte and a gelati. Rome is great for couples and solo adventurers, but could prove too busy for those with younger children.

Best for families with tweens and teens: Canary Islands

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Comprising three main islands – Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote – the Canaries deliver a vast array of activities younger family members will love. Most eye catching – to mini travellers at least – are the numerous theme parks and water parks. Add to these go-karting, snorkelling, whale watching and boat trips, and you’ll soon understand the Canaries = active. But there are more laid-back pursuits too: chilling out on some of the many fabulous beaches (which are edged, incidentally, but very shallow and calm waters – great for younger kids); and even a museum that brings to life the islands’ pirate-ravaged past. If possible, visit before the peak summer season gets under way, and you’ll dodge some serious crowds (and prices).

Best for night-life: Berlin

You don’t have to love techno to party in Berlin, but it helps. Here they take their partying seriously – yet with bucket-loads of imagination. Of course there are world-famous mega-clubs like the Berghain, located in a former power plant – which would be regarded as rather unorthodox in any city, but things get odder still in the German capital, with About Blank, which, along with two vast dance floors, boasts a big garden with a secret party bungalow. Those two, however, are rather costly, so if you’re watching your euro-cents, try Stattbad Wedding, a disused swimming pool that now hosts recurring parties. Salon zur Wilden Renate, meanwhile, is one of the most off-beat of all – a maze of junk-filled rooms where people get together to dance, talk – and whatever else takes their fancy. This labyrinth of former residential homes offers many secret rooms – some of which, say the club’s head honchos, have not even been discovered yet. What’s more, these mysterious rooms are located in the heart of the city. The German capital’s party scene is for techno-heads and party animals of all ages – after all, it’s Berlin, where rules are frowned upon.

Visit in April or May and you’ll likely brush shoulders with more Berliners and fewer tourists, making you feel that bit cooler!

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February 05^th2019 welcomes in the Year of The Pig. Those in the know say that you should wear the year’s lucky colours – red, yellow, and green, and keep an image of a pig nearby – but what do they say about actually visiting China at this exciting time of year?

1. Everything is closed for weeks.

No, not everything. Yes, shops, schools, restaurants and factories can be closed for as long as three weeks as people travel far and wide to be with family. Businesses generally take a week off and banks and restaurants have a couple of days shut down – but it is rare that a closure will affect you if you are a tourist. Most places popular with tourists will be open, although some may have limited opening hours.

2. It is a really expensive time to travel in China.

Yes, it is and the trains and busses will be packed. Most city workers get a week off which they spend with family usually in rural areas, which they get to by public transport.

3. Don’t travel by train.

Unless you like the feeling of being packed into a sardine can! Travelling by train is the most popular form of transport because it is both cheap and efficient – an unusual concept here in the UK – seats will not be available, in fact you’ll be lucky if you find standing room.

4. Tourist attractions are empty.

Pretty much! Most people head home to be with family and eat, so are not focussed on day trips and excursions. Opening times may be limited.

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6. It’s a great time to observe local customs.

Yes! Chinese New Year is the best time to go and rub shoulders with locals. Not only are there loads of cultural activities taking place at this time of year, but generally the mood is far more jovial and inviting than at any other time of year.

7. It’s too cold for tourists at this time of year.

That all depends on what you wear and where you go! Yes, it is very cold in the northern parts of China at this time of year –15°C, but head to Shanghai, for example, and you could be experiencing relatively balmy temperatures of as much as 9°C!

8. It is more difficult to get a flight or hotel room compared to the height of the tourist season.

Totally true. Those in the know advise that if you want to experience Chinese New Year in China that you book all accommodation, flights, and other travel, and even restaurant bookings, many months in advance. If you are looking for a more relaxed experience of this magnificent country, even going in the height of the tourist season in summer is a better option!

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