In the current economic climate, many operators have cut capacity and are being cautious about introducing untried destinations.
However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing new to offer clients who are bored of Benidorm, have had enough of Halkidiki or are fed up of Florida. Here’s a selection of new resorts that have been added for 2011 and 2012.
Spain
Cosmos Holidays has expanded its programme for Majorca this year after Monarch introduced a year-round flying programme.
New resorts include Porto Colom, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Key selling points are its beaches, such as Cala Marçal, which with its gentle slopes, is particularly safe for young kids.
Seven nights half-board at the four-star Ola Hotel El Vistamar in Porto Colom starts from £359, including flights.
Also new is Portals Nous, which is fast becoming a trendy hangout for celebrities. Cosmos has seven nights at the three-star Ola Tomir, from £249 in a studio.
For 2012, Jet2holidays.com has added the stylish holiday town of Sitges, 20 miles from Barcelona, which is served by sister airline Jet2.com from Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Manchester. The town has great restaurants, vibrant nightlife and a lively gay scene.
Jet2holidays has also added Cala Millor and C’an Picafort, both in Majorca; Cala Llonga in Ibiza; Son Bou in Menorca and Los Gigantes in Tenerife.
Croatia
Prestige Holidays has launched a new ‘Essentially’ range of affordable holidays, with Croatia the first destination in the programme. Cities, beach resorts and islands are featured, with cruises and twin-centres available.
In up-and-coming Zadar, Prestige offers the all-inclusive Falkensteiner Funimation, which has good family facilities, and the boutique Adriana Hotel, which is perfect for couples. Seven nights at the Falkensteiner costs from £539 in October.
Jet2holidays has added Split for 2012, which is served by sister airline Jet2.com from Manchester.
Slovenia
Neilson Lakes and Mountains has added the three-star Piran Hotel in Slovenia, for summer 2011. Visitors can fly to the Slovenian capital Ljubljana from Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester, or transfer from Venice.
From Piran, day trips can be booked to the Lipica Stud Farm, Ljubljana and Venice. According to the operator, the resort is particularly well suited for 45 to 65-year-olds who enjoy culture, gourmet food and exploring.
Seven nights half-board at Piran Hotel costs from £509 including flights and transfers in September.
Turkey
Neilson has also added the four-star Club Adakoy in Marmaris, which is in a protected natural park, this summer.
The operator’s Beachclub property is the only hotel on the island and the conditions in the bay are excellent for waterskiing and sailing. Adakoy also has kids’ clubs and accommodation with connecting rooms, making it an excellent option for families.
Seven nights including breakfast, lunch and four evening meals, costs £609 in September, including flights, transfers, water sports, tennis tuition and kids’ clubs.
Egypt
Discover Egypt has launched single-centre holidays to the Red Sea, including lesser-known resorts of El Gouna, Marsa Alam and Ain El Sokhna.
Seven nights at the three-star Arena Inn, El Gouna, costs £399, including flights and breakfast, in May 2012.
Meanwhile, Planet Holidays has expanded its Nile cruise section to include a Lake Nasser cruise and a Luxor-Aswan option that includes a stay in the former Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, set to reopen this September as the Sofitel Legend, following a refurb. The operator has also added Ain El Sokhna.
Mauritius
The all-inclusive Anahita The Resort is set in its own nature reserve, with accommodation ranging from one to three-bedroom suites.
The Mauritian resort is now featured by Thomas Cook Signature, Gold Medal, Virgin Holidays and Kuoni’s World Class collection. Virgin Holidays has five nights, including flights and breakfast from £1,412 in September.
Kuoni has also added the five-star Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort in Domaine de Bel Ombre to its 2011-2012 portfolio. The south coast resort was completely renovated last year and offers a quieter alternative to the north and east coasts.
What’s new in ski?
Lagrange Holidays has added Montgenèvre in France, on the Italian border, for 2012. The resort has award-winning children’s facilities and is well placed for exploring the predominantly Italian ski resorts of the Milky Way and the nearby French ski resort of Serre Chevalier.
Seven nights at the two-bedroom Le Chalet des Dolines in Montgenèvre in April 2012 costs £1,370.
Inghams has added the four-star, ski in/ski out Chalet Hotel St Christoph in the Austrian Tirol for 2011-12. The resort, which is less-busy than its neighbour, St Anton, is linked to the ‘snow sure’ resorts of Lech and Zurs.
Seven nights’ catered accommodation at the St Christoph, including buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and five-course dinner with wine starts from £599, including flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and transfers.Regional departures are also available.
Neilson has added the laid-back Italian resort of Folgarida. Well-priced and relatively unknown in the UK, it has higher-than-average sunshine and good snow. Seven nights self-catering at the three-star Nevesole Apartments, including flights, costs £334 in January 2012.
The operator has also added the relatively unknown destination of Baquiera Beret in the Spanish Pyrenees, having secured flights to the new, nearby airport at Leida. In Austria it has UK market-exclusivity on the resort of Lofer, 30-minute transfer from Salzberg airport, Lofer offers good skiing and is also a good base for exploring the better-known nearby resorts of Maria Alm and Saalbach.
On the back of strong demand for California, Funway Holidays is to add Lake Tahoe as both a winter ski and summer sun destination in its USA 2012-13 brochure.
