Destination: Tbilisi, Georgia
Key attractions: A staging post on the old Silk Road, Georgia’s capital is built on hot springs. Georgian Museum and Museum of Georgian Art, cathedrals and churches. Excursions into Caucasus Mountains.
Who flies there? British Airways, Austrian Airlines.
Who operates there? Explore Worldwide, Interchange.
Sample packages: Interchange offers a three-night home-stay to Tbilisi for £495 until May 31 and £545 from June 1; Explore Worldwide itineraries include a 15-day Land of the Golden Fleece tour at £1,185.
Operator view: “Georgia is new for this year. It is a fascinating and little-known country, ready to welcome travellers who wish to experience the rich cultural, ethnic and scenic diversity of an ancient land.” – Travers Cox, managing director, Explore Worldwide.
Target market: Younger singles/couples keen to explore beyond Moscow and St Petersburg.
Additional information: Clients need a visa and a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the visit. Georgian Embassy, tel: 0171-937 8233.
Destination: Bratislava, Slovakia
Key attractions: On the fringe of the Carpathian Mountains, it includes Bratislava Castle, 15th-century St Martin’s Cathedral and museums, such as the Slovak National Museum and National Gallery.
Who flies there? Austrian Airlines, British Airways to Vienna
Who operates there? Danube Travel.
Sample packages: Three-night city break with Danube Travel at the three-star Tatra from £321, flying British Airways to Vienna with onward bus transport to Bratislava.
Operator view: “We featured Bratislava as a flydrive from Vienna last year and are offering it as a city break for the first time in 1999. It’s a fascinating city with lots of interesting architecture.” – Klara Sido, operations manager, Danube Travel.
Target market: Mainly middle-income couples looking to widen their eastern European horizons.
Additional information: No visa is needed by Britishvisitors.
Destination: Vilnius, Lithuania
Key attractions: Said to be the greenest and most attractive of the three Baltic capitals, with a spectacular cathedral, fine Catholic churches and interesting old town. Good for jazz and blues, too.
Who flies there? Lithuanian Airlines (direct), Finnair, SAS.
Who operates there? Fregata, Intra Travel, Norvista.
Sample packages: Three-night city break with Norvista at the three-star Naujasis Vilnius from £343, flying Lithuanian Airlines.
Operator view: “With its abundance of Catholic churches, Vilnius is a contrast to the other Baltic capitals. A lot of renovation work is being done in the old town, which visitors find particularly interesting.” – Graham Small, marketing manager, Norvista.
Target market: Singles/couples in 30-55 age range.
Additional information: Passport must be valid for three months beyond the duration of the visit.
Destination: Odessa, Ukraine
Key attraction: Ukraine’s busiest Black Sea port is also a popular resort, with sandy beaches; tree-lined boulevards; museums housed in former palaces; Opera House and Philharmonia.
Who flies there? Austrian Airlines (via Vienna), Ukraine International Airlines (via Kiev).
Who operates there? Fregata, Interchange.
Sample packages: Three-night break with Fregata, flying Austrian Airlines from Heathrow via Vienna and staying at the three-star Shevchenko, £669.
Operator view: “There’s a lot of interest in Ukraine and particularly Odessa. The city has enormous potential for short breaks with its classical architecture and beaches.” – Gordon Burnett, managing director, Interchange.
Target market: Travellers in 35-55 age range seeking somewhere different to Moscow and St Petersburg.
Additional information: A Ukrainian visa is required – allow about two weeks. Ukrainian Embassy, tel: 0171-243 8923.
Destination: Gdansk, Poland
Key attractions: The annexing of Gdansk sparked World War II and pro-democracy movement Solidarity started here in the ’80s. Flemish architecture; Royal Way with fine buildings; Maritime Museum.
Who flies there? LOT Polish Airlines (direct and via Warsaw).
Who operates there? Bogdan Travel, Danube Travel, Fregata, Polorbis.
Sample packages: Three-night city break with Fregata, staying at the four-star Hevelius on bed-and-breakfast basis, with direct LOT flight from Gatwick, from £262.
Operator view: “We did a fair bit of business to Gdansk last year – with the direct flights making a perfect city break. It’s a fascinating port city with much recent history and worth recommending to short-break clients.” – Jeremy Anderson, product manager, Fregata Travel.
Target market: Middle income couples in 30-50 age range.
Additional information: Gdansk is part of the Tri-City partnership with neighbouring Sopot and Gdynia, easily reached by public transport.