Where to travel in 2017------------
The cities and countries you need to see
British Airways took delivery of the Boeing 787 three years ago — and from 4 January the airline finally deploys the ultra-long range jet on a really long hop, the 7,250 miles between Heathrow and the Chilean capital, Santiago. Flee the cold dark northern hemisphere with the 10pm flight, touching down after nearly 15 hours the next morning in that rare species: a charming Latin American capital. Spend 48 hours enjoying Santiago’s relaxed ambience, flamboyant architecture and superb food and drink. Then head south to enjoy Chile’s lakes and mountains at the height of summer.
The greatest trip starts from Puerto Montt, and takes you across the Andes in a day using a combination of boats, buses and trucks — a route once followed by Che Guevara. Only a couple of years ago, some travellers were concerned about visiting Cyprus because of the island’s precarious financial situation. Today, it looks a picture of stability compared with other parts of the world — and a picture of loveliness in terms of culture, cuisine and superb beaches. ?Paphos, in the extreme west, is the arrival airport of choice. About 20 minutes closer than Larnaca, it’s blessed with popular beaches such as Coral Bay (some blissfully empty beaches can be found in hidden coves along the Akamas Peninsula, north of the town). Yet it is also profoundly historic, with an archaeological site with mosaics and rock-cut tombs.
This rich heritage will come to the fore during Paphos’s year in the sun as European Capital of Culture — shared with the rather less sunny Aarhus in Denmark. Following peaceful democratic elections in December, which saw opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo named Ghana’s new president, a CNN report described Ghana as a place where citizens “struggle to obtain food and day-to-day services”. Ghanaians were quick to respond. The hashtag #CNNGetItRight began trending, with everyone from journalists to the country’s First Lady eager to point out that, far from conforming to African clichés, Ghana is booming. On Independence Day, 6 March, Ghana marks 60 years since it emancipated itself from British rule.
There could hardly be a more significant time to go. Looking forward to a new political era, and with its capital, Accra, fast becoming a hub of art and fashion, Ghana has achieved much since reclaiming its freedom. It isn’t the place to live out the age-old Africa fantasy of safari tents, lions and leopards. You go to Ghana to get to know modern Africa, from Accra’s impressive new contemporary art venue Gallery 1957 (responsible for this summer’s social media sensation of an exhibition, Yellow is the Colour of Water), to Carbon, the luxury club founded by Boujis and Mahiki main man Nick House. And – bonus - there are beaches aplenty when you’re ready to slow the pace. You might think February is the best time to visit New Orleans, when the city goes wild for Mardi Gras, but if you’re travelling from the UK it’s worth holding out a little longer. The reason? BA is starting direct flights from Heathrow in March; the first time since the 1980s that the Big Easy has had a non-stop UK connection. Visit in April and you certainly won’t be short of chances to party.
There’s the French Quarter Festival – a long weekend celebrating the city’s culture, music and food, (6-9 April) – or else visit over Easter (16 April), when a series of flamboyant parades take to the streets. Alternatively, do as the musos do and plan your visit around the prestigious New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which kicks off on 28 April. May sees the launch of a brand-new bucket-list train journey — all aboard South America’s first-ever luxury sleeper train, the Belmond Andean Explorer. From the team behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Ireland’s new Grand Hibernian, this five-star service will travel along one of the highest train routes in the world, whooshing through the plains of the Andes and between Peru’s big-ticket sights, including Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lake Titicaca. So whether you fancy plush cabins and fine dining while you soak up the spectacular Andean scenery, or simply have always dreamed.
of doing the Inca Trail (though be sure to let your knees know.
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