NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
10 DESTINATIONS FOR YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Make 2008 a year of action – not just good intention. Sarah Morris chooses 10 great willpower-boosting locales.
1 GET IN TOUCH WITH NATURE
SARDINIA: Costa Smeralda
While seeing in the New Year in front of the box, did you swear to head into the great outdoors this year to seek succour from nature rather than in another country’s pubs and clubs? Many find the Italian island of Sardinia a piece of wild Europe because of its breathtaking mountain peaks, volcanic craters and thousands of species of rare plants and animals. Head for the northern coastline, Costa Smeralda, studded with dozens of sandy bays, and rent a boat to the island of La Maddalena, a national park made up of 27 smaller islands. Take a good camera to do justice to Sardinia’s dolphins, wildcats, kites and golden eagles. Don’t miss a spelunking visit to one of the island’s stalactite and stalagmite grottos beneath the mountains.
2 GET IN SHAPE
AUSTRIA: Saalbach Hinterglemm
Give yourself a real incentive to lose a few pounds and get fit by booking a skiing holiday. With 200km of lift-linked trails, Saalbach Hinterglemm is an unbeatable choice whether you are stepping onto the slopes for the first time or want tree-lined, near-vertical black runs. And a week or two’s skiing here is the perfect way to balance fresh air with wonderful après-ski activities – particularly since there is no shortage of welcoming mountain restaurants serving hearty dumplings and good Austrian beer.
3 SEE MORE CULTURE
MALLORCA: Alcudia
If the kids are learning about the Romans at school, why not show them how the invaders lived on the Spanish island of Mallorca? Stay at Alcudia, in the north of the island, the Romans’ capital during their occupation, and visit the ruined remains of the nearby Roman city of Pollentia as well as the Roman theatre. These sites have been profitably excavated over the years, and you can see the results at the Museo Monográfico de Pollentia, housed in a 14th-century building that used to serve as a hospital. Alcudia’s 14th-century walls are also worth taking a walk around, as is its century-old bullring. And when the kids are tired of culture? Let them slide down the flumes getting wet and wild at the city’s water park while you soak up some sun.
4 MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
IBIZA: Santa Eulalia
Of course, this Spanish island is a byword for hedonism thanks to its white sandy beaches and non-stop partying at clubs like Pacha, Es Paradis and Privilege. However, at the quieter resort of Santa Eulalia you can also seek out Ibiza’s more reflective side by taking tranquil walks in the nearby pine forest and exploring the island’s caves. It also has a long-established reputation as a culinary epicentre – it’s here that you’ll find some of the island’s best restaurants, not to mention exclusive shopping. If you’re looking for something a little more highbrow, swap the shops for the Museo Barrau, a quaint little art gallery housing the works of Spanish impressionist Laureano Barrau.
5 SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE FAMILY
CRETE: Hersonissos
This year you’ve sworn to find a family holiday to suit everyone, but it’s not always easy when some want to relax and do something authentic, while others see the break as a chance to visit every club in a 10-mile radius. Hersonissos may be the winning formula: its harbour is a hub of activity and nightlife with top bars and clubs, but nearby there are three small villages, Piskopiano, Koutouloufari and Old Hersonissos, where you can relax Greek-style, passing the time of the day sipping coffee (or ouzo) with the villagers.
6 REDUCE YOUR HANDICAP
COSTA CÁLIDA:
Águilas and La Manga
Are you determined to show the sniggerers at the golf club your true potential this year? What you need is an intensive stint of practice in the south-eastern Spanish province of Murcia, where the average annual temperature is around 25 degrees. There are excellent courses at both Águilas and La Manga (including three championship courses at La Manga Club), which are a stone’s throw from Mar Menor – the world’s largest salt-water lagoon – and the historical town of Cartagena. To sample some top traditional cooking, including seafood from the lagoon, head to José María Los Churrascos.
7 LEARN TO BE CALMER
COSTA DEL SOL: Benalmádena
If stress-busting is 2008’s number one priority, step out of the fast lane at Benalmádena Pueblo. Whether you savour a café con leche in a village bar surrounded by narrow, flower-filled streets, or practice a few words of Spanish on the laid-back locals, you’ll soon start to feel some of the tensions of life back home slip into the background. To switch off further, head into the hills around Benalmádena for a walk, a cycle ride or a horse ride, or head down Arroyo de la Miel to reach Benalmádena Costa, the coastal area, where you’ll be able to soak up some winter sun along the 10km stretch of beachfront, or, if you prefer, idle the time away in La Paloma Park’s tranquil confines.
8 GET A NEW LOOK
COSTA DE ALMERÍA: Roquetas de Mar
If you’ve decided to treat yourself like glamorous Spanish actress Penélope Cruz, then what better way than a shopping trip in Spain? Former fishing village Roquetas de Mar on the Spanish coast has stylish boutiques and Spanish brands like Mango and Zara at its mall, Gran Plaza. To really shop Andalusian style, though, make the trip to Almería city to stroll along the elegant Paseo de Almería and its surrounding streets. Here you’ll find local crafts like brightly coloured ceramic pottery from Albox, as well as blankets and bedspreads that betray the region’s Moorish roots. And if it all gets a bit too much, take a break at Molly Malone, an Irish bar that wouldn’t look out of place in Dublin.
9 EAT HEALTHIER
COSTA BLANCA: Benidorm
This year, if you want to lose those extra pounds (and keep them off), you know the only answer is to ditch dieting and eat healthier all the time. Look no further than Benidorm, where you’ll discover the Mediterranean diet is tastier anyway. The first stop is the market (Wednesday and Sunday) to see the variety of fish and other fresh produce on offer. Later, for lunch, try some local cooking, like a rice dish at La Palmera (48 Avenida Doctor Severo Ochoa, 965 853 282) or make the trip to Ulía at La Cala (15 Vicente Llorca Alós, 965 860
002) for excellent tapas, seafood, rice dishes or oven-baked lamb.
10 TAKE LIFE LESS SERIOUSLY
FRANCE:
Paradiski (La Plagne and Les Arcs)
Get fit, lose weight, learn to ski… If a New Year’s resolution risks turning into something to beat yourself up over, add this one to the list: lighten up. The French resort of Paradiski is one of the largest ski areas in the world, with a good range of blue and red runs that make it easy for improving skiers. And if your sense of humour failure strikes when you slip on your bum once too often, switch to trendy new pastime skijoring. A horse pulls you along on your skis while you hold onto the reins, moving from a walking pace to trotting – having the horse do all the work will definitely put a smile on your face!
Would you like to leave a comment ?
You must be logged in to leave a message.