How to pick your holiday - top tips

Practical information

Here is a list of the ten points to take into consideration to choose your next holidays and enjoy them. The destination: The further it is, the more expensive it gets, due to oil prices. But on tourist destinations, competition brings prices down. Choose by preference charter flights and low cost companies. The most accessible destinations: Europe, the Mediterranean region the Caribbean. The novelty in the Indian ocean: Mauritius (Corsair destination since the 25 October 2006). With no charter flights: the Seychelles and Polynesia are comparatively more expensive.

The place where you are staying: by the sea, in the heart of nature or in a city (Marrakesh, Istanbul). It is possible to combine beach and town, , in Agadir for example. Being with nature can be green (Tuscany's countryside, Austrian mountains) or in the desert (the Dubai dunes). And the sea coast isn't always sandy (the Maltese rocky coast).

Animation: Ibiza and The Dalmate islands; Hammamet and Ourzazate; Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and Sainte-Marie (Martinique). Party, cheerful atmosphere, noise and short nights in the first cases. Tranquillity, silence, rest and some leisure in the evening for the other destinations. Remember that activities depend on the season. Mykonos and the Costa Brava in winter are as peaceful as the Libyan beaches all year.

The excursions: Museums, historical sites, natural reserves... All seaside resorts are not necessarily close to places of interest. Avoid Monastir if you want to visit Carthage (2 hour drive) or Sharm El Sheikh to see the pyramids (310 miles).

Famous clubs and hotel groups: the clubs or resorts are run by tour operators, which guarantees activities and restaurants adapted to your taste. From the most affordable to the high standard: Club M (Marmara), Lookéa (Look Voyages), Club Neckermann (Neckermann), Framissima (Fram), Thomas Cook Villages (Thomas Cook), Eldorador (Jet Tours), villages of Club Med (Club Med). Hotel hotel groups insure a certain level of comfort, service and accommodation. The largest groups by numbers of hotels are: Best Western, Accor and Intercontinental (between 4,000 to 3,500 hotels). See the hotels and club resorts tested by Easyvoyage in the Balearic islands, in Morocco, in Greece, in Tunisia and in Turkey.

The activities: A club will at least offers sport activities (aqua gym, tournaments), aperitif games and animation in the evenings (cabaret, folklore, magic shows). The "all inclusive" clubs also offer non motorised aquatic sports (sailing, windsurf, kayak). The most appreciated: a real children's club (all day and in the evenings), workshops (pottery, cooking, dance), a circus school or a flying trapeze instalation.

Climate:The Mediterranean is an oven in July and August; choose June or September. If not choose Croatia rather than Djerba during summer holidays. For the Southern hemisphere (Réunion, Mauritius) summer is in winter. Be careful, the high season (from November to March) is also the cyclone season.For tropical islands, the windy side is also more rainy than the other side. In Mauritius, the East gets twice as much rain as the Western side. The same goes for the Réunion.

See the weather in Djerba and in Croatia.

The price: The famous "out of season", is outside the school holidays. They represent the cheapest prices available for advanced booking. The "deals", are the last minute offers (including during high season). The big Internet Travel agencies (Promovacances, Last Minute) offer great deals all year.

The size of the room: Under 215 feet² for 2 for a holiday, is too little. No space for baggage, a mini balcony, no room to walk between the bed and the window... So many elements to take into consideration, especially on a family trip. Four in a room, you need a 430 feet² space. The ideal: A bedroom suite (with separate room for adults). Family rooms generally have a double bed and two convertibles. The beach: A clean sandy beach (thanks to nature or the hotel) is not exclusive to the Seychelles. You will also find beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana), in Mexico Playa del Carmen, in Bali Jimbaran and in Thailand Koh Samui.

To take into account: the beach's length (from 330 feet to 3,300 feet), its set-up (relaxation area distinct from that of the watersports area), its equipment (snack bar), the service (drinks with "all inclusive" or beach service).

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