Travel trends 2012: Anyone fancy a trip to Albania? Or Cape Verde? Maybe not – Mail Online – TravelMail blog
Posted by Frank Barrett, Travel Editor, The Mail On Sunday
There are suddenly a lot of surveys telling us that next year will be the 'Year of Albania' or 'the Cape Verde islands will be where it’s at in 2012'…
With the greatest respect to Albania and the Cape Verde Islands (or 'Cape Verred' as William Grundy refers to his proposed honeymoon destination on The Archers – see above), I don’t think that either place is likely to set the heather alight next year.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that what will do well next summer is 'value for money': holidays in places that leave you feeling you haven’t been commercially mugged.
Time was when you could toddle off to the likes of France, Spain and Italy confident that you could dine out or buy a glass of wine at prices far cheaper than you would pay at home in the UK.
That seems like a long time ago.
I'm not sure if there are hoteliers and restaurateurs on the continent struggling to find ways to cut the cost of overnight stays or evening meals – but a lot of smart thought is being devoted to these matters in the UK.
This month, for example, sees the opening of Z Soho (www.thezhotels.com), a hotel slap-bang in the middle of London's Soho which offers well appointed rooms from as little as £85 per night.
I stayed there last week, and while the rooms are snug they are certainly excellent value for money (free wi-fi, free Sky movies).
Also just opened in Bristol is Za Za Bazaar (www.zazabazaar.com), which claims to be Britain’s largest restaurant. It has space for 800 customers a night, who can enjoy an all-you-can-eat menu for £11.99 per head.
Where are the Parisian or Barcelona equivalents of these innovations?
Holidays in Britain are starting to look hard to beat for value and quality. All this and the Olympics too…
Tags: Tags: overnight stays, free wi fi, honeymoon destination, william grundy, continent, bazaar
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