#1 . Traditionally ‘last minute’ holidays have been synonymous with taking a punt on the unknown, but at My Native we strongly believe that there is no need to compromise on quality just because you’re booking the week or even the day before. Indeed, with an ever-changing world, a last-minute break may be your best bet and our team of experts will ensure that your holiday will be one to remember for all of the right reasons.
#2. For those of you who like planning ahead and having something to look forward to, we are in the process of helping a number of clients plan for 2021. Unlike instant purchase flight bookings that you make with an airline online, we are holding flights for our clients with later ticketing deadlines. This gives you flexibility to hold one or multiple destination options until nearer your date of travel. And we have been working hard with our hotel partners since March to offer you fully flexible booking terms for 2021, refundable right up until your travel date.
#3. And, if you care about sustainable tourism as much as we do, know that by booking holidays, you’ll be supporting local communities through this global pandemic; from drivers to fishermen, waiters to housekeepers, chefs to dive instructors.
So, where does it makes sense to book right now? Here are a few of our top picks based on our conversations with you over the past 6 months - what you’re asking us for and what you’re craving.
Christmas, February half-term and Easter are just lovely in the Caribbean and - with fewer visitors from the States this year - there are some great stay 7 nights, pay for 5 deals. Flight prices are also unsurprisingly low, even for a festive break before, after or whilst Father Christmas is doing his rounds. With direct flights, Antigua and St. Lucia are both on the travel corridor list and just required a negative PCR covid test within 7 days of your arrival. And if an onward flight doesn’t faze you, St Kitts, St Barts, St Vincent and the Grenadines offer a smaller-island, relaxed vibe. Similarly, many of our preferred private island resorts in the Maldives are offering fully flexible booking conditions so a Christmas or February half-term week is a good ‘wait & see’ option until our favourite Indian Ocean islands are given the green light.
Social distancing is part and parcel of life in Scandinavia, particularly in Lapland where your very own private winter wilderness awaits. Flights are mainly direct and, unlike many Lapland tours, you’re not on a fixed itinerary - choose from ice-fishing, skidoo safaris (naturally, our lodges have skidoos for all ages and sizes), bonfires under the stars, snow-shoe treks in search of the Northern Lights, tobogganing, or even a private visit to meet Father Christmas and his wild reindeer. It goes without saying that hot-chocolate by an open-fire and a traditional sauna and hot tub are a must…
For those of you who need a break from your home offices but unfortunately can’t escape your screens, workcations are a fantastic opportunity to combine work commitments with the opportunity to explore somewhere new. Many of you have been asking us to help choose a home-from-home for the long Easter or Summer breaks, and pictured above is one of our favourites in Galle, the Portuguese fort on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Expect a fully- staffed house, delicious home-cooked food, and easy access to beaches. And enjoy surfing breaks, calms seas, cycle paths through paddy fields, and galleries, restaurants and brilliant local markets within easy walking distance. At the weekend, we’d definitely recommend logging off for a few nights at a Yala National Park lodge on the trail of leopards.
Ski enthusiasts are a determined species, and speaking to our partners based in resort, we are fully expecting many of our preferred hotels to have a strong 2020/21 ski season. The necessary changes have been made on the slopes to minimise the risk of infection - reduced numbers of people allowed in gondola ski lifts but running at their maximum speed, staggered ski pass times, and you’ll definitely need us to reserve your table ahead of time for any slope-side lunches during peak weeks. Based on the current travel corridor list, you can ski in Sweden and Italy. And we’ll be keeping a close eye on France, Switzerland and Austria as the ski season nears. So don’t disregard skiing this season; we particularly love the week before Christmas in Italy, and a New Year’s skiing weekend in Sweden is truly memorable.
Cultural breaks have become very popular recently, perhaps because traditional classroom learning has been such a challenge this year. Having toured numerous European cities ourselves with children from three to eleven years old in tow, we fully appreciate the fact that attention spans are finite, and finishing off the day with a swimming pool is a must! The Four Seasons Astir Palace, just outside of Athens, is a brilliant base for visiting the Temple of Poseidon and the Acropolis. And Lecce - the Florence of the south - is such a gem of a Baroque city; take a Street Art and Graffiti tour in the morning and head to the beach for the rest of the day.
Self-care has become something of a marketing buzz word of late, but taking the time to look after yourself has never been more important. So booking a break at a spa or yoga retreat is, in our opinion, a wise idea for the benefit of both yourself and those around you. But not all spas are made equal so please talk to us about what self-care means for you and if the definition of ‘time to yourself’ involves more action and adrenaline than rest and relaxation, we know plenty of ideal destinations for the more energetic amongst you.