Are charity challenges just cheap holidays in the guise of doing good? - The Telegraph

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• Are charity challenges just cheap holidays in the guise of doing good? - The Telegraph
• The 50 most romantic holidays on Earth (and yes, some are still available for Valentine's Day) - The Telegraph
• Beat the rush: 50 amazing holidays you should book before January - The Telegraph

Are charity challenges just cheap holidays in the guise of doing good? - The Telegraph Posted: 24 Sep 2018 12:00 AM PDT In the past five years, there has been a growing trend for fundraisers to sign up to charity challenges that push participants out of their comfort zones, often in far-flung destinations. While a cousin is trekking through desert, wadis and mountains from Dana to Petra in Jordan, a friend is being put through his paces on a climb up Kilimanjaro and an old colleague is posting Instagram stories of her cycle ride through Sri Lanka's central highlands from the west coast to the south.  Confession: I have done one myself. Last summer, I went on a 500-mile, week-long charity cycling challenge that started in Basel in Switzerland, continued up the Alps and wended back to Lake Como in Italy. My friends and colleagues gave generously, but some did ask how exactly their money would be spent.  Trisha Andres embarked on a charity challenge in the summer of 2017 That's a perfectly reasonable question. After all, there's an overriding perception that charity challenges are simply a way for an individual to travel to far-off places and have a cheap holiday in the guise of doing good.  If you are on the receiving end of a donation request, you may also wonder: am I simply subsidising other people's travel or really contributing to some good causes?  According to Charity Challenge and Discover Adventure, two tour operators that specialise in organising charity challenges, around 40 per cent of their participants self-fund. For instance, in my case, I paid the full package cost of my charity cycle, purchasing flights, food, activities and accommodation. I raised money as an added extra with no specific target that I was obliged to meet. All the sponsorship and fundraising proceeds went directly to the charity. Walking, cycling, climbing and activity sports are common 'Charity Challenges' Credit: istock Another payment option, which 60 per cent of participants choose, is the "minimum sponsorship" method. This often involves paying a registration fee (anything from £100 to £500) and committing to raising a certain amount through fundraising and sponsorship. The target will typically be around £2,000 to £3,000 but may potentially be more depending on the nature of the trip. Expedition costs will be subtracted from this pot and the charity will keep the remainder, including whatever is raised beyond the target. Moreover, challengers can decide to make another personal contribution to their travel costs prior to departure, which means the charity will end up subsidising a smaller share of the cost. The benefits are clear, but a fundraising trip isn't something to commit to on impulse, with some challenges involving, for instance, cycling more than 50 miles a day and funds of up to £5,000. Yet, despite the commitment and cost, many people sign up year after year. For some, the experience is life-enhancing; for others, it has simply allowed them to raise funds and travel; and, for the select few, a single trip has converted them into lifelong altruistic adventurers.  For some, the experience is life-enhancing Credit: istock If you've never tried it, below are our answers to some likely questions – and 20 great charity challenges to consider:   Do you have to be a certain age group to participate in a charity challenge?   Absolutely not, according to Jonathan Bryan, managing director of Discover Adventure. Participants of all ages are welcome. "We've had everyone from 11 years old upwards sign up. The eldest participant was an 81-year-old gentleman called George Harding. All that we ask of anyone taking part is that they have a sense of adventure and determination, and commit to putting in a sensible amount of training before the trip," he says. Peter Robinson, director of Global Adventure Challenges, agrees, citing that "participants are a range of ages, abilities and backgrounds. The one thing they all have in common is the desire to push their boundaries and achieve something incredible, usually in support of a cause close to their heart." "Participants have typically been in their 30s and 40s but we are now seeing an increasing number of both younger and older challengers. Whatever age group, they tend to be adventurous, driven and looking to make a difference in their own way." "Fundraisers should expect to have their limits tested" Credit: istock How is this different from a holiday? "While our trips could be considered adventures of a lifetime, they aren't designed to be luxury getaways," says Bryan. "Fundraisers should expect to have their limits tested in order to achieve something remarkable. The sense of accomplishment from completing a challenge and hitting fundraising targets is a very powerful motivator." If you don't subsidise your own trip, are you effectively asking donors to fund your "break"? "Challenges aren't exactly fly and flop beach breaks. They involve a high degree of commitment. The concept allows charities to raise millions of pounds while offering adventures, often in inspiring destinations, and the chance to contribute to a worthwhile cause," says Robinson.   Are these challenges a significant income stream for the charities then? Yes. Global Adventure Challenges has taken 30,000 challengers on trips, helping them to raise £30 million for more than 1,500 charities in 18 years. Charity Challenge says it has raised £50 million for more than 1,750 charities worldwide in 18 years. And Discover Adventures has raised in excess of £100 million for big and small charities in the last 24 years. Do challenges actually benefit local communities? Credit: istock How do they support local communities? "Responsible tourism is an integral part of our ethos and we also focus on preserving local economies and giving back to the countries we visit," says Simon Albert, director of Charity Challenge. The tour operator employs local guides and staff where possible and uses the services of locally-owned ground handlers and accommodation. In addition, it has donated more than £500,000 to local community projects around the world, from setting up health centres to building schools.  20 of the most popular charity challenges Peak performance 1. The slow route up Kilimanjaro The Machame route up the highest free-standing mountain on the planet offers an excellent chance of reaching the summit. Because it takes longer, it shows off more scenery, plus more days on the trail means better acclimatisation for the push to the top – views to the Maasai Mara plains and, on clear days, a visible curvature of the Earth. Hike Kilimanjaro Credit: Getty A 10-day Mt Kilimanjaro Trek is available from Discover Adventure (01722 718444; discoveradventure.com) including porters, guides, support team, full-board accommodation and flights. Departures between September and December 2019. Self-funding (including registration fee): costs from £2,749; 100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Flexi: £499 registration fee; £500 tour cost contribution; £3,500 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £499 registration fee; £4,500 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent to the operator). 2. Three Peaks: the classic British climb The Three Peaks challenge is one of the most popular climbs in the UK. It tackles three of the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales, taking in the dizzying heights of Ben Nevis (4,413ft), Scafell Pike (3,209ft) and Snowdon (3,560ft) over two days, with a total trekking time of 15 hours or less. Scale Snowdon as part of the Three Peaks challenge Credit: istock A three-day Three Peaks Challenge is available from Global Adventure Challenges (01244 676454; globaladventurechallenges.com) including accommodation, some meals, welcome pack, local transport and transfers. Transport to Glasgow not included. Departs June 21 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £455; 100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Minimum sponsorship: £75 registration fee; £760 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent to the operator). 3. High Atlas ambitions Trek the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains' highest peak, Mount Toubkal (13,671ft). The pay-off at the summit is priceless: endless views reaching across to the Sahara Desert. At the final stop, rose-walled Marrakech, there's time to visit the souks and get lost in the city's labyrinthine streets. Trek Mount Toubkal Credit: Getty A five-day Mount Toubkal Trek is available from Global Adventure Challenges (01244 676454; globaladventurechallenges.com) including full-board accommodation, tents and camping equipment, transfers and flights. Departs Aug 7 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £920 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity.) Minimum sponsorship: £150 registration fee; £1,540 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). On the right trek 4. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Hike through valleys and high passes along the classic Inca Trail leading to lush cloudforest into the challenging Dead Woman's Pass (13,780ft). The route heads towards Sun Gate, overlooking Machu Picchu, where the trek ends. There's a free day in Cusco for some independent sightseeing, last-minute shopping and bottomless pisco sours. Hike through valleys and high passes along the classic Inca Trail Credit: Getty A 10-day Inca Trail challenge is available from Global Adventure Challenges (01244 676454; globaladventurechallenges.com) including full-board accommodation, tents and camping equipment, porters, transfers and flights. Departures between May and November 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £2,049 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). Extra: £150 trekking permit fee and £250 airport tax and fuel surcharge. Minimum sponsorship: £349 registration fee; £3,400 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to operator). Extra: £150 trekking permit fee and £250 airport tax and fuel surcharge. 5. Path to the Dalai Lama and the Taj Mahal Dharamsala in India is the heart of the world's highest mountain range. It's also home to the Dalai Lama and the centre of the Tibetan Community. There's time to visit a traditional art centre and a tea garden in this fascinating town. From here, the trek starts in earnest, passing through the Kingdom of Gaddi, where nomadic shepherd tribes roam the high passes with their cattle. Along the way, the Dhauladhar Mountain Range is in full view. The Taj Mahal is the final stop. End a long journey at the Taj Mahal Credit: istock An 11-day Dalai Lama Trek is available from Global Adventure Challenges (01244 676454; globaladventurechallenges.com) including full-board accommodation, tents and camping equipment, porters, train tickets, transfers and flights. Departures between May and October 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,749 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). There is also a £250 airport tax and fuel surcharge. Minimum sponsorship: £349 registration fee; £2,800 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to operator). There is also a £250 airport tax and fuel surcharge. 6. Secret sections of the Great Wall of China This trek snakes across mountains in remote areas north of Beijing, passing through woodland and terraced farmland. It follows old sections of the Great Wall, as well as restored sections. There's a free day in Beijing for an optional special guided tour of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, a tour of the old streets of Hutong with a rickshaw ride and lunch with a local family. End the day with a sumptuous Peking duck supper. Try to find a section of the Great Wall bereft of other people Credit: istock A nine-day Great Wall of China Trek is available from Ultimate Challenge (020 7386 4680; ultimatechallenges.co.uk) including full-board accommodation, transfers and flights. April 16 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,675 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Minimum sponsorship: £295 registration fee; £2,760 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). 7. Enlightenment on the el Camino de Santiago A Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage was intended to quieten the mind as much as revere relics. This five-day trek takes in a section of this route and showcases the beauty of rural northern Spain, crossing Asturias's uplands over eight days of higgledy-piggledy villages, churches, silence and family hotels where your luggage awaits. At its end you join the Camino Frances into Santiago: mind stilled, pilgrim passport stamped, job done. Got on a modern-day pilgrimage Credit: istock An eight-day El Camino de Santiago trek is available from Ultimate Challenges (020 7386 4680; ultimatechallenges.co.uk) including accommodation, mountain guides, most meals, celebration dinner and transfers. Excludes flights.  Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £950 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Minimum sponsorship: £200 registration fee; £1,500 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). 8. On the trail of Navajo Indians in Arizona Follow in the footsteps of the Navajo Indians on this Grand Canyon itinerary, which spends a week trekking the Sedona Area (4.3 miles/7km), the Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Arizona (6.8 miles/11km), Monument Valley into Grand Canyon National Park (6.2 miles/10km), Mystery Valley (7.5 miles/12km) and Zion National Park (7.5 miles/12km). There's a hearty dinner around a campfire, a desert camp at a ranch and a final celebratory day in Las Vegas. Follow in the footsteps of the Navajo Indians Credit: istock A nine-day Beyond the Grand Canyon Trek is available from Charity Challenge (020 8346 0500; charitychallenge.com) including full-board accommodation, activity equipment including tents, entrance fees, transfers, flights and a donation to a community project of your choice. Departs Oct 18 2018. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £2,627; 100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Flexi: £495 registration fee; £495 tour cost contribution; £3,340 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £495 registration fee; £4,350 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). 9. Pasasge through the land of fire and ice  Ice roads, volcanic terrain, fjords over frigid rivers… Ski-trekking across Langjokull glacier ice cap is a challenge to remember in one of Iceland's most spectacular landscapes. Starting at Husafell, the itinerary heads towards Baldjokull, which rises 4,760ft above sea level, with views of the Thursaborg mountain range. Participants camp on ice, and the weary can take a dip in geothermal springs. Sleep on vast glaciers Credit: Getty A nine-day London to Iceland Glacier Ice Trek is available from Charity Challenge (020 8346 0500; charitychallenge.com) including full-board accommodation, entrance fees, activity equipment including tents, crew support and flights. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £2,607; (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). Flexi: £475 registration fee; £475 tour cost contribution; £3,380 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £475 registration fee; £4,350 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). Pedal power 10. Haute ride from London to Paris A classic challenge over a long weekend, the London to Paris bike ride covers 234 miles (377km) across England and France. Setting off from west London, the cycle pushes past Hampton Court into the countryside on quiet roads towards Portsmouth via the North and South Downs. There's an overnight ferry ride to Calais, from where the French leg of the ride begins. Pedal past pretty hamlets into the town of Amiens, where there is an overnight stay, before cycling into Paris, ending at the Eiffel Tower. Peddle your way across the South Downs National Park Credit: istock A three-day London to Paris Bike Ride is available from Charity Challenge (020 8346 0500; charitychallenge.com) including full-board accommodation on a twin-share basis, full vehicle support and maps. Flights excluded. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,033; 100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Flexi: £175 registration fee; £175 tour cost contribution; £1,395 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £175 registration fee; £1,750 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). 11. Roman holiday on two wheels The Italian landscape changes at every turn: from sophisticated cities to lush countryside. It's all on display on a Venice to Rome cycling challenge, which pedals along flat roads from the canals of Venice to the undulating hills of Tuscany and Umbria, pushing past terracotta houses and fields of olives and corn before a final lurch into Rome. Race through the undulating hills of Tuscany Credit: istock A six-day Venice to Rome Cycle is available from Discover Adventure (01722 718444; discoveradventure.com) including full-board accommodation on a twin-share basis, full vehicle support and maps. Flights excluded. Departures between April and September 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,175; 100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Flexi: £175 registration fee; £250 tour cost contribution; £1,500 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £175 registration fee; £2,000 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). 12. Greek odyssey This Hellenic journey starts on the outskirts of Thessaloniki on the north-west corner of the Aegean Sea. It then heads to the coast, followed by a ferry ride to gem-shaped Thassos island. "The emerald of the Aegean" is lined with quiet roads and traditional villages, ancient sites, clear blue seas and a lush green interior. After cycling a loop of the island, you'll cycle back to Thessaloniki where the odyssey ends and the celebrations begin. Cool off in the waters of Thassos Credit: istock A three-day Greek Bike ride is available from Ultimate Challenges (020 7386 4680; ultimatechallenges.co.uk) including accommodation, bike hire, most meals, celebration dinner, transfers and flights. Departs Sept 17 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,229 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). Minimum sponsorship: £295 registration fee; £1,870 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to operator). Extra: £50 for airport taxes. 13. Coast to coast in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's return to peace and splendour has attracted many a traveller and it is one of this year's most popular destinations. Explore this intriguing island on a coast to coast bike ride, cycling from the country's west coast on quiet back roads through hilly countryside, weaving inland into the central highlands to explore tea plantations as well as cultural attractions in Kandy. It finishes off at a beach in Trincomalee. This adventure ends at Trincomalee Credit: Getty A five-day Cycle Sri Lanka challenge is available from Action Challenge (020 7609 6695; actionchallenge.com) including full-board accommodation, bike hire, support team and flights. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £2,195 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Minimum sponsorship: £399 registration fee; £3,600 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). 14. The cider and Cornish pasties trail Land's End to John O'Groats is the ultimate British bike ride. It's a serious slog – 1,000 miles (1,600km) through three countries, from broad beach to mountain high, from Cornish pasty to Scottish haggis. Discover Adventure puts the wind at your back (hopefully) by pedalling from south to north and – luxury! – carries your bags. Push off on the ultimate British bike ride Credit: Getty A 13-day Land's End to John O'Groats Cycle is available from Discover Adventure (01722 718444; discoveradventure.com) including full-board accommodation, full vehicle support en route, maps and transfers. Departures between June and August 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,799; (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). Flexi: £349 registration fee; £500 tour cost contribution; £1,900 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £349 registration fee; £2,900 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). 15. Beaches, temples and rice paddies in Vietnam A 250-mile (400km) cycle from the north to the south of Vietnam, starting in the capital Hanoi and pedalling down to Ho Chi Min City. From Hanoi, the cycle heads for Hue, which is lined with ancient temples and tombs before stopping at Hoi An, a colonial city with riverside cafés, colonial architecture and a patchwork of rice paddies and sandy beach. Then it's off to My Son, the site of Vietnam's most extensive Cham remains, set in a jungle valley. You'll follow nature's trail all the way to the Marble Mountains and to Da Nang before stopping for a dip at Nha Trang's beaches. The last stop is Ho Chi Minh City where there's time to reflect on your achievement. Cycle Vietnam from north to south Credit: Getty A 10-day North to South Vietnam Cycle is available from Charity Challenge (020 8346 0500; charitychallenge.com) including full-board accommodation on a twin-share basis, activity equipment, entrance fees, transfers and flights. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £2,648; 100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity. Flexi: £445 registration fee; £445 tour cost contribution; £3,585 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £445 registration fee; £4,495 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). 16. Cloud forests and wildlife in Costa Rica Green, serene and wild, Costa Rica is many people's first choice for an initial foray into Central America. It's a safe and relatively small country that packs in a lot of experiences. On this coast-to-coast cycling challenge, you'll cross the country by bike, pedalling 290 miles (467km) from the Caribbean coast to the Pacific on the roads and dirt tracks of Costa Rica's hilly interior. En route, there are lakes, volcanoes, rainforests and all manner of flora and fauna. Get your head in the clouds in the forests of Costa Rica Credit: istock A 10-day Costa Rican Coast to Coast Cycle is available from Global Adventure Challenges (01244 676454; globaladventurechallenges.com) including full-board accommodation, tents and camping equipment, local bike hire with spares, support, transfers and flights. Departures between Nov 2 2018 and Nov 1 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £2,099 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). There is also a £250 airport tax and fuel surcharge. Minimum sponsorship: £399 registration fee; £3,400 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to operator). There is also a £250 airport tax and fuel surcharge. Activities galore 17. White-water rafting and cycling in Croatia Croatia's rocky stretch of Adriatic coast is the backdrop for an adventurous week, which starts at Split across to the islands of Brac and Solta for cycling, followed by a hike along Krka National Park taking in jewel-like lakes and waterfalls before a trek up Dalmatia's highest peak. The challenge, suitable for beginners, ends with a day of white-water rafting. Take in the beauty of Krka National Park Credit: istock A seven-day Croatian Multi-activity Adventure is available from Discover Adventure (01722 718444; discoveradventure.com) including full-board accommodation, crew support, entrance fees and flights. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,374; (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). Oct 14 2018, May 5 2019 and Oct 13 2019. Flexi: £199 registration fee; £250 tour cost contribution; £1,850 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to operator). Minimum sponsorship: £199 registration fee; £2,350 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to operator). 18. Dogsledding in winter wonderland Drive a pack of huskies across Swedish Lapland's winter wonderland, spotting elk and reindeer along the way. There's an initial mushing practice to help the group get to grips with the sleds. Afterwards, the agenda is dogsledding fun in Kiruna. In addition to learning to manage and care for the huskies, you'll also set up campsites and muck in with the cooking. Other highlights include a stay at a traditional Sami tepee and a visit to the Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi. Drive a pack of huskies across Swedish Lapland's winter wonderland Credit: Getty A seven-day Dogsledding Challenge is available from Charity Challenge (020 8346 0500; charitychallenge.com) including full-board accommodation on a twin-share basis, activity equipment including tents, ground staff, transfers and flights. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £2,627; (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). Flexi: £495 registration fee; £495 tour cost contribution; £3,340 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £495 registration fee; £4,350 fundraising target (51 per cent goes to charity; 49 per cent goes to the operator). Just deserts 19. Bedouin life and a dip in the Dead Sea Starting at Dana, this trek follows ancient Bedouin paths past hills, wadis and arid desert, crossing the canyons and escarpments of Jordan's Rift Valley. It ends with an ascent to the back door of Petra, with enough time for a bob in the Dead Sea as well. This journey ends at Petra Credit: istock This nine-day Trek to Ancient Petra is available from Discover Adventure (01722 718444; discoveradventure.com) and includes full-board accommodation, crew support, vehicle support, entry to Petra and Little Petra, plus flights. Departs Oct 20 2018, March 30 2019 and Oct 19 2019. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,974; 100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). Flexi: £299 registration fee; £500 contribution towards tour cost; £2,350 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity, 50 per cent to the operator). Minimum sponsorship: £299 registration fee; £3,350 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator). 20. Moroccan magic in the Sahara The Sahara Desert offers a blast of sunshine and endless opportunities for adventure. This 48-mile (78km) trek along the dried-out riverbeds and windblown sand dunes of the Sahara desert snakes along ancient irrigation channels that are still in use today. Trekkers are accompanied by Berber guides and a small caravan of camels throughout. The remote night camps, including one on the banks of Oued Mzouaria, resemble scenes straight out of Arabian Nights. Camp beneath the stars Credit: Getty An eight-day Trek the Sahara Desert is available from Action Challenge (020 7609 6695; actionchallenge.com) including full-board accommodation, entrance fees, support team and flights. Self-funding (inc reg fee): costs from £1,299 (100 per cent of any fundraising goes to charity). Minimum sponsorship: £199 registration fee; £2,200 fundraising target (50 per cent goes to charity; 50 per cent goes to the operator).

The 50 most romantic holidays on Earth (and yes, some are still available for Valentine's Day) - The Telegraph Posted: 03 Feb 2017 12:00 AM PST Travel is an inalienable part of romance – especially if you select a break that intrigues and entertains you both, while also ensuring that you spend time together. These 50 escapes are sure to do all these things – whether they involve a country walk in Dorset, a mini-break in Paris or a private island in the Seychelles. They are not Valentine's breaks (though some of the choices would work for late-booking lovers), nor are they specifically honeymoons (though plenty of them would work as such). These are getaways simply for those in love. And there's no time like now. European dreams 1. Barcelona Decorated with endless Gaudi flourishes, Barcelona simply sings as a venue for romance. Its Mandarin Oriental hotel joins in with its Fall In Love With Barcelona package, serving up a chilled bottle of sparkling wine, breakfast in bed and late checkout, from €529 (£458) a night. The glitzy five-star also has a rooftop terrace for broad views and swimming-pool dips. 2. Madrid Madrid also knows how to call down Cupid, perhaps at the Only You Hotel Atocha, a boutique retreat that opened in December. It's located at Paseo Infanta Isabel 13, ideal for a dash to the Prado for an art fix. But it also lends itself to mornings in bed by having its own bakery producing raspberry croissants (€2.50/£2.15) and puff-pastry "blueberry bretzels" (€3.75/£3.23). Doubles cost from €152 (£131) a night in April (room only). The Only You Hotel Atocha Credit: Vicent Mari 3. Verona Verona is the setting for Romeo and Juliet – and knows it. Its Casa di Giulietta, where a balcony has been added, is a tourist trap. Visit it, but pay better tribute to Shakespeare's tragic teenagers by exploring a city whose narrow streets and fine eateries are a joy. Kirker Holidays (020 7593 1899; kirkerholidays.com) offers three nights at Hotel Due Torri from £598 per person (flights, transfers and breakfast). 4. Croatian cruise Croatia has 1,104 miles of coastline speckled with pretty isles and ideal for a seaborne trip with a significant other. Voyages Jules Verne (020 3811 6790; vjv.com) runs a regular seven-night Dalmatian Island Explorer small-ship cruise that visits not only Split and Dubrovnik, but also the outcrops of Hvar and Vis. From £1,845 per person with flights. Vis, Croatia Credit: nagydodo - Fotolia/StockManager 5. Cyprus Mythology has it that Ancient Greece's goddess of love was born not in Greece but in Cyprus. Aphrodite "emerged" from the sea at Paphos, the west-coast city that is one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2017 (pafos2017.eu). The Annabelle hotel occupies a waterside position and has a spa and six acres of gardens. A seven-night stay in April starts at £487 per person, including breakfast (but no flights). 6. Rome In Rome, they called the same deity Venus and April was her sacred month (the Veneralia festival was celebrated on April 1). She is still there. The Temple of Venus Genetrix lingers in the Forum of Caesar. Less than a mile away, Palazzo Manfredi is a five-star oasis in a 17th-century palace, with doubles from €320 (£275) a night (from €455/£391 in April), room only. 7. Vineyards of Languedoc Nothing kindles a weekend like a bottle of something softly red or white. All the more reason to visit Chateau Les Carrasses (0845 686 8067; lescarrasses.com), a 19th-century winery near Narbonne in Languedoc. Abandoned from 1998 to 2011, but now back to full health, it produces its own vintages, has regular tastings and a restaurant, and charges €140 (£120) per night for doubles, room only. BA (ba.com) flies to Montpellier in summer. 8. Rioja Wine Tourism Spain (0034 91 014 5375; winetourismspain.com) is a viticultural specialist that allows its guests to drink while someone else drives. It sells a Ribeiro del Duero & Rioja Private Tour that explores two of Spain's most vineyard-laced areas. This three-day trip from Madrid starts at €880 (£758) per person, including hotels with breakfast, gourmet lunches, at least five tastings per day and the services of a guide-chauffeur. No flights. The best places and cities to visit in Spain - and where to stay when there Few cities compete with Paris for romance Credit: andreykr - Fotolia 9. Paris The inclusion of Paris in this feature needs no explanation. Nor does the prospect of a sojourn at the Castille hotel (00800 0022 0011; castille.com), a boutique five-star in the 1st arrondissement close to Place de la Concorde. Its Romantic Getaway In Paris package incudes double room with breakfast, sparkling wine and strawberries, is available until the end of the year and costs from €405 (£348) per night. 10. Ibiza Ibiza is perhaps best known for dance floor thrills, but also does refined breaks for grown-ups. Cas Gasi, a rustic hideaway near Santa Gertrudis, comes with a spa and first-rate restaurant serving the likes of slow-cooked lamb with parsnip cream. Doubles in April for €365 (£314) per night, with breakfast. La La Land Credit: Dale Robinette Go that little bit further 11. Los Angeles and La La Land Trace the choreographed footsteps of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in the Oscar-nominated film La La Land by twirling together at Griffith Observatory – and chase your happy ending at the nearby W Hollywood, with its rooftop pool and spa. A one-week stay, leaving Heathrow for Los Angeles on April 15, costs £2,035 per person through Virgin Holidays (0344 739 8347; virginholidays.co.uk).  12. Botswana safari Absent from the Academy Awards list, but arguably just as affecting, A United Kingdom tells a tale of love across the racial divide in the prim Forties. Skip the division and focus on the love with a holiday in the movie's prime setting, Botswana. Rainbow Tours (020 3131 4845; rainbowtours.co.uk) has an eight-day Botswana by Sanctuary Retreats private trip that provides a deluxe take on the wildlife of Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta. From £4,040 per person, with flights and transfers. 13. An affair in Long Island Now into its third series, The Affair has proved compelling viewing with its portrayal of unbridled passions in the sleepy context of Long Island. Steer clear of the infidelity and the messy divorces, but trap the spark in Montauk, the photogenic end-of-the-highway New York seaside town that acts as the show's centrepoint. It features in the one-week NYC & The Hamptons break offered by The American Road Trip Company (01244 342 099; theamericanroadtripcompany.co.uk). From £1,199 per person, with flights. 14. New York For some New York is forever associated with F Scott Fitzgerald's hopeless romantic, Jay Gatsby. Of course, The Great Gatsby does not end well for its titular dreamer. But you can make a better fist of a stay at the Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue, spurning the apocalyptic row but keeping the mint juleps flowing in the Rose Club bar. A one-week room-only stay, leaving Heathrow on May 14, costs £2,043 per person with British Airways (0344 493 0787; ba.com/holidays).  15. Hip Seattle On the opposite coast of the United States, the biggest city in Washington state is another emblem of enamourment, through the feelgood factor of Sleepless in Seattle and the feel-naughty factor of Fifty Shades of Grey. Whichever is your bag, Seattle is a city for intimate chatter at some hip restaurant and a stop on the 14-night Best Of Oregon & Washington road trip with America As You Like It (020 8742 8299; americaasyoulikeit.com). From £1,988 per person including flights, car and hotels. The world's most beautiful building Credit: © Marina Pissarova / Alamy Stock Photo/Marina Pissarova / Alamy Stock Photo 16. India and the Taj Mahal Often mistaken for a temple, the Taj Mahal is a tearful love letter, a mausoleum built in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who had died giving birth to their 14th child. Always busy, yet serene among the crowds, Agra's classic sight will be part of the 19-day Essence of India journey that is scheduled by Wendy Wu Tours (0800 1445295; wendywutours.co.uk) for March 17. From £5,190 per person, including flights. 17. Rio Few songs capture longing with sunny timelessness quite like The Girl From Ipanema who "when she walks, [is] like a samba that swings so cool and sways so gently". Head for the scene of this spectacle – though perhaps keep your eyes on your beloved – with the Taste of Brazil tour offered by Cox & Kings (020 3733 1828; coxandkings.co.uk). This 11-day private trip spends three nights in Rio, then leaps to Iguazu Falls and on to the beach at Buzios. From £2,495 per person, including flights. 18. Chile Ever in love with love, the poet Pablo Neruda called his Santiago home "La Chascona" in tribute to the red hair of his (third) wife Matilde Urrutia. You can see the house (fundacionneruda.org) on the 11-day Southern Chile tour offered by Last Frontiers (01296 653000; lastfrontiers.com), from £3,480 per person with flights. The Irrawaddy river 19. Myanmar The former royal capital of Burma inspired Rudyard Kipling to write his poem "Mandalay". Might it move you to verse in modern Myanmar? Steppes Travel (01285 601 758; steppestravel.co.uk) will provide opportunity on its 10-day Irrawaddy River Cruise, from £2,595 per person including flights. 20. Sweden and the Icehotel There is, of course, a joy to cuddling up in the cold, perhaps in the Icehotel at the foot of Mount Kebnekaise, the highest peak in Sweden. Simply Sweden (01427 700 115; simplysweden.co.uk) offers a four-day escape that sees travellers snuggle up under reindeer skins and sleeping bags in a room at -5C. Breaks are available until March 31, from £1,370 per person with flights and breakfast. In love with luxury 21. Seychelles Cloaked in Lost-World foliage and with dreamy beaches, the Seychelles feature highly on fantasy honeymoon lists. In the past six years, North Island has hosted the post-nuptials of both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and George and Amal Clooney. If you want to follow them, the private island's 10 Presidential Villas cost from €5,835 (£5,030) per night, the lone Villa North Island from €9,185 (£7,915). Prices cover all meals, drinks and activities, plus a spa treatment. 22. The Maldives Sprinkled like gold dust on gentle waters, the Maldives are another option for post-I-do endeavours. Soneva Fushi was given a 10/10 rating in the Telegraph's "Most Romantic Hotels in the Maldives" feature last November, and with good reason. Attractions include an open-air cinema on the beach, treetop yoga sessions, and a personal butler for each villa. From £1,383 per night. 23. Mozambique Bob Dylan had never been to the place when he wrote Mozambique, his 1976 song about a country where "it's nice to stay for a week or two and maybe fall in love". But his lyrics have come to hold weight, thanks to 1,430 miles of shoreline and a burgeoning array of beach retreats. Expert Africa (020 3405 6666; expertafrica.com) offers a seven-day Benguerra Beach Holiday in the über-luxe 13-room Benguerra Lodge, from £6,134 per person full-board, including flight from London. 24. Barbados A woozy Caribbean afternoon is always a context for mutual enchantment, and the west coast of Barbados, ever facing the sunset, excels on this Technicolor score. Elegant Hotels (0800 917 3534; eleganthotels.com) has six resorts on the island. Each offers an Ultimate Romance Package: candlelit dinner on the beach; strawberries and champagne in the room; a couples massage. A one-week stay at the Colony Club on this basis, checking in on March 18, costs from £2,348 per person with breakfast but not flight. St Lucia Credit: jgpatino - Fotolia 25. Caribbean cruise If one Caribbean island feels insufficient for an amorous holiday, dip toes into the shallows of several with SeaDream (0800 783 1373; seadream.com). This small-ship specialist offers yacht-style voyages on SeaDream 1, which holds a mere 112 passengers. It has an eight-day Marigot-to- Bridgetown cruise scheduled for March 27, which will ebb from St Martin to Barbados via St Barts, St Kitts, Guadeloupe, St Lucia, Bequia and Grenada. Full-board cabins are still available for £2,832 per person, excluding flights. 26. Nevis The Caribbean's tender ambience even affected Horatio Nelson, who met Frances Nisbet at Montpelier Plantation on Nevis and married her amid its swaying trees on March 11, 1787. The 17th century estate is still there as a chic retreat. A seven-night stay in April costs from £773 per person, including breakfast and access to the hotel's private beach. British Airways flies to nearby St Kitts. 27. Bermuda If the soothing murmur of sails in the breeze is your sort of serenade, Bermuda will be in focus this year as the venue for the America's Cup (June 17-27; americascup.com). This will be a prime time to see a sun-soaked country that deals in romantic rapture all year. Elegant Resorts (01244 897 991; elegantresorts.co.uk) provides escapes to Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa, an adults-only idyll on the west coast at Somerset Village, from a basic cost of £1,200 per person, including breakfast. Flights cost extra. Machu Picchu Credit: © Blend Images / Alamy Stock Photo/Blend Images / Alamy Stock Photo 28. The best of South America "Money can't buy me love," Paul McCartney sang in 1964. Put his assertion to the test by taking your intended on the Grand South American Journey offered by Prestige Holidays (01425 480600; toursprestigeholidays.co.uk). This 21-day trip takes in Rio, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, the Falklands, Easter Island, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos and Havana – via private jet, with Sir Ranulph Fiennes as a guide. From £34,995 per person, with five-star hotels throughout. 29. Portuguese palace A fairytale needs a palace. So what about the Tivoli Palacio de Seteais (00351 219 233 200; minorhotels.com), an 18th-century wonder near Sintra, the former playground of Portuguese royalty, comprising 30 guestrooms plus a wealth of ballrooms, salons and tapestries? Prince Charming can clutch the glass slipper here from £207 per night, with breakfast. Alternatively, he and Cinderella can hire the entire property for £25,200 a day. Royal Mansour 30. Marrakesh Lovers at Royal Mansour, in Marrakesh, can hide out in riad-style suites, doze by a vast pool, and eat at La Table – the main restaurant, where chef Yannick Alleno holds court. Seven nights in April cost from £5,120 per person including breakfast but not flights. 31. Vietnam Vietnam is still a fledgling destination for luxury, but be a trailblazer of the heart by flitting to The Anam (0084 583 989499; theanam.com) – a five-star all-villa retreat, on the south-east coast near Nha Trang, which has just unveiled its new Sri Mara Spa. A seven-night sojourn with breakfast, arriving on March 27, costs from £483 per person (not flights). Spa packages are reduced by 32 per cent until December 20. Amari Vogue Krabi 32. Thailand Thailand is equally viable for that combination of Far Eastern warmth and doe-eyed days together. Perhaps at Amari Vogue Krabi, which takes a sticky path to romance with its Honeytouring Package. Available until October 31, it includes dinner on the beach, honey-themed spa treatments and, oddly, a trip to a bee farm. Book this as part of a seven-night stay arriving on April 9, and pay £753 per person. Home is where the heart is 33. Chatsworth House Chatsworth House, the 16th-century stately home in the Derbyshire Dales, has long been seen as the inspiration for Pemberley – Mr Darcy's abode in Pride and Prejudice. In the 200th anniversary year of Jane Austen's death (janeausten200.co.uk), modern Elizabeths can live a Georgian fantasy in one of the Chatsworth Estate Cottages (01246 565379; chatsworthstays.co.uk). The Grade II-listed Gardener's Cottage costs from £755 for a four-night midweek break, or from £1,470 for four nights in July. 34. Hever Castle A less fictional female icon waits at Hever Castle (01732 865224; hevercastle.co.uk) – the 13th-century pile in Kent, complete with moat, where Anne Boleyn lived while being courted by Henry VIII. That relationship did end badly, but there is a delicate charm to a stay in the property's "Anne Boleyn Wing", with its four-poster beds and echoes of a hopeful past. Double rooms cost from £125 per night – including breakfast and castle admission. 35. Stargazing in Alderney The northernmost Channel Island, a speck of three square miles with practically no light pollution, Alderney (visitalderney.com) is seeking Dark Sky Status – and is a great place to peruse the heavens for the soft twinkle of little stars. A three‑night stay at the Georgian House hotel in the capital St Anne starts at £275 per person, including breakfast and flights from Southampton. Book through Alderney Holidays (01621 734777; alderneyholidays.com).  36. Northern Lights in the Shetland Islands The firmament can also be alive in the Shetland Islands (shetland.org) – which, as the northernmost fragments of Britain, at 60N, are the most likely context on British soil for sightings of the aurora borealis. A good reason to huddle up closer, the phenomena known locally as the "merrie dancers" are potentially visible between October and the middle of March, depending on cloud cover. Double rooms at the four-star Kveldsro Hotel, in the archipelago's capital Lerwick, cost from £145, including breakfast (hotelscombined.co.uk).  37. Isle of Wight  Now that Queen Victoria has been restored to romantic youth by ITV's recent series, there is good reason to visit Osborne House (english-heritage.org.uk), the Isle of Wight home which framed her joyful summers with Prince Albert. At The Royal (01983 852186; royalhoteliow.co.uk), a 185-year-old retreat in Ventnor a Luxury Dine and Stay deal (double room, three-course dinner, breakfast) costs from £150 a night.  Brief Encounter Credit: Park Circus/NOEL COWARD/ANTHONY HAVELOCK-ALLAN/RONALD NEAME 38. A Brief Encounter in Carnforth Unrequited longing has rarely been better expressed than in the clipped drama of 1945's Brief Encounter – a doomed affair against the backdrop of a suburban rail station. Much of it was filmed at Carnforth station in Lancashire. The ghosts of Laura and Alex linger in the tea room (refreshmentroom.com) where you can echo their conversations (with a happier result). It's just 24 miles to Windermere Boutique Hotel (01539 444165; windermereboutiquehotel.co.uk), with doubles for £170 with breakfast. 39. Scotland by rail If the steam train is your idea of romance, you can visit the golden age of travel via Ffestiniog Travel (01766 772030; ffestiniogtravel.com). Its 13-day Western Isles of Scotland rail journey leaves Glasgow on September 7 (later returning to Edinburgh). This will include a nicely archaic ride across the Glenfinnan Viaduct behind the Jacobite steam train – and suitably leisurely progress to the Isles of Skye and Harris. From £2,355 per person, including hotel accommodation. 40. The chocolate hotel   Chocolate and romance are synonymous at the Chocolate Boutique Hotel (01202 556857; thechocolateboutiquehotel.co.uk) – a sugary hideaway in Bournemouth which runs regular workshops (from £46 per person) where participants have to steel themselves not to eat all their ingredients while learning to craft Belgian truffles. Double rooms start at £63 per night, including breakfast. Lucknam Park 41. Cookery in the Cotswolds  The way to a man's heart might be through his stomach, but there is no harm in showing him how to fend for his nearest/dearest. Glamorous Cotswolds five-star Lucknam Park has a splendid cookery school where day courses with hotel chefs cost £175 per person, including lunch (half-day courses £75). Afterwards, dinner at the in-house Park Restaurant beckons. Doubles cost from £230, room only. 42. Michelin stars in Oxfordshire If a night of stolen glances has to be gastronomic, you might as well choose Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons – the diners' delight in Oxfordshire which thrives under the gaze of Raymond Blanc and the gleam of two Michelin stars. The hotel offers double rooms from £572 a night (with breakfast) and seven-course dinners from £159 per person. For further spring amour, it has a Bluebell Walk scheduled for May 3 at Harcourt Arboretum – a day trip with three-course champagne lunch included, for £180 per person. Leaving it late for Valentine's Day? 43. Dinner in a castle East Sussex's 14th-century Bodiam Castle (0344 249 1895; nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle), encircled by a moat, is awash with medieval magic. It has candlelit Valentine's Dinners scheduled for February 11, 13 and 14 (6.30pm; £37.50 per person; booking essential). Tickets include an after-hours tour. The White Dog Inn (01580 830264; thewhitedogewhurst.co.uk), in nearby Ewhurst Green, offers double rooms from £95, including breakfast. Edinburgh Credit: alice-photo/alice-photo 44. Edinburgh Scotland is just as ready with castle-framed Valentine's revelry. The Witchery is a mixture of nine grand Gothic suites (with four-poster beds and oak-panelled walls) and dining hotspot, pitched in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, on the Royal Mile. It serves three-course gourmet dinners for £36 per person, and has rooms on offer at its "champagne, bed and breakfast rate" (from £335 per night) during February. 45. London for lovers The joy of Valentine's Day falling on a Tuesday is that the weekends before and afterwards are realistic times for dances with Cupid. The people behind K West London – a four-star boutique hotel in Shepherd's Bush – certainly think so. Its "Saints" package – a bottle of champagne; strawberries; doubles for £219 per night, with breakfast – is available from February 10 to 19. So too is its "Sinners" deal – cocktails and chocolates – for the same price. 46. Cornwall cottage Its mid-February time slot makes Valentine's Day an ideal moment for huddling up against the cold. Cornish Gems (01872 241241; cornishgems.com) offers a range of cosy cottages in England's endgame, and has said that all bookings in February will be complemented by a bottle of sparkling wine and a box of Cornish chocolates. The Round House, a restored stone farm storehouse, by the estuary of the River Camel near Padstow, is available for much of next month. From £400 for three nights or from £500 per week. 47. Dorset A catalyst for Thomas Hardy's wonderful words, Dorset is also a glorious framework for leisurely romantic strolls in the countryside. Afterwards, drift along to Summer Lodge Hotel, a five-star retreat with spa at Evershot whose Valentine's Hideaway deal is available between February 1 and 22. Prices start at £440 per night for a double room, including champagne, a seven-course dinner, breakfast – and late check-out. Switzerland can do romance Credit: This content is subject to copyright./Frank Lukasseck 48. Geneva Switzerland? Staid and unsmiling? Don't say this to anyone from Geneva, the city whose location on the lake of the same name makes cameras sigh. Better still, the local tourist board is so adamant that lovers will find firm ground here that it has unveiled a Romantic Weekend Package that provides access to several five-star hotels from £122 per person per night (including breakfast, but not flights). This can be arranged until the end of the year at geneve.com. 49. Loire Valley A region of undeniable beauty, the Loire Valley and its fantastical chateaux offer a Gallic context for Valentine's daydreaming. Nowhere is the romance more abundant than at Hotel de France (0033 243 444016; lhoteldefrance.fr), an Art Deco property at La Chartre-sur-le-Loir. Catching the mood of the month, its Romance In The Loire package – a three-night stay including dinner; a bottle of a local sparkling wine; chocolates and a wine-tasting session – all for €150 per person – is available until February 28. Ryanair flies into Tours, some 25 miles away, from Stansted. 50. Tenerife If you fancy Valentine's Day overseas, and a welcome burst of sunshine with it, head for Tenerife. There, temperatures reach 18C in February. The Hard Rock Hotel opened in December on the Costa Adeje in the south-west of the island. It has a Rockmatic Package, from February 10 to 19, which will include dinner in one of the retreat's restaurants, cocktails in the Sky Bar, and a couples massage. A seven-night stay on this basis, arriving on February 12, starts at £928 per person. Flights cost extra.

Beat the rush: 50 amazing holidays you should book before January - The Telegraph Posted: 08 Nov 2018 12:00 AM PST The art of travel is not just about knowing where to go and when, it is also about knowing when to book. And for many holidays, the answer is now. Every year, just after Christmas there is a spectacular surge in the number of people researching and booking their holidays for the next year. The travel industry is well used to it and each January gears up for the demand. By contrast, however November and the first weeks of December are the quietest time of all. People are focused on the build up to the festive season and travel agents and tour operators are left drumming their fingers.  So, assuming you are able to commit, you would do well to forget about stirring the Christmas pudding mix for a while and set aside some time to thinking about planning your holidays for next year, and in some cases beyond. Not only are you likely to be able to secure a better price, but you will have the most flexibility, the best choice of rooms, seats, cabins or departure dates. And you will also find that consultants have more time and hopefully more inclination to help you find exactly what you want.  In short, you will get a much better holiday for a much better price. To help you plan, we've picked out 50 examples of holidays that you would do well to book much sooner rather than later. Of course, there are some exceptions. If you like to travel off peak to places where there are lots of flights and plenty of accommodation, you will do well to wait. Otherwise, act now to beat the rush. The Keukenhof gardens in Holland Credit: OLENA ZNAK Cruises Opinion varies among expert cruisers about how do get the best deals and cabins. But much depends on what sort of cruise you want to book. The best cabins on those with very limited availability or at peak times can sell out a long time in advance, especially in places like Antarctica and Galapagos. Prices below are per person, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights and transfers unless otherwise stated. All meals are included onboard cruises. 1. Book blooming early For about eight weeks from mid-March to mid-May the Keukenhof gardens in Lisse, in northern Holland put on Europe's most dazzling flower show. Over six million tulip, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs all bloom at once, and the world's amateur gardeners and flower-lovers all want a piece of it. Tours are already booking up, especially itineraries which are combined with  tour with time in Amsterdam and Antwerp. Brightwater offers limited cabins on river cruiser, MS Gérard Schmitter with bulb field excursion.  From £1,295 for a four-night Dutch Bulbfield Cruise departing April 14, 2019 in a twin-berth cabin (brightwaterholidays.com) 2. Cabin fever The Transatlantic crossing to New York ending in the glorious view of Manhattan and the statue of Liberty is one of the most sought after of all cruises. Cunard's Queen Mary 2, makes this iconic journey regularly, year round. If you aren't fussy about the departure date, direction of cruise or accommodation you can always find a space - but this is not the case if you want a higher, ocean-facing cabin on the westbound leg. These are already disappearing fast for 2019 dates. From £1,179  for a westbound Transatlantic Crossing departing Southampton on April 28, 2019 in an oceanview stateroom (cunard.co.uk) 3. D-Day anniversary June 6, 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in 1944, when over 150,000 Allied soldiers disembarked on the Normandy beaches, the launch of Operation of Overlord. Tight security and limited hotel space means visiting by land will be difficult in June, but there's still some availability on cruiser, MS Marco Polo's commemorative itinerary which takes in the beaches, plus Antwerp, Honfleur and Rouen, and is accompanied by a WWII historian. From £839 for an inside cabin on a six-night 75th D-Day Anniversary Cruise departs Portsmouth departing June 2, 2019 (cruiseandmaritime.com) 4. Call of the high C's  It may be a year away, but autumn is the most popular season for themed cruises in the Mediterranean and they sell quickly. Three categories of cabin are already booked out for next October's departure on the 382-berth Silversea's Silver Shadow which features evening operatic performances by members of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala. Ports of call include the Greek islands of Mykonos, Patmos and Rhodes, plus ports in Turkey, Cyprus and Israel. From £5,130 for an 11-day Mediterranean Cruise departing Piraeus on October 22 in a vista suite excluding flights and transfers (silversea.com) A Transatlantic cruise crossing that winds up with this view? Yes please Credit: Viking Cruises 5. Duoro demand  Classic cruises, particularly the more compact, week-long itineraries on Europe's great rivers, sell like hot cakes for departures in peak months. Whether you fancy the Rhine, the Danube, the Rhone or the Douro opportunities to book the best boats for spring and summer departures are dwindling. Scenic's eight-day Douro cruise on Scenic Azure, taking in Porto and rural landscapes of northern Portugal, is already sold out from April to September, so act now to secure options for later in the year. From £3,295 in a river view suite on the Delightful Douro cruise departing October 3 (£2,245 in standard suites departing October 30) (scenic.co.uk) 6. Single-minded Single cabins on cruise ships are thin on the ground and you need to be quick out of the blocks to book them. P&O has a few which are specifically designed for solos on seven of its eight ships. Of these, the newly-refurbished Arcadia, a mid-size, adult-only ship has a small number of inside and balcony single cabins on its sundeck and you need to act now to get one. From £4,478 in a single balcony cabin on a 28-night Madeira, Caribbean and Azores cruise, calling at Barbados, Grenada and St Kitts, departing Southampton October 29, 2019 (pocruises.com) 7. Christmas cruising More than a year in advance some categories of cabin for iconic river cruises in winter sun destinations are already sold out for Christmas and New Year 2019. For example, all junior suites available on Viking River Cruises Christmas and New Year itineraries on the Mekong river from Hanoi, Vietnam to Phnon Penh in Cambodia (including the temples of Siem Reap) have been sold. However, some less luxurious cabins are still available. From £5,825 in a standard cabin on a 15-day Magnificent Mekong cruise departing December 23 or 27, 2019 (vikingrivercruises.co.uk) Hanoi, Vietnam Credit: Getty 8. Early-bird deals For more general cruise itineraries, November and December are generally quiet months for bookings so this is the time when river and ocean cruise operators promote their best-value early booking deals. These typically include money-off savings or "value added" elements including complimentary airline and cabin upgrades, hotel stays or excursions, with deals running on a time-limited basis. From £3,095 for a 13-day Assam & the Mighty Brahmaputra  rail and cruise tour in India departing September 26, 2019. Includes a discount of £200 for bookings before December 26 (use code IBRNEW). Excludes flights and transfers (greatrail.com) 9. Snow bound Antarctica's short season - November to March, and the small size of the expedition ships (only 100 people are allowed to disembark onto the region's shore at a time) means it is essential to book a year or more in advance for a decent choice of departure and cabin type. Discover the World is taking bookings on its 88-berth ice-breaker, Ushuaia, up to March 2020, for example. From £4,492 for a  ten-day Antarctic cruise on M/V Ushuaia, excluding flights and transfers (discover-the-world.co.uk) 10. Galapagos: 2020 vision You are only likely to visit the Galapagos once in a lifetime, so it's worth making sure you are on one of the smaller boats which cruise the islands - you have a much more individual and personal experience. Not surprisingly they sell out a long time in advance, especially for Easter or Christmas departures. One of the most popular is the 14-berth motor-schooner The Beagle which is currently taking bookings for 2020, but other top picks include the 18-berth 1920s-style cruiser, Grace and the elegant tall ship, Mary Anne, accommodating up to 16 passengers. From £3,225 (year round price) for an eight-day cruise on The Beagle, excluding flights and US $100 park tax (galapagosspecialists.co.uk) Join this fellow in the Galapagos Credit: istock Prime properties Demand for high-quality, decent-sized houses, villas, and chateaux in  excellent locations at peak times is extraordinarily strong, especially those big enough to sleep more than one family. Nearly all will be gone by January, and in some cases you need to forget about 2019 and look to 2020. Prices quoted below are for one week, rental-only unless stated otherwise. 11. Warwickshire Castle The Landmark Trust won the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2013 for its adaptation of the ruins of Astley Castle, a 13th-century manor house, and is one of its most popular properties.The accommodation includes four bedrooms, a woodburning stove and moated grounds and is already fully-booked until 2020. £2,484 for four nights from August 3, 2020 (landmarktrust.org.uk) 12. Georgian beach house Close to the shingle beach and stylish shops of Southwold, South Green House, sleeping 12, suits groups and families who want a roomy base with easy access to restaurants and pubs. It has almost sold for peak weeks in 2019, but, if you're fast off the mark, the Whitsun half term is still available and families with pre-school children or adult groups have a better choice of dates in June and September. £4,275 (plus £35 booking fee) from May 24, 2019 (suffolk-secrets.co.uk) Southwold has a special charm Credit: istock 13. Captain's House, Cornwall Close to Mounts Bay beach, with views over the sea towards St Michael's Mount, and a secure walled garden, the Captain's House in Marazion near Penzance, sleeps up to ten people in five bedrooms. August is completely booked, but there's still time to bag a July week or a stay at Whitsun half term.  £3,628 from July 19, 2019 (ruralretreats.co.uk) 14. Lakeside hideaway in Cumbria A private jetty with boat mooring is a key reason why The Osprey, a family house sleeping four on the shores of Lake Windermere, is in such strong demand. But there are a handful of peak weeks still available for 2019 for anyone looking for  Swallows and Amazon-style holiday overlooking the lake.  £4,095 from August 2, 2019 (uniquehomestays.com) 15. Seaside rectory in Wales A stone's throw from the long stretch of golden sand at Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula, The Old Rectory is among the most sought-after properties in the National Trust's holiday cottage portfolio. Although almost entirely booked for next year, there's a lone week in August still up for grabs, and a choice of peak months in 2020 (bookings taken until September 2020).  It sleeps seven people, in four bedrooms, and has cosy interiors with outdoor sitting area and garden.  £3,467 from August 8, 2019 (nationaltrust.org.uk) Rhossili Bay - not what springs to mind when you think of Wales Credit: istock 16. Umbrian farmhouse Stylishly renovated, rustic hideaways in popular Italian regions are always best-sellers. Villa Tesoro in Umbria is a prime example. Sleeping eight adults and four children, this recently-refurbished, sixteenth-century farmhouse has fenced swimming pool and views over an unspoilt valley. An indoor soft-play area for small children is a particular USP. €8,625 from August 10, 2019 (scottwilliams.co.uk) 17. Good value retreat in Menorca Sa Tanca near Cala Morell is one of Vintage Travel's most popular villas. Sleeping six, with a grassy, landscaped garden and sea views. It's already booked out from May to the end of September, but has a couple of July weeks still available. £1,752 from July 5, 2019 (vintagetravel.co.uk) 18. Chateau in the Loire Perfect for big groups, French chateaux offer both space and sense of occasion, as well as some fascinating history. The 17th-century Chateau Le Brun in the Loire sleeps 12 in six bedrooms  and is set in a 52-acre park. It has a large heated pool and beamed living rooms filled with striking arworks. A handful of summer weeks are still available..  £4,084 from August 24, 2019 (oliverstravels.com) 19. Beach house in Corsica Corsica's largely undeveloped coastline means that there is a shortage of accommodation with easy access to its powder-sand beaches. Pinarello Beach House on the east coast is a sought-after exception. Sleeping six (including a handy, separate ensuite annex for two), it has its own pool a shady, shoreline garden and is simply furnished and decorated in cool blues and terracottas. Availability in peak weeks is dwindling fast. £1,333 per person from August 25, 2019, based on six sharing, including flights and car hire (simpsontravel.com) 20. Family villa in Corfu Holiday houses in the fashionable, north-eastern corner of Corfu fill early with repeat bookings year on year. Already the pickings here are becoming either eye-poppingly priced or thin on the ground. Petrino is a stone-built house sleeping six within a five-minute walk of St Stephano's shops, harbour and beach, with private pool, large sun-terrace and views of the bay. The Easter holidays and early summer months are heavily booked and the window of opportunity in August is beginning to vanish.  £4,935, starting August 26, 2019 (cvvillas.com) French chateaux living: nothing quite like it Credit: istock 2019 peak weeks The biggest contingent of bookers come January will be families looking for holidays during the school vacations. If you are in that camp, don't wait any longer, act now. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights and transfers for a week unless otherwise stated. 21. Flights to Europe Airfares can go up as well as down according to demand, but for peak dates they rarely drop. So getting as soon soon after bookings open can save a fortune. EasyJet (easyjet.com) opened bookings for its flights until September 2019 a few weeks ago. And this month, its next booking window open for travel between September 2 and October 27, 2019 (which includes Michaelmas half term). Jet2 (jet2.com) which operates to Med destinations from eight UK airports, has also opened bookings for summer 2019 while Ryanair's current booking window also extends until October 2019.  22. Florida at Easter Easter is one of the best times for a family trip to the Florida theme parks and packages for this region are available nearly two years in advance). For best choice of hotel and departure plan ahead to 2020, as most family-favourite hotels are already sold out for 2019. A rare exception is the three-star Rosen Inn International in Orlando, conveniently located for the parks, with availability in rooms for up to five people. From £1,094, for 14-nights at Rosen Inn International, based on a family of four sharing, room only, departing April 8, 2019 (thomascook.com) 23. Easter sunshine in Tenerife Tenerife's sunny south coast is a favourite destination for families looking for an upmarket stay in accommodation like the five-star suite-hotel Villa Maria which has spacious villa-style rooms and child-friendly vibe. Christmas and February half-term are sold out, but a handful of larger, three-bedroom villas, with private pools, are still available during the Easter school holidays.  From £1,534 per person, based on six people sharing a villa with car hire, departing April 9, 2019 (cachet-travel.co.uk) 24. Whitsun half term in Cyprus Cyprus is a good bet for reliable balmy spring sunshine at May half term: temperatures peak at around 24C with ten hours of sunshine. The five-star Almyra Hotel on the seafront in Paphos is one of Sunvil's best selling hotels and rooms here are already filling for this peak week. Facilities include a kid's club and creche, playgroom and family rooms plus watersports and landscaped gardens. Nearby bars and nightlife will suit older children. From £1,038, half board, based on two interconnecting rooms, departing May 22, 2019 (sunvil.co.uk) 25. Channel crossing in summer peak If you're planning to take your car abroad in July and August, and know your travel dates for 2019, you'll get book by far the best choice of crossing times and lowest fares if you book now. Day-time, weekend departures on the Dover to Calais crossings and longer, overnight southbound crossings from Portsmouth to St Malo (which are currently at 90 per cent capacity for some peak Thursday and Friday crossings) are first to fill. Eurotunnel opens its summer booking soon. From £118 Dover-Calais return for a car plus a family of four (two adults and two children under 15 years) in August  2019 (ferry.dfdsseaways.co.uk) Hydra, one of the Saronic Islands Credit: AP 26. Flotilla sailing in the Greek Islands The months either side of the school holidays are peak period for flotilla sailing holidays in Greece. Specialist operator,  Sailing Holidays says its most popular Saronic Island flotilla is already fully booked from May to mid-June and throughout September and October. However, July and August are also filling and choice will be very limited by Christmas. £1,675 (£1,560 for under 18s) for a 14- night Saronic Island-hopping Flotilla based on a hire of a Beneteau 331 yacht, departing August 4, 2019 (sailingholidays.com) 27. Summer stays in US National Parks The national parks of the Western US attract huge numbers of visitors particularly in the summer months  - the Grand Canyon alone draws in over six million a year. Visiting for the day is not a problem, but if you want to stay overnight there is only very limited accommodation inside the parks and you need to think about booking it now. Campsites for tents and motorhomes and and rooms in park lodges generally sell out for stays from April to September (see nps.gov). From £2,099 for an eight-night Grand Circle fly-drive holiday, including car hire, National Parks pass and accommodation. Excludes flights (trailfinders.com) 28. Overnight sailings to northern Spain Some of the peak Spanish sailings (from Portsmouth to Santander and Portsmouth to Bilbao) on Brittany Ferries ship, Cap Finistère, are already 75 per cent sold and are expected to sell out by Christmas. The ship offers limited cabin space compared to vehicle capacity so overnight accommodation is snapped up quickly. Popular southbound sailings depart to Bilbao on Wednesday and Sunday, and to Santander on Fridays. From £837 return from Portsmouth to Santander, for a car with two passengers, including ensuite cabin during July and August 2019 (brittanyferries.com) 29. Best hotel rooms in Majorca Hotel regulars are not only quick off the mark in booking up stays in a favourite hotel many months in advance of travel, but also bag the best rooms. For example, higher floor, balcony sea view rooms at the family-run, four-star superior Illa D'Or hotel in the popular Majorcan resort of Puerto Pollensa, which are above the tree-line and command long views over the bay, are guaranteed to fly off the shelf first. From £1,833 in a sea view room with balcony, departing August 8, 2019 (classic-collection.co.uk) 30. Christmas in the Caribbean Forget this year, organised bookers are already planning more than a year in advance for their Christmas break in the Caribbean in 2019. Despite some eye-watering prices and minimum stay requirements, top rooms and suites are reserved by the same guests year after year. Caribbean specialist, Caribtours has a team which is dedicated to Christmas bookings and says Blue Waters Resort and Spa is one of its top-selling hotels with popular room categories selling now. From £8,999 in a deluxe beachfront room, departing December 20, 2019 (caribtours.co.uk) Organised bookers plan a Christmas break in the Caribbean more than a year in advance Credit: istock Best escorted trips 31. Family Morocco Organised families are already snapping up child-friendly activity tours with departure dates at February half term and in the Easter holidays. Warm weather and a fascinating culture makes Morocco one of the favourite destinations for camel riding, desert camping and exploring around the souks and palaces of Marrakech. From £1,039 (adult), £935 (child) on an Camels & Kashbahs Family Holiday departing February 16 and April 13, 2019. Includes some meals (exodus.co.uk) 32. Inca Trail in South America The four-day trek to Peru's mountain citadel, Machu Picchu, requires a permit which are restricted to 500 per day for trekkers and accompanying guides and crew. Next year's permits were released in early October [2018] and the most popular period for walking the trail is May to August. Specialist operators include the cost of a permit in their tours, around $190, (£144) and advise booking at least six months ahead of travel for a reasonable choice of availability. £1,550 11-day Classic Inca Trail tour from with a four-day trek and some meals, excluding flights and transfers, departing May 27, 2019  (worldexpeditions.com) 33. The Milford Track in New Zealand One of the world's most scenic walks, the 40-mile Milford Track in the Fiordland National Park opens from October until April. A maximum of 40 people per day are allowed on the four-day hike with pre-booked accommodation in huts provided along the route (camping isn't permitted). Ramblers Walking Holidays, offers the track as an add-on to its New Zealand itineraries but early booking is essential to be sure of overnight availability.  From £4,205 for a 17-night South Island Discovery including some meals, excluding flights and transfers, departing Nov 8, 2019 (ramblersholidays.co.uk) 34. Venice Simplon Orient Express The once-yearly journey from Paris to Istanbul on the VSOE is already fully booked in 2019. Tickets for 2020 go on sale in spring 2019 and rail specialist, Luxury Trains, is taking pre-registrations now. There are more frequent departures for the overnight trips between London and Venice (taking the Belmond British Pullman from Victoria to Folkestone and joining the VSOE at Calais) but peak time journeys are currently at 70 to 80 per cent capacity.  From £3,100 for a  one-night London to Venice trip, full board, based on a twin compartment, departing June 9, 2019 (luxury-trains.co.uk) 35. Offers for singles Jules Verne is one of the few cultural tour operators which has no-supplement offers for singles who book onto its group tours – as well as offering departures that are specifically geared to solo travellers only. These departures are limited and inevitably popular so you need to be booked as early as possible. From £995 for a Amalfi, Pompeii and Sorrento tour departing between March and November, 2019. No single supplement departures (saving £195) are available on April  (vjv.com) The Venice Simplon Orient Express Nature and wildlife By definition, the window of opportunity for seeing the world's the most spectacular natural phenomena is a narrow one and demand is usually high.  Prices are per person, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights and transfers unless otherwise stated. 36. Cherry blossom in Japan The best time to visit Japan for the spectacular spring blossom which transforms its gardens and avenues is a three-week window from late March to mid-April. The Japanese are also keen to see it, so you need to get organised now. There is still a fair choice of departure dates on  highlights of Japan trips (which include gardens in Kyoto and Osaka) with Far East specialist, Wendy Wu. From £3,890 for a Week in Japan tour departing on various dates between March 24 and April 8, 2019. Full board (wendywutours.co.uk) 37. New England in the Fall The spectacular oranges and reds of the autumnal leaves make this east coast region of the US a big draw for visitors. Luxury Gold's new itinerary combines excursions along the scenic Kancamagus Highway with a visit to Boston and a trip to the top of Mount Washington. Limited to 24 guests, three departure dates are already sold out. Two guaranteed tours still have availability. From £4,001 for a ten-day New England's Magnificent Autumn tour departing Sept 28 and Oct 5, 2019. Includes some meals, excludes flights (luxurygoldvacations.com) 38. Solar eclipse in South America On July 2, 2019, there will be a total eclipse of the sun visible across parts of northern Argentina and Chile. Adventure specialist, Explore, offers an itinerary which is sold out on the outbound departure but has some spaces on the reverse, southbound leg. Departing from Buenos Aires, a local astronomer joins the group to watch the eclipse at around 4.25pm in San Juan before taking in the Humahuaca Gorge and National Parks of Talampaya and Ischigualasto. From £4,339 for a 12-day Northwest Argentina and Eclipse Reverse tour with some meals, departing June 28, 2019 (explore.co.uk) 39. Grizzly bears in Canada From late August and into September, grizzly bears congregate by the rivers of western British Columbia to feast on the leaping salmon. Lodges get booked up quickly with keen bear-spotters through from May to October but the feeding frenzy is the highlight and needs advance planning.  From £3,895 for a Whisperer itinerary including four nights, full board, at Pyna-tee-ah lodge with guided bear-viewing and three nights in Vancouver, departing late August or early September, 2019 (frontier-canada.co.uk) 40. Gorilla-spotting in Africa The forests of Rwanda and Uganda are home to endangered mountain gorillas. Access is tightly controlled with a limit of ten or 11 permits for groups of up to eight people, issued per day. These permits can sell out months in advance. The most popular times to visit are in the drier seasons from mid-December to early February and from June to August when less rain means gorillas gather round water sources making them easier to spot.  From £6,099 for a nine-day Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Discovery adventure, full board, including mountain gorilla, golden monkey and chimpanzee trek permits, departing July 12, 2019 (trailfinders.com) Go gorilla-spotting in Uganda Credit: AP Cultural breaks Cultural phenomena generate similar levels of interest and demand as natural ones, and it's already starting to get late to book for some anniversaries next year. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, including breakfast, flights and transfers unless otherwise stated. 41. Leonardo 500 Next year marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Italy's great Renaissance artist and polymath. Milan was da Vinci's home at turn of the sixteenth century and the place where he spent some of his most creative years. Travel Editions is offering two tours (one is already sold out) in the company of art historian, Andrew Spira with visits to the Ambrosian Library to see the Codex Atlanticus notebooks and the Last Supper in Santa Maria Delle Grazie. £999 for a four-day Leonardo da Vinci's Milan – 500th Anniversary Tour departing  March 21, 2019. Includes some meals (traveleditions.co.uk) 42. Exclusive access in Rome Queues and crowds can turn visits to top sights into an endurance test and nowhere more so than in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. Small group specialist, Andante Travel has lined up a tour which offers private evening access for uninterrupted viewing of Michelangelo's ceiling and the Raphael Rooms next door. Itinerary highlights also include tours of the Colosseum, Forum, Borghese Gallery and Rome's ancient port of Ostia Antica with archaeologist, Oliver Gilkes. From £2,395 for a six-day Rome & the Sistine Chapel tour departing on May 13 and Sept 23, 2019. Full board (andantetravels.co.uk) 43. Russian ballet with Darcey Bussell There is a rare opportunity to meet dancer, author and presenter of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, Darcey Bussell who is joining a Telegraph Tours trip in St Petersburg in May. As well as a ballet performance, there is also a q&a session with The Telegraph's dance critic, Mark Monahan. Itinerary includes a river cruise to Moscow for an exclusive talk by Telegraph Russia correspondent, Alex Luhn. From £5,190 for a 14-night The Cultural Heritage of Russia with Darcey Bussell departing May 19, 2019. Excludes flights (telegraph.co.uk/travel/tours) The St Petersburg ballet performing Swan Lake 44. Caves of Northern Spain There are tight controls on numbers granted access to the prehistoric caves in the Cantabria and Asturias regions of Northern Spain, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where wall paintings date back more than 20,000 years. A tour limited to six people organised by Steppes Travel allows access to the key caves.  From £3,225 for an eight-day Prehistoric Cave Art of Northern Spain including full board and transfers, excludes flights, departing June 24, 2019 (steppestravel.com) 45. Berlin Wall 30th anniversary  The fall of the wall in November 1989 was one of the most momentous political events in the lifetime of all us old enough to remember it. Next year marks the 30th anniversary and the world's attention will be focused on the city once again. Ace Cultural Tours has unveiled a one-off itinerary in the company of Dr John Greenacre, historian and lecturer.  From £1,745 for a six-day Cold War in Berlin tour departing Sept 11, 2019. Includes some meals (aceculturaltours.co.uk) 46. Arnhem 75th anniversary Another big anniversary will mark 75 years since "Operation Market Garden" – General Montgomery's plan to capture key bridges on the route from Belgium into Holland. The events at Arnhem inspired the film A Bridge Too Far. Battlefield tour specialist, Leger, has launched two new small-group tours which coincide with local anniversary events accompanied by an expert Second World War lecturer.  From £349 for a five-day Arnheim 75th Anniversary tour departing Sept 16, 2019 with a shorter four-day departure on Sept 20, 2019. Includes coach travel and Channel crossing (leger.co.uk) 47. Bauhaus Centenary Bauhaus is regarded as one of the most important design movements of the twentieth century and next years marks the centenary of the founding of the movement in Weimar. A handful of special interest operators are offering tours such as Arena Travel's one-off itinerary which visits Weimar, Berlin and Dessau (where a new Bauhaus museum opens in September), in the company of art and architectural historian, Thomas Abbott.  £2,195 for a six-night Bauhaus – Design for Living departing Sept 17, 2019. Includes some meals (arenatravel.com) Dancers at Rio Carnival Credit: Getty 48. Partying at the Rio Carnival The highlight is the parade of  outlandish floats and costumes in the Sambadrome. Adventure specialist, Intrepid Travel organise tickets for the spectacle or secure a place in the parade, with costume, if booked before Dec 1, 2018. The 2019 departure has six places left and bookings are being taken for 2020. From £1,690 for a six-day Rio Carnaval Package Original excluding meals, transfers and flights, departing March 1, 2019 and Feb 21, 2020 (intrepidtravel.com) 49. Rugby World Cup in Japan Act now – entries for the ticket ballot close on Monday. You will know if you are successful on Monday Nov 26. Then it's time to book flights, or go make travel and accommodation arrangements through an operator such as Trailfinders (trailfinders.com). Matches are scheduled between Sept 20 – Nov 2, 2019. Tickets from £20 for some of the early rounds to £700 for the best seats for the final (tickets.rugbyworldcup.com) 50. Salzburg Festival Salzburg is arguably the world's best classical music and opera festival and tickets for the top productions for the six-week summer event from July to August sell quickly. Bookings open later this month, though the tickets for the Whitsun festival (June 7-10, 2019) went on sale a couple of weeks ago.  Ticket prices have yet to be confirmed but go from £10 for the cheapest seats in smaller concerts to £300 for the best seats at the big concerts (salzburgerfestspiele.at)

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