Top spots for 2012

Ahead of its annual Travel Expo in centres around New Zealand, Flight Centre has picked its top destinations for Kiwis to travel to during 2012.

Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii is making a comeback faster than you can pack a floral shirt. Kiwis are taking advantage of cheap flights and even thinking of the US Island state as a stopover destination to connect to mainland destinations such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Honolulu has come a long way from its origins as a small fishing village in the late 1700s. Today it’s a world-class destination offering fine dining, five-star resorts, shopping, museums and cultural events. Flight Centre has Honolulu holidays including return airfares and seven nights accommodation from $2219.

London, UK
Flights to London are filling fast and hotels have already put up full-house signs, claiming they are booked out for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, from 27 July to 9 September this year.

Travellers who usually head to the UK during the summer months may choose to holiday either side of the Olympics next year to skip the crowds associated with the Olympics. This will create an increased demand over the mid-year, from May to October.

The tip is to book your flights as soon as possible because prices will rise quickly. London holidays, including a night in Seoul, from $2699.

Nha Trang, Vietnam
Vietnam is being talked about as the next Thailand or Bali. If you are keen to laze around and sip cocktails on beautiful beaches, but also want to get active, Nha Trang offers plenty to keep tourists occupied.

Nha Trang ranks among the top beaches in Vietnam and has a warm climate all year round. While the city has become more popular over recent years, it still retains its small-town atmosphere.

Vietnam holidays with return airfares and a three night ‘Sights of Saigon’ tour start at $2899

Copenhagen, Denmark
The rise of Princess Mary has people talking about Denmark. It is truly a destination worth considering for a peek at its cutting edge designs, civilised bicycle lanes, green forests, organic coffee and clean beaches.

Copenhagen has been dubbed one of Europe’s coolest, greenest cities and the Danish capital is a world leader in clean technology, produced highly fashionable eco brands and pioneered eco-initiatives such as financial incentives to recycle plastic bottles.

Furthermore, the Danes are known as the world’s happiest nation. Flight Centre has return flights to Copenhagen from $2295.

Amalfi Coast, Italy
Summer and spring holidays in Italy are as popular as ever, but more people are getting outdoors on walk and sail or bike and barge vacations. These new boat-based journeys by UTracks are being introduced to coastal regions of Italy including the Amalfi Coast.

A relaxed itinerary allows you to explore more of the charming countryside and iconic landscapes from Pompeii to the rugged island of Capri and the vantage points at Positano or Sorrento. Flight Centre has Amalfi Coast holidays including return airfares to Rome from $4499.

New York, United States
It seems that Kiwis just can’t get enough of the Big Apple. Recently, there has been an increasingly strong interest from travellers for self-contained apartments when they holiday in NYC. 

The trend has prompted suppliers to offer more holiday rentals in the heart of the city. Flight Centre has return flights to New York from $2395.

Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Tourism is growing to Sri Lanka as more people learn of its unspoilt beaches, tea plantations, bird sanctuaries and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Surfers have been flocking to Arugam Bay for their fix for years, between April and October, but it won’t be long before everyone else catches on.

The laid-back beach strip has built a reputation for having the best surfing waves in Sri Lanka, yet hasn’t been tarnished by over-population. Flight Centre has return flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka, from $2078.

Zadar, Croatia
If you want to enjoy Croatia's Dalmatian Coast without the tourist hordes, inflated prices and tacky souvenirs, check out the walled port city of Zadar. Zadar's architectural heritage features an assortment of pre-Romanesque churches, Romanesque cathedrals, Venetian fortifications and Renaissance monuments.

Tuck into tasty Dalmatian cuisine at unpretentious restaurants serving authentic, homely dishes and pull up a seat at one of the many open-air cafes for a dose of people-watching at its best.  Flight Centre has return flights to Zadar, Croatia from $2606.

South America
This is a destination that is bound to excite, thrill, challenge and infuriate. From Brazil to Peru, South America is far flung and exciting.

Peru is situated on the west cost of South America and offers a huge variety of attractions from beautiful beaches to tropical rain forests – and of course the famous mountain-top city Machu Picchu.

With Argentina set to join New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in what has previously been known as the Tri Nations Rugby Tournament, interest is going to grow among Kiwis. Flight Centre has return flights to Santiago from $1885.

Tasmania, Australia
According to Tourism Tasmania, around 310,000 Aussies visit Tasmania each year and after the Black Caps ended their 26 year drought in Hobart this week, Kiwis are starting to take notice.

Tassie really does offer a mixed bag of highlights to suit just about any traveller, from its incredible wilderness experiences and coastal landscapes to its gourmet food and wine produce. Nature lovers can map out the walking trails of many national parks, while the foodies will love cheese tastings at the dairy farm and wine sampling at cellar doors.

Flight Centre has Tasmania holidays including return flights flying Air New Zealand from $1285.

Find details and inspiration at Travel Expos in Wellington January 29, Auckland February 11 & 12, Christchurch February 19.