33 amazing breaks to book now (and beat the post-pandemic holiday rush)

You may have missed the memo, but holidays are back. Testing requirements have eased for the fully vaccinated, making travel cheaper and easier for families planning their holidays this year. What’s more, France has just reopened to British holidaymakers, putting one of our favourite destinations back on the map. 

So with an empty 2022 calendar pinned to your wall, there is no better time to get some holidays locked down, in ink. We do not wish to instil panic, but a fair few pen lids have already been popped and calendar squares filled. Last weekend, on what has been named “Sunshine Saturday” for being the busiest bookings day of the year, travel companies had sales to rival January 2020. Thousands of holidays were bagged, from rustic Greek villas to floating cabins in the Maldives. But does that mean you have already missed the boat?

Thankfully not. According to leading tour operators, there is an air of optimism about the year ahead, with ample availability for holidays even after this month’s booking flurry. And flight prices appear to be stable. Laure Bornet, of flight comparison site Kayak, says: “While searches are on the rise, overall average flight prices appear not to have been affected significantly at this point, so travellers can be reassured there is still time to grab a good deal.”

Why not start by considering which type of holiday takes your fancy this year? We have selected some of your favourite holiday types, with expert analysis on where to book, when to go and how to guarantee that you make the most of your big holiday for 2022.

Ski

‘Have I left it too late to ski this season?’

With France having only just reopened to British arrivals, and the ski season elsewhere in Europe very much in full swing, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve missed the pistes until next winter. But this is not the case. 

Joe Ponte, chief executive of Inghams, says: “While we are on sale for next winter, it is not too late to book for this season.” Resorts are open across Europe, and after a slow start to the season due to the omicron outbreak late last year, ski operators are offering big savings for skiers willing to book at the last minute.

So where to go? Your decision may be made for you, depending on your vaccination status and which Covid restrictions are in place. Rich Sinclair, of the specialist agent SNO, says Switzerland has surged in popularity among families “because they don’t have the problem of requiring teenagers to be jabbed and boosted”. Unlike Italy, France and Austria, people aged 12 and above do not need to be tested or fully jabbed to hit the pistes in Switzerland, so this is our pick for a faff-free family getaway.

But if you meet the requirements, there are sublime options away from Switzerland. In Italy, in particular, you will find popular resorts such as Passo Tonale where, like much of the rest of Italy, the focus is also on fun off the slopes and relaxation, rather than sports and competition.

After announcing its reopening to Britons on Thursday last week, France is witnessing a rush of bookings for the remainder of the season. James Gambrill, general manager of the Ski Club of Great Britain, said: “Availability is tight for the peak dates such as the February half-term but there are still some spaces, especially in smaller resorts, and for the rest of the season plenty of opportunities to book, but we do expect demand to be very high.”

With fine views over the Morzine valley. Seven nights for a two-bedroom apartment in the premium five-star residence L’Amara with Skiline (020 8313 3999; skiline.co.uk) costs from £3,234 based on six people sharing; includes flights and transfers

SNO Holidays has a seven-night all-inclusive package to St Moritz in Switzerland from £1,530 including flights (020 7770 6888; sno.co.uk)

For late-season skiing, Crystal has availability at the four-star Hotel Grand Paradiso in Passo Tonale in Italy from March 26, from £679pp (020 3451 2821; crystalski.co.uk)  

Luxury

‘Are there any destinations left for long-haul luxury?’

After the past two years, the old trope of having really earned a good pampering has never been more fitting. Earlier in the pandemic, one of the biggest concerns for holidaymakers planning a luxurious escape was whether their money would be protected if they had to cancel due to Covid, but travel firms have listened to customers’ demands and are offering flexible Covid policies, with the higher-end firms offering one-to-one customer care.

It appears to be working. Erin Johnson, marketing director for the luxury firm Sovereign, says: “Following the change to testing requirements, Sovereign has seen an increase in searches for all-inclusive holidays, notably to the…