Travel expert Simon Calder recommends Albania as the hottest holiday destination for 2025, praising its beautiful scenery, affordable prices, and uncrowded beaches.
As the January blues loom over us, you might be dreaming of a sun-soaked holiday abroad. Planning a trip away can be tricky; in 2024 protests against mass-tourism erupted in popular holiday destinations like the Balearic and Canary Islands, while numerous hotspots such as Venice have introduced ‘tourist taxes’ on visitors. Cost is a huge factor for travellers, too, with air fares and hotel rooms only getting higher and higher.
But travel expert Simon Calder has tipped one hidden gem country for being the hottest destination for 2025, where you won’t find crowded beaches and the prices are 'incredibly good value.' The travel journalist and broadcaster recommends booking a holiday to Albania, a “beautiful country” with prices “from the 20th century”. But there’s a catch. You’ll need to get there soon before the destination becomes “mainstream”, when you may find it tricky to bag a spot on the beach. Although the European country has gained some interest in recent years, with TikTokers comparing its beaches to those “in the Maldives”, Albania has remained largely off the radar for British holidaymakers. Yet its affordable prices and “uncrowded beaches” make it the place to go in 2025. Simon urges travellers to get their holiday booked this year, as he predicts that Albania will become a popular destination in 2026. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Simon said: “My top tip for 2025 is Albania. It’s a beautiful country and you can fly there from Manchester Airport. “Fares are pretty low and when you get there - my goodness - it’s like going back to the 20th century in terms of prices. It’s incredibly good value. “It’s a beautiful country, with lovely, uncrowded beaches, and if you don’t get there next year I reckon by 2026 there will be an awful lot of people on those beaches. I think it’s going to become mainstrea
ALBANIA TRAVEL HOLIDAY DESTINATION TOURISM
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