This year, European holiday makers are hoping to look further afield for their annual break. All too often, it’s easier just to stay within the EU. Going through immigration is a lot quicker for one thing. And if you’re from Scandinavia you can be in the Tuscan sunshine in a couple of hours. Snow-capped mountains, sprawling deserts, magical fjords, flowing rivers and majestic lakes – whatever terrain, climate and culture you seek, there’s no real need to venture out of the continent. But before long you’ve seen it all, and nothing less than a long-haul flight to an exotic, far-flung location will suffice. To help you figure out where to go in 2012, we’ve put together a list of the hottest destinations outside of Europe…
Bangkok
Though hardly a sleeper hit of a city, it has taken some time for westerners to catch on to the sheer manic energy of Bangkok. Three-wheeled taxis, tuk-tuks, whizz you round the city to face a wide variety of merchants hawking everything from silk to electronic gadgets. There are luxury hotels – some of the finest in the world – and scuzzy backstreet hostels. Fine dining and earthy street food of mysterious origin. DialAflight operate cheap Thailand flights – click the link to take your first step towards a whole new world in 2012.

Tel Aviv
Whatever stereotypes you have in mind about the middle east, Tel Aviv will dispel them. Regarded in the region as a hub of hedonism and comparative decadence, Tel Aviv is every inch the modern city, with a flourishing arts scene, multi-cultural population and plenty museums and music venues. And in accordance with law, if you can dig up some Jewish heritage before the age of 25, you can even get a free trip. Birthright!
Wellington
Certainly New Zealand’s hippest, most happening city, Wellington is chock-full of cool bars, and restaurants, even more per capita than New York. As you would expect from any post-enlightenment capital, Wellington is home to a burgeoning arts scene, and a successful film industry, thanks in no small part to the success of Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, who turned the entire country into Tolkein’s Mordor. Last year, Wellington played a central role in the hosting of the Rugby World Cup. If you want to get far away, go.
Iquitos
Peru’s most action-packed city, Iquitos is South Americana through and through. Full of nightclubs pulsating to latin rhythms, it’s a 24-hour party city. If you want a relaxing time, best avoided, but if you want a trip to remember – and be worn out by – Iquitos is the hottest ticket going this year.

