Where is everyone going on holiday in 2016?
New year, new you
Friends are currently skiing in Val d’lsère, your parents are planning your Dad’s 50th to Venice, but you’re stuck at home sifting through revision notes thinking about what summer might bring.
What are your travel resolutions for 2016? What’s going to get you through your January exams? Is Southeast Asia really finished?
We asked UCL students to share their holiday plans for the upcoming year and asked them which countries they think will go big in 2016.
Tomas, Clinical Mental Sciences, Masters
Tomas, originally from the Czech Republic, is a big traveller – racking up trips to Sicily, Norway and Croatia last year.
“In 2016, I will probably go away to Europe, but I would love to travel around New Zealand.”
When asked whether he thinks places like Thailand have had their day, Tomas disagreed.
“Southeast Asia is much more affordable for students – areas like Vietnam are much cheaper than New Zealand.”
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Becca, German and Linguistics, fourth year
The Oxford linguist thinks a lot of people will still go travelling in Southeast Asia, but she reckons Morocco will be the next big destination.
She said: “I think the Southeast Asia trend will last longer than we think. In the last few months I’ve heard a lot about Morocco.
“I’m going to South Africa for a month or so when I graduate – either on a solo trip or with one other person.
“I’ll probably go to countries in the Middle East – Beirut or Turkey would be fun. There is a lot happening there at the moment, which is really interesting.”
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Eliza, History, first year
Eliza travelled across Europe from Amsterdam to Budapest with a group of friends in the summer.
“Before uni I went interrailing and ended up at the Sziget music festival in Budapest, it was so good.”
Josh, Physics, fourth year
Josh travelled South America last summer – visiting Columbia, Cuba and the Balkans.
He said: “I still think Southeast Asia has it locked down and has a lot of life left in it.”
Once he finishes his Physics degree Josh hopes to travel around Iceland.
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Abbi, Nutrition for Global Health, Masters
Abbi had a big year of travelling before her Masters but her 2016 plans are dependent on where she gets a job.
“I went to India to work over there in the summer. Then I visited Zanzibar, then Spain, then Italy and finally I went to Scotland.”
“Next year it’s reliant on me getting a job, but I will most likely visit developing countries.”
She reckons people will still go to Southeast Asia, but South America is growing in popularity.
Ellen, Chemical Physics, second year
Ellen went to Stockholm in January, skiing with her family in Italy and then she backpacked through South America in summer.
“We travelled through Bolivia and Chile.
“South America is gaining interest, especially with the Olympics and I have heard Eastern Europe is meant to be amazing.”
Fraser, Economics, first year
Fraser is a huge fan of India after travelling there last summer.
“This year I’ll probably go to France with my family. I want to go to India but it’s just not going to happen.
“I’m going back to Taunton in summer as well, which doesn’t really count as a holiday.
“Southeast Asia was popular among my friends, but I have no interest in it – I really just want to visit India again.”
Sophie, Fine Art, third year
Sophie went to both Australia and Turkey last year, but only has plans to go hiking in the Lake District in 2016.
“My Dad has an apartment in Thailand so we will probably still go there. Everyone tends to be going to Western Europe, but I think people will start to explore Eastern Europe a lot more.”