The war in Iran has put a spanner in the works for travel plans with many countries now off-limits – here are six replacement destinations for people looking to change their March getaway
Nice in France was praised for its beach-city combination (Image: Getty Images)
There have been many knock-on effects of the Iran war which ignited a week ago. While no means the most important, a disruption to travel plans has been one factor to consider.
Parts of the Middle East have been popular with British tourists, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The cities offer almost year-round sunshine, incredible hotels and luxury breaks that entice UK tourists to snap up trips in their droves.
Those destinations, along with a host of other hotspots in the Middle East and Mediterranean, are now effectively no-go zones, at least temporarily.
Fortunately travel writer Annabelle Thorpe has compiled a list of six possible destinations to book your holiday to instead.
Athens
The expert recommends swapping Cyprus for the iconic Greek capital. Athens is pretty quiet in March which means the famous Acropolis and the Parthenon are likely to be virtually crowd-free.
March is considered ‘shoulder season’ in Athens with fewer crowds and more pleasant temperatures as the mercury normally hovers around 16-17C.
There are direct flights from five airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City – with a range of carriers including easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Seville
If you had a trip to Istanbul in the pipeline, Annabelle says consider going to Seville instead. The city in the south of Spain is famed for its Moorish palace, Gothic cathedrals and flamenco dancing.
Seville enjoys daytime highs of around 22C in March, making for a cool contrast before the stifling summer heat. Visitors can also enjoy the blooming orange trees and the preparations for the Easter festivities.
Most London airports as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh offer direct flights to the city.
Tunis
If Amman, the capital of Jordan, was on your travel list, the expert suggests making a beeline for Tunis instead. The ancient city, the capital of modern day Tunisia, offers an incredible blend of Mediterranean charm, French colonial history and Arab heritage.
It also boasts a UNESCO-listed medina along with the ancient ruins of Carthage. Daytime highs in the city are a pleasant 20C.
Direct flights depart from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, with Tunisair the main carrier.
Marrakech
Annabelle recommends trading in the UAE’s glitzy malls for a spot of shopping in Marrakech’s world famous medina instead. It’s a great spot to shop for cashmere shawls, handmade jewellery, antiques, spices and much more.
Away from the hectic souks, there is Jardin Majorelle, a one-hectare botanical landscape garden, and the bustling Jemaa El Fna Square. Temperatures can reach a pretty steamy 25C in March but many riads have pools to allow their visitors to cool off.
Several airports fly direct to the Moroccan city, including major London hubs and Manchester, Birmingham and John Lennon Airport in Liverpool among others.
Gran Canaria
Bodrum has long been popular with Brits seeking winter or early spring sun. But with its proximity to the war zone, Annabelle called on tourists to try out Gran Canaria instead.
The island is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands. March highs reach around 22C, but the sun-drenched beaches along with the duty-free shopping and nightlife make it a rival for Turkey’s holiday resorts.
Over 15 airports offer direct flights to the island’s capital Las Palmas, including London’s hubs and Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Bristol.
Nice
One of the big draws of Dubai is its city-beach combination. Many British tourists enjoy soaking up the sun before enjoying some shopping. The travel expert puts forward Nice, on the French Riviera, as an alternative to the popular UAE city.
The Promenade des Anglais sweeps along a four-mile stretch of seafront, and that couples with the open-air bars and restaurants make for a heady mix.
You can catch direct flights from most London hubs along with Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast.