alternatives

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

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.

With the conflict in the Middle East continuing to intensify and showing no signs of abating, causing holiday chaos, one travel expert has given Britons four holiday alternatives to Dubai

Last year, Dubai was named one of the safest cities in the world, attracting thousands of people from the UK who moved there not just for a holiday, but to live there permanently.

Fast forward to today though, and it finds itself in the middle of the Middle East War. Drones and missiles have rained down on the United Arab Emirates city, striking luxury hotels and hitting airports.

For Brits hoping to enjoy the sunshine of Dubai without the very obvious dangers, travel expert Laura Carden-Lovell of Transfer Travel, said there were five alternatives.

Speaking to us, Laura recommended four spots from across the world – with some not even that far from the UK.

Agadir, Morocco

Laura said of Agadir: “It’s perfect for travellers who want to get the winter sun without the long haul flight. I think it’s just under four hours form the UK.

“You still get the golden beaches, warm temperatures and relaxed seaside atmosphere. The culture over there is amazing, very colourful, very exotic, but incredibly accessible and affordable.”

La Palma, Canary Islands

Describing La Palma as a “hidden gem”, Laura added that it was “a bit quieter and greener but still has volcanic landscapes”. She added: “You can stargaze, perfect for travellers who still want warmth and taking in nature.

“You can hike through the national parks, explore the charming towns and the you’ve got some natural pools as well you can swim in. Sunshine without the crowds.”

Madeira, Portugal

Madeira in Portugal is also an option. Laura said it was worth the effort (there are no direct flights from the UK) to make it to the region. She said: “It’s a little bit harder to get to without the direct flights. It’s not mainland Portugal but it’s still good for those who want year round weather so it’s a good one.

“They’ve got eternal springs over there and dramatic cliffs. Hikes in the morning and then if you want to enjoy sea view dining.”

Antigua

Meanwhile, for those willing to go a bit further afield, Laura said Antigua was still one travellers should put on their list for it’s “beaches” and “gorgeous turquoise water”.

She expanded: “You can go sailing, snorkelling. I think they’ve also have some carnivals as well. That’s a perfect for travellers who really want the warm waters and calm weather. It’s got a lot of character and culture.”

They offer stunning beaches, hiking trails and authentic Spanish culture away from the busier Canary Islands.

For decades, the Canary Islands have remained a beloved getaway for British holidaymakers. However, activists are now mobilising to highlight the damaging effects of over-tourism plaguing the sun-drenched Spanish archipelago.

Campaigners point to a severe shortage of local housing and environmental degradation driven by the thriving tourism sector on the most frequented islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.

Yet amongst the eight islands, there exist lesser-known gems where mass tourism hasn’t taken hold – destinations equally as stunning but refreshingly unspoilt.

Here the Express explores the islands of La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma.

Three alternatives in the Canary Islands

La Gomera

La Gomera ranks as the third-smallest amongst the archipelago’s eight principal islands, home to 22,361 residents. San Sebastián de La Gomera serves as its capital.

Katie, a travel blogger behind The World on my Necklace, shares what attracted her to this diminutive island. She said: “I read about La Gomera, one of the smallest islands in the archipelago.

“While Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote have areas that are awash with generic package hotels and Irish bars — although even Tenerife has a lot of beauty away from the touristy stuff if you know where to look — La Gomera sounded like a more relaxed and authentic experience and the more I read, the more excited I was to visit.

“I was sold on this idyllic island paradise still untouched by the commercial tourism that steered me away from the larger islands.”

The petite volcanic island offers an abundance of hiking and cycling trails for visitors seeking a more energetic getaway. Its 100-kilometre coastline is dotted with spectacular beaches featuring dramatic black sands.

El Hierro

Known as Isla del Meridiano, the Meridian Island, El Hierro ranks as the second-smallest and most southwesterly of the Canary Islands. Home to just 11,659 residents, it spans 103.67 square miles.

It’s particularly renowned amongst diving aficionados and is progressing towards complete energy self-sufficiency using clean, renewable power sources.

Travel blogger Silvia shared her thoughts about the island on her website. She said: “Let me start with a clear message: el Hierro is the best hidden gem you will find in the Canary Islands. Given that it is the smallest island of them all, I figured there wasn’t that much to see… boy, was I wrong!”.

Visitors who venture there can anticipate hiking, diving and a culinary journey featuring numerous celebrated eateries.

La Palma

La Palma goes by the nickname La Isla Bonita — The Beautiful Island. Covering 273.48 square miles, it’s the fifth-largest of the eight principal Canary Islands, with 84,338 inhabitants.

The compact island is eager for tourists to discover its attractions. Its tourism website reads: “Home to incredible landscapes, imposing volcanoes, dense forests, unique beaches, and star scattered skies, the island of La Palma is rightfully named ‘La Isla Bonita’ (the Pretty Island).”

A safe destination, whose main attribute is its environmental quality, an unmistakable sign of healthy surroundings.”