Travel Around the World With Brightsun - Expert Travel Agent’s Top Holiday Picks

Some of the Brightsun Travel team members have shared their personal favourite travel destinations and recommendations which may inspire you for your next break.

Skiing Holiday to the Alps - Shailesh

My favourite family holiday has to be skiing in the Alps. It’s only a short flight to Europe and generally you visit for a week. I have been going to various skiing destinations over the years and find each one rejuvenating by the end of the holiday. The views are breath-taking, the small alpine villages/restaurants/bars are cosy, and all that skiing in fresh air cleans up your lungs and mind. You spend quality time with your family as most of the time you are away from Wi-Fi zones, so you do not get distracted with work or social media.

I hope this inspires other families to take up skiing holidays! Findings show that each winter, 1.5 million UK residents go on at least one ski holiday. 29% of them will go on two or more ski holidays during the same winter season.

Winter Weekend Break to Iceland – Katie

My favourite holiday was a weekend getaway to Iceland with my best friend, where we got to witness the stunning aurora borealis dancing in the sky and experience the dazzling Blue Lagoon in all its glory. The Icelandic capital Reykjavik is also worth noting, filled with quirky street murals, independent cafes, and stylish bars and restaurants.

I recommend Iceland as a holiday destination because it offers something unique to your standard beach holiday or sightseeing city break. Iceland will take your breath away with its natural landscapes consisting of hot springs, gigantic waterfalls, and snow-capped mountains.

Ras-Al-Khaimah – Mala

My favourite holiday was Ras-Al-Khaimah when I went with my work colleagues on a familiarisation trip. I discovered a hidden gem in the Middle East with beautiful ancient forts, incredible sunset desert safaris, affordable jet-skiing, stunning ceramics, and world-famous hotels. You can enjoy 5 star hospitality at reasonable prices for friends and family to enjoy a luxury holiday and that’s why I now recommend it to all my friends – for guaranteed sunshine all year round! What are you waiting for?

Antalya – Pramod

I would recommend the beautiful Turkish city of Antalya because of its pleasant warm weather and perfect combination of man made and natural attractions. From jungle walks to city attractions, sky diving, and deep sea diving, there’s a fun adventure waiting for every type of traveller. Antalya is one of those tourist destinations which can offer almost everything – it’s the ultimate destination for any season and for any reason.

Norwegian Epic Cruise – Lavino

My favourite holiday was on a cruise ship: the Norwegian Epic operated by Norwegian (NCL), and at that time it was the 3rd largest cruise ship with a passenger capacity of 4000 plus and a crew of 1500. It’s a luxury 5 star deluxe hotel on sea with different types of rooms including inside cabins, balcony cabins, family balcony cabins, penthouse suites, and spa suites, to name a few. There are several different types of restaurants on board to suit all taste buds, plus bars & lounges, a casino, library, art gallery, gym, spa, hair salon, kid’s club, water slides, swimming pools, sports complex, climbing wall, theatre, and night clubs.

The best part of a cruise is that you have your accommodation, food, and entertainment all paid on your ticket and at the same time you get to see different countries - that’s why I would recommend it.

Amsterdam – Parisa

My favourite holiday was to Amsterdam with my sister, niece and nephew - it was truly a joy to tour. From the magnificent human made buildings to calm and green nature, the country had a lot to keep us out and about all week while we were there. People were welcoming and warm here which made the experience even more memorable, and the boat rides along the river are a must.

We particularly loved watching thousands of bikes parked at the station and seeing people traveling everywhere on bikes.

Dubai – Manoj

Although I have visited many places, my trip to Dubai in the UAE was one of my best experiences.

I visited both Dubai and Abu Dhabi with my wife on a trip organised by my company Brightsun as an incentive. My wife and I had a very pleasant travel experience and recommend all to visit this city at least once if you and your family love to experience the following:

• Warm weather with lots of sunshine
• Outstanding evening sunset jungle safaris and cultural shows
• World-class shopping
• 5 star hospitality at an affordable price
• Beautiful ancient monuments and forts
• My take on Dubai in one sentence:
• ‘Adventure, culture, food, shopping – name it and you will find it in Dubai.’

Philippines – Harpreet

‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’

My favourite holiday was when I travelled to The Philippines with family to enjoy this paradise country with pristine clear waters, island hopping experiences, and much more. I recommend The Philippines for relaxing family holidays, solo adventures, or group breaks. The Philippines archipelago consists of more than 7000 islands so it accommodates to all travel preferences, from lazy beach holidays to bustling city breaks with lovely caring locals and great food. I highly recommend a trip to The Philippines; you will be amazed by its beauty.

Malaysia - Ashrafi

My favourite holiday was to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when I went with my family. We learnt about the rich cultural history of Malaysia and stood in awe of beautiful historical landmarks. We stayed at a very luxurious and affordable hotel that had amazing hospitality and treated us well.

I cannot emphasise how mesmerising the Petronas Twin Towers look in real life. My family and I also went on a cable car ride which allowed us to see amazing views that cannot be seen anywhere else. Exploring the city of Malacca is also something I would recommend to every tourist when visiting Malaysia. This city will take you back to an earlier time when life was lived at a comfortable slow pace. You can rent a bicycle and explore the gems of Malacca; its old buildings and narrow roads will surely make you fall in love.

Malaysia is a beautiful country overall and you will undoubtedly enjoy the trip as much as I did.

Israel – Eddie

I’ve had many great holidays, and Israel was a memorable one, but I wish to write about Thailand. This is an amazing country to visit. Each place you visit has its own peculiarity.

I loved Bangkok which is full of buzz, plus the calm islands of Phi Phi and the pristine coral reefs. Then there’s the adventure filled spots in Phuket, while Krabi has its own unique beauty of islands.

There were many key places which I unfortunately missed; I especially regret missing the Floating Market and temples (overslept LOL). I would definitely revisit Thailand and go back there to see more and more, and would love to take my new family back to Thailand.