Holiday ideas for the New Year

So, Christmas is over, the presents have been unwrapped, you've polished off (a lot) of alcohol, eaten (even more) food yet it's still dark, miserable and venturing out of your house in anything less than three layers of thermals seems like a distant memory. Why not cheer yourself up by starting the New Year with a well deserved break away? You may even be able to pick up some bargains in the January sales!

Here are a few destination suggestions that are sure to help you battle those post Christmas blues;

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is the second largest city in the country and the capital of the richest region in Spain, Catalonia. Barcelona is a vibrant metropolis boasting all the amenities you would expect from a busy European city, in addition to this there are bountiful historical and cultural influences that can be appreciated throughout the city and stunning and iconic architecture, most notably that designed by Antoni Gaudí. Barcelona is a notorious shopping hotspot and attracts people from all over the world searching for fashionable clothes, leather goods and stunning ceramics. When shopping in the city you can enjoy everything from practical department stores and larger shopping centres to enchanting specialist shops that remain virtually unchanged in the sunless streets of the Barri Gòtic.

New York, USA

The obvious choice for shopping is of course, The Big Apple. A city made famous world famous through sex and the city alone, New York has countless activities to suit every taste. Why not visit the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty, breathe in the bright lights and buzzing atmosphere of Times Square or take a walk in Central Park, followed by dinner and cocktails at any number of eateries the city boasts. New York City is arguably most famous as the shopping capital of the world and considering its home to Macy's, the world's largest store and hundreds of other shops, boutiques and department stores it's no wonder.

If you are planning on getting away this New Year, and why shouldn't you?! Please don't forget to purchase travel insurance before you go! It's easily done in all the excitement of planning a holiday and often deemed not really necessary, especially if it's just a short city break you're taking. However, travel insurance is one of the most important aspects of your holiday considering it could potentially save you hundreds of thousands of pounds in medical expenses, cancelled flights or lost luggage (especially if you've just maxed out a new credit card in Sales purchases!). You can obtain single trip travel insurance from AA Travel for as little as £13.95.