Holidays 2012 – Planning the Perfect Beach Holiday
The time has come to start planning for
holidays 2012 – why not make your next holiday one that you will remember forever, with an all-inclusive beach holiday to one of the world’s most sought-after island destinations such as Mauritius or Seychelles? With much to offer in terms of activities, sightseeing, island culture, marine life, birdlife, cuisine, national parks and of course, warm weather all year round, beach
holidays 2012 are set to bring you endless fun in the sun!
To start planning your memorable island holiday, you will first need to choose your destination. Mauritius is a large island situated, south-east of Seychelles, which is an Archipelago made up of several islands. Both destinations are situated within the Indian Ocean. With a strong Creole influence, Mauritius was originally discovered by Arab traders. Seychelles has a French influence, combined with an Asian-African flair that can be found in its culture and cuisine. The weather is also somewhat milder in Seychelles, with no risk of tropical storms.
Planning your Mauritius Holidays 2012
Planning your
Mauritius holidays 2012 will mostly consist of planning around the seasons. Some tips to keep in mind for your holiday include the following:
- Cyclone season – this season runs between January and February, and brings the risk of tropical cyclones and storms across the Indian Ocean. Scuba diving and water sports are not recommended during this season due to turbulent waters.
- Hiking and sightseeing – the best months for outdoor activities are during the winter, from May to November. These months are cooler and drier, without the humidity and rainfall that occurs in summer. Winter is also more affordable for travel packages and accommodation, as this is the low tourist season.
- Water sports and beaches – the busy summer months from December to April bring the highest temperatures, with hot, somewhat humid weather and good conditions for water sports and scuba diving (aside from the cyclone season of course).
- Festivals and holidays – there are many festivals
held throughout the year in Mauritius, from
Diwali between October and November to New
Year on the first two days of January, or even
the Chinese Spring Festival, which is held
between January and February. These add even
more fun to your holidays 2012, with plenty of
culture, sights, cuisine and entertainment to enjoy.
Planning your Seychelles Holidays 2012
The Seychelles is comprised of numerous smaller islands, which make this destination ideal for those who love to explore. Some tips to keep in mind when planning your
Seychelles holidays 2012 include the following:
- Hot season – the warm northwest monsoon runs from November to March, bringing increased heat and humidity to the Seychelles. The heat is made far more bearable by sea breezes, especially around the beaches. This makes the hot season still fine for beach activities, swimming and water sports.
- Cooler season – the cooler southeast monsoon season runs from May to September, bringing drier, cooler weather across the islands. This season is excellent for sightseeing, hiking, island hopping and exploring the many national parks within the islands. Like Mauritius, the winter season is also more affordable for holiday packages as this is the low season for tourism.
- Changeover months – in between the two monsoon seasons, from April to October, the weather is more variable. Winds can be stronger during this month, which makes water sports such as sailing, fishing and scuba diving less ideal.
- Holidays and festivals – there are many different festivals happening each year in Seychelles, which can be the highlight of your holiday. Notable events include National Day on June 18, Assumption/La Digue Festival in August, All Saints day on 1 November and New Years at the end of each year. Travelling to Seychelles for these festivals will be the highlight of any holidays 2012, so diarise these holidays to help with your planning process.