Where are you planning to travel this year? If you’re considering a trip to the sparkling lakes of northern Italy, Portugal’s sun-kissed Douro valley, or the sub-tropical gardens of the Isles of Scilly, then you’re in good company.
Here at Good Housekeeping we work hard to bring you a carefully curated selection of unique tours — and we can see which ones you’ve been busy booking so far this year. Italy and the UK are standing out as clear favourites, with destinations such as Lake Como and the Isles of Scilly among the most popular with our readers.
While we know there are lots of options out there, the team at Good Housekeeping Holidays really do go the extra mile to provide you with unique travel experiences. Many of our holidays are hosted by celebrity guests or local experts, who’ll give you a unique perspective on the places you’re visiting and take you to spots that you might otherwise miss.
We can see some clear themes when it comes to what you like doing on your holidays. We know Good Housekeeping readers love beautiful gardens, and this is reflected in your holiday habits; trips like our Kent and Sussex holiday with Sarah Raven and our Cotswolds trip with Adam Henson are among our most-booked getaways.
Music-themed trips also struck a chord with our readers, with tours featuring exclusive performances proving particularly popular. Our Danube cruise features an intimate concert with virtuoso Russell Watson, who’ll give an intimate private performance in the enchanting town of Dürnstein.
And on our special trip to Tuscany, you’ll have tickets to Andrea Bocelli’s annual hometown performance in the atmospheric Teatro del Silenzio — built especially for the Maestro’s summer concerts.
Food is also important to our readers, and who doesn’t love a chance to combine a holiday with some gourmet adventures? Our foodie trip to Italy’s gastronomic capital of Bologna is another of our most-booked trips, proving travel and food really do go hand-in-hand.
On this trip to the city known as La Grassa (the fat one), you can look forward to visiting a local Parmesan factory, a balsamic vineyard and a family-run Parma ham producer, and learning how to rustle up authentic dishes yourself in a cooking lesson with a local chef.
While Good Housekeeping Holidays offers you great variety, there are some key features that all our trips have in common. We partner with leading travel operators to include the highest quality experiences, with carefully chosen excursions and exclusive events that will make your trip memorable, immersive and enriching.
But don’t just take our word for it. Readers who’ve recently joined us for a holiday have been singing our praises. One guest who joined our popular trip to the Cotswolds said, ‘I so enjoyed Adam Henson’s talk. He has such terrific energy and a riveting story to accompany his extraordinary farm.’
Another guest who thoroughly enjoyed our trip to the Isles of Scilly shared some glowing words about our expert tour managers: ‘We learned so much from them all. From geology, flora and fauna, history, shipwrecks to life on the islands. We loved it all!’
Another thing Good Housekeeping readers love about our holidays is the chance to meet new people with shared interests. Alistair Wood from Good Housekeeping Holidays says, ‘On our trips you’ll get to travel with likeminded people, perhaps making new friends as you explore new destinations and share experiences. It’s one of the things our customers like most about travelling with us.’
Take our trip to Bath to explore the world of Jane Austen, for example. Another of our most-booked holidays, this special trip allows you meet others who share your love for literature, all while getting an unparalleled insight into Jane’s life, hearing from her biographer Lucy Worsley and visiting Jane’s house in Chawton.
On most of our trips, you’ll find a mix of couples, friends travelling together and solo travellers. In fact, many of our holidays have no single supplement and are perfect for individual explorers.
Many of our most popular holidays reflect key travel trends for 2025. According to ABTA’s latest report, long-haul is making a comeback, with travellers looking to explore more far-flung destinations. Asia is set to welcome the biggest year-on-year rise in visitors, with Japan and India among the most popular destinations.
It’s no wonder that our fantastic tour of India’s Golden Triangle is proving so popular with our readers. This holiday will take you to some of the country’s holiest sites, through the fascinating cities of the Golden Triangle and deep into the jungles of Ranthambore National Park to search for tigers.
ABTA’s report also tells us that couples holidays are back in style. If you’re hoping to travel with your partner this year, take inspiration from fellow readers who’ve loved our trip to Verona for the city’s famous opera festival. This is the home of the world’s most famous love story, after all, and with VIP tickets and a backstage tour at the Arena di Verona, your holiday is bound to have a happier ending than Romeo And Juliet.
Another key travel trend for 2025 is five-star travel, with an increasing number of holidaymakers treating themselves to high-end stays. Good Housekeeping readers can find that luxurious touch on several of our tours, including our Indian adventure. You’ll be staying in a series of exceptional five-star hotels including the iconic Oberoi Cecil Hotel in the Himalayan foothills.
And for the height of luxurious travel, readers have been jumping to book a holiday with a ride on the opulent Dolce Vita Orient Express. This luxury sleeper train has interiors inspired by Italian design’s golden age and will carry its first passengers in 2025.
Be among the first passengers on board with Good Housekeeping’s Italy trip. You’ll spend a night on the train enjoying food curated by a three-Michelin-starred chef as live music and entertainment add to the sumptuous atmosphere.
From high-end rail trips and long-haul adventures to short breaks in the UK and mainland Europe, there’s so much choice with our carefully selected holidays. Whichever destination you choose, you’ll be in safe hands.
So if you’re still deciding where to travel this year, why not take some inspiration from your fellow Good Housekeeping readers and book one of these fabulous getaways?
You can see our full range of carefully curated holidays here.
