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Teacher Instructions!
-Choose one of the articles below.
- Read the first paragraph of the reading passage.
- Guess what will be the rest of the article about.
- Leave your ideas in comment part of each article.
- Good luck! Do your BEST!

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Hello! I'm super excited to present you with this Holiday Planning Guide! Not only is this article chock full of ideas to help you plan for the holidays, there's also a lot that was inspired by lovely Bullet Journalists that I'm excited to share with you! Whether you're enjoying a small gathering, planning a party, want to get straight to the food (everyone's favorite part of the holidays!), shopping the sales, or traveling this holiday season, I aim to help you get prepared for the holidays with this guide! Brainstorm & Create an Outline. First thing you'll want to do is brainstorm ideas about your holiday needs. Are you having guests over? Getting gifts or planning a party? Most importantly, do you know what you're doing about all of the delicious food?! Here's an example of brainstorming on the left. This will help you gain a better understanding into your own holiday planning objectives. Make connections and circle the main topics you want to tackle. Start with any of the circled words to get started brainstorming some ideas for the holidays. On the right, break down the brainstorming page into an outline. The outline will act as a master list index for the collections to follow. This will help you keep track of the collections you've made and where they are in your Bullet Journal. Check them off as you create them.

Please note that

you don't have to follow all of these suggestions, just pick the ones that call out to you and work with those. This is meant to be a comprehensive guide covering the main parts of holiday planning. Gather Inspiration The next thing you'll want to do is gather inspiration. This means creating a collection of online sources you found helpful or adding the ideas directly into your Bullet Journal (such as writing out recipes). Use the power of the internet to look up recipes, party decoration ideas, and even ideas for fun headers and doodles to embellish your Bullet Journal a little for the holidays. Adding those extra details might help add a touch of fun to the otherwise stressful thing that is planning for the holidays.

Inspiration for these doodles from . Planning Now that you've set yourself up for success with some brainstorming and inspiration, it's time to start getting prepared. Make an action plan by divvying up steps over the course of a few weeks and days before the big event to help you get as much done with minimal amount of stress.

As inspired by professional organizers . Add the dates when these occur into your Monthly Log to make sure you stay on track! Add the page numbers to make it easy to flip back to the spread above and knock out some prep steps!

Countdown with some fun!

Here's an idea to countdown to the big day by coloring in the ornaments each day. By the time the big day arrives, your tree will be completely lit! For some added fun, create a holiday bucket list with a few things you want to get done in the last few months of the year. Enjoy a movie every time you knock something off your list!

Popcorn movie tracking inspired by . Guests & Details Now that we've set up a few fun collections, it's time to get into the nitty gritty of planning. Create a guest list of friends and family you're inviting over - if you're hosting, that is. Write down if they're bringing anything to make sure you have enough room on the table. Leave the place cards for the seating arrangement empty until a week before the event when you confirm who's attending. (Don't worry, this is included in the "Preparing" collection above).

Budget & Gifts Budget is just a word that means you're being proactive about where your money is going. I modeled this budget tracker after YNAB's budget view. This way you can plan out how much money you'll spend in each category. Afterwards, you can update what you've spent and how much you have available. There's also room to add a list of supplies - stock up on things such as wrapping paper to envelop all those presents you budgeted for! Speaking of gifts, write out a list of gift ideas to surprise all of your favorite people this holiday!

If you prefer a more visual way to see gift ideas, try out this cheery illustrated Collection.

If you're into stockings, you might want some room to brainstorm stocking stuffer ideas and who you're giving a stocking to!

Food

Now that we've taken care of gift planning and done some budgeting, it's time to sink your teeth into everyone's favorite topic: food! Create a collection to toss in recipe ideas and jot down any related notes. For the recipes, I recommend writing down your favorite holiday foods along with foods you want to try. Try the new recipes ahead of time so you'll know whether you like them enough to serve at your big event. One you've decided on a menu, check off that recipe to indicate it's part of the menu and add it to the official menu on the following page. If you prefer to add columns for the types, you can do that as well! Brainstorm Recipes: Favorites & To Try Informative source about how to calculate how much to serve. Menu & Timeline for the day of! Once you've put together a menu, head over to the seating arrangement collection from above and arrange the dishes where you want them to go on the table! This timeline will be very handy the day of because you'll have an action plan for when to toss in the turkey or ham and can see the menu at a glance to make sure everything is set. The timeline will help you stay on track and make what could be an otherwise stressful event into something you have pleasantly under control! Write Recipes down To make cooking easier, write down the recipes you'll be working with. Scale them before writing them down to make sure you make enough (reference the notes from the previous collection to figure out how much to scale according to how many guest will be in attendance). Check off ingredients with a pencil as you create the recipe so you can 'reuse' the recipe.

Visual food tutorials For tricker techniques, such as pie lattice, drawing out a may be helpful.

Grocery List Write out a grocery list organized by a few main aisles to make shopping a breeze. Indicate which items you need to buy ahead of time with a signifier. Thanks to the "Preparing" collection from before, you'll know when to buy certain ingredients ahead of time! If you like to know which food an ingredient corresponds to, write out a mini menu to reference with a corresponding code and add them after the item in the list. Now when you're shopping and you forget why you needed 1 single lemon, you can glance at the mini menu! If the numbers might confuse (Do I need 5 lemons or is that the 5th recipe?), try letters instead.

Table Setting Guide Where does the fork go? What about the napkin? On such a busy day, it'll be delightful to have a handy table setting guide .

Party Planning

There's quite a bit that goes into planning a party. From picking a theme and figuring out decorations, to creating a music playlist and working on some fun projects - planning for a party can be a doozy to keep track of! Luckily, the Bullet Journal gives you just the right amount of room (however much you need!) to help you think through ideas however best works for you, whether you function better with a list or some illustrations - or both!

Travel

Traveling for the holidays? Here's a simple 1 spread idea to keep all of your travel info in one place. Inspired by , this travel collection includes your itinerary, hotel & flight info, schedule for the days you'll be travelling, a simple budget, packing list and finally a sunshine of places to visit! The sunshine is something adapted as her gratitude log and I've always loved the idea and thought this was a fun adaptation of her adaptation of the gratitude log. Two sets of task bullets for the packing list, check it once to indicate you've packed before you go on your trip, and check it the second time to make sure you've packed it all back up!

After the Holidays

Sales The holidays mean it's also time for some great deals. To help you keep track of what you have your eye on, write them down on these simple lists. Writing them down might also curb overspending by having somewhere to write down the things you have an eye on instead of impulse buying. If you find that you still want the item when you check the list again, that's great! You'll be getting a deal on it anyways, so treat yourself!

Memories Even though the festivities may be over, it doesn't mean you can't keep the fun going! Consider having a Memories log to draw your favorite moments or journal a bit about how the holidays or your year went. You might find you enjoy reading through the memories later on!

Memories collection inspired by . Phew! That was quite a bit, but hopefully you've picked up some ideas to help you in your holiday planning adventures!Again, you don't need to add any doodles or lettering if you don't want to, I thought it would be a fun touch for the holidays. I sincerely hope you find the ideas helpful! Do you have any special ways to plan for the holidays that I didn't cover? Share in the comments below to spill your secrets! Happy Holidays and stay safe!

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Holiday Planning Guide Hello! I'm super excited to present you with this Holiday Planning Guide! Not only is this article chock full of ideas to help you plan for the holidays, there's also a lot that was inspired by lovely Bullet Journalists that I'm excited to share with you!

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1. Australasia

Responsible travel was on everybody's radar in 2019, with our jet-set generation seeing clearly the environmental impact of our holidays. Woke travellers will increasingly focus their 2020 vision on reducing their carbon footprint, primarily by flying less frequently. This means travelling by rail more often and taking fewer-but-longer holidays each year.

With even the quickest flights Down Undertaking 17 hours each way, and with such a huge area to explore, Australia and New Zealand offer the best excuse for an extended vacation. While Australia's mind-boggling distances might have less-environmentally-conscious travellers making a beeline to the nearest airport, Sydney on the east coast, Perth on the west, Darwin to the north, and Adelaide down south, are all connected by epic train journeys.

The Ghan train runs from the Northern Territory (brimming with aboriginal culture and Outback landscapes), through Australia's Red Centre (allowing visits to spectacular Uluru and Kings Canyon), to the vineyards of South Australia. Meanwhile, the Indian Pacific covers 2,704 miles of rail track on its way from wild Western Australia (offering unspoiled reefs and one-of-a-kind wildlife experiences) to sophisticated Sydney. Boasting views of the iconic Blue Mountains en route, and 70 hours of unforgettable Australiana, this is the ultimate in slow travel experiences.

2. India

The Golden Triangle is the archetypal introduction to the highlights of northern India, its name referencing the trio of cities that make up its three corners: New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra.

Covering some of the most iconic sights of India and the country's quintessential colour and culture, the classic Golden Triangle overland tour includes India's bustling, hectic capital, rolling hills dotted with holy cows, and rustic farmland stretching for miles in every direction.

Expect ocular exhaustion in vibrant Jaipur, known as the Pink City, after the entire town was painted terracotta pink to welcome Prince Albert in 1876. Its ornate architectural wonders are still salmon-coloured to this day, and its streets are packed with painted prophets and kaleidoscopic shoppers whose vivid saris compete with colourful mountains of spices, ruby-red chilies, and eye-popping market wares.

The big-ticket sight is, of course, the majestic Taj Mahal. The 17th century, ivory-white mausoleum - commissioned by the grief-stricken emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal - is truly a wonder of the world.

The Times recommends...

3. The Mekong

Travelling overland around southeast Asia can be a daunting task for many travellers, not to mention a crowded, hot, sticky endeavour. The perfect way to explore the region - while still avoiding multiple flights - is by taking a Mekong River cruise.

As the third-longest river in Asia, the Mekong forms a natural highway for watercraft, flowing 2,703 miles from the Tibetan Plateau, through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, with the majority of Mekong River cruises plying the waters of the Lower Mekong and those latter countries.

Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam offer doubtless highlights, however, taking in the colonial architecture and blissful Buddhist vibes of Luang Prabang in Laos; the intricate relief sculptures that beautify the walls of the largest religious building on Earth, Angkor Wat, in Cambodia; and the vast subterranean network that constitutes Vietnam's wartime Cu Chi Tunnels, among countless other unmissable sights.

Best of all, after days spent in the blazing sunshine exploring markets, historic sites, and temples strewn across viridescent vistas, you can retreat to the comfort of your luxury, air-conditioned vessel for your onward journey. Enjoy gourmet dinners, verdurous river views, and the comfort of your cabin before waking up to find you've already arrived at your next destination.

The Times recommends...

4. The Norwegian fjords

Etched deep into northern Europe's mountainous terrain, Norway's dramatic, Unesco-recognised fjords were carved by glaciers during the Ice Age, leaving narrow, steep-sided sea inlets that offer an altogether different type of cruise experience.

Dramatic landscapes of precipitous granite, vertiginous waterfalls, blinding-blue waters, verdant farmlands, and pristine snow, make for some of the most celebrated scenery in all of Europe. In summer, visitors can marvel at the midnight sun, or cruise beneath the northern lights by winter.

5. Uzbekistan

The Silk Road's romance is imbued in Uzbekistan's world-class architecture and with new visa-free entry, the country is flourishing as an alternative summer holiday destination. Start in Tashkent, rich with museums and Soviet edifices, then Samarkand, the gilded former capital of the fearsome Tamerlane, where the Registan's blue-tiled mosques are an ancient wonder of the world. Further west along the Silk Road is Bukhara and its nebulous calamine-hued lanes that colour-match the desert. Meanwhile, Khiva's 1500 years-old Islamic architecture is so well-preserved it could easily be the backdrop of a blockbuster.

The Times recommends...

6. Alaska

Whether sailing close to breaching humpback whales or spotting grizzly bears on a national park walking holiday, Alaska is a pristine celebration of our natural world. With daily direct flights from London to Seattle - the gateway to Alaska - this remote region is fast becoming a popular holiday destination. Feel truly alive cruising the Inner Passage during summer via wildwood islands and glassy inlets choked with glacial ice. Or, in winter, sense the freedom of uncrowded skiing piste or be mesmerised by an appearance of the elusive Northern Lights.

The Times recommends...

7. Costa Rica

The recent dedication of a 29th national park at Miravalles Volcano reinforces Costa Rica's reputation as the world's number one eco-paradise. It parades an exotic menagerie of everything from resplendent quetzal birds to red-eyed tree frogs. High on any bucket list should be the volcanic bubbling geysers and hot springs of Poas, while the parrots and macaws of Corcovado rainforest makes for Costa Rica's best walking holiday. Dry season from December to April offers a warm winter sun escape to white-sand beaches.

The Times recommends...

8. Lapland

Lapland isn't just a one-trick pony of children arriving on a day trip each December to see Santa and his little helpers. There's an all-year-round adult version too, to this snowy Arctic realm draped across Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Daylight may be scarce in winter but around Ivalo in Finland you can strap on cross-country skis or skates to explore crisp pine forests and frozen lakes as the Northern Lights dance across the inky-black night sky. In summer, during the sunshine, the forests and tundra are flush with wild berries and reindeers - the perfect time to hike world-class trails like Swedish Lapland's Kungsleden.

The Times recommends...

9. Borneo

Borneo is the world's third-largest island and the diversity of wildlife is matched only by the history and culture of the people. You'll find orangutans and pygmy elephants, enjoy the sandy beaches of Kota Kinabalu, pause for thought at the monuments to Allied prisoners of the Second World War...our adventurous journey covers a lot of ground but delivers an expert view of Borneo and its people. Wildlife tourism here adds value to this colossal island's forests that are under increasing pressure from deforestation. Experience the feel-good factor supporting Sabah's spectacular Danum Valley, which safeguards 130 million-year-old rainforest where orangutan and proboscis-monkeys dwell - best seen during the drier months between March to December. Get active and dive the world-class Sipadan island's vibrant corals or tackle the daunting Mount Kinabalu (4095m).

10. Georgia

Georgia divides people. Many know nothing at all about this hidden gem of the Caucasus; those that do rate it as one of the top spots in the world. The mountain scenery is magnificent, the heritage fascinating, but it's something else: The warmth of the welcome, matched only by the excellence of the wine - this is one of the world's oldest wine-producing countries after all. It's a bit of a mystery how Georgia isn't higher on everybody's bucket list - it's pretty much got everything. Not least, a legacy of wine production stretching back 8,000 years and chiselled mountain scenery sprinkled by ancient UNESCO-listed heritage, reflecting one of Christendom's oldest countries. Start in Tbilisi. Its cobbled streets knit together a Persian and Russian fusion of ancient fortresses and basilica. Here, you might try Georgia's famous Saperavi wine or khinkali dumplings on cosmopolitan Rustaveli Avenue. From Tbilisi head to the Black Sea waters of Batumi or take day trips into the wild Caucasus Mountains to the likes of the photogenic 6th-century Jarvi monastery.

The Times recommends...

11. Jordan

Caressed by warm desert winds, the Middle East's securest and friendliest holiday destination is a five-hour flight from London. Naturally, the mighty Rose city of Petra grabs top billing - hewn from inside a canyon by the Nabateans, and first referred to in 312BC. Less known is Jordan's wild nature and opportunities to hike, with the forested canyons and mountainous jebels of the 650km-long Jordan Trail make for a testing walking holiday. Elsewhere, laze on the freakishly saline Dead Sea, 400metres below sea-level. Explore Wadi Rum's Bedouin culture in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia, and marvel at a multicoloured aquarium of tropical fishes and corals diving in the Red Sea at Aqaba.

The Times recommends...

12. Montenegro

Less than a three-hour flight from London, Europe's new kid on the block is well within city break range. Its USP is a delightful juxtaposition of Balkans history and a sunny Adriatic coast ideal for winter sun. Mingle with the beautiful people at Porto Montenegro and Budva - both lively beach holiday hubs boasting wealthy marinas and watersports. Kotor, meanwhile, is so enriched with medieval masterpieces and Venetian palaces it offers a welcome alternative to overcrowded Venice. Inland, sense the transcendental calm of Montenegro's iconic Black Lake amid dramatic alpine scenery and feel giddy peering into the mighty Tara Canyon from one of Europe's highest arched bridges.

The Times recommends...

13. Iceland

Combining the awe-inspiring scenery of Iceland with the magnificent wildlife that can be found just off-shore, a whale watching tour in Iceland is a feast of incredible sights. Go off the beaten track and marvel at the snow-capped Víknafjöll mountains, take a dip in geothermal pools, tour Dimmuborgir's lava pillars, and admire Europe 's most powerful waterfall in Dettifoss.

On whale-watching cruises you'll have the chance to spot orcas, sperm whales, minkes and blue whales - as well as white-beaked dolphins - under the midnight sun. Keep your eyes on the sky, too, to catch a glimpse of a white-tailed eagle or the many other bird species that visit this incredible island pocked with fishing villages and natural wonders. Reward any sightings with soaking in the milky-blue waters of the Blue Lagoon.

The Times recommends...

14. Canada

Explore some of Northern America's most dramatic landscapes by land, sea and rail on a tour of Alaska and the Rockies trip. Make time to see Banff National Park before hopping on board the Rocky Mountaineer train which weaves its way through beautiful mountain passes, serene lake shores and dramatic river canyons.

The Times recommends...

15. Singapore

Singapore has certainly got a touch of the space age about it: buildings shaped like chunky armadillos, blossoming flowers, giant surfboards, and energy-efficient office blocks towering over old Neo-Classical neighbourhoods. One degree north of the equator, it's Edenic in its own way, with families of sea otters frolicking in lakes and yellow-plumed cockatiels adorning the two million trees planted in the last 45 years. The city looks best at 'blue' hour, just after sunset, when tropical light melts from pink to peach to lilac and indigo as a forest of neon and LED flickers into life.

16. Brazil

While showier sibling Rio is a 'city field' beach resort, São Paulo is a true metropolis, thrumming with swanky fashion ateliers, art galleries, swish cocktail bars, pumping night clubs and the kind of hotels that grace coffee-table books. Spend a day wandering around the Museu de Arte de São Paulo for Manets and Modiglianis you never knew existed or Choque Cultural for cutting-edge street art. Eat a Japanese-Brazilian barbecue at the restaurant of the moment Charco, then soak up Caipirinhas in 'starchitect' designed bars in the Jardins neighbourhoods. Later, swing your hips in the samba clubs of Madalena - rootsy, wood-floored O do Borogodo whirls after midnight. Beaches? São Paulo has some Brazil's best: try tiny Ubatuba or Ilhabela Island, each three hours' drive away.

The Times recommends...

17. Bosnia

The Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, distils an affordable, walkable weekend of quaint churches, cobbles, baklava and a 15th-century bazaar. FlyBosina is launching the first direct flights from the UK in a decade (from Luton).

18. Slovenia

Ljubljana, with its leafy centre and eco-credentials, is the one of Europe's quirkiest - and best value - city breaks. Launched last summer, BA's flights between Heathrow and Ljubljana will run again this year (July-August only).

19. Lombok

With more nature, less concrete and better beaches than big sister Bali, Lombok is going upmarket. When it comes in March, the secluded, template like Legian Sire will be the Indonesian idyll to beat (lhm-hotels.com;doubles from £95, B&B).

20. Rishikesh

As 'the yoga capital of the world' Rishikesh has long attracted hippies and Hindus (who believe a dip in the Ganges here takes you a step closer to enlightenment). Now, it's turned five-star, with a new Tag and Roseate hotels and high-end yoga retreats.

21. Loire Valley

Already done the Côte d'Azur and Provence? Get your next France fix in the Loire Valley, at an historic royal retreat southwest of Paris. Not only are there sensational new digs at the Château du Grand-Luc, which has hosted Mozart, Voltaire and Rousseau, but also (come spring) a new modern art museum for Fontevraud-l'Abbaye and, from March, health retreats at the Châteaux de la Motte Henry.

22. Sri Lanka

Overnight, this ravishingly beautiful island went from topping World's Best Destinations' lists to an FCO danger spot, following the Easter 2019 bombings. Yet its natural splendour still beckons: wild beaches; blue whales at sea, leopards in national parks; and those misty tea plantations Now the DCO has lifted its ban, new indie hotels are cropping up. And, if you fast, you can still get the place to yourself.

The Times recommends...

23. South Korea

Thanks to the Rugby World Cup and the Olympics, Japan's seeing a huge influx of tourists - yet South Korea packs the same cherry blossom, ornate temples and glitzy cities without the crowds. Wondering how to do it? Fly into Seoul and allow at least two days to explore it: the capital combines rambling royal palaces, trendy shopping districts and neon-fronted karaoke bars. A high-speed train network will get you to almost everywhere else: to mountain-ringed Gyeongju, Korea's Kyoto, full of ancient temples, royal tombs and palace ruins, to Andong, with its straw-thatched villages; and to seaside Busan, home to powdery beaches and ultra-fresh seafood. Got more time? Add the volcanic Jeju Island on to your itinerary - it's a rugged yet-resorty postcard pin-up in the south.

24. Cambodia

Travelling in Cambodia used to be dusty-bus-ride hell. No longer - thanks to flights into more Cambodian airports from other SE hubs. Train will now run through the heart of the country, too, making it easier to get around. And it's still the best-value destination in Southeast Asia. Head to the Cardamom Mountains to spot wild gibbons and elephants around new tented camps, then take a train to Kampot for hills speckled with Buddha caves, and onwards to frenetic Phnom Penh, to wander around the Royal Palace and visit the sobering Killing Fields. It's a 40-minute plane hop from there to Angkor Wat: stay at the gorgeous Avani Foreign Correspondents Club or the renovated Raffles.

25. Russia

Spanning two continents - from the Black Sea to the Bering Strait - Russia is the world's largest country, so there's far too much of it to cram into a single visit. Newcomers to this enormously varied destination should, therefore, focus first on its multifaceted cultural capital, St Petersburg. In the last hundred years, Russia's second city has been renamed both Petrograd and then Leningrad before returning to its original moniker by popular vote, and it is, perhaps, the ideological and political shifts that these repeat baptisms imply that make St Petersburg (simply 'Peter' to the locals) such a fascinating slice of Russian life. With a stunning architectural mix of Western European and Russian styles, riddled with picturesque canals and waterways, the Venice of the North offers baroque royal palaces, neoclassical cathedrals, and the Hermitage - an art gallery boasting one of the world's most significant collections. There's a dizzying array of things to cram into each day, so you might be glad of the 19 hours of daylight come June and July.

The Times recommends...

26. Japan

In timeless Japan, modern neon-lit cities sync seamlessly with verdant, mountainous countryside, bursting with hot springs and steeped in ancient history and culture. Similarly, the time-honoured national practice of hanami (flower viewing) is as popular with selfie-snapping tourists today as it was with the Japanese back in the eighth century, and the country's world-famous cherry blossom season still sees locals picnicking and partying under these ephemeral blooms by day and night. Beginning on the southerly island of Okinawa in early February, these breath-taking blossoms gradually head north until Hokkaido is in full flower come the end of May. Peak season is late March when Tokyo, Kyoto and most of the main island is in bloom.

The Times recommends...

27. South Africa

With so much to do and see in South Africa - from Big Five safaris to world-class wine tasting tours, and from stunning city breaks to summer holiday sun and sea - it can be difficult to know where to base yourself. Why not then spend some of your trip on a luxury hotel on wheels? From the pretty, purple city of Pretoria, with its streets lined with violet-blooming jacaranda trees, the Blue Train travels either north to Limpopo Province - home to the legendary Kruger National Park - or nearly 1,000 miles south to cosmopolitan Cape Town. It's one of the world's most luxurious rail journeys and an essential trip for fans of slow travel who want to see South Africa's rich culture and landscape roll past gold-tinted windows, like royalty and presidents past.

The Times recommends...

28. Switzerland

While we're on the subject of epic train journeys, the Glacier Express offers a non-stop, eight-hour train ride from the elegant resort of St. Moritz to the alpine village of Zermatt, through some of Switzerland's most show-stopping scenery. Known also for its glacial pace, this is reputedly the world's slowest express train, but you'll be glad to linger a little longer on this historic route, as it takes in breathtaking views of the Rhine Gorge (AKA 'The Swiss Grand Canyon') and the towering Matterhorn while rolling across vertiginous viaducts and spiralling tunnels that look like the twisted train-set imaginings of an eccentric child genius.

The Times recommends...

29. The Scottish Highlands

The UK is no slouch when it comes to great train journeys either, and the Jacobite steam locomotive - which runs 41-mile day trips along the West Highland Line, between Fort William and Mallaig - must cover the world's best-known railway track. Seen by millions in the Harry Potter films, this is the actual route taken by the iconic Hogwart's Express, with highlights including the real-world wonders of Loch Eil; the blue waters and white sandy beaches that fringe the chocolate-box village of Arisaig; and the now-world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, seen on screen in four Potter movies. So - whether you're Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Gryffindor - children, big kids, and muggles alike will be spellbound by Scotland's stunning scenery.

30. Antarctica

Setting foot ashore in the Antarctic for the first time is an incredible experience: so familiar, yet so far below the southern boundaries of most tourist maps. Antarctica is the only continent on Earth with no native population and - free from an evolutionary history of human predation - gentoo penguins use investigative beaks to tug at travellers' trouser legs; colonies of chinstrap penguins huddle, unperturbed by tourists; and languid elephant seals roll in the surf. Cute Weddell seals make eyes at visitors, oblivious to potential human danger, even as they laze among the Brobdingnagian whale-bone vertebrae that lie strewn around the abandoned remains of 1920s whaling stations. With rules in place to limit tourist footfall, this ultimate alternative holiday destination is perfect for travellers that prefer small group excursions and offers one of the planet's most exclusive experiences.

The Times recommends...

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30 alternative holiday destinations for 2020 I Times Expert Traveller

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Responsible travel was on everybody's radar in 2019, with our jet-set generation seeing clearly the environmental impact of our holidays. Woke travellers will increasingly focus their 2020 vision on reducing their carbon footprint, primarily by flying less frequently. This means travelling by rail more often and taking fewer-but-longer holidays each year.

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Wanaka lakefront is a tourism wonderland; a buzzy, bar-filled strip with a 180-degree view of the Southern Alps. At the height of the season, the town is defined by its epic parties. Alongside a love of snow and action sports, there is an equal love of decadence; locally brewed beer, top-shelf pinot noir and late, luscious nights.

In 2014, I was working as a librarian in town and the Trout bar became my local. Through then-permitted social mingling, I appeared in a country music video filmed at the bar, met a boyfriend there, and buddied up with a locum doctor who became a close friend.

Late last week, Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister, permitted bars and clubs to open after a strict seven-week lockdown. Rigorous social-distancing measures have been stipulated, including keeping tables two metres apart and no "mingling" between the tables. The "bar" of the bar is off-limits ("high-risk", health officials say) and there is table service only.

For Trout owners Moana and Brent MacKenzie, former dairy farmers from Southland, the lockdown couldn't have come at a worse time: they had only taken over seven weeks before. The couple accessed the wage-subsidy scheme for their employees, and say strong local support should mean they can stay afloat - but adjusting to the more-restrained atmosphere and the strict health guidelines has been a challenge.

"My wife, Moana, cuddles everyone and she's had to rein that in, which she's found very difficult," says Brent.

On Saturday night, Moana buzzes around the bar, leaning into customers with a big smile, trying to put everyone at ease as some struggle with nerves; the requirement to sign in, use hand sanitiser, and remain at their tables. People keep wandering up to the bar for a chat or another pint - forgetting - and are gently ushered back to their tables.

"That's probably the hardest thing for me because I'm a warm person," says Moana. "I get banished to stand behind the bar a bit because my natural urge is to touch. I miss that interaction with our locals, especially when they're supporting us."

Trout does a good trade on Saturday night, but the atmosphere - like many bars and restaurants in town - is a little stiff. There's no raucous laughter and conversations are subdued, and somewhat earnest.

"It's definitely a different vibe," says Kay Scott, 47, who's out for a birthday drink with her husband, Stu, and on their first social adventure beyond their own home in months.

"It's a lot quieter than it would be, usually the rugby would be on, which gives things a kick along. I miss that. Yeah, it just feels like everyone's being kind of cautious," says Kay.

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Drinkers at the Trout bar. Photograph: Andy Zhang/Paul Roy

Since opening, Wanaka police have done a number of random patrols of the bar, including on Trout's opening night.

"We had the police walk in, there were eight wives in the corner, and eight husbands on the opposite side of the room," says Moana, chuckling.

"The police panicked, thinking they were singles and would start mingling. I said to the police, 'They're husbands and wives, look what you've done, you're creating chaos in homes around Wanaka.'"

Two hundred metres down the lakefront and up a flight of stairs is the dark and moody La La Land, a cocktail bar that is empty at 9pm. My partner and I order drinks and - being introverted - don't mind having the DJ to ourselves. Within the hour though, the place is heaving, and social-distancing rules are open-slather ignored as drunk (or drugged) patrons loll over the bar, sidle up to strangers and unleash energy that feels barbed and slightly dangerous.

A policeman, older, does a cursory patrol that takes less than a minute. As soon as he leaves, the party kicks off again, and the atmosphere is charged with late-night promise. The two staff, employed to serve 40, are overwhelmed.

By midnight, any pretension of social-distancing is yesterday's news at Rove in Post Office Lane. New couples kiss by outdoor braziers, tourists are invited to join large tables of locals, and staff look - mostly - pissed off about table service.

After so many weeks at home, reading our books and making homemade soups from garden vegetables, it's a relief to see faces that are not each other, and not familiar in any way. While we stick together, soberly at our table, the mob of glossy strangers and the fizz of where the night could lead swirl around us like an elixir of youth, hunger and a total disregard for the rules.
Topics

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Life after lockdown in New Zealand: a night out in Wanaka

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Wanaka lakefront is a tourism wonderland; a buzzy, bar-filled strip with a 180-degree view of the Southern Alps. At the height of the season, the town is defined by its epic parties. Alongside a love of snow and action sports, there is an equal love of decadence; locally brewed beer, top-shelf pinot noir and late, luscious nights.

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PORTUGAL could be the first country Brits travel to this summer as plans for air bridges from the UK are in discussion.
The country has kept coronavirus cases lower than other nearby countries, such as Spain or Italy.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Portugal has 31,292 confirmed cases with 1,356 deaths - significantly lower than neighbouring countries and the UK.

Here is everything you need to know about travelling to Portugal this year.

Can I go to Portugal for my summer holiday this year?

Lisbon has announced it is "open for business" and will start accepting international visitors again from next Saturday.

Yet Brits cannot currently travel to Portugal, with the UK government advising against all but essential travel.

This is not expected to be lifted any time soon, so booking a holiday during July and August is a risk.

Will I need to quarantine for 14 days?

Tourists will not have to quarantine when entering the country.

Madeira and the Azores will only allow visitors who have tested negative for coronavirus within the last 72 hours.

Mainland Portugal is not currently enforcing quarantines upon landing.

However, the UK will be introducing a quarantine for Brits returning to the country from June 8.

The discussion of air bridges - an agreement to allow tourists to enter the country by avoiding quarantine restrictions - is being debated between the UK and Portugal.

If agreed, it would be the first air bridge between European countries.

It would allow British holidaymakers to go abroad and return to the UK without having to quarantine for a fortnight when they return.

Talks between the two sides are in an "initial phase", according to The Times.

These new measures are hoping to be in place by July but this is yet to be confirmed.

Are there flights from the UK to Portugal?

Ryanair has been running limited flights to Portugal although these are primarily for stranded tourists, while Wizz Air resumed limited flights from the UK in May.

Airlines have announced plans to resume scheduled flights from next month.

EasyJet is launching a limited schedule from June 15, while Ryanair hopes to resume 1,000 daily flights from July 1, including to destinations in Portugal.

British Airways, TUI and Jet2 all hope to resume by the summer as well, although this depends on flight restrictions,

Are restaurants and hotels open in Portugal?

More than a third of hotels in the Algarve have opened their doors already, with 75 per cent expected to be open by next month, along with beaches.

Restaurants and cafes are also open, but with strict social distancing guidelines.

Cinemas and theatres are to open from June 1, but there are currently no dates for the opening of bars and clubs.

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW

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Can I travel to Portugal this summer holiday? Air bridge plans & latest advice

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PORTUGAL could be the first country Brits travel to this summer as plans for air bridges from the UK are in discussion. The country has kept coronavirus cases lower than other nearby countries, such as Spain or Italy.