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Avoid your family: 9 remote destinations to visit this holiday season

Announcement posted by Trecose 23 Dec 2015

If the idea of a trip to a far-flung destination, away from the hustle and bustle of holiday celebrations sounds like a great idea to you, then these nine remote destinations will fit the bill.


Rome2rio, the multi-modal travel search company, have dug around to find these locations, all of which are at least 5 hours from the closest major airport, preventing those pesky relatives from dropping in and spoiling your fun. Enjoy - and don’t send us a postcard.



  1. Uyuni, Bolivia. (photo credit: Andrey Stekachev / photo on flickr)

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This small isolated town is the gateway to the famed salt flats of Bolivia. Hundreds of travellers pass through town each week to start their tour of the beautiful (but cold!) natural wonder. The town also boasts a train cemetery and a central market but very few other attractions, making it the perfect place to disappear far from crowds.



2. Jaisalmer, India (photo credit: iamrawat / photo on flickr)


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With no airport servicing this city and only a few daily trains or buses you can escape the festive season completely here. Unwind from chaos by spending some time wandering the World Heritage listed yellow sandstone architecture. If you are after a little more excitement, stay for the Desert Festival, a celebration of dance and song that takes place in January - February each year.



3. Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand (photo credit: mdalmuld / photo on flickr)


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This 12km long glacier is located on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The glacier is part of Te Wahipounamu, a World Heritage listed site and visiting the glacier requires a helicopter ride in and 2 hours of guided walking. This is a guaranteed no interruption location!




4. Sa Pa, Vietnam (photo credit: kristupa / photo on flickr )



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Avoid your annoying cousin and commune with nature in the rolling landscapes of Vietnam’s Sapa. The destination, which requires an overnight train trip from closest city Hanoi, is home to several ethnic minority groups who gather in the market town to trade. Explore the remote territory on foot from town by taking part in guided hikes.




5. Monemvasia, Greece (photo credit: Pavel69 / photo on flickr )


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Monemvasia, meaning “single entrance”, is a tiny town located off the east coast of Greece. The island separated from the mainland during an ancient earthquake, and now just a single bridge keeps the two connected. Soak in history while hiding from while visiting many Byzantine- era buildings from the town’s past as an important trade and maritime centre.



6. Jasper, Canada (photo credit: (Jc) / photo on flickr)



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Skip stones while you skip Christmas lunch in the pristine lakes surrounding Jasper, a remote town in the Canadian Rockies. Not only in Jasper close to 7 major and numerous smaller lakes, but it is also home to the Jasper Skytram which takes visitors to the nearby ski fields.



7. Portree, Scotland (photo credit: Bert Kaufmann / photo on flickr)

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Family members who dislike buses are unlikely to follow you to this far-flung location as that’s the only way you can get in. Located on Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, the town is most famous for being the last meeting place of Bonnie Prince Charlie, leader of the Jacobite insurrection and his rescuer Flora MacDonald.



8. Baguio, Philippines (photo credit: Frisno / photo on flickr )



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Located 1,540 meters (5,050 feet) above sea level in the north of the Philippines, Bagiuo is one of the country’s key industrial centres, making it is an easy place to lost in rather than losing it over family politics. Visit the centre to bask in the cooler mountain temperatures, visit historical World War 2 sites and take in the Victorian architecture.



9. Sighișoara, Romania (Photo credit: Andrew Colin / photo on flickr)


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Avoid going medieval on your little brother and get medieval in Romania instead. Famously known as the home of Vlad III the Impaler, who was the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the town is one the last inhabited walled cities in Europe and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site.




Looking for more ways to escape the irritations of holiday cheer? Visit rome2rio.com and discover the possibilities.