There are many fabulous and exciting countries to visit for a New Year holiday worldwide.

Cheap holidays to Dominican Republic in the Caribbean are available at the moment (13 December) for one week departing from Gatwick on Wednesday 30th December with Thomson Holidays.  Stay in the four star plus all inclusive ClubHotel Riu Bambu in Bavaro, Punta Cana including coach transfers from £1393 per person.  Wake up on New Year’s morning to the beautiful sight of fourteen miles of white tropical beaches, and blow away the cobwebs of 2009 with games of water polo and volleyball, scuba diving lessons and windsurfing.

The beautiful Maldives and spectacular Seychelles in the Indian Ocean are extra special New Year holiday destinations. Kuoni Holidays have last minute offers for 7 nights from 28 December staying at the boutique five star Velassaru Hotel in the Maldives from £2263 per person, and Labriz Hotel in the Seychelles from £4401 per person.

Tropicalsky are offering holidays at the end of December to Le Meridien on the island of Phuket in Thailand, from £1209 per person for six nights and holidays to the Grand Mirage Resort and Thalasso Spa in Bali for 7 nights from £1439 per person.

If you are looking for a New Year Holiday for the family with lots of activities, a holiday in Orlando, Florida is always popular. Not only is there an extensive choice of accommodation in and around Orlando, but so much to keep the youngest to the oldest member of the family happy. Travel to the Orlando Theme Parks, Movie Studios and Orlando Shopping Malls and factory outlets for an exciting Florida holiday at New Year.  Holidayhypmarket have New Year package holidays available from £1193 per person for 7 nights, flying from Gatwick on 28 December and staying in a two star Resort hotel on room only basis.

Florida is the number one location for Brits travelling within the USA and hiring a rental car. It’s simple to do (hiring the car with easyCar), the roads are well sign posted and directions easy to navigate. There is also so much to do and see in Florida that with a hire car, you could be surfing at West Palm Beach on the Atlantic Ocean one day and bathing on the Gulf of Mexico in Clearwater the next – followed by a trip to the coral reefs of Key Largo and dolphin swimming in Orlando!

There are just a few points that will help you understand driving in Florida.
Drive on the right. If you are turning right and the traffic lights are red, provided there is no sign telling you to the contrary and of course, no traffic coming, you can turn right. Passengers in the front of cars in Florida must wear seat belts, and all passengers under 18 years old must wear a seat belt or child restraint device (front and back).

Do not drink and drive. The Florida drinking laws and limits are stricter than nearly every other USA state.

Like the UK, speed limits are in miles per hour (MPH). Around schools, the speed limit in Florida is 20 mph, residential and business areas 30 mph, with rural interstate and limited access highways a maximum of 70 mph; however, watch and adhere to all speed limits posted as they do vary often. In 2002, Florida passed a “Mover over Act” which means that when approaching emergency vehicles e.g. ambulance, police, fire service etc, that drivers move into the next lane or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

If you approach a Stop sign, make sure you totally stop and don’t just slow down. You can be fined for not completing the stop manoeuvre. No one has the right of way, and the law states you must yield the right of way, so do everything possible to prevent a crash.

When driving on the Florida Turnpike and other toll roads, make sure you carry cash. You are able to purchase rolls of quatres which is the preferred tender although other coins are accepted, and these can be bought at the toll plaza with the green “Change Given” lane. If you have a SunPass, do not stop as you travel through the relevant automated lane at the toll plaza as other drivers behind you will not (white/yellow sign)! Between some of the rural locations, rather than a coin system, you will be given a ticket showing point of entry onto the toll and time of exit.

A USA Fly Drive holiday is the perfect way to explore the States, either by staying in one location and discovering the surrounding area, or by booking hotels and motels in multiple towns and venturing through the American countryside and exploring the many sights and attractions.

If driving in the USA for the first time, it is important to understand that the country’s states are vast in size and may take many hours or even days just to drive from one side to the other. To drive from New York on the east coast (Atlantic) to Los Angeles on the west coast (Pacific) will take a minimum of five days with stops.  Drive on the right and be aware that in many US states, you can turn right at a red traffic light, unless otherwise stated.  Also be aware that road laws can differ from state to state.

Fly into your chosen US airport and make your way to the car hire desks where you will be asked for your car rental booking details, full valid driving licence and a credit card for a deposit.

The most popular USA fly drive location for Brits travelling abroad is Florida which is one of the smaller states. Fly drive into Orlando and you are only 85 miles from Tampa but fly drive Miami, and Tampa is about 250 miles away.

A very scenic journey is fly drive California between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Travel for speed along the I-5 (green route) or for a slightly more interesting route travel for 430 mile on the US101 or black route.  However, by far the most beautiful of routes is driving your hire car down the blue Coastal Route along the Pacific which can take about 10 hours and can only really be enjoyed by stopping off over night on the way.

When on a USA Fly Drive holiday do consider how far you are travelling when choosing which model of hire car to book. If you are travelling for hours at a time along straight empty roads, look at hiring a car with cruise control so that you can set the speed and take your foot off the accelerator (do check you know how to turn it off!). Otherwise, choose a car with enough baggage space.  For shorter journeys, for example if collecting a hire car at Orlando airport and driving to your accommodation and then onto the theme parks, then you just have to consider space for the passengers and baggage between to and from the airport.

The UK winter is the ideal time of year for Caribbean Cruises, as November marks the end of the hurricane season (although most hurricanes take place during September) and the warm weather is pleasant (not excessively hot).

Cruising is the perfect way to explore multiple locations in one holiday, is ideal for people who prefer not to fly (why not cruise from Southampton?) and are a great place to meet likeminded people. On a Caribbean cruise, you can choose to be as active as you like with scuba diving trips and on board sports, or to simply relax in the ships’ spa and sun bathe on deck.

Caribbean cruise ships are more than just floating hotels; they are more like fantastic resorts that allow you to discover one incredible location after another!

Cruise from Jamaica to Tortola, onto Antigua then Grenada, or sail from Barbados to St Kitts and St Maarten before the sight of the Pitons come into view on St Lucia and the beautiful beaches of Dominica. Relax on the soft sands of Tobago before horse riding along the shores of Isla Margarita or rainforest hiking in Grenada.  On a Caribbean cruise you could mountain bike through the rainforests of Costa Rica, explore the Mayan pyramids in Cozumel and climb Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica.

One thing all cruises have in common is that you will always be made to feel welcome and relaxed. Check out the dress code of your chosen Caribbean cruise before you start packing, although generally day wear is casual and part of the fun of cruising is that the evenings are for dressing up (although this is not always necessary).  Men should take a full suit and tie, and ladies, at least one cocktail dress.  Comfortable shoes are necessary for trips to the shore and a hat and suntan lotion are essential for protection from the sun.

From the UK you can fly directly to the many Caribbean cruises’ departure points, including Fort Lauderdale and Miami in Florida, USA, and the Caribbean islands of Barbados and Jamaica.

Facilities on board will vary, but you will find that some ships have surf parks, rock-climbing walls, WIFI (if you don’t want to lose touch with home), large swimming pools, whirlpools, a spa with treatments, miniature golf courses, ice skating rinks and a great choice of restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as shops and a cinema or theatre.

Have you already booked accommodation in Florida? Has your theme park hotel in Orlando been confirmed, or your villa or apartment? Or are you travelling across Florida to visit friends and relatives?

If so, then it is most likely that you are now going to book a flight to Orlando and collect a hire car (here is the largest car hire market in the world)!

Orlando Fly Drive is exceptionally easy, and driving in Florida is possibly easier than in the UK… To book your car hire with easyCar.com you don’t need to fly with any particular company – easyCar will simply find you the best deal.

Book the air tickets to Orlando first. There is a superb choice of carriers, both scheduled and charter airlines flying from the UK. And remember there are TWO airports in Orlando.

At Orlando International Airport (MCO) there are two terminals; situated nine miles southeast of downtown Orlando. Airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines arrive into Terminal A where the car rental desks are situated on Level 1. Terminal B is used by British Airways (BA) and Delta; again Level 1 (Ground Floor) is where the car rental agencies are based. Cocoa Beach is about 46 miles away, with Dayton Beach and the Kennedy Space Centre about 54 miles. Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee is just 20 miles away as is Walt Disney World.

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is located just 18 miles northeast of Orlando in Seminole County. Many of the charter and low cost airlines fly here including Thomas Cook, Monarch and Thomson. There are two terminals “A” and “B” side by side and again, car hire is available for the perfect Orlando Fly Drive. The delights of the main Orlando attractions are 35 miles from Sanford, Orlando 20 miles and the Space Coast about 40 miles (and 40 minutes drive) It will take just 30 minutes to arrive at the first of the Atlantic Coast Beaches (New Smyrna).

Other than the well known theme parks in Orlando, there is the fantastic nightlife on Orange Avenue, Lake Osceola boating, oodles of Florida golf courses, as well as various festivals including spooky Halloween from September to October, a Beer Festival and of course Christmas like you’ve never seen it before!! There are water parks for the whole family to enjoy, swimming with dolphins and stroking rays. And why stay in the centre of Florida when there is the Atlantic coast to the east and Gulf of Mexico coast to the west; both offering spectacular beaches?