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.

October is ideal for city break holidays throughout Europe and North America, but where to go?

A weekend of two or three days in either Paris or New York really isn’t long enough, but you are guaranteed a fantastic time full of activities, beautiful scenery and architecture, outstanding major attractions (Empire State Building or Eiffel Tower for example), incredible shopping and the most fabulous restaurants and cafes.

A city break in New York is never to be forgotten, and in the fall, Central Park is presented in a fine display of gold, russet and reds. Around Halloween (31st October) is the perfect time to take the family on holiday to The Big Apple, as all the shops and houses are beautifully decorated with cobwebs and pumpkins, or the 2nd Monday of October (12th in 2009) when the spectacular Columbus Day Parade with over 35,000 participants starts on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street at 11.45am following a route taking around 3 hours to 79th Street.

Paris in October is delightful as the city quietens in the lull before Christmas, making for leisurely and enjoyable visits to the French capital’s many fantastic museums and galleries such as the famous Louvre (Musée du Louvre) near the Palais Royal Mussee du Louvre metro station on Line 1 or the Musee d’Orsay in the Saint Germain des Pres area on the metro Line 12 at Solferino station or RER Line C; Musee d’Orsay station. The shops are more accessible without the crowds, so be sure to head to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore and Rue de la Paix for chic Paris designer stores and around Boulevard Haussmann for department shops galore, or Avenue des Champs Elysees and Les Halles for trendy shops and chain stores.

Booking car rental with easyCar.com from Halifax, Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada means that you will be confirming cheap, FULLY INCLUSIVE car rental rates!

For 7 days in mid October (10th to 17th) prices start from just £153.49 for an Economy 4 door Automatic car like the Vauxhall Corsa, with air conditioning. This easyCar rental car rate booked in advance, collecting from Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) during office hours, includes an online booking discount, free cancellation (check terms and conditions), unlimited mileage, third party liability insurance, collision damage waiver, theft protection, and vehicle licensing fee and location surcharges. The only other charges to consider are fuel, young drivers’ surcharge, charge for paying by credit card, additional driver/s, one-way surcharge, damage or theft excess charges and any optional extras such as baby seats, sat nav etc.  Remember that with all car hire companies, a credit card deposit has to be authorised to cover the excess charges.  Nothing is hidden with easyCar.com.

Having arrived at Halifax Stanfield Airport, the car hire desks together with the pick up and drop off area for rental cars is on the Parkade Lower Level close to flight Arrivals.

Halifax was actually the location for the first British town in Canada, founded in 1749. The modern structure divides Halifax into two areas: Halifax Peninsula, the location of Downtown Halifax and the original settlement, and Halifax Mainland.

A walking tour of Halifax is a must! First stop should be the historic area on the peninsula with its fine architecture dating back to the mid 1700s; however Scotia Square is home to a modern indoor shopping mall boasting over 50 shops.  Look out for Carleton House and St Paul’s Church which are the oldest buildings, and the Grand Parade, Victorian Halifax City Hall and the Old Town Clock, the Georgian Province House on Hollis Street and Art Deco styled Bank of Nova Scotia. For more shopping head for Granville Mall, and for a step back in time, visit Privateers Wharf.  Take the Metro Transit Ferry to Dartmouth for fantastic views of Halifax and enjoy the bustle of live around the port.

September and October are the ideal months to visit Canada, as the fall takes over North America turning the rich green leaves to deep reds and golds.  Autumn is also popular with the locals as it is the start of the ice hockey season with the fans supporting the Halifax Mooseheads Hockey Club.

A few tips about driving in Nova Scotia, Canada; unless otherwise stated, after coming to a stop, it is legal to turn right on a red light; distances are posted in kilometres; it is compulsory too for all occupants to wear seat belts; don’t drink and drive; mobiles or cells must be used in hands free mode; it costs 75 Canadian cents to cross either the A Murray MacKay Bridge or the Angus L MacDonald Bridge.