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.

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.

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?

Car hire in Florida is exceptionally popular and there are some fantastic cheap car rental deals to be had. Long often straight open roads, virtually no traffic, cars with cruise control, beautiful scenery and cheap gasoline – driving through Florida is a dream!

Fly into Miami airport, collect your hire car and drive into the city to enjoy the hustle and bustle and fabulous shops, or head to the famous Miami Beach and rub shoulders with the rich and famous!

From Miami which is located on the southern east coast of Florida facing the Atlantic Ocean, drive due south to the spectacular Florida Keys in your rental car. A 120 mile long chain of islands linked by a single highway, the Keys is the perfect location for those who love water sports in particular snorkelling, diving and sailing.

On the south west coast of Florida overlooking the Gulf of Mexico are the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, just a drive of about 2 and a half hours from Tampa and under 3 hours from Miami. Ideal for peaceful family holidays or romantic getaways, the area is filled with fascinating wildlife, stunning white sandy beaches and simply hundreds of islands to explore.

Most people only think of one place when they think of Florida, and that of course is Orlando and the thrilling theme parks, shows, water parks, eateries and huge choice of accommodation.  If you are staying in a villa outside of the Disney complex or within it in one of the many superb hotels, just collect your car rental from either Orlando International Airport or Orlando Sanford International Airport and get ready to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime!  Children’s faces and adults too will sparkle at the sight of the extensive selection of activities on offer, but don’t worry about getting lost whilst driving; there are plenty of signs to direct you. The hardest part of a holiday to Orlando in Florida in fact, is deciding where to start!