There’s nothing better than planning a trip to get away at the beginning of a new year. Are you heading off travelling to the UK or Europe this year? As a travel blogger, I love to jump from city to city so here’s a list of my recommendations for where to visit depending on the time of year. With booking your flights in advance and money-saving offers like 10% off Hotels.com using your UNiDAYS account, it doesn't have to be as pricey as you first think!

1. Ghent in the spring

Ghent is a Belgian city with a large student population; as a result it is a highly modern and really exciting city to visit. A river flows throughout the city with plenty of boat trips running throughout the day. Or you can rent a bike for exploring the city (Belgians love their bikes!). If you visit the spring, it’ll be warm enough for a leisurely stroll around the city exploring the high street and boutique shops, dining on Belgium’s famous mussels and perhaps bringing home some Leonidas chocolate.

2. Santorini in the summer

For a longer break after all those summer deadlines, you could fly to Santorini for a summer holiday. It’s a deceptively affordable destination, with hotels and villas around Kamari averaging at £300 for a weeklong stay. There are loads of restaurants to choose from along the beach, with many beachside bars and restaurants offering free sunbeds with a purchase of a drink. As it’s such a tiny Island you can visit the capital city Thira or head over to the north of the Island to see the famous blue topped churches in Oia – a return to see both places works out around 14 euros per person.

3. Amsterdam in the autumn

Amsterdam is a beautiful city no matter what the weather, but the autumn trees along the canal side are thing not to be missed. Similar to the springtime, it’s the perfect temperature to explore the city on foot or take a trip on a canal boat when you’re done visiting the many museums and galleries dotted across the city. In between sight seeing rest up in a café for lunch – if you’re an art lover you’ll love visiting the Van Gogh Museum!

4. Rome in the winter

Rome isn’t a city to be missed, with lots of exhibitions offering discounted tickets for under 25’s (including the Colosseum!) you can get your fill of Italian cuisine without breaking the bank. There is so much to explore making it impossible to get bored, with the city full of ancient buildings and artefacts intertwined with the 21st century; it’s a surreal getaway. Many of its best sights are completely free – I recommend sitting at the Trevi Fountain at night (after some pasta nearby of course!).