One of the best things about a trip abroad is the local cuisine. Trying out new foods, flavours and textures is a great way to get better-acquainted with the place’s vibe, and you can easily be blown away by the freshness of local produce.
For food lovers, the local grub will be key decider when it comes to picking a holiday destination. Narrowing the options down can be a real headache.
Luckily, the travel experts at Expedia have done plenty of the legwork already with its first-ever Island Hot List.
Island holidays seem to be the flavour of the summer, with Expedia saying searches for island destinations are up by an average of 30% globally.
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It’s also said that September is the best month for an island trip, although you might want to take with a hemisphere-sized grain of salt.
“The Expedia Island Hot List gives travellers the inspiration they need to plan a smarter island escape,” said Melanie Fish, spokesperson for Expedia Group brands.
“Island adventurers want standout stays, affordable prices and seamless flight access. To get that, our top tips are to travel out of season when average stay prices can fluctuate by as much as 50% and bundle flights and hotels together, where you can knock nearly £160 on average off your trip.”
Without further ado, here’s the top 10:
- Aruba (Best for Year-Round Sunshine)
- Bali, Indonesia (Best for Relaxation)
- Dominican Republic (Best for Adventure)
- Fiji (Best for Community)
- Jamaica (Best for Culture)
- Koh Samui, Thailand (Best for Affordable Luxury)
- Maldives (Best for Romance)
- Oahu, Hawaii (Best for Surfing)
- Paros, Greece (Best for Nightlife)
- Sardinia, Italy (Best for Food Lovers)
That’s right; if you’re looking for an island getaway with stellar grub, you can’t go wrong with Sardinia.
The local cuisine features a blend of traditional island grub and Italian mainland delights. Fresh catches and produce are typical of the local menus, and there’s plenty of pork and lamb available too.
We’d recommend checking out the culurgiones, which are similar to ravioli and come filled with pecorino, mint and potato.
Su porcheddu is another great pick: a roast suckling pig cooked on a spit. What could say ‘island’ more than that?
Shellfish fans will be well served, with high-quality lobster and clams available fresh throughout the holiday season.
And that’s just the tip of the Sardinian iceberg, with plenty more delicacies to try.
Who was surprised to see an Italian island make the list, not least for its grub? Not us!
Featured Image Credit: Ellen van Bodegom/Getty Images
Rachael Davis