This year has been an incredible year for STA Travel, we’ve opened new stores, produced some great offers, presented some exciting new products and we’ve run some fantastic competitions, but our greatest achievement is that we’ve sent thousands of excitable travellers off on their trips of a lifetime.

And as amazing as all of this has been, it wouldn’t have been possible without you – the travellers. So we wanted to take a minute, as 2012 draws to a close, to say ‘thank you’ to you, from all areas of STA Travel UK.

Sand writing = cool | Image courtesy of design36

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What are your travel plans for next year? If you’re still undecided, or are open to some extra inspiration, this post may just have the prefect timing.

STA Travel was built by travellers, for travellers, and we only employ the best, most knowledgeable, people to help you plan the trips that you will go on to remember and reminisce about forever. No one knows travel, and understands travellers, better than our Travel Experts.

So with that in mind, I’ve asked them for their top tips for travellers in 2013 and they’ve come up trumps. Below are 59 awesome ideas for some epic worldwide adventures, which ones inspire you?

59 Expert Travel Ideas For 2013

Andy, STA Travel Exeter

Next year is all about Colombia! An emerging tourism market means it’s still largely undiscovered. With its diverse range of landscapes, from the tropical paradise of the Caribbean coast, to the verdant rainforests, its a truly beautiful country. Combine that with a vibrant music scene and chilled lifestyle and Colombia has something for eveyone! If you fancy doing it your way but with some guidance, check out our Bamba bus pass or a small group trips if you want to make some new friends along the way.

Colombia, is South America's little secret - less travelled than the big hitters of Brazil, Argentina and Peru but equally as stunning

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Ask the Experts is your chance to challenge our most knowledgeable Travel Experts with that travel question that has been playing on your mind for ages, it’s the perfect opportunity to gather some fresh ideas, and allow yourself to be inspired with options you may not have been aware even existed before.

This week our experts are back for the final time in 2012, (boooo!), but they’ll be back in 2013 to do it all over again, (yay!). This week’s question comes from Martin in Durham, so let’s see what they have in store for this final installment for 2012…

I love cycling, and would like to do some on my next holiday. I’ll have about 2 weeks, and I like an adventure, so where would you recommend for some good cycle routes? Martin in Durham

Thanks Martin, our experts love a challenge – nice question! So ladies, what do you reckon?

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Here at STA Travel, we’re all very excited about 2013. A whole new year and a whole new set of amazing travel experiences to be had.

Last week, our Store Managers reviewed the year of travel that was 2012 and this week, they’re back to share their predictions for next year. If you’re keen to step away from the crowd, get off the beaten track and do something a little different next year, take a look at what our most experienced and knowledgeable staff think will be the must places to see and the things to experience in the 12 months ahead.

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Lapland, the largest and most northerly region of Finland, is one of those places that almost doesn’t seem real. Steeped in so much fun, and adventure it’s famous as the most Christmassy place in the world and seems almost magical.

If you’ve never been, take a second to imagine what you’d expect Lapland to be like, and you are probably not far wrong. Rolling hills, forests, lakes, log cabins, and, in the winter time, lots of snow.

Lapland comes into its own during winter; it’s famous as the ultimate Christmas destination and thousands visit every year to get into the Christmas spirit. It’s the ultimate winter wonderland.

So, there’s not really a more appropriate time to count down the top 5 Lapland experiences right?! Right! So here we go, today’s High Five is dedicated to the most amazing things to do during a wintery break to Lapland.

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