With every new year comes the announcement of new flight routes. Which means a whole host of new destinations are even easier to visit than ever before. No need for crazy indirect routes, long drives to an out-of-your-way airport, and (hopefully) some cheap introductory fares.

We’ve looked at where some of our favourite low-cost airlines have added for 2017 – and these are our recommendations for your new favourite bargain break destination!

Naples, Italy

Image © Vladimir Staykov

The best pizza in Italy is now easier than ever to have in your mouth. Oh, sure. It’s a hotly contested title. But all the big contenders are here: Il Pizzaiolo del Presidente, Pizzeria di Matteo, L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (as eaten in Eat, Pray, Love)…
If that’s not reason enough, Naples holds plenty of other delights that aren’t food. You can explore the charming tumble-down towns of the prestigious Amalfi Coast, learn about the tragedy of Pompeii with its fantastically preserved ruins, or escape to the exclusive islands of Capri and Ischia. Naples is the gateway to all.

New routes starting in 2017:
From Manchester with Ryanair: Three flights a week beginning in April. We’ve seen prices from £27.99 one way.
From East Midlands with Ryanair: Three flights a week beginning in May. We’ve seen prices from £19.99 one way.
From Bournemouth with Thomson: Fridays from May to October. We’ve seen prices from £119 return.

Croatia

Long-listed as an up-and-coming holiday hotspot, Croatia just got even more convenient in 2017. There are new routes direct to the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik. This beautiful walled city famously stands in for King’s Landing in the TV adaption of Game of Thrones. Or you could fly to the coastal town of Zadar. Despite its pretty old town and quirky Sea Organ, Zadar‘s real appeal lies in the wealth of ferry connections to the picturesque islands nearby. Finally, there’s also a new direct flight into Pula, a north-Croatian city which mixes Roman remains with pretty beaches and spectacular pine-forest nature parks.

New routes starting in 2017:
From Bristol to Pula with easyJet: Saturdays from May to September. We’ve seen prices from £66.99 one way.
From Bristol to Zadar with Ryanair: Two flights a week from March. We’ve seen prices from £16.99 one way.
From Glasgow to Zadar with Ryanair: Two flights a week in July and August. We’ve seen prices from £45.99 one way.
From Manchester to Dubrovnik with Monarch: Two flights a week from the end of April. We’ve seen prices from £57 one way.
From Belfast to Dubrovnik with easyJet: Two flights a week from May to October. We’ve seen prices from £33.49 one way.

Granada, Spain

The architectural splendour and gardens of the Alhambra is the best known of this Andalucian town’s sights. And make no mistake, this walled city palace is worth the airfare alone. It’s one of the great works of Nasrid art, begun in the 13th century and adapted and refined ever since. But it’s hardly the only reason to go to Granada. You’ll also want to fit in Granada cathedral, the Royal Chapel of Granada and the ancient Moorish quarter of Albayzín. Plus there’s fierce flamenco, beguiling tapas bars and a beautiful backdrop courtesy of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

New routes starting in 2017:
From Manchester with easyJet: Two flights a week from July. We’ve seen prices from £32.49 one way.
From Gatwick with easyJet: Three flights a week from February. We’ve seen prices from £35.49 one way.

Gran Canaria, Canaries

Gran Canaria is hardly an off-the-beaten-track destination, but I think we all appreciate such a solid holiday favourite being even easier to get to. Several new routes began in late 2016, giving easy access to winter sun to lots of UK regions. But Gran Canaria is a wonderful spring destination too – the Canaries are known as the islands of Eternal Spring after all. Temperatures hover around the low 20°Cs in March, which is great for both visiting the animals at Palmitos park and lounging beside the sand dunes of Maspalomas.

New routes from 2016:
From Newcastle with easyJet: Tuesdays from November 2016 until March. We’ve seen prices from £22.49 one way.
From Manchester with easyJet: Two flights a week from November 2016 until March. We’ve seen prices from £22.49 one way.
From Bristol with easyJet: Two flights a week from September 2016 until March. We’ve seen prices from £28.49 one way.
From Southend with easyJet: Two flights a week from November 2016 until March. We’ve seen prices from £28.49 one way.

Girona, Spain

The Spanish theme continues, with Ryanair launching a whole heap of new routes to the city of Girona. It’s a fascinating Catalonian city in its own right, littered with Gothic architecture and cobbled alleyways. But the new flights also open up even more options for the surrounding area. Girona is a gateway for the Costa Brava – so you can be basking on the broad beaches of Lloret de Mar or the tiny coves of Palafrugell in no time.
You can even use Girona airport as a cheaper alternative to Barcelona – the two cities are connected by less than an hour and a half’s train ride.

New routes starting in 2017:
From Belfast with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £16.99 one way.
From Glasgow Prestwick with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £14.99 one way.
From Newcastle with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £14.99 one way.
From Birmingham with Ryanair: Three flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £16.99 one way.
From Leeds Bradford with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £16.99 one way.
From Edinburgh with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £14.99 one way.
From Liverpool with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £16.99 one way.
From East Midlands with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £16.99 one way.

Faro, Portugal

Portugal’s southern Algarve region is brimming with beaches, golf courses and white-washed old towns. No wonder it’s become such a popular summer holiday destination. Faro is the airport serving the whole region. Popular beach towns like Albufeira, Praia da Rocha and Lagos are out to the west. But it’s worth pausing a while in Faro too – the old town is one of the prettiest in the region, and just outside of town you can visit the Ria Formosa Reserve, a nature park rich in birdlife and peaceful vistas.

New routes starting in 2017:
From Belfast with Ryanair: Two flights a week from June. We’ve seen prices from £59.99 one way.
From Cornwall with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £19.99 one way.
From Aberdeen with Ryanair: Two flights a week from May. We’ve seen prices from £36.99 one way.
From Cardiff with Ryanair: Two flights a week from late March. We’ve seen prices from £19.99 one way.