January and February are traditionally the most hated months of the year. Dark. Cold. Wet. And so at the end of February, when the red wine, warm clothes and games in front of the fireplace start to get boring, the itch starts: get rid of it! We want to leave. Not least because March always promises to be better, but 9 times out of 10 it isn't. It's nice that 'us' KLM some great ones new destinations where they land their planes. We mention a Gdansk in Poland, a Minneapolis (Minnesota, US) and a Split (Croatia) – there are days when you don't get there. A good moment to change that. And there are a number of new destinations that we have already touched on here and can strongly recommend. Porto, London City and Catania for example. Thanks to KLM. Plus: now is the time. So. The Royal Dutch Airlines also thinks so, which is why many of the new ones KLM destinations a few more days (until March 2) can also be booked at a discount (flying is allowed after March). This one for example:

Porto, Portugal
When you say Portugal, you probably think Lisbon. Possible, that's a fantastic idea but (BUT!) to be honest, Lisbon's smaller sister Porto is starting to overtake the capital when it comes to the title of 'the coolest in the country'. By the way, it was already the most beautiful. After landing at the airport, take the train to the city center. Get off at the beautiful São Bento station – an architectural, centuries-old blue and white tour de force. Splendor and splendor. Which also applies to the rest of the city thanks to all the beautiful 18th and 19th century buildings, the distinctive characteristic tile work (azulejos) on buildings throughout the city where hipster, design and indie-style bars and restaurants found their place, all with that unsurpassed relaxed Southern European atmosphere. And excellent wines, which Porto also has, in addition to the dark red port of course. What's not to like. Moreover, everything in the center is walkable on cobbled streets, balconies decorated with flower pots above your head.

STAY OVERNIGHT
After that flight, comes the hotel. In the price/quality category Favorita highly recommended. In the light town houses you book an equally bright room for (usually) less than 50 euros per night, sleep in a prime location in the city and have breakfast in the lovely courtyard. Rua Miguel Bombarda 267, pensaofavorita.pt/pensao-favorita-porto

Also nice: it Porto River Hotel. The hotel is located in the historic Ribeira district and is – what's in a name – right on the Douro River. The small hotel has both regular rooms and apartments and although the lounge is a dark catacomb (read: very atmospheric), all sleeping areas are light and fresh. Try to book one of the rooms with a river view #roomwithaview. R. Canastreiros 50, portoriver.pt

Another top tip is Rosa et al Townhouse. The small hotel in a classic mansion is hidden in one of the most artistic neighborhoods of Porto and has six spacious suites. Try to book the Suite Queen Deluxe City: a nice place to stay with a fireplace, vintage furniture and a classic claw-foot bath. The breakfast is also fantastic. No standard hotel brunch here but pancakes, French toast and poached eggs with salmon on toast. Rua do Rosario 233, Rosa et al Townhouse

DINING
A Casa Guedes is a tiny, thoroughly Portuguese eatery, recognizable by the line out the door around lunchtime. That in itself says enough. Order one sandes de pernil com queijo da serra with a plate of fries and the house wine - with a little luck there will still be a table available on the terrace. Praca Poveiros 130, facebook.com/A-Casa-Guedes-118939868173940/

We don't actually know which one we like more: tapas restaurant Miss O'po or at least the handsome, simple, wonderful bedrooms in the same building. Becoming three: Concrete and Art. Or: Good vibes only. Rua de Trás 49, more: Miss O'po

At Portuguese Cod Pastel House only one Portuguese snack is sold, which is also available at all pastelarias and cafes. But still... Here you can eat the very best cod patties. You will find the store a stone's throw from the Torre dos Clérigos. Campo Mártires da Patria 108, Portuguese Cod Pastel House

Restaurant Wineum ate Grahams is the latest addition to the impressive portfolio of Graham's, Portugal's most prestigious port brand. It is located on the harbor, which makes a table on the terrace even more attractive on summer days. But when the weather is bad, it is no less beautiful inside, with a view of the old wine barrels. Rua do Agro 141, Vinum ate Grahams

London City, England
In the category 'always a good idea' and 'why don't we come here more often – you'll be right there': London! A flight from Schiphol to London will take you less than an hour, but it is always a shame that it takes twice as long to travel from one of the London airports before you actually reach the city... Solved! KLM now also flies to London City. It cost yours truly for example, less than 20 minutes and less than £20 to get from London City Airport to a hotel at Green Park. Ha! And of course, cosmopolitan London needs no explanation. Handy: a number of addresses where things can't go wrong. Promised:

STAY OVERNIGHT
On the edge of the City and hip East London, the Aldgate hotel opened in the district Leman Locke, An 'design aparthotel', the first of a new hotel-lifestyle chain that promises more (keep an eye on it, Saco is the name of the club). The hotel, which focuses on so-called 'long stays' (although a weekend crash is also recommended) has 168 rooms, all attractively decorated in light pastel tones. There is a pharmacy and an 'eat natural bar', there are workplaces and a large, equally tasteful event space. The promise: a break from busy, hysterical London. And it does. 15 Leman Street, lockeliving.com

It is honestly almost impossible to find a hotel in London that is in a nice location and is affordable. Stable is the Dutch hotel concept citizenM, nowadays also in the oh-so-nice Shoreditch in East London (read: where you still want to be). The idea is the same everywhere in the world: no hassle with checking in, if you have ever stayed at a citizenM establishment, your WiFi will turn on immediately (home is where the wifi connects automatically), a hearty breakfast and a room with the nicest bed on earth. After a while it may no longer be an exciting option, but it is wonderful to come home and with an average of 120 euros per room per night for two, a more than good base. 6 Holywell Ln, citizenm.com

Our hearts have been going out to it for some time now Hoxton Holborn . The hotel is central, where there is always something to do, and not just for the hipster crowd.gang among us. No. Everyone from 0 to 88 walks in at the Hoxton and they all enjoy it equally. We are mainly talking about the lobby and breakfast and lunch restaurant Hubbard & Bell with pancakes and eggs in the morning and burgers and salads in the afternoon (in short), about Holborn Gravel, the next door coffee shop and over The Chicken Shop in the basement, a dark (of course again very tastefully decorated) catacomb tea best chicken in town is put on the table. The rooms are small and simple, but done just right, and you can order a great breakfast by hanging the paper breakfast box bag on the door before you go to sleep. 199-206 High Holborn, thehoxton.com/london/holborn

DINING
Never at a dull moment in a city like London, certainly not in terms of food and drink. New in the list is the long-awaited one L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. A pizzeria in East London, in trendy Stoke Newington. The family business of pizza chef Michelle and his son Marco has been baking pizzas since the opening of their first restaurant in Naples in 1870. London is the first overseas branch. Not hip in terms of looks, but very tasty, and sometimes nice. 25 Stoke Newington Church Street, damichele.uk

At Clerkenwell Gravel in East London (even though, of course) you can go there all day long and that's what you want: the bar is gorgeous in beautiful blue, pink and marble. The city has several Grind branches and this one, in the Clerkenwell area, is definitely the current favourite. The breakfast menu includes kimchi and mushroom croquettes, for lunch there is saffron risotto and during the idea it is a top plan to have the Chateaubriand steak brought to the table for you. 2-4 Old St, London, grind.co.uk/clerkenwellgrind

Those collection addresses always do well and Flat Iron Square is one of those. Food, drinks and music, a stone's throw from the London Bridge metro stop (take that with you immediately). Housed in 40.000 square meters under and around six railway arches, flanked by Flat Iron Square, Union Street, O'Meara Street and Southwark Street, the hall was developed by Benj Scrimgeour, an entrepreneur in the field of metropolitan food and music markets (you can but have one specialty). About the music: one part of Flat Iron Square is for Ben Lovett, one quarter of the band Mumfort & Sons. The food and drink line-up is just as exciting: the South West Social Club will be there, one of the very first London parties to start a street food market. Verbranded Lemon Bakery joined in, the inventive salads from Savage Salades are for sale there, as well as the stone-baked pizzas from Baz & Fred. Brunch lovers check out Where The Pancakes Are or Lupins for a typical Californian brunch. There is Portuguese tapas and wine at Bar Duoro and there is the award-winning Mexican street food of Carnita Carnitas. flatironsquare.co.uk

Also take a look at these: 15 x favorite restaurants in London

Catania, Sicily
Oh oh Sicily, it's been way (way!) too long since we visited you and yet... You were our favorite holiday ever (you can imagine). The Italian island is, in my view, the ideal holiday destination for several reasons: the food, the temperamental Italians, the blue sea and white beaches, the city-beach combination, the wonderful temperatures, the vineyards, the rugged nature... It's impossible to go on a holiday by the books and go wrong. Best base? Catania, the island's second city on the east coast (Palermo is the capital). The small, manageable city overlooks the Ionian Sea (recommended: visiting one of the small Ionian islands! Unforgettable) and is also perfect for a weekend getaway, for your quick vitamin D + pasta fix.

STAY OVERNIGHT
For 65 euros per room per night you can sleep in a fantastic hotel B&B 4 Elementi – a party! The bed and breakfast is located on the edge of the pleasant city center and is located in a historic building that has undergone a major, contemporary renovation. And the most colorful floors in town. Moreover, the B&B is a stone's throw from the station - convenient. And you can stroll to the shopping streets of Catania and to the beach. The famous A Fera market is only two hundred meters away from the front door and the Villa Bellini is also nearby, as are the Etnea Square Theater, San Beryl, Stesicoro Square and so on. The WiFi is fast and the breakfast is extensive and is delivered fresh in the morning at a time of your choice. airbnb.nl/rooms/16441040?checkin=06%2F03%2F2017&checkout=12%2F03%2F2017

Another reason why Sicily is the holiday paradise: places like Monaci Delle Terre Nere. This beautiful old pink hotel at the foot of the Edna between Taormina and Catania, about a 30-minute drive from the city, is your purest rock star accommodation in the middle of beautiful nature - although a rock star holiday with the kids is also more than fine. Everything was completely eco-friendly renovated from A to Z, resulting in a decor that you will want to copy at home, including Phillipe Starck chairs and the black lava walls. Although the super friendly owners Guido and Ada will certainly be happy to help you with some other tips, for the home, but also where you can best eat in the area (and in Catania), for example. That is, if you manage to take advantage of the infinity pool, a swimming pool that overlooks the hills behind the 40 hectares of land that belong to the hotel. MonksdelleTerreNere.it

DINING
An Osteria is a classic Italian meeting house and Osteria Antica Marina is one to recommend. The café sits between Piazza Duomo and the Walls of Charles V, in an area known for its seafood restaurants. The restaurant is nice and rustic. Authentic. We love it because it is timeless. This also applies to the dishes on the table: traditional and delicious. Especially fish, which is impossible to miss because of the large fish tank in the middle of the room. Via Pardo 29, anticamarina.it

Via Santa Filomena is a narrow, characteristic street with many new restaurants and cafes, so nice for an evening of slow strolling. One of the cafes where you can stop is Polpetteria. If you are looking for meatballs, this is your place. All types of meatballs, fish balls or vegetarian balls are on the menu. Be sure to try the one with swordfish in lime. Nom. Via Santa Filomena, polpetteria.it/en/

You won't find it much further FUD, a name that is a mix between 'food' and 'sud', Italian for 'south'. These kinds of puns pepper the menu – difficult, so let the friendly staff advise you. If you want vegetarian, the Parmigiana burger is an absolute must. And otherwise too. Via Santa Filomena 35, fud.it

Sap is an ice cream institute. In the middle of Via Etnea, the main street of Catania. Also recommended here? Do the gianduja, chocolate-hazelnut. Via Etnea, 302/304, savia.it

You will find cozy Italian glamor and top pizzas at Quattrochiacchiere. To each other. But if you read quietly, the name is manageable, even memorable. Via Monsignor Domenico Orlando 13, quattrochiacchiere.net/en/

KLM for president
We already said it: discount! Big discount! Because new destinations. And new = party. You understand. Many of the new KLM destinations can be booked much cheaper until March 2 (flying is of course allowed after March 2). What exactly are those new KLM destinations? We understand that question. The answer: Cartagena (that's Colombia, top of the wish list), Minneapolis, Gdańsk (Poland, seems to be crazy), Cagliari (Sardinia, summer destination from April to October 2017), Porto (i.e. Portugal), Catania (favorite in Sicily, summer destination from April to October 2017), Mauritius (flights as of 1 Nov '17), Graz (that's in Austria), Split (Croatia) and of course London City finally.

You can find all new destinations and prices here

Need even more reasons to click your way to your next KLM destination? Well, KLM is officially the world's most punctual airline of 2016! There are people who investigate this and according to a report by Flightstats, our own KLM came out on top with a score of more than 88% of flights arriving on time. And not only that: anyone who, like me, often makes uncontrolled bookings can cancel free of charge within 24 hours (got the T-shirt). Although the very best thing about KLM is their unparalleled 24/7 social customer service. Firstly, customer service via social media regularly reaches the 'the Best Social Media' because the service people on the other end of the line are very sharp (and funny) more than once. Apart from that, the rest of the time the service is accurate, super fast and above all solution-oriented (again: got the T-shirt). Anyway: KLM for president, if you ask us.