Published 14th Jun. 2022
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British summers are notoriously… mercurial. One moment you’re enjoying a Pimm’s-fuelled picnic and complaining about the heat; the next, you’re digging out your raincoat and wellies and complaining about the rain. But maybe this summer will be different, we tell ourselves. Maybe it will be all record-breaking heatwaves (cue more complaining) and sunbathing in the garden. But maybe it won’t. That’s the problem. The solution? Pack your bags, jump on a flight or train and take your summer holidays in a European destination with a better-behaved climate...
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A Family Trip to Tuscany & Umbria
School may be out for summer, but that doesn’t mean that the learning must ground to a halt. Submerge your youngsters in Italian culture while touring the beautiful regions of Tuscany and Umbria. Kickstart your trip in Florence (dubbed the Cradle of the Renaissance) with a family-friendly walking tour around the city’s winding cobblestone streets and a private cooking class for a mouth-watering introduction to Florentine food. Then travel by train to Umbria to explore ancient medieval cities, meander along gorgeous green nature trails and cycle around Lake Trasimeno.
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Highlights of Turkey: Istanbul, Cappadocia & Bodrum
For those who want the lot... cosmopolitan city life, adventures in dramatic landscapes and laid-back beach vibes, spend your 2022 summer holidays in Turkey. Fly into Istanbul and spend a few days getting acquainted with the capital’s fabulous palaces, bazaars and foodie hotspots before heading to Cappadocia, a region that boasts some of the country’s most incredible natural landscapes complete with fairy chimneys (tall, thin spires of rock) and troglodyte houses (underground abodes that were used for hundreds of years by local dwellers). End your trip with a serene seaside stay in Bodrum, a port city on Turkey’s southwest coast, for lazy afternoons spent swimming in the impossibly blue waters of the Aegean and stretching out with a good book.
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Northern Spain & Portugal Road Trip
If you can’t treat yourself during your summer holidays, when can you? Load up the car and hit the road for an indulgence-filled trip through northern Spain and Portugal. Spend your days feasting on mouth-wateringly good pintxos (Basque tapas) in San Sebastian - Spain’s food capital – touring sunny vineyards in the Douro Valley and experiencing the buzzing nightlife in Porto.
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A Road Trip Through Italy’s Emilia-Romagna
While a beachy break makes for a stellar summer holiday, there’s something to be said for escaping the tourist hordes and heading inland to seek out a country’s more underrated regions. Emilia-Romagna, in northern Italy, is one such region. Spend your summer holiday touring the urban legends of Ravenna and Bologna, hiking through dramatic national parks and tasting the region's many mouth-watering delicacies from Prosciutto di Parma to Parmigiano Reggiano.
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Family Summer in South-Eastern France
If lazy beach days leave you yawning (and not in a good way), spend your 2022 summer holidays in South-Eastern France enjoying an action-movie adventure complete with hiking, biking and wild swimming. During your trip, enjoy a visit to France's largest glacier - Mer de Glace, burn off some steam while boating and water skiing on Lake Annecy and touch the clouds while hiking along magnificent mountain trails. If that’s not enough to tempt you, maybe the more affordable summer rates will...
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Explore the Spanish Basque Region
Home to craggy mountains, windswept beaches and dramatic valleys draped in lush green foliage, Spain’s Basque Country is film-set stunning. Set off with your camera in hand to discover the natural and cultural riches of the region with visits to Bilbao (home to the iconic Guggenheim Museum), the produce-rich heartlands and the Rioja vineyards.
Cover image: Faustine Poidevin
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
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For those of us who don’t have to adhere to the constraints of the school holidays, we have a wide choice when it comes to choosing what season to travel in. Though the summer remains a top choice, thanks to the good weather across much of the Northern Hemisphere and the general societal norm of treating ourselves to a break at this time, the so-called ‘shoulder season’ is becoming ever-more popular.
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