Don’t miss…February travel experiences
Langkawi is not on too many people’s radars yet…so you’ll have the beach to yourself
For WINTER sun...Malaysia
Unless you’re a gap year student or a recent retiree (congratulations!) and have infinite time on your hands, you’ll only scratch the surface if you try and experience Malaysia in one trip.
Malaysia is also one of those places whose weather patterns vary significantly across the country, so in the interest of keeping it simple I’m honing in on the west coast here where you’ll find the bluest of skies and warmest of sun in one of our darkest month’s of the year.
If you’re reading this in serious need of vitamin D after the average summer we’ve had (in the UK at least) then you’ll have one thing on your mind - the beaches. But if you can wait just a few days to be reunited with a sunlounger, I’d thoroughly recommend stopping off in Penang on your way.
If you want to eat your way through the wonder that is Malaysian cuisine before you beach yourself then Penang is the place to do it. This is the place to enjoy Malaysian hawker food at its absolute best. Try Roti Canai, Satay, Nasi Lemak and Laksa...and if you’ve no idea what any of that is, don’t Google them, just embrace it and get lost in the wonderful world of Malaysian street food - I promise you won’t be disappointed.
When you’ve eaten enough to be concerned about fitting in your swimwear it is time to head for the beach.
Enter Langkawi...which might possibly be the most beautiful island archipelago in Asia. It’s the perfect tropical paradise if you’re a sun seeker who wants a side of adventure with your long days lying in the sun on sugar white sands with emerald green waters lapping at your toes. The beaches are painfully pretty but despite how naturally beautiful and completely untouched it is, Langkawi somehow doesn’t pull in the punters like its Thai and Indonesian counterparts. Which is good news for you if you take my advice and head there next February. You’ll have the beaches to yourself, without seeing a soul for miles, but you also won’t get the loud pumping music or boozed up crowds in the evenings either, so you’ll go to sleep to the gentle sound of ocean waves crashing. Paradise found!
Ideal for:
Families
Romantic escapes
Celebrations
Groups
Carnevale is one of Venice’s oldest traditions
for an Wonderful cultural experience...vENICE, ITALY
Italians are notoriously romantic. But while across the globe, people are buying red roses and whispering sweet nothings in February, Venetians are too busy gearing up for one of the biggest parties on the globe to be concerned with Valentine’s Day.
February is Carnevale time in Venice...a festival of mischief and debauchery that more than rivals its more famous counterpart Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Like Mardi Gras, Carnevale’s origins are rooted in Catholic tradition and it's all about celebrating to excess before Lent. But unlike Mardi Gras, Carnevale lasts the entire month of February and frankly puts every other pre-Lent festivals to shame!
Combine the magic of carnival with the misty darkness of February in Venice and it is magical. You’ll find masked people everywhere, and events galore - from plays popping up across the city to the famous costume contest that takes place in St Mark’s Square. Carnevale isn’t a quiet affair - it is loud, filled with laughter and one huge celebration. But then again Venice is one of Italy’s most famous spots so it is always going to be busy. So if you want to experience the city more like an Italian and get amongst the party with the locals, this is the time to do it.
Perfect for:
History lovers
Foodies
Design and architecture enthusiasts
Romance
Even the most reluctant tweens and teens will be awestruck by Egypt
To open your kids eyes again...egypt
Is there a place you can take tweens and teens and almost guarantee they wouldn’t get bored and/or reach for a phone every twenty seconds?
Yes! Hello Egypt.
If you’re more of a sun seeking family than a snow fanatical family, head for Egypt in the February or Spring break. For a start you’re almost guaranteed the warmth and blue skies you’ve been craving all winter. Tick.
But what makes Egypt stand out from almost all other sun destinations across the world is that even the most reluctant of family travellers cannot fail to be inspired and excited by what you’ll find there. Yes there are plenty of places for you to spend a few days catching some rays on a lounger while your kids splash about in safe waters or try out the plentiful water sports on offer (tip - avoid the famous Sharm El Sheik and head for the less chaotic Hurghada or El Gouna). But if you want to take the kids home inspired and energised, there is miles more to Egypt than the beaches.
So I’d advise that you stretch your break to 10 days if you can and mix up your beach time with a few days throwing yourself and your family into the world of ancient Egypt. Taking a river trip down the Nile is a really fun (and breeze cooled) way to see some of the amazing archeological treasures around Aswan and Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes where ancient tombs and temples are scattered along the riverbanks.
But I’d also recommend you spend some time in crazy Cairo where you can negotiate with hawkers in dusty bazaars and ancient souks; and hop out to Giza to channel your inner Indiana Jones and take part in treasure hunts and archeological digs around the pyramids that rise above sun-baked sands and Sphinx that stares unblinking into a relentless blue sky.
After so many hours homeschooling these past couple of years, this is the perfect place to open your kids eyes to the wonders of the world again.
Perfect for:
Active families
Older kids
History enthusiasts
FOR A Winter ADVENTURE...the italian dolomites
Ah the ski season! How we have missed you. If, like me, you haven’t put on your ski boots for nearly two years, you’re probably chomping at the bit to get out on those mountains again.
If all goes to plan, winter 2022 is going to be a bumper ski season and the usual suspects are going to be ram jammed with powder seekers. So if you want to be smart about it, head for somewhere a little less known but equally wonderful with huge terrain, varied skiing, amazing food, stunning scenery and a surprising lack of international visitors. This is the Italian Dolomites, just a 3 hour drive from Venice.
The Dolomiti Superski area (which also happens to be a UNESCO world heritage site) is made up of 12 valleys and although many claim this crown, it actually is the largest ski area in the world with over 12,000 km of groomed pistes to choose from.
It’s not just about the powder either. The Dolomiti Superski is served by gorgeous little chocolate box villages dotted around its mountains with simple but perfect boltholes to head to at the end of the day. Can’t decide or fancy an adventure? Take a ski safari and whizz from valley to valley on your skis before staying overnight in cosy mountain refugios (chalets) while your luggage gets transported for you.
If you’re looking for a party, this perhaps isn’t the place for you. But if you want to take off your ski boots and tuck into gorgeous Italian food washed down with excellent wine from the Trentino region before you hit the hay dreaming of glistening white pistes, you will absolutely love it.
Perfect for:
Adventure seekers
A sense of discovery
Active travellers
Groups
Austinites prize individuality, quirkiness and local authenticity above everything else
for an alternative city break...austin, texas
About 20 years ago, Austin launched a marketing campaign to promote small, local businesses across the city. Its slogan ‘keep Austin weird’ has stuck and encapsulates all that is wonderful about the capital city of Texas.
Austin sits right in America’s red heartland, the Lone Star State, but true to its non-conformity, the city is actually a liberal oasis with a big heart that perfectly blends big city progressiveness with southern hospitality and charm.
Until the early naughties it was definitely a place of oddballs and hippies who rejoiced in their own weirdness but Austin’s appeal has definitely widened in recent years, without it losing its kooky charm that makes it so special.
Austinites today still prize individuality, quirkiness and local authenticity above everything else, so if you find yourself in Austin for a long weekend you definitely won’t see chain stores, cookie cutter eateries or generic uniform looking streets.
Austin is all about cool little independent boutiques and stores, dotted around streets decorated with colourful graffiti murals and interspersed with food trucks on every corner, each trying to outdo each other with ever innovative sometimes whacky gastronomic treats that surprise and delight their clientele.
And it's a place for people who love music. Austin is the world capital of live music and renowned training ground for raw, talented blues, rock and country singers. So when the sun dips head to one of the city’s live music venues, grab yourself a locally brewed beer and let yourself get sucked in. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself gatecrashing a birthday party or having your check paid at the end of the night by a complete stranger - that’s just the Austin way of life, so embrace it!
Why February? Austin has over 300 days of sunshine a year so it’s a great spot to escape the winter.
Perfect for:
Music lovers
Foodies
Group trips
Romantic escapes
Art lovers
