Don’t miss…June travel experiences
For an early summer city break...florence
Florence speaks for itself. I don’t need to tell you why you should go to Florence, I’m sure you already know that. But I can tell you when you should visit, because trust me, it makes a difference. Broad brushing, winter is cold, rainy and misty in Florence, and summer is hot and crowded so best avoided. Visit this renaissance gem in between these times and you’ve hit the jackpot.
As an aficionado of pavement cafes, I especially love Florence in June. It’s gloriously warm but you won’t get sticky hot as you sip your aperitivo and watch Florentines go about their business. And with 11 hours of sunshine each day at this point, your days can be happily unhurried, because there’s time to see and experience all the wonders of Florence.
Florentines love June too. It’s when they celebrate their patron saints with festivals and parties, and one of their most famous exports, Leonardo Da Vinci with a series of concerts held in pinch-me perfect historic buildings. And then there’s the Festival of St John in late June. If watching people garbed up in 15th century dress, repeatedly piling into each other on the Piazza Santa Croce, in the name of medieval football is your vibe, book your flight now.
The perfect place for:
Romantic escapes
Culture vultures
City breaks
History lovers
Art lovers
FOR a head start on your summer tan...ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar is a lovely word to say. It rolls off the tongue, is hard to mispronounce and sounds wonderfully exotic.
Zanzibar is a small island that lives up to its big name. An island archipelago part of, and just off the Tanzania coast in the Indian Ocean, it is paradise defined. There are powdery white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and brilliant blue waters that just beg you for a dip. But Zanzibar is more than just a pretty face - also known as Spice Island, it was once a crucial hub for traders from the Middle East, mainland Africa and India and when you visit you’ll experience this melting pot of cultural influences from the food you eat, to the cultural and religious beliefs of the people you encounter and the overall vibe of the place. Together with the new swath of gorgeous barefoot resting spots that have popped up over the last few years, Zanzibar is a winning formula for a sunny escape.
But if you like the finer things in life, you may find this paradise island an expensive option if you head in the northern hemisphere peak summer months. This is because a flop on Zanzibar’s beaches are the perfect end to an East African safari in Tanzania, and July/August is when safari lovers head to this region in droves.
If you want to avoid this, early-mid June is a good bet. It’s that short two week window before Tanzania’s safari season properly kicks off with price hikes and crowds, and the start of the dry season across the region. So you’ll bag a relatively good deal in Zanzibar…and your safari, because you can’t go all that way without seeing a lion or an elly!
Perfect for:
Families
Honeymoons and romance
Pairing with safari
Barefoot luxury
for a natural adventure(and relaxation)...borneo
29 degrees celsius (mid-eighties fahrenheit) and dry…the words you want to hear about almost any trip destination (unless you’re hoping to strap on snow skis). This in itself, is reason to visit Borneo in June.
But when coupled with the fact that June is your best shot at experiencing one of the world’s most rare and inspiring wildlife experiences…you really should clear your diary!
June is the time when the trees of the Sabah forest start filling up with tasty fruit, tempting even the shyest of wild orangutans out of their hiding spots for you to see them up close. For a country so densely covered in rainforest, it's surprisingly easy to travel around Borneo, which is great as June is also the best time to properly unleash your inner David Attenborough with a visit to Selingan Island. Here you’ll see turtles laying their eggs on the sand and encounter pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys, while on nearby Lankayan Island, you can eye up whale sharks from a safe distance. And once you’ve had your fill, head back to one of the beautiful independent boutique hotels that Borneo does so well, to swap stories over a swim and a cocktail as the sun sets.
Relaxation and adventure doesn’t have to be a choice. Borneo is your proof of that.
Perfect for:
Adventure seekers
Romantic escapes
Honeymooners
Animal lovers
FOR A family break less ordinary...THE PELOPONNESE, greece
Traveller hot spots often go hand in hand with great PR. The Greek Islands have had a lot of very good PR over the years…and don’t get me wrong, they’re every bit as amazing, unique and distinctively individual as you’ve heard or know them to be. But there’s a little region of Greece that hasn’t shouted as loudly over the years as its noisier island counterparts, and the Peloponnese is all the better for it.
With credentials such as pristine sandy beaches along hundreds of miles of Mediterranean coastline, picture postcard historic towns, a thriving wine region and some of Greece’s most revered archeological sites including Olympia, travel specialists have been holidaying there for years. Now it's time to share their secret.
For families this paradise piece of Greece is the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure, and June is the perfect time to visit before summer really hots up. I’d challenge any kid not to be awestruck by a visit to the site where the first ever Olympics took place. And you’ll all be in total heaven as you cool off in the gentle turquoise waters of Elafonisos Island, before you dip your toes in the soft sand and catch some early summer rays. For a region so relatively undiscovered there are some wonderful places to stay too…and I know you’re wondering… yes there are kids clubs!
Perfect for:
Young families
Teenagers
A sense of discovery
Sun seekers
History lovers
Beach lovers
to brush up on your cultural credentials...basel, switzerland …
If you know your Kapoor from your Kiefer then Art Basel is probably firmly inked in your calendar already. But if you don’t, then it's an annual contemporary art event that puts this small Swiss city on the French and German borders on the centre stage.
The great and the good of the art world descend on Basel in June. But so can you. This is a once a year opportunity to get a front seat in the world of contemporary art - immersing yourself in installations, displays of art and listening to daily talks from the artists themselves.
Unless you’re up for blagging your way into the numerous arty soirees that take place during the show (I can’t possibly condone this ;) then you’ll need to fuel yourself throughout your days of cultural explorations. Luckily Basel has this covered too. Head for Landestelle, an open-air space that’s home to food and drink stalls on the banks of the River Rhine. It’s a great spot to decompress (art can be intense!), try a new cocktail or enjoy an old favourite, and, what’s more, the views are fab.
And if art isn’t your vibe don’t be put off. There’s also the Swiss Yodelling Festival at the end of June or you can unleash the eighties power ballads yourself at Summerstage Basel (25-26 June) where Bonnie Tyler will be belting out her iconic tunes.
Perfect for:
Art lovers
Culture seekers
Foodies
Music lovers
