Don’t miss…May travel experiences
For a Spring city break...prague
May is regarded as the ‘time of love’ and the most romantic month of the year by the Czechs. Which is a bit surprising, as it is also the time when the residents of its capital Prague spend over half the month celebrating their favourite drink at the annual Czech Beer Festival. But while beer isn’t typically the most romantic of tipples, the beautiful backdrop to the festival -blossom trees and blankets of bright coloured flowers in the parks – is what’s guaranteed to make you starry eyed. If beer isn’t your thing, don’t be put off. There’s a festival in Prague for everyone in May as the city celebrates the return of sunnier days after a dark cold winter. There’s the Prague food festival, which takes place in the Royal Gardens of the Castle and celebrates the best of Czech cuisine (try it!) and a cool block party called Korzo Krymská that kicks off in the picturesque Vršovice neighbourhood and includes concerts, theatre and dance performances, live DJs and activities for kids.
The perfect place for:
Romantic escapes
Group trips
Culture vultures
City breaks
for spring sunshine...tURKS & CAICOS
As with most things in life, all things aren’t equal in the Caribbean. Certainly not when it comes to shades of sand…where Turks and Caicos knocks it out of the park with its almost too-amazing-to be-true milk white sands and turquoise water. Life here on the chain of 40 largely untouched islands is about sun-slowed days that revolve around seeking out the best slice of this heavenly sand. And its not hard. Step off the plane in Providenciales, or Provo, as those in the know call it, and you’re just a hop and a jump from one of the most famous of all, Grace Bay. Here there’s a kind of South Beach meets West Indies vibe. Lying under a coconut tree this isn’t. Think Bali day beds, hotels trying to out hotel each other and a diverse, world-class food offering that’s rare in this part of the world. Yet somehow it still feels inherently laid back and authentically Caribbean. You really need to try it to believe it, and believe me, you should. Those in the know head there in May, the sweet spot when the weather is still glorious but the crowds are fewer and the prices drop to match.
Perfect for:
Families
Honeymoons and romance
Short breaks from the US
Spring sunshine
www.turksandcaicostourism.com
for a spring time adventure...the norwegian fjords
Unless you’re an adrenalin junky skier or an intrepid explorer, the northern part of Norway can be an unforgiving place for a large chunk of the year. But sandwiched between Easter and the Summer Solstice when the days get longer, the flowers bloom and the sun tentatively peeks out, May is a remarkable month for visiting the famous Fjords. You can of course, charter or join a beautiful yacht to explore these beautiful natural waters. But the winding roads and breathtaking views at every corner make this pretty epic road trip territory too, where you can skim cliff edges and admire the blue water sparkling below. My top tip is the Discovery Route from Bergen where you’ll get snap happy upon encountering the spring’s blossoming apple trees at Hardangerfjord, then feel your stomach drop at the lip of flat-topped Pulpit Rock. The good news is that Bergen, the so called ‘gateway to the fjords’ is a great place to steady your nerves again in its world-class cocktail bars in and amongst the Scandi-red clapboard houses.
Perfect for:
Adventure
Road tripping
Romantic escapes
FOR A family escape...sicily, italy
To score an early summer goal with your kids, there aren’t many more perfect spots than Sicily, the football at the toe of Italy’s boat and the Mediterranean’s largest island. The sea is warming up, but there’s so much to fascinate little people, teens and those in between on the island itself that a dip in the Med is almost an after thought at the end of an action packed day. There’s the massive volcano (Etna) that brings those geography lessons to life, Roman ruins to explore, and of course, the latest batch of gelato to sample.
Sicily is surprisingly big and I wouldn’t try and tackle it in one go. So choose the more popular Eastern side, where you’ll find beautiful towns and cities like the ancient city of Siracusa, and Taormina from which you can climb the aforementioned volcano, as well as gorgeous beaches and fishing villages that both adults and kids will love. Or head for the slightly lower key Western side where you can mix a beach holiday on the stunning beaches and wonderful, crystal clear waters of the ‘Riserva dello Zingaro’ with an adventure exploring picture perfect old medieval towns and ancient Greek temples. Decide to go to Sicily, then pick your side!
Perfect for:
Young families
Teenagers
A sense of discovery
Sun seekers
History lovers
Nature lovers
for a hit of blues and barbecue...memphis, usa
Unless you’ve lived it all your life, it’s almost impossible to think about Memphis without humming the famous tune that put this soulful southern city firmly on the tourist trail. But there’s more to Memphis than music and the Memphis in May festival – a month long celebration of the city’s beloved preoccupations of both blues AND barbecue – brings an already party-loving city to sizzling point. It’s just really good fun. That’s all there is to it. So leave your serious side on the far bank of the Mississippi and head over the Hernando de Soto Bridge to experience the culinary wonder of a Pronto Pup (look it up), take a spin on a goat pulled chariot and get amongst it in the neon strip of legendary blues clubs on Beale Street. Then when you’ve worked up an appetite, try out the famed baby back ribs at one of the 115 barbecue restaurants in the land of the Delta Blues.
Perfect for:
Foodies
Group trips
Music lovers
