Best Destinations for Some Easter Sun
As spring approaches and the days get longer many of us are planning a little getaway for some R&R. So if you are looking for a break this Easter, how about checking out one of these destinations…
MOROCCO 17-25 DEGREES IN APRIL – TRAVEL TIME FROM UK 4 HOURS
If you are looking to soak up the culture as much as sunshine, Morocco could be the place to go. Although on the African continent, it is not much further than southern Spain and with tourism on the up and being wholeheartedly supported by the governments 2020 campaign, Morocco is sure to provide that holiday experience as well as an abundance of history and culture. Head to Marrakesh ‘The Red City’ to make the most of the incredible marketplaces or ‘Souks.’ The smells of local herbs and spices fill the air, with the sounds of negotiation and the colours of hand woven fabrics and handmade earthenware’s. Make sure you visit The Bahia Palace, a great place to escape the chaos of the city. Built as the residence of the Grand Vizier Bou Ahmed, one of Sultan Moulay al-Hassan’s most valued confidant’s, it reflects the wealth and opulence favoured by the rulers of the time.
BRAZIL- RIO DE JANEIRO 22-28 DEGREES IN APRIL – TRAVEL FROM UK 15-20 HOURS
For fun. sun and sandy beaches you can not beat Rio De Janeiro. Although it takes a day to travel here, if you really want the feeling of a summer holiday this Easter it will be well worth the journey. Relax on Ipanema beach or join in with the Cariocas and play a game of Altinho, basically a game of keepie ups which grew in popularity as traditional games of football were banned from the beeches. The locals in the tourist areas of Rio are truly wonderful, friendly happy people. Well, why wouldn’t you be with year-round sun and paradise beaches. Do be careful off the beaten track though, whilst an affluent city, there is a lot of poverty just around the corner and crime rates are relatively high. If you want a different experience, take an organised tour of the Favela’s. These sprawling slums are incredible places but not somewhere to go on your own. The arranged tours take you safely to the pacified favela’s and show you some of the ways they are transforming with improvements in education, safety and cleanliness.
MARBELLA 15-22 DEGREES IN APRIL- TRAVEL TIME FORM UK 4 HOURS
If you like plush bars and fancy cars, Marbella could be the place for you. With the nearest airport in Malaga the trip will take you over 4 hours including transfers. Enjoy the shopping by day and the glitzy, if rather cliched nightlife when the sun goes down. If you like spending money, you can do plenty of that. The main tourist spot is the marina, Puerto Banus. Less than half a mile across a close concentration of shops, bars and eateries will happily take your hard earned cash, whilst you take in the marina, home to the super-yachts of some of the richest people on the planet. With a large ex-pat community this town can feel very much like a sunny version of home and whilst it’s trendiness will be off putting for many, it is a pretty perfect version of what it purports to be. If you make the trip to glitzy Marbella hire a sunbed at one of the beach clubs for a few thousand pounds and hit the drink Marbella style. If you get on the return flight without a serious hangover you haven’t truly experienced ‘Marbs.’
ROME 15-20 DEGREES IN APRIL- TRAVEL TIME FROM UK 2 HR 30 MINS
An astonishing city and in April the weather is probably just about right to make the most of it. Don’t expect to relax there is far too much to see. From the Colosseum to the Trevi Fountain, and the unbelievable riches of the Vatican City. Rome is a must for anybody who has an interest in history or architecture. You can not walk more than 100 meters without turning your head in awe at another fascinating piece of intricately carved stone on a grand, ancient monument. Although popular with tourists and a certain sense of Disneyland creeping in in places, the spectacle is strong enough for you to be taken right back to the times of the Flavian Dynasty. You can’t help but be sucked back through the ages and appreciate how this city was once caput mundi (the capital of the world). Make sure you get off the tourist trail a little so you can get yourself a reasonably priced beer and be presented with a load of free food (Aperitivo) normally served between 7-9pm.
DUBAI 25-35 DEGREES IN APRIL- TRAVEL TIME FROM UK 7 HOURS
For modern luxury, guaranteed sun and more shopping then most of us could ever handle, Dubai is definitely worth the 7 hour flight. Situated in a Muslim country, the city itself seems to be becoming more Westernised and there tends to be a feel of- do as you wish but respect our culture. It’s clean, safe and welcoming whilst being completely and utterly OVER THE TOP. Head to the man-made islands of Palm Jumeirah for some of the most enticing luxuries. Have a walk down one of the fronds of the palm to see the villas of the super-rich. Head to Dubai Marina for a beer and take in the scale of ambition prevalent in the Dubai ether. Rome wasn’t built in a day- but Dubai was. Dubai wants to be the biggest and the best of everything and nothing captivates this more than the tallest building in the world the Burj Khalifa. Enjoy it of an evening when the fountains dance to the beat of Michael Jackson or the mission impossible theme and if you are lucky, see the phenomenal show as all 828m and 160 stories of the world’s tallest tower light up like a disco. Utterly breathtaking.
Wherever you escape to this Easter make sure you turn the phone off for a few hours a day and truly get away from work and all of life’s daily distractions…
