Everyone benefits from a little fun in the sun. Ready for a warm weather voyage, but want to go somewhere a little different? Try these 9 summer holiday destinations on for size.
Curious to see even more splendid summer spots? Check out our 2015 selection.
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Everything’s bigger in Texas. Even the summer. If your calendar’s open this June, Corpus Christi is where to be. Hugging a picturesque bay overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, it’s Lone Star swagger meets seaside haven. Pink spoonbill birds fly overhead and the strains of live music spill from the Concrete Street Amphitheatre.
Fill up on breakfast tacos, explore the interior of aircraft carrier USS Lexington, and give the ol’ Texas two-step a try. Book in a ranch tour or a kayaking trip, then reward yourself with a larger-than-life Tex Mex dinner. Spend a day racing giant pick-up trucks along Mustang and Padre Islands, then kick back with a Margarita cocktail and some melt-in-your-mouth barbecue.
Round up by taking a snooze under your cowboy hat, before you head out to admire the views of the beautifully lit Harbor Bridge.
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Tuvalu
With its blindingly white shores and rows of coconut trees, tiny Tuvalu is the kind of desert island you’d love to be stranded on. An atoll of five equally mesmerising splotches of beachy paradise, it’s all about sunshine, freshly caught seafood and lazy, lazy days.
You’ll spend most of your time in a reclined position – whether on the sand sipping from a fresh coconut, watching a local game of volleyball-esque ‘te ano’ or floating on your back on the Funafuti lagoon.
The islands are formed from coral reefs, so don your snorkelling or scuba gear and marvel at just how colorful things can get underwater. The rising ocean is putting this place at risk of becoming a modern-day Atlantis, so book your tickets before it’s entirely submerged. July is the time to go.
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Bornholm, Denmark
When you think ‘island paradise’, Denmark doesn’t necessarily come to mind. But anyone in the know is fully aware that little Bornholm has been more than pulling its weight as far as Scandinavian sunshine goes – it’s the sunniest spot in all of Denmark.
For a family-friendly spot to visit in July, look no further than this craggy island outcrop. Pale beaches like famed Dueodde and rugged forests make for superb cycling and hiking, while tiny fishing villages, ancient round churches and remnants of fortresses provide plenty of Instagrammable moments.
Visit the Bornholm Butterfly Park, explore the Hammershus Castle Ruins, and dine on local smoked fish dishes – try the delicacy called Sun over Gudhjem. And if you’re a creative type or just love to stock up on travel mementos, the island’s population of glass and ceramic artists will have you enthralled.
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Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Now we’re really getting off the beaten track. A tiny town a few hours inland from Dubrovnik, historic Blagaj is tucked in at the base of a series of rugged cliffs. Bubbling from the rocks, the aqua-coloured Buna river wraps around it like a scarf.
With its white-washed buildings, Blagaj’s crowning achievement is being an open-to-the-public 16th-century ‘Tekija’ – a spiritual retreat – built by an Ottoman sultan. This place is all charm, more so if you visit in August where you make the most of the region’s Mediterranean climate.
When you’re done exploring the town itself, venture out a few kilometres with a visit to the famed Stari Most – old bridge – and its accompanying museum, and stroll through the Kajtaz House street. Wrap up you day by dining on Turkic-influenced Cevapi and Cufte – spiced sausages and meatballs – and sample local beers with unpronounceable names.
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Haikou, Hainan, China
See China’s exponential growth first-hand with a visit to this out-of-the-way island city. Buzzing and bustling, the ‘Coconut City’ is midway through transforming from sleepy maritime trade region into a soon-to-be metropolis.
New buildings hide beneath scaffolding, and the streetscape is changing daily – with plenty to explore. Ringed by the ocean, it has swim-friendly beaches and resorts galore at its fingertips, and sailing and windsurfing will be at the top of your agenda.
Get your cultural fix with trips to The Temple of Five Lords and the Tomb of Hai Rai, and gorge on dishes of Wenchang chicken and Hele crab, along with tropical fruit galore. Never been bold enough to try a jackfruit or a famously stinky durian? Here’s your chance. July is the time to go.
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Kas, Turkey
There’s a new Mediterranean wunderkind on the block. A former fishing village placed on a mountainside, Kas has maintained its original small-town feel, and offers incredible views.
The days are long and sticky, but the water’s always nearby if you need to cool off – and the rocky beaches are lined with cafés serving up temperature-regulating chilled drinks. There’s plenty to do, eat and explore. Get out and about with a daytrip to the sunken city of Kekova, hike up to the ancient Lycian tombs hacked into the mountainside, or take in a panoramic view with a paragliding jaunt.
Small, compact and abuzz with Vespas and minibuses, the town’s a breeze to navigate if your legs are burning with the lactic acid that comes with too much swimming, kayaking or rock shelf diving. Stop by in August to make the most of its offerings.
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Ouarzazate, Morocco
If beach-buzz and oceans aren’t your thing, Morocco’s Ouarzazate will be. Smack-bang in the middle of a desert and famous for its caramel-coloured mud buildings, it’s as delightful to visit as it is to pronounce.
It’s also the least likely place you’d expect to be able to book in a Hollywood-style movie studio tour, but starring in film classics such as Lawrence of Arabia and more questionable offerings like The Mummy Returns, this place is a film buff’s haven.
Architecture and archaeology lovers will be equally as delighted by the ancient, UNESCO-approved kasbahs – citadels – that rear up and out of the arid landscape: Ait Benhaddou is a most. It’s also very, very hot, so take advantage of the little red taxis that whiz about the place. Visit in May and June, and wear sunscreen.
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Espoo, Finland
It’s the second largest city in Finland, but chances are you’ve never heard of it. A booming tech hub wrapped by endless nature parks and brimming with oh-so-cultured museums and live music shows, it’s the Finns’ answer to San Francisco. And far more affordable.
Explore the many flea markets, snap some pictures at the Angry Birds playground, gaze pensively at the art on display at EMMA – Espoo’s MoMA – and relive your childhood at the Finnish Toy Museum.
Hike through the conifer and birch trees of the tiny granite-studded Nuuksio National Park, while keeping an eye out for Siberian Flying Squirrels. Grit your teeth and head to one of the 21 beaches encircling the sea and lakes, perfect for swimming, fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Book your trip for August for reasonably summery climes.
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Alentejo, Portugal
Rejoice with your inner poet with a long, exploratory road trip through Portugal’s South East in the prime time of August or September. Dotted with crumbling castles and Roman and Arab ruins, abloom with cork trees and vineyards, and famed for its wine, cheese and smoked meats, it’s the ideal setting for a roadside picnic.
Hire a car and journey through wheat fields and wildflowers until you reach the bumpy coast – then stop to enjoy a spot of sunbathing and swimming. Set aside some time to visit the walled city of Évora, and feast your eyes on its white-washed buildings, Neolithic remnants and lemon tree-shaded alleyways.
Home to just seven percent of the country’s population, and an even smaller percentage of tourists, the region is superbly tranquil. You’ll come away feeling renewed – and perhaps a little plumper from all that Presunto – dry-cured ham – and wine.
Ready to relax? momondo can help you find cheap flights and hotels in Alentejo.
