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s n o i t a n i t s De UMMER S
SET SAIL Top breaks for you and your mates
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BEST BEACHES BIG ADVENTURES ENGLAND’S SUNNIEST SPOTS 26/04/2013 14:55:16
DESTINATIONS SUMMER Bring it on: rock out at Europe’s music fests
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Party: sailing Croatia and below, Serbian nightlife
Cheers: Oktoberfest is the unofficial end of Van Tour
Relax: let someone else do the driving on a European road trip
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Group holidays > europe
Mates’ breaks Europe has loads of vaycays perfect for a gang of you to make it a summer to remember, from buzzing music festivals to road trips and sailing holidays Words Helen elfer
S
o between you and your mates, think you can rustle up a few tents, maybe a camper van or two, and a decent drinks kitty to see you through the sunny months ahead? Good. Then here are some suggestions for holidays you can take in a big group, with enough action and relaxation to suit both the laziest and craziest of your friends.
Music fests
Road trips
at £85 for three days, including camping. The action all happens at night, so during the day you’re free to hit the beach, explore Bilbao’s dynamic arts scene or just start the boozing early. Now in its eighth year, the fest pulls in crowds of up to 40,000 and Green Day, Kings of Leon and Depeche Mode are headlining along with Fatboy Slim and Editors this year. If you’re more of a dance-head than a rocker, try EXIT in Serbia (July 10-14). This festival does drum ‘n’ bass like you’ve never experienced it – while dancing in an old fortress on a hill, overlooking the Danube river at Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad. During the day you can recharge your dancing batteries on the nearby sandy beaches. The line-up includes DJ Fresh Live, Friction & MC Linguistics, SKiSM and The Prototypes. BOOK: Check out bbklive.com and exitfest.org.
Van Tour Europe is a tricky one to explain to most people – unless you’re from Oz or NZ, in which case you’ll get the concept straight away. Basically it’s a completely chaotic, disorganised road trip in a beat up old van through Europe. You stop wherever you feel like and make loose arrangements to meet up with other Van Tourers at various stops along the way. Naturally, lots of drinking and driving is involved (though not at the same time, obviously). Those on the jaunt usually meet up for big get-togethers at some of Europe’s best festivals. The Running of the Bulls at Pamplona and Oktoberfest are the unofficial start and end points, while top messy fests La Tomatina (a huge tomato fight) and Haro Wine Festival (where you chuck buckets of vino all over each other) are popular in-between stop-offs. The rest of the time, you can make a loop through Europe, hitting up all the hip cities you’ve always wanted to visit or take a drive along the continent’s coast, stopping to party and surf in Malaga, San Sebastian, Lagos, or anywhere you fancy, really. What’s not to love? BOOK: To find out more about popular routes and meet up spots, visit vantoureurope.com.
If you’re fed up of England’s ever-soaring festival prices (£210 for Glastonbury now? Really?) and crap weather to boot, but don’t want to miss out on seeing all your favourite bands, choose from some of Europe’s top musical festivals this year. Bilbao BBK (running July 11-13) is a firm favourite – partly because it’s an absolute bargain
Sailing
Taking a few days to hit the open waves is a must if you want to squeeze in all the sand, sea and sun you can in Croatia. An island-hopping tour should do the trick, giving you and your mates the chance to party it up on deck by night and explore some of the country’s prettiest sights by tntmagazine.com/destinations
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DESTINATIONS SUMMER
Make a splash: try watersports on a beach break
day. Don’t miss out on visits to Mljet Island National Park to see the salt water lakes, the pretty harbour town of Trstenik on the Peljesac Peninsula, and Korcula’s medieval Old Town. Some tours depart from Hvar, which is famous for having a raucous after-dark scene, or you could fly into Dubrovnik to spend some time in this beautiful coastal city before you set sail. Lord Byron didn’t call it the “pearl of the Adriatic” for nothing. BOOK: See croatia.hr for more info or check out great late package deals at tntmagazine.com/travel.
Boozy breaks Short on time, cash or both? We feel your pain, but you still have options. Instead of a long, epic adventure, just get a few of your buddies together for a short, sweet drinkathon. To save on the pennies, your best bet is to head for Eastern Europe. Spend a couple of days in one of the amazingly scenic cities here, perhaps exploring Belgrade’s fortress, Tallinn’s quaint old quarter or Prague’s Castle District. By night is when the fun really starts here, though, as accommodation in all of these cities is cheap, and you can get a pint of beer for around a quid. Can’t say fairer than that. Closer to home, you can’t beat Barcelona for great atmosphere, weather and nightlife during the
Pit stop: swing by Dubrovnik on a sailing trip
NEED SOME BUDDIES? Billy no mates? If all your pals have already made their summer plans, or are heading back Down Under for their breaks – never fear. Tour package holidays can be great for sociable types travelling alone. You’ll be thrown together with like-minded souls who you’ll travel, dine and drink with, and during your free time you can hang out as much or as little as you like. Try Busabout (busabout.com) for cheap, boozy coach tours of Europe, Contiki (contiki.com) for sailing cruises through Greece and Croatia, Travel Talk (traveltalktours.com) for Middle Eastern jaunts, and Edge (edgeadventures.com) for Latin American adventures.
summer months. Head straight to Las Ramblas, the popular tree-lined pedestrianised street, for top bars, restaurants and clubs. BOOK: See tntmagazine.com/travel for late deals.
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“Yay to my new friend count! Woooh!”
Photos: Getty, Thinkstock, Matt Risley
Hipster: shady characters party in Belgrade
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DESTINATIONS SUMMER
Popular: Torremelinos draws big crowds
Booty-full: Super Paradise Beach looks very favourably on nudity
Scenic: Baska Voda, Croatia
Legendary: surfing at Mundaka
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On high: paraglide over the blue lagoon at Oludeniz
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best beaches > europe
Life’s a beach From paragliding to partying, and between going au naturale and getting back to nature, Europe’s top beaches offer a wealth of unforgettable experiences Words LAURA CHUBB
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ure, Europe’s got some great city breaks, but for the ultimate summer vaycay, you’ve got to hit the beach. The continent is packed with sun and sea destinations to suit every taste, whether you just want to top up your tan, get sporty or party. Plus, Mediterranean summers come with guaranteed sun and sizzling temperatures (most likely 30ºC+), so a beach break makes the perfect escape from UK climes. Here are five of our favourites.
But that’s the point of this perennially popular resort on the Mediterranean’s Costa Del Sol – it’s a big, brash holiday with everything turned up to 10, from the blue of the sky and the sea to the volume of the tunes blasting out of the bars. Since it first began attracting tourists in the Fifties, Torremelinos has also had a thriving gay scene and there are gay bars to suit most tastes in the centre of town. GETTING THERE: Fly from London Luton to Malaga from £107 return with easyJet (easyjet.com).
Oludeniz, Turkey BEST FOR: Paragliding
Super Paradise Beach, Mykonos
environmental standards). It’s also one of the world’s most renowned spots for paragliding – daredevils launch from 6460ft Babadag Mountain, the dramatic backdrop to the bay, and get spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and Oludeniz’s stunning blue lagoon. GETTING THERE: Fly from London Heathrow to Antalya airport with Turkish Airlines (turkishairlines.com) from just £205 return.
BEST FOR: Getting naked THE SCENE: This Greek island is undoubtedly the glammest, known for beaches crowded with beautiful people and a plethora of ultra-chic, pulsing bars. Paradise Beach, around 6km from Mykonos town, is renowned for its mega-parties, which tend to get cranking around 4pm. But for an even more hedonistic scene, head another kilometre along to Super Paradise Beach, which not only gets its party on, but is also the best spot for going au naturale (you know you want that all-over tan). The Super Paradise Beach Club calls it “the most alternative and anti-conformist beach on the island”. Nude-friendly and in
Torremelinos, Spain
some parts ‘nude obligatory’, the gold-sand beach is set within a deep bay with the green-blue Mediterranean
THE SCENE: Famous for its paradisaical turquoise waters, this small village and beach resort in southwestern Turkey frequently turns up on ‘best beaches in the world’ lists and is an official Blue Flag beach (which means it meets stringent
BEST FOR: Partying THE SCENE: If a peacefully isolated escape is what you’re after, best avoid Torremelinos at all costs. The beaches are packed, there are high-rise developments populated by hot-pink Brits all over the place and the clubs are pumping.
lapping at its shores. There’s a sizable but not exclusively gay crowd and you can expect to see hot bods dancing and getting their drink on from mid-afternoon. GETTING THERE: Fly from London Gatwick to Mykonos from >> around £305 return with easyJet (easyjet.com). tntmagazine.com/destinations
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DESTINATIONS SUMMER
Pumping: hit the clubs in Torremelinos
Big break: ride Basque Country barrels
Mundaka, Spain BEST FOR: Surfing THE SCENE: In northern Spain’s spectacular Basque Country, Mundaka is legendary among surfers for its deep barrels and has hosted the likes of Kelly Slater and Andy Irons (it was once a site on the World Championship Tour of Surfing). On the Bay of Biscay and neighbouring famous Basque cities Bilbao and San Sebastian, it’s a great choice for those who fancy a side of holiday with their surf. Plus, the sleepy fishing village of Mundaka itself is surprisingly unspoilt and a great spot for chilling with cheap beers after a day getting pounded by the waves. GETTING THERE: Fly from London Heathrow to San Sebastian
Top Turkey: take to the skies around Babadag Mountain
BEST BLACK SAND BEACHES El Golfo in Lanzarote not only boasts the drama of a pitch-black sand beach bordering deep-blue Atlantic, but also has a bright green lagoon at the back of it, a natural phenomenon resulting from algae. turismolanzarote.com/en Tenerife’s El Bollullo shows a very different side to the Canary Island from its package tour stereotype. A quiet black-sand beach backed by volcanic cliffs, it’s a best-kept secret. turismodecanarias.com
via Madrid from £206 with Iberia (iberia.com/gb).
Baska Voda, Croatia
BEST FOR: Scenery THE SCENE: Located between Croatian holiday hotspots
Los Cancajos on La Palma is a beach set along a black rock coastline. Keep an eye out for the huge bright-red crabs that scuttle over the rugged scenery. turismodecanarias.com
Split and Makarska, Baska Voda has been quietly building a reputation as the most scenic slice of life on the Adriatic.
bored of lazing around and taking endless pictures of this paradise (unlikely, but you never know), there are plenty of opportunities to get out hiking and earn your next full day of sunbathing. GETTING THERE: Fly from London Luton to Split from around £270 return with Wizz Air (wizzair.com).
Dramatic: El Golfo
Photos: Getty, Thinkstock
Its long stretches of sand are backed by thick pine woods and the looming Biokovo mountains, so should you get
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Photos: Getty, Thinkstock
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DESTINATIONS SUMMER
Rural roaming: in Hampshire’s New Forest
Traditional: Blackpool’s seaside
Lake District: home to England’s highest mountain
Cornish delight: sunbathe at St Ives
Photos: Getty, Thinkstock, TNT
Beach break: Brighton is a Brit classic
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ENGLAND > Sunny hotspots
Great British summer Believe it or not, the sun does shine on England now and again come summertime. Here’s our pick of where to bask in the rays, from seaside stays to country escapes Words alasdair morton
t
he truth is that, during the summer, the sun does come out from that great big grey cloud it hides behind for most of the year. And when it does, there’s nowhere better to play than the quintessential green and pleasant land.
Bournemouth, Dorset Famous for one of the most beautiful beaches in England, its seven miles of fine yellow sand is scenic, impossibly clean and untainted, and even boasts a giant deckchair next to which you can pose for piccies, or try and clamber upon before some responsible lifeguard type catches you out. bournemouth.co.uk
Lake District, Cumbria To the northwest of Manchester, the Lake District has England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike (reaching 3102ft
It is an English institution to have at least one holiday in Blackpool, come rain or shine. There’s the famous Pleasure Beach with its rollercoasters (try the Big One and its 205ft drop, the tallest in the UK), the tower (a poor man’s Eiffel), plus it’s also obligatory to ride on a donkey with a 99 flake ice cream in your hand. No British summer would be complete without it. visitblackpool.com
New Forest, Hampshire The New Forest is home to miles of unenclosed heathland full of roaming ponies and plenty of hiking, horse riding and mountain biking opportunities. Just as good getting out and exploring the winding country lanes on two wheels/ feet/
into the heavens), in case you fancy testing your endurance. It also boasts some of the most beautiful
four hooves is exploring the beer gardens that exist round most corners of this colourful part of the south. thenewforest.co.uk
scenery in the whole country, including the longest, deepest lakes (Windermere and Wastwater), hence its name. Ideal
Brighton, Sussex
for enjoying the rays amid England’s rolling green hills. golakes.co.uk
St Ives, Cornwall Photos: Getty, Thinkstock, TNT
Blackpool, Lancashire
Voted the best seaside town in the British Travel Awards in 2010 and 2011, St Ives has pedigree and deservedly so. Think beautiful beaches, pirating history, narrow cobbled streets, and ale pubs galore. Proud of its unique culture, Cornwall can feel like a whole other country. stives-cornwall.co.uk
Just 45 minutes from London sits this quintessentially British beachside town. It’s loaded full of history, as anyone who’s seen Quadrophenia will know, and has a thriving live music and club scene, whether you’re into rock or electronic sounds. Plus, there’s all the old traditional seaside entertainments (palm reading, teddy pickers, dodgems). Warning: it gets rammed in the summer, especially at weekends, as the Big Smoke descends, but It’s still totally worthwhile braving the throngs. visitbrighton.com tntmagazine.com/destinations
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DESTINATIONS SUMMER
Must do: explore Nepal by bike
=6*-)<)*4- 8:1+-; With the African specialists Absolute Africa 30 years overlanding in Africa
Waterworld: dive Dahab, Egypt
A whole range of trips incl. game drives in the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, gorilla trekking, guided game walks, rhino trekking, evening game drives and so much more.
Serene: the Amazon Rainforest
www.absoluteafrica.com Phone: 0208 742 0226 Email: absaf@absoluteafrica.com
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Action holidays > worldwide
Action and adventure Who wants a relaxing holiday when you could be up close with lions or paddling the Amazon? Here’s our pick of big adventures on a small budget. Strap in! Words michael gadd
t
ake your pick – is it the endangered creatures of Africa that tickle your fancy, the great green wonder of the Amazon, Egypt’s underwater world or the peaks and trails of Nepal? Time to choose your own adventure.
ride that lets you relax at the end of a hardcore day. DO IT: Brazil Travel Plan (braziltravelplan.co.uk), £575 per person based on two sharing. Leaves from Manaus.
Scuba diving, Egypt Safari, South Africa A must for any wildlife and outdoors lover, Africa gives endless chances to get up close to its unspoiled glory. But when ticking off any adventure bucket list, the “big five” has to be tops. While the “big five” label was coined by game hunters for their most desired scalps, the term’s been claimed by tourism operators who get you a glimpse of lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinoceros in their natural habitats. African Budget Safaris’ range of tours includes a six-day jaunt to the 2 million hectare Kruger National Park, which includes hiking and drives in search of the main attractions and much more. DO IT: African Budget Safaris (africanbudgetsafaris.com) has a six-day Kruger Park tour costing £655pp from Johannesburg, not including flights.
Canoeing, Brazil The finest way to appreciate the Amazon Rainforest’s inimitable symphony is from the water by canoe. Go as laid-back or hardcore as you like as you enjoy the most species-packed jungle in the world. Brazil Travel Plan runs a four-day, three-night Amazon tour which takes you into the depths of the rainforest by boat, before your own paddle power takes over. With the comfort of small jungle lodge accommodation thrown in, it’s a challenging thrill
Egypt has fast become a Mecca for divers, with Dahab among the favourite bases for those who prefer to do their adventuring under the sea – in this case, the Red Sea. Like all good dive tour operators, Deep Blue Divers Dahab run all levels of PADI scuba courses, from beginners to experienced, to ensure you’re equipped to capture the colourful coral and sealife in all its glory. Be careful, though. Once qualified, you’ll be hooked. DO IT: Deep Blue Divers Dahab (divedahab.com) have packages from £47- £170 for one-to-five days (two dives a day). Seven-night package with four-day beginners diving course from £222, depending on accommodation.
Mountain biking, Nepal trekking and mountain climbing are sensational ways to see the Himalayas, but the region’s fascinating landscapes and trails are among the world’s most renowned for mountain biking. take day trips out of Kathmandu or train up for a bigger journey, cruising through the villages and hidden tracks of the mountains. KE Aventure Travel runs a 12-day guided cycle journey from Pokhara to Kathmandu, which takes in the Vertical Mile across the Kathmandu Valley rim. DO IT: Himalayan Single trek (himalayansingletrack.com) offers a package from £1645 including all meals, flights and accommodation (£945 without flights). tntmagazine.com/destinations
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