#144 On Travelling During The Summer

So we're at the end of April now, and summer is steadfast approaching! I'm sure a lot of you have already planned your summer holidays away.

Summer holiday. Eponymous. Renowned. A standard part of life for many people. Yet a summer holiday is something I admittedly don't really understand. Why travel during the summer? The reasons I can think of would be that either a) you have kids in school, b) you're still in education yourself, c) you work in education, or d) you like really hot weather.

Sandhamm, a popular holiday island in Sweden

So basically it mostly revolves around school. If you're not a teacher and you don't have child in school, I have no idea why you would actually ever want to travel during the summer season. I personally hate summer travel, I did it last year in Asia as I was unfortunately in the above mentioned grouping of being a teacher, and I would have much preferred to have done it any other time of year. Why do I hate it so? Summer travel is a) crazy expensive, b) overcrowded, c) tons of unsupervised children running riot and d) just too damn hot.



Irish people don't get a lot of warm weather, so most of them like to holiday in Spain or somewhere with a warmer climate. However, a lot of places are quite warm all year, and by going in the summer the Irish subject themselves to weather that is uncomfortably hot (although they will deny it) and earn dodgy tans and wince-worthy sunburns that they will wear back home like badges of honor.


I don't like hot weather. I don't like annoying children. I don't like being ripped off. I do not like summer holidays. Next month I will make a short mid-week trip to Belgium, and then I will remain static until around October, when the weather cools off, the prices dip, and the crowds are few and far between. Bliss.

Sunset on an island in the Stockholm archipelago

#90 Why package holidays to the Costa Del Sol are a terrible idea

1. It's mainly full of English and Irish people anyway 

2. You end up eating a full English breakfast every day
3. You rely entirely on the prospect of good weather - if it rains you're screwed
4. You learn nothing about the country or culture you are in
5. You sit on your ass all day - might as well be at home watching Jeremy Kyle

#82 Spring!

So here we are in March, the days are getting longer, blue skies are creeping in, daffodils are blooming. . .and it's time to get booking those summer holidays!

The key is to book early and book in advance, which means you need to get your family/friends together and fight out where you want to go this summer (or alternatively, if you have no money you can start planning a nice trip in the autumn instead, when prices are likely to go down.)

While deciding where to go, there are a few places you could look, for example if you're booking independently then the low cost or sale prices for some airlines, while websites like TripAdvisor are also great for telling you what kinds of things are there to do.

You also need to be realistic, while you might be imagining a paradise in your head, the reality is likely to be very different. Sun holidays attract all kinds of people, however you are more likely to find big families and unruly children running wild.

Left; island paradise Bora Bora, and Right; a packed beach in Salou, Spain

I would also say not to be afraid to go somewhere different, and just because it is summer doesn't mean you need to go on a sun holiday, and sit by the pool all day. The weather in Europe is gorgeous during the summer, and a city break could be the answer for someone looking for something a little more exciting, while still getting a good tan out sightseeing.

While it is blatantly obvious for most people to book everything separately online, there are still Travel Agents in business and they could be something to consider. Although they are likely to be more expensive this isn't always the case (especially in group bookings of 10+), and most [all?] of these companies are bonded so you will be refunded if there are any issues.

#75 Croatia: The Travel Show

Unfortunately Croatia is still just a place on the list to visit for my great travels! When I was studying in Sweden I met some fantastic Croatians and they definitely encouraged me to visit their country, as well as telling me some great information.

From my experience, Croatia isn't one of the most famous countries so, if you're not sure, it's situated right across the Adriatic sea from Italy. Here's a map to help you out.

Croatia

The currency is the Kuna (pronounced a bit like 'ko-na' I think) and the exchange rate is about 7.5kn to €1. Croatia in Croatian language is 'Hrvatska', so that's why you'll sometimes see abbreviations like 'HRV' or 'HRK'. It's a cheap country in terms of prices, especially in comparison to the rest of Europe, but be careful as the recent surge in tourism along the coast means prices there for hotels, bars and restaurants are much higher, especially during the summer.

The capital city is Zagreb, which is located in the North. However, it is coastal cities such as Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik that are raising the profile of the country and bringing most of the tourists. 

Politically, Croatia is a young country, having been formed after the break up of Yugoslavia in 1991. It only entered the European Union earlier this year.

Dubrovnik, in the far south, is an ancient city which reminds me of places like Greece or Turkey. It has recently rose to fame in TV show Game of Thrones, in which some scenes were filmed here. 

Dubrovnik

Zadar has an airport, and is a likely place to fly into. There is a 'sea organ', in which waves crashing into the harbour makes tunes like an organ, and nearby is colorful a light up display built into the ground. I found a video on YouTube which demonstrates both better than words: Zadar Sea Organ

Croatia is becoming popular with party goers and young people, because alcohol prices are much cheaper than Ireland or the UK, and clubs often stay open until sunrise during the summer. The hot weather and clear seas make it popular with those looking for a cheap sun holiday, but Croatia has a lot to offer in terms of cultural capital and indigenous activities.

Blue Cave, located on the island of Bisevo

Also important to note, travel is cheap between neighbouring countries Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so a visit to Croatia doesn't have to just be a visit to Croatia, you could make it a wider travelling experience.

You can get flights with Ryanair to Zadar, and travel within the country is cheap, but I've been told that some buses (especially local transport) aren't air conditioned, so it can get a little stuffy in the soaring temperatures!

This article is linked to my radio show - The Travel Show. However, due to technical issues there is no recording available for this particular show. You can still go to the website and check out previous shows though. www.ulfm.ie/listen-back/