Good destination for frequent short trips through the year?

[redrabbit29]

Hi,

I get really fed up being at home sometimes, especially when the weather is endlessly cack. I really liked the idea of sunny/laying-by-the-pool type holidays but for just 3-4 days as a way of allowing numerous trips through the year. As opposed to say a 7 or 10 night holiday where you wipe out a lot of your leave and it's just harder to plan.

With this in mind, it would be good to have a short flight, easy to access (airport quite close), moderately good climate year round, and a good place for 3-4 days with pools, local town, entertainment, etc. I am not a beach person so this doesn't matter much, but I do enjoy walking along the coast.

Benidorm (don't judge!) seems good as it's easy to get to, I've been once and I actually quite enjoyed it

Marbella, Alicante, Malaga - the southern coast of Spain basically

Canary Islands - Tenerife in particular I like, but I think it's a slightly longer flight time.

Any other thoughts or do you go on frequent trips like this? I like the idea of it breaking up the year, like once every 4 or 6 weeks, I could potentially go away for 3-4 nights.

Thanks

[fourstardan]

You'll never beat the canaries for winter sun and a full English fry up.

[Bill]

It depends where your local airport flies to (and is likely to continue flying to...)

Are you thinking of buying, or just Airbnb?

[alangla]

Benalmadena or any of the places not too far from Malaga airport? As much as Benidorm is doable for a weekend (and I’ve done it), that trek along the motorway from Alicante can get a bit boring. On the plus side, the transfers are definitely cheap and it’s a lot quicker now the motorway tolls are gone and the transfer companies don’t come off to avoid them.

[Puggit]

If you catch a 7am flight you can get to the Canaries for lunch - so that works for me...

[Truckosaurus]

Malta? Small enough that it is a short Uber from the airport to anywhere on the main island. Plenty of flights from the UK and it gets enough business users that they'll never stop offering them due to lack of use.

[JimmyConwayNW]

Mallorca. About 2 hours and at the most your an hour from the airport even at the opposite end of the island significantly less if near Palma.

[98elise]

fourstardan said:

You'll never beat the canaries for winter sun and a full English fry up.

This. Ludicrously cheap to fly to and excellent weather all year.

Before I retired I considered flying to Tenerife for a few weekends. Fly late night Thursday flight, work from "Home" on the Friday. Have Saturday and Sunday in the sun, fly home on a late Sunday flight.

Often see flights below £100, and thats about what I've paid each time.

[redrabbit29]

Bill said:

It depends where your local airport flies to (and is likely to continue flying to...)

Are you thinking of buying, or just Airbnb?

Good point - and sorry, should have made it clear - just for Air BnB or hotels. I'd love to buy and probably could if I really tried but everyone says it's a false economy in the long run.

Anyway, I live in the South East. About 30 minutes from Heathrow (expensive usually) and 60 minutes from Gatwick (which is where we go from almost every time).

[redrabbit29]

98elise said:

This. Ludicrously cheap to fly to and excellent weather all year.

Before I retired I considered flying to Tenerife for a few weekends. Fly late night Thursday flight, work from "Home" on the Friday. Have Saturday and Sunday in the sun, fly home on a late Sunday flight.

Often see flights below £100, and thats about what I've paid each time.

That's interesting... I WFH so I could do this.

How did you book and plan this? Did you book the flights separate, then get a hotel, or was it Air BnB? Always the same place each time?

I'd need to factor in car parking at Gatwick or whatever airport. The train is possible but it's a total ballache to be honest, especially for the quick turnaround trips.

[Bill]

redrabbit29 said:

Good point - and sorry, should have made it clear - just for Air BnB or hotels. I'd love to buy and probably could if I really tried but everyone says it's a false economy in the long run.

Anyway, I live in the South East. About 30 minutes from Heathrow (expensive usually) and 60 minutes from Gatwick (which is where we go from almost every time).

Then the world Europe is quite literally your oyster.

Plug your dates and airport into Skyscanner and go where the mood takes you (Cross reference with Airbnb prices though. I nearly booked Copenhagen as a random destination until I realised how expensive accommodation etc was...)

Then you just need a quiet road somewhere like Horsham or Reigate to park on and a decent taxi firm.

[98elise]

redrabbit29 said:

98elise said:

This. Ludicrously cheap to fly to and excellent weather all year.

Before I retired I considered flying to Tenerife for a few weekends. Fly late night Thursday flight, work from "Home" on the Friday. Have Saturday and Sunday in the sun, fly home on a late Sunday flight.

Often see flights below £100, and thats about what I've paid each time.

That's interesting... I WFH so I could do this.

How did you book and plan this? Did you book the flights separate, then get a hotel, or was it Air BnB? Always the same place each time?

I'd need to factor in car parking at Gatwick or whatever airport. The train is possible but it's a total ballache to be honest, especially for the quick turnaround trips.

The plan was to Air BnB in Tenerife and to book everything seperate (I always do).The flights worked out well with a late flight on Thursday (after work hours) and a late flight back on Sunday. We we're considering buying there as well and viewed a few flats.

I ended up retiring early when Covid hit so didn't get to do it in the end.


Edited to add....

Just checked sky scanner for an upcoming long weekend (Thursday 30th April to Sunday 3rd May). There are two Ryanair options available at just over £100 each which leave late Thursday, with 2 options for flying back.



Thats give nearly 3 full days away without eating into your holiday allowance, as long as you can WFH on the Friday.

We planned on hiring a car (its cheaper than a taxi to your accommodation) so checking out Sunday morning wasn't a problem. Just leave the cases in the car.

Edited by 98elise on Thursday 16th April 16:22

[Shnozz]

We’ve discussed on another thread but I bought about 30 mins south of Alicante. Been my home from home since 2018. Wouldn’t be without it.

Benidorm is about the same distance north of Alicante. Wouldn’t be for me but it’s all subjective…

I tried a few rentals like you’re suggesting on a frequent basis before committing to buy. Tried Marbella, sotogrande, benalmadena, Nerja but eventually settled for Costa Blanca. No regrets.

If you are flexible with flights to Alicante they are peanuts. Usually the cab to the airport costs me more than the flight. Rarely pay more than £50 each way. One night out when I’m here then the flight costs are covered by the price difference to eat and drink.

I’ve got a flight back to the U.K. tomorrow which was £30 IIRC. Just yesterday I saw the forecast, will forego tomorrows flight and now booked a new flight with another airline for Sunday…€73 was the cost to come back 2.5 days later. I was due out in the U.K. on Saturday night and that meal alone would have meant it’s still cheaper to book a second flight lol

[Shnozz]

I did holiday a lot in Tenerife when I was younger so don’t mind the place. Wouldn’t want to live there as the idea of a small island with no road access to Europe doesn’t appeal to me.

It’s also nearly double the flight time. Not a massive issue for a few times a year but I come and go every month. I love the fact door to door can be done in 4.5hrs.

Was sat in my uk local a few Saturdays ago having a lunchtime pint, left mid pm with just my laptop in a bag and was sat at my Spanish home watching my beloved Southampton fc in the FA cup at 8pm…

[Melange]

Starter for ten would be El Palo, Malaga. Still pretty authentically Spanish, short cab ride from airport and very short cab ride from the centre.

I have a similar dream as I don't know how I'm going to manage another 15 UK Winters before hopeful retirement, and would love to work from abroad over November and January but my employers have a blanket ban on working abroad.

Anyhow and back on topic. Malaga area first, but maybe too hot in the Summer. Sete might be a reasonable shout in the Summer if Malaga's too hot for you then (it is for me) and although easy enough from Montpellier airport - tram to gare St Roch then direct train to Sete - it might be a bit too much of stretch for a 4 day break. Carnon plage might work better, but the trams don't run all the way there from the airport so you'll want a cab albeit it's a short ride.

Edited by Melange on Thursday 16th April 17:14

[S1975]

Just did a long weekend in San Sebastian - where I finally managed to grab a steak at Casa Julien!! Great place, well worth a visit. We stayed in Gros (Surfers Beach)

[TheHeadhunter]

redrabbit29 said:

Hi,

I get really fed up being at home sometimes, especially when the weather is endlessly cack. I really liked the idea of sunny/laying-by-the-pool type holidays but for just 3-4 days as a way of allowing numerous trips through the year. As opposed to say a 7 or 10 night holiday where you wipe out a lot of your leave and it's just harder to plan.

With this in mind, it would be good to have a short flight, easy to access (airport quite close), moderately good climate year round, and a good place for 3-4 days with pools, local town, entertainment, etc. I am not a beach person so this doesn't matter much, but I do enjoy walking along the coast.

Benidorm (don't judge!) seems good as it's easy to get to, I've been once and I actually quite enjoyed it

Marbella, Alicante, Malaga - the southern coast of Spain basically

Canary Islands - Tenerife in particular I like, but I think it's a slightly longer flight time.

Any other thoughts or do you go on frequent trips like this? I like the idea of it breaking up the year, like once every 4 or 6 weeks, I could potentially go away for 3-4 nights.

Thanks

We do this quite a bit. Sometimes 4 days is as good as double that, but the double the holidays is always better.

I'll sometimes take my bike but more often just relax.

Favourite destinations include:

Girona
Sitges
Malaga
Marbella (Old Town)
Nice
Mallorca (Palma, but usually less busy - Deia/Soller/Polença/etc
Ibiza
Tuscany
Como
Portofino
Amalfi Coast

And having just done Malta, that'll be added to the list.

[fourstardan]

TheHeadhunter said:

We do this quite a bit. Sometimes 4 days is as good as double that, but the double the holidays is always better.

I'll sometimes take my bike but more often just relax.

Favourite destinations include:

Girona
Sitges
Malaga
Marbella (Old Town)
Nice
Mallorca (Palma, but usually less busy - Deia/Soller/Polença/etc
Ibiza
Tuscany
Como
Portofino
Amalfi Coast

And having just done Malta, that'll be added to the list.

Antibes pips Nice for me, Cannes also a nice lively town.

Montpellier is another location i liked.

Not sure how cold and wet they get in winter time though.

[shirt]

I d start by checking the destinations from your nearest airport.

Northern Italy would be my choice ideally but southern is notably cheaper and warmer year round EasyJet into Naples or Brindisi

Edited by shirt on Friday 1st May 22:37

[LooneyTunes]

Friend has a place in Nice for exactly this use case.

I’d also consider Bordeaux too. Less “beachy” than the usual suspects but there is accessible sand if needed.