“Holiday! Celebrate!” Madonna has never uttered a truer sentiment. Holidays are the time for fun and relaxation, perfectly designed to help you recover from the aftermath of summer term exam trauma. You may be off “on tour” with your friends to the classy destination of Ayia Napa (complete with matching T-shirts), taking a mini gap yarr in the depths of Burma or being dragged off avec mum and dad to a cottage in a remote part of France. There’s an abundance of destinations out there!
The travel industry has taken a bit of a knock recently with the recession taking grip on purse strings everywhere, British airways striking every five minutes and a volcano erupting casting clouds on the minds of eager tourists everywhere. Less people are choosing to venture abroad, instead preferring to avoid the hold ups at Heathrow and stay at home.
However, being at university means that we have the luxury of long summers, while technically being adults. The extendable overdraft means
that the world is practically our oyster. Obviously, it’s not the most practical solution to financially cripple yourself before next term even begins. Yet, it’s important to make the most of the last few summers we
have before we all attempt to enter the scary world of work where holiday is sparse. (career in teaching anyone?)
Although it’s annoying that friends from home are finishing their summer term now instead of July. It means that during September/October travel prices are much lower providing the perfect opportunity to travel when you’re on a budget. You can save up to 80% on inter-railing passes by going off-peak out of school holiday season. Eastern Europe tends to be much cheaper in terms of accommodation but there’s still sun, sea and sightseeing meaning it’s the perfect inter railing destination. If you are travelling like this remember to make a note of your expected arrival time at each stop and be aware of how to pronounce the name of your desired destination! Always pack toilet paper with you to make sure that you’re never caught short on an overnight train!
If you’re venturing to one of the party hotspots with your friends on one of the many Greek islands; remember to respect the fact that locals in Greece don’t usually enjoy the binge drinking culture that some Brits employ. They’re not always sympathetic to drunken Teens abroad. Therefore, it’s wise to try and stay within your limits of consciousness on a night out to get the maximum enjoyment from your holiday. Avoid getting into any tricky situations by sticking with the people you know and trust. it’s also an idea to learn a few local words and phrases which might be useful in an emergency. If you’re really fair-skinned, make sure you pack a high factor sun cream to guarantee that you don’t get burnt rather than acquiring that all-over red glow by allowing yourself to frazzle.
Hopefully, by the time the holidays are here, the volcanic ash cloud will be a distant memory, but if not there’s always the ever reliable Eurostar…
Even if you’re not travelling abroad this year, there are plenty of beaches to head off to here in Britain. Scarborough is really lovely and has become quite a hotspot from inexperienced surfing virgins to competant wave veterans. You can lie back and relax in your bodycon wetsuit without having to fork out a bomb to travel to a more exotic location. You may not be guaranteed weather like you are on the Costa Del Sol but at least there is plenty to do inside if the heavens open.
Newquay in cornwall is also the perfect destination for getting your beach fix. With an impressive coastline and a array of bays, it’s ideal for indulging in some sunbathing and waterports.
Whatever you do over the summer, make sure you make the most of the long, sunny days (please). Relax and chill out with friends before we’re back to uni in October, tan fading, wrapped up in our winter coats.