Easter holiday ideas

Where to go at Easter 2012 Easter holidays 2012

By Mark Hodson, Sunday Times Travel Writer and Editor of 101 Holidays

Looking for holiday ideas over Easter 2012? You’ve come to the right place – whether you want a budget holiday, a weekend break or a blast of early summer sun. If you’re travelling with children, please see our recommended family holidays at Easter.

Easter holiday dates 2012

In 2012 Easter Sunday falls on 8 April. Although this is earlier than in 2011, it is still a great time to get some early summer sun in the Mediterranean, and not too late to catch the last of the snow in the Alps.

Easter in the Mediterranean

The beginning of the summer season is one of the best times to be in the Mediterranean: the resorts are not so crowded, you can expect lots of sunshine, but not too much humidity, the countryside is lush and green and the locals are pleased to see the first arrivals of the tourist season. Not only that, but the weather at home is often still pretty miserable.

Spain is an obvious destination. We recommend you avoid the overcrowded resorts (you know the ones) and head instead to the fascinating coastline of Catalonia where you’ll find authentic villages and pretty coves. Further south, the unspoilt beaches of the Costa de la Luz are among the finest in the Iberian peninsular. If you want to rent a villa, head to the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza.

France is one of the best Easter holiday destinations. The Atlantic coast is a beautiful part of the country or head offshore to the idyllic Ile de Ré. And the French island of Corsica is one of our favourite places in the Med: we recommend this selection of villas with pools, apartments and hotels.

Greece will be superb at Easter. We particularly like Sani Resort in Halkidiki, one of the best resort hotels in the Med. Further south, Crete has great weather and a superb selection of boutique hotels and houses to rent. If you want luxury villas, head to Corfu. Or to escape the rigours of the modern world, flee to quiet, slow-paced Paxos.

The Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia will be great at this time, and not yet crowded. Forte Village Resort in Sardinia is great for sporty types, while the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in Sicily is truly luxurious.

Mainland Italy offers some real gems: rent a beautiful country villa in Le Marche, or discover the “real Italy” in Umbria. Check out Le Silve, a glorious converted farmhouse near Assisi. If you want to stay in a classic hotel, head to the Amalfi Coast. We particularly like the Hotel Caruso Belvedere, and Hotel Santa Caterina.

In the southern Italian region of Puglia you’ll find superb beaches, historic towns and a warm welcome. We recommend a stay in a traditional stone-built trullo, perhaps in a five-star masseria, or one of these self-catering trulli with pools.

Croatia offers great value holidays. We recommend the sparkling Dalmatian Coast and its fascinating archipelago of islands. Check out this great selection of hotels, guesthouses, cruises and apartments. We also recommend budget hotels and luxury hotels on the stunning island of Hvar.

Don’t forget the Aegean coast of Turkey where you’ll find some charming boutique hotels, plus the option to discover hidden bays and coves on a gulet cruise. Other beautiful islands in the Med include idyllic rural Gozo.

tobago beach holidays Koh Samui boutique hotels

Long haul Easter holidays 2012

In the Caribbean, Easter is the end of the peak season and a great time to visit for near-guaranteed fine weather. Head to Barbados for gorgeous hotels and a lively restaurant scene, Jamaica for culture, beaches and boutique hotels, or the Cayman Islands for great diving and a friendly vibe.

If you like to combine beaches and cities, why not twin South Beach Miami and the Caribbean (we like One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas). If you prefer a small, friendly type of Caribbean island we recommend Tobago and the Calabash on Grenada.

St Lucia is one of the most scenic islands – with lush volcanic hills, plantation houses and rainforest – but it also has some excellent hotels including Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa and the couples-only Rendezvous.

In Asia, Koh Samui is an island that combines great beaches, friendly boutique hotels and buzzing nightlife. On a beautiful stretch of coastline in Malyasia, Tanjong Jara Resort is one of south east Asia’s most spectacular hotels.

April is also an excellent month to visit Borneo, one of Asia’s most exciting and least spoilt regions. Or take that holiday in China or India you’ve been promising yourself for so long now.

Country hotels near London the-spread-eagle-midhurst

Easter holidays in the UK

If you’re looking for a charming hotel within easy striking distance of London, try The Olde Bell on the Thames between Marlow and Henley, the Crown Inn in Amersham (which appeared in Four Weddings and a Funeral) or Stoke Place Hotel which is set in 26 acres of parkland near Windsor. We also recommend Maison Talbooth on the Essex/Suffolk border and Bailiffscourt Hotel on a beach in West Sussex.

It’s the start of the camping season. Pitching up in a field with a simple two-man tent could be a bit chilly at this time of year, but not if you head for Feather Down Farms which has luxury spacious fixed tents with heaters and proper beds at 20 working farms across the UK.

Its sister company Country House Hideout has luxury tents in the grounds of posh country houses, so you get the thrill of camping in beautiful private grounds and at a great price.

You could explore cultural sites of Britain on a small-group tour led by an expert in art, music or architecture. New ideas for 2012 include Turner & The Sea, Charles Dickens and Mediaeval Middle England.

If you want to get away with a large group of friends, or two or three families, it’s a good idea to rent a large property. You can find a great selection of places in the UK and abroad at The Big Domain.

If you’re visiting the capital, you can now get a short term let of a luxury London home. There are more than 250 to choose from, including family homes and hip Soho apartments.

River cruises Thailand 2011 in-spa-massage-treatment

Something different

Where to go on holiday at Easter if you’re bored with the usual holiday destinations? Here are a few different ideas.

How about an archaeological tour such as Pompeii. Or a cultural walking tour in one of the world’s most fascinating places. If you’re travelling alone, try a singles holiday. If you love France, this is a great time of year for a walking holiday in the countryside or along the coast. Choose from the likes of Normandy, The Loire, Charente and Burgundy.

Learn about the First World War on a battlefield tour of Northern France, a powerful and moving experience. Visit cemeteries and memorials and stand in the battlefields accompanied by an expert guide.

Feeling run down? Give your mind and body a full service and MOT at a health and fitness retreat. Or head to Thailand where Chiva-Som is the ultimate spa hotel.

April can be a great month for grabbing a late skiing break. You can usually bank on long days of sunshine in the Alps, but there is a risk of melting snow, so it’s best to hedge your bets by going somewhere at high altitude. We recommend Esprit Ski for families and Inghams for skiing in Austria. See our recommended chalet holidays and late deals.

If you’re on a budget, you can rent a B&B, homestay or apartment from local people in more than 2,000 cities including London, Edinburgh, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, Istanbul and New York. Prices start at just £26 a night.

Don’t want to fly? Hop on the Eurostar for a city break to Paris, Brussels, Bruges or Amsterdam. If you want to venture further afield you can’t beat Venice via the Alps on a superfast TGV. Check out the latest special offers.

While in New York, you could treat yourself to a film and movie location tour – covering everything from Seinfeld and The Devil Wears Prada to Sex and the City and The Sopranos.

See our selection of the best adventure holidays.

Where to go on holiday at Easter