Relaxing holidays
By Mark Hodson, Sunday Times Travel Writer and Editor of 101 Holidays
Most people’s idea of a relaxing holiday is a sun lounger, lots of sunshine and nothing to do. But there are plenty of options: you could be on a tropical beach, in a mountain hideaway or at a cosy little hotel in the English countryside.
For some people, relaxing holidays mean being waited on hand and foot. For others it is the freedom of coming and going as they please: self-catering may be the answer. The journey is also a factor: many people are happy to fly long-haul crossing many time zones. But if you find that stressful you won’t arrive home feeling suitably rested and recharged.
Relaxing holidays by the beach
In the Mediterranean, we tend to steer clear of the busy mass-market resorts. We love the French island of Corsica which has a wonderful selection of villas with pools, apartments and hotels (see the latest special offers).
We are also huge fans of the Italian island, Sardinia. Although most famous for its luxury five-star hotels, Sardinia also has a great selection of characterful hotels, villas and apartments in quiet relaxing locations (see the latest special offers). For sheer luxury by the beach, you won’t do much better than Sir Rocco Forte’s new Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in Sicily.
Crete is one of our favourite Greek islands. Again, we recommend you avoid the package-holiday resorts and head for one of these gorgeous boutique hotels. On a smaller scale, the tiny island of Paxos is a lovely place to laze around your private pool and rent a boat.
The coast of Turkey also has some wonderful small hotels where friendly service and pampering is guaranteed. In the south of Italy, have a look at Puglia where you should stay in a self-catering trullo with pool. Or experience the glamour and charm of the Amalfi coast.
If you love islands, Croatia is a great place to lie back and do nothing. We love the stylish island of Hvar, a short ferry ride from Split. It has superb beaches and a fine selection of budget hotels and luxury hotels.
The Gambia is a great-value winter sun destination with superb beaches and charming hotels. It’s just six hours flying time from the UK.
If you want to fly further afield, Bali is a great option. We like the upmarket beach resort of Seminya where we love The Amala. Also in Asia, we recommend Tanjong Jara on the beautiful unspoilt east coast of Malaysia. Although it is much more than a fly-and-flop destination, we love the beach hotels on the coast of Sri Lanka.
If you don’t want to leave the UK, you could hop across to the Scilly Isles where you’ll find amazing white sand beaches. Or rent a cottage in Cornwall to explore surf beaches and rock pools.
You don’t need to go to the coast to find a great beach. The Italian Lakes has a wonderful shoreline with mountain views, charming hotels and great food.
Relaxing family holidays
If you want to slow down and enjoy some gentle activity, rent a cruiser and go boating on the Norfolk Broads, one of many wonderful boating holidays across the UK. If you want a guarantee of hot weather, take a gulet holiday along the beautiful coastline of Turkey in your own private crewed sailing boat – a great choice for two or more families travelling together.
Another option on the water is a family cruise – you can sail from Southampton and never have to worry where you’ll eat your next meal or how to keep the children occupied.
For a budget holiday with children, it’s hard to beat a holiday parc in Brittany. You’ll find everything on site to entertain children of all ages so parents can relax in knowledge they are safe and busy (see the latest special offers).
Relaxing villa holidays
Not everybody wants to cook on holiday, but villa holidays can be extremely relaxing as you escape the crowds and can operate at your own pace with no interference. They are ideal for groups of friends or families.
There are some marvellous self-catering properties in the UK, particularly in, take Devon, Cornwall and the Cotswolds, but to really find that idyllic whitewashed villa with private pool you’ll need to go to the Med.
There are many wonderful places to say in Mallorca and Ibiza far from the package resorts. On the Spanish mainland the Costa de la Luz is the place to go for unspoilt beaches, fishing villages and private villas.
Another surprise is the Costa Brava where, once you get away from the tacky parts of the coast, you’ll find some wonderful villas as well as great beaches and a charming, rugged coastline.
Elsewhere in the Med we love the small island of Gozo off Malta. It has some gorgeous villas. And on mainland Italy we recommend getting away from it all in the countryside by renting a villa in Umbria or Le Marche.
Long haul relaxing holidays
The Caribbean is one of the most relaxing regions of the world. Not just because you have great weather and superb beaches, but because of the friendly vibe and relaxed attitude of locals, which is instantly infectious! We recommend the Cayman Islands, Tobago and Barbados.
For sheer indulgence, the Maldives are beautiful with some stunning resorts where the emphasis in firmly on relaxation, on and below the water. Also in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has some wonderful luxury hotels while the Seychelles is unbeatable for beaches, nature and that away-from-it-all feeling.
For seclusion, we like Denis Private Island but the Seychelles also has some great-value boutique hotels including Lazare Picault hotel on Mahé. For one of the world’s greatest spa experiences, check out Chiva-Som in Thailand.
Enjoy the pristine countryside of the Canadian Rockies on a train holiday – travelling on one of the world’s great railway lines, the Rocky Mountaineer.
Egypt isn’t too far away – just five hours flying time. Although the capital Cairo is frenetic, you can enjoy a very relaxing Nile Cruise that allows you to soak up the sights without packing and unpacking.
Active relaxing holidays
Sometimes the best way to relax is not to lie around in the sun, but to challenge your body and eat healthily. We are huge fans of in:spa which runs health retreats in Marrakech, the South of France and the Italian Dolomites.
The same company is behind destination yoga which runs yoga holidays that will leave you feeling utterly relaxed and exhilarated, and fitscape, which offers fitness holidays (a bit more strenuous).
If you like outdoor activities and clean mountain air, try the French Alps where you can try summer skiing on the glacier, mountain biking, white-water rafting, hiking and countless other outdoor pursuits.
Skiing is a remarkably relaxing holiday. You can do it with the family or stay at The Lodge, Verbier, one of the finest catered chalets in the Alps. For great value, check out these chalet holidays and late deals
Alternatively, try a Mediterranean beach club where you can do absolutely nothing, or try your hand at some watersports. This holiday – with childcare provided – is ideal for families. Or learn to sail in Greece with the option of a flotilla sailing holiday.
In Spain, you can choose a gentle cycling holiday in Catalonia. All the trips are self-guided – some are very easy – and your luggage is waiting to meet you each evening at the next hotel on your itinerary.
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