Where to go on holiday in June

holidays June 2012 Where to go in June Where to go on holiday in June

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

June is one of the best months of the year to take a holiday. The weather in the Mediterranean is arguably at its best, with long sunny days, warm seas and gentle breezes. The scorching heat of July and August has yet to arrive.

Best of all, prices are absurdly low. Travel companies are operating at full capacity, yet the absence of school holidays means that prices must be slashed in order to get bums on aircraft seats, so you can pick up some really cheap holidays in June 2012.

It is not just the Med that is cheap at this time of year. June is also a great time of year to visit the Caribbean – this period between Easter and the summer holidays is marked by superb weather and bargain deals. Here’s where to go on holiday in June.

Beach holidays in June cheap holidays in June 2012

Mediterranean beach holidays in June

Families on a budget can rent a self-catering apartment in a car-free holiday village complete with aqua parks and slides, golf courses, farms and free kids clubs. Belle Dune in Normandy is just an hour’s drive from Calais, with more options across France and Spain.

One of the best ways to enjoy the Med is in your own rented villa, many of which have private pools. We particularly like Catalonia for fishing villages, pretty coves and mountains, and Paxos, an authentic and unspoilt Greek island. Gozo is another island that oozes charm.

You’ll find great-value villas and cottages, many with private pools, on the Atlantic coast of France – less expensive than more popular and crowded regions of the country. North Cyprus is also great value, as it’s outside the Eurozone. It is home to some excellent hotels including the Pia Bella near Kyrenia.

If you want gorgeous sandy beaches, head to Spain’s Costa de la Luz or the French island of Corsica. The Balaerics may be best known for cheap package holidays but they are also wonderful islands for villa holidays, particularly Mallorca and Ibiza. For secluded beaches and quiet resorts, check out the smaller island of Menorca for family villa holidays. Find more destinations in Spain.

To relax in the countryside and have a truly authentic experience, head to Le Marche, an area of Italy all too often overlooked by tourists. Or head south to Puglia where you can stay in a five-star masseria or one of these luxury self-catering trulli with pools.

Also in Italy the Amalfi Coast has some superb hotels, particularly in the glorious resort of Sorrento. We also love Umbria – a beautiful region boasting great hotels and self-catering accommodation. Find more Italian holiday destinations.

We heartily recommend the Sani Resort on a spectacular stretch of beach on mainland Greece, while Crete which has some charming houses to rent and great hotels including the stylish contemporary Daios Cove. The Aegean coast of Turkey boasts many outstanding boutique hotels, or why not set sail on a gulet cruise.

The Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia have great beaches: we like Forte Village Resort in Sardinia – which is great for families and sporty couples – and Sir Rocco Forte’s Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in Sicily.

Mallorca is at its best in June, before the summer crowds descend. This is a great time to explore the capital, Palma. Stay at the beautiful Castillo Hotel Son Vida. If money is no object, splash out on a luxury staffed villa.

Although not in the Med, the Italian Lakes do have great beaches along with stunning mountain scenery and are particularly good in June. Find more holiday ideas in Italy.

For something completely different, rent a funky customised campervan to explore Spain, Italy, Germany or Holland.

UK holidays in June

June can be a marvellous time to discover the UK – with long hours of daylight and without the crowds of the school summer holidays. Head to the Isle of Wight to relive those wonderful holidays of your childhood, or rent a cottage in the Cotswolds, Devon or Cornwall, where we recommend Hawke’s Point self-catering apartments in beautiful St Ives. You’ll find a great selection of well-priced cottage holidays at cottages4you.

The Jurassic Coast of Dorset – where it’s not uncommon to unearth prehistoric fossils – is a great destination, frequently overlooked. We recommend Countryside & Coastal B&Bs – an excellent collection of good-value places to stay. For a taste of the tropics off the coast of Cornwall, try the Scilly Isles where our recommended place to stay is the Star Castle Hotel.

Try renting a boat to explore some of the beautiful rivers and canals that criss-cross the UK. One option is the Norfolk Broads – you can explore 250 miles of connected waterways, cruising through reed marshes, meadows and woodland without a single lock to navigate. Moor beside riverside pubs and restaurants, villages and market towns.

If you’re travelling with a group of 12 or more, rent a large house where you can hold your own house party. We recommend The Big Domain which has a superb collection of houses, villas and chalets in the UK and overseas. See the latest special offers.

June is a great month to visit Edinburgh, one of the UK’s most beautiful cities. Take the train and stay at one of these four popular hotels in great central locations. You can also find a wide range of short breaks in Scotland including whisky tours on Islay, and the chance to see Minke Whales, otters, seals, porpoises on a Mull Wildlife Experience.

Love the idea of camping but don’t want the discomfort? Then Feather Down Farms might be for you with their stylish large fixed tents (think wood floors, proper beds, wood-burning stove) in 20 locations on real working farms.

Long haul holiday ideas June

In Africa, Botswana is great for game viewing yet prices are sensible as it’s not yet peak season. June is also a good month for visiting Kenya and Namibia, though you should avoid the Western Cape which can be distinctly wintry. See a full pick of the best African holidays.

In the Caribbean you’ll find excellent weather and low prices before the school summer holidays begin. Head to Barbados for ritzy hotels, or slow the pace in the one of the small charming islands such as Tobago and Grenada. Other top chill-out spots include the Cayman Islands. Also consider renting a luxury Caribbean villa. See our pick of the best Caribbean holidays.

Bermuda is not – as many people assume – in the Caribbean or even in the Tropics. It’s in the mid-Atlantic and the best time to visit is our summer when you can enjoy long lazy days on pink sand beaches, warmed by endless sunshine with opportunities to play golf or take boat trips. We recommend staying at Cambridge Beaches or the family-friendly Fairmont Southampton.

June is a great time to visit the Canadian Rockies. You can explore this glorious region on a fly-drive holiday or ride the Rocky Mountaineer, one of the world’s great train journeys. Or go east to explore beautiful Québec and Ontario. Find more holiday ideas and special offers to Canada.

In Asia, this is a good time to visit the orangutans in Borneo or chill out on a beach, perhaps at the superb Tanjong Jara Resort in Malaysia or on the laid-back Thai island of Koh Samui, which is ideal for beach holidays in June.

It’s a good month to visit Japan. You might get showers in Tokyo but you’ll find glorious weather in the northern island of Hokkaido. With the snow melting in warm sunshine, stunning countryside and wildlife is revealed. Find more Japan holiday ideas.

It’s also a good time to visit the Galapagos Islands – we recommend a luxury small ship cruise on the MC Athala or MV Eclipse. Discover more expedition cruises.

In May and June 2012, England’s rugby team embark on a Test tour of South Africa – a hosted tour is a perfect way to combine a few matches with sightseeing.

Activity holidays in June

June is a great month for an activity holiday as the weather is fine, but not too humid. We recommend a cycling holiday in France, in particular this 8-night Secret Provence cycling tour.

One of the best ways to experience the countryside of Europe is on a hotel-to-hotel walking holiday. As you hike stunning coastal trails such as the Costa Vicentina in Portugal and the Lycian Way in Turkey, your luggage is transported to your next overnight stop, where you stay in a charming owner-run hotel or inn. In France, this selection of walking breaks takes in Normandy, Picardy, The Loire, Charente and Burgundy.

June is also good for biking. In Catalonia we recommend a self-guided cycling holiday – choose from a great selection of routes from easy to moderate.

Many people neglect the Alps in summer, regarding them as only for skiing. In fact, they are beautiful and great value, too. Stay lakeside at Annecy or Evian, or hit the mountains in Les Deux Alpes. This is also a great time of year to get a deal at The Lodge, Verbier, a luxury chalet owned by Sir Richard Branson.

Unleash your inner cowboy on a ranch holiday in North America, take a cultural walking tour with like-minded people.

Or indulge your mind and body on a relaxing, detoxing spa holiday in the South of France or Andalucia. Or you could stretch to a yoga holiday in a beautiful Mediterranean setting.

If you enjoy the freedom of the open seas, try your hand at a sailing holiday. My fellow editor David Wickers is an expert on sailing and cruising. See his selection of best sailing holidays.

Try something different

Because June is the month of midsummer it’s a great time to head north to enjoy long sunny days – if you go far enough you can experience the wonder of the midnight sun.

Iceland is especially beautiful, a remarkable country of mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and geysers. Choose from these fly-drive tours and see the latest special offers.

Explore Europe’s greatest rivers – including the Rhine and the Danube – on an elegant river cruise. Or take a short break in Germany, exploring the buzzing streets of Berlin or charming Cologne.

For the ultimate “go north” experience, we recommend an Arctic cruise. Not just any old cruise in a big floating gin palace, but a small expedition cruise that can get into small ports, discover polar bears, go kayaking with seals and be awed by the majestic icebergs.

In Northern France, you can take an emotional battlefield tour to learn about the First and Second World Wars. A powerful and fascinating experience. Or head a few miles past Calais to the Auberge d’Inxent, a gorgeous simple inn with great food set in rolling countryside.

If you’re travelling alone and like to meet others, try a luxury coach tour of Europe – it’s a handy way to mop up a lot of sights in a short period of time, plus it’s great value and you avoid airports.

You could hop across the Channel to visit about Monet’s Garden in Giverny. Try a four-day escorted tour.

Rail travel is even better – relaxing, scenic and green. In Northern Spain you can hop aboard some great state-owned luxury trains such as the Transcantábrico and La Robla. Explore a full selection of luxury rail holidays.

Take a guided tour of the Great Houses of England, one of a large selection of cultural tours of Britain led by an expert in art, music or architecture. Or get together with friends or family to rent a chateau in France.

If money is tight this year, why not book a homestay or rent an apartment from a local using a great new website, Wimdu. You can find places to stay from just £26 a night in thousands of cities including London, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Istanbul and New York.

Or take a short hop across the Channel to Camping Duinrell where you can rent a tent or mobile home close to a gorgeous sandy beach. It’s located just 30 miles from the car ferry terminal at Hook of Holland and has an array of facilities including swimming pools, crazy golf, scuba diving, pedalos and a climbing wall. And there is also a water park next door.

Family holidays in June

If you’re looking for something more family-friendly please visit our new site, 101 Family Holidays. It is packed full of great ideas for every budget, in the UK, Europe and further afield, selected by our expert editors Will and Sally Gray.

Try our holiday quiz

If you’re still stuck for ideas, why not try our fun holiday quiz. Answer 10 easy questions like the one below to find out what kind of holidaymaker you are, and get personalised travel recommendations. Try the quiz now.