I don’t know about you but these past few days of sunshine have got me in the mood for summer. I want to feel the sun on my face as I sip wine after a long hard day at the beach… Christmas is but a distant memory, summer is still just out of reach- it’s time for a midterm mini break.
Realistically, we want to do this on a budget and preferably over a long weekend…so should probably stay in Europe. But fear not with Leeds Bradford an Uber ride away and direct trains to Manchester airport, there are plenty sunny beaches to choose from.
Malta
Beautiful Southern European islands located in the Mediterranean Sea.
How to get there- You can fly direct, from Leeds to Malta with Ryan air for a mere £40! There’s only one airport in Malta and you can get to any of the Maltese islands fairly easily using buses that go from the airport to various ferry terminals. It’ll probably only take around an hour and a half to get to the island of Gozo.
Weather– You’re looking at around 20-26 degrees in April and May. (Maybe even warmer.)
Things to do-
- Beach beach beach. Being in the med Malta and it’s islands are home to some stunning white sand beaches and because it’s not super duper touristy they’ve been maintained beautifully.
- Mdina- the old town is home to some stunning ancient architecture and you’ll find some quaint little coffee shops tucked way in the small winding streets.
To stay- there are some UNREAL AirBnb’s ranging from £30- 130 a night. Obviously, the more you’re willing to pay the more you’re going to get. But those that are a little more spenny are definitely worth it. I’m currently drooling over some beach side penthouses with balconies and rooftop pools so if there’s a group of you going it’d be so cheap to split. If you’re more of a hotel guy/gal there are some cute boutique guest houses dotted around Malta and Gozo for at about £50 a night.
Toulouse, France
La ville rose in the South of France home to good food, wine and sunshine.
How to get there- There are direct flights from Manchester airport for as little as £40 and it takes under two hours! The airport isn’t far from the city centre; you can hop on a tram for about 1.70 euro.
Weather- In April it’s usually around mid 20’s but it can creep up to 30 sometimes- get your sun cream out.
Things to do-
- Okay, so there’s not a beach… but fear not the River Garonne runs through the city. It’s the perfect place to stroll along, picnic and take some crackin’ instas.
- Rugby- Toulouse is big on it’s rugby and it’s defiantly worth getting ticket to see a match, student tickets are around 17 euros? If there’s a big match being played in Toulouse they may erect a big screen in the Place Capitole (the town square) which is great fun.
- The aforementioned town square is the perfect spot for evening drinks. There is one bar called Bar de L’Opera is typically French and a cheap option for a glass of wine and a fab atmosphere. But you could also head towards Pont St Pierre where there are lots of student bars.
Places to stay- like most places it is probably best to stay as central as you can, Toulouse isn’t massively busy with international tourists so not an abundance of hotels. There’s a ton of really, really nice Air Bnb’s all going for around £40 a night- it’s worth bearing in mind that is the price for an entire home but you can get a bed in someones house for a lot cheaper. Or if you’d rather, there is a hostel in the city centre named La Petite Auberge de Saint-Sernin and it costs about £20 a night.
Split, Croatia
Croatia’s second largest city- seaside and stunning.
How to get there- Okay, admittedly this isn’t exactly a budget get away. But you can fly direct from Leeds Bradford Airport and the airport is around a 20 minute taxi ride away from the city centre.
Weather- In March and April it will be bright sunshine and around 20s-30s.
Things to do-
- BEACH- yes there are beaches…however, they’re not sandy but rocky. It works really well if you can blag yourself a big comfortable rock to spread out your towel and sunbathe the day away.
- Island trips- Hvar is a beautiful Croatian island, popular with tourists of all ages. It’s around an hour on the ferry from Split and the ferries are regular. If you have a long time to spend in Croatia, it’s definitely worth staying for a few nights. The night life is amazing, the day times are sunny and you’re surrounded by crystal blue water.
- Great nightlife- the pub crawls are definitely worth it.
To stay- Just because the flights are a little more expensive, doesn’t mean your accommodation has to be too. Split Gusethouse and Hostel is perfect. It’s a small family run hostel/ guesthouse with home cooked breakfast and a fabulous atmosphere. You can bag yourself a bed for £8 a night in a dorm but if there’s a group of you it’s easy to book out the whole room.
There you have it, just a few weekend get away ideas to get your fill of mid term sunshine.
Image 1- https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=malta&safe=off&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=…
Image 2- https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=gozo&safe=off&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=i…
Rest of photos are authors own.