INSPIRATION • June 2019
Where to go in July
From beachy islands to slick cities, travel writer Alicia Miller offers six inspirational ideas on how best to spend your summer holidays
Ibiza, Spain
The beach clubs are buzzing, the club nights are in full swing and the sunsets match the colour of the cocktails – Ibiza was made for summer. July is high season, but there are plenty of sleepy corners on those sun-drenched 28°C days. Hire a car and scoot into the hilly interior; do breakfast and yoga at bohemian Aiyanna Ibiza in the quiet southeast, and rifle through linens at the weekly Hippy Market Punta Arabi. Cala Xarraca beach is the secluded choice for snorkellers, but if you’d rather join the partygoers, make for Cala Jondal and sand-side restaurant/club Blue Marlin.
Dream flight: Take BA2726 from Gatwick at 20:35 on Friday and arrive into Ibiza at 23:55.
Sardinia, Italy
If you feel a beach break calling, look no further than the luminescent waters and creamy-hued beaches of Sardinia this July. Cagliari, the island’s medieval capital, is your photogenic jumping-off point for the silky strands that line the west and south coasts. It may be high season, but your fellow holidaymakers are here for good reason: it’s warm and sunny, the sea averages 23°C, and the lazy alfresco lunches feature in-season juicy lobster.
Dream flight: Take BA2616 from Gatwick at 15:45 on Friday and arrive into Cagliari at 19:25.
Toronto, Canada
Set on the blue expanse of Lake Ontario, Toronto in the summer combines big-city thrills with outdoorsy fun. Wander the cobbled streets of the historic Distillery District, packed with shops; peer down from a 356-metre outdoor ledge that hangs off the CN Tower; hop between funky fusion restaurants in Chinatown, and explore the Frank Gehry-designed Art Gallery of Ontario. Then escape into the great Canadian wilderness – jump on a boat to Toronto Islands, or go hiking in the Don River valley.
Dream flight: Take BA0099 from Heathrow at 16:55 on Friday and arrive into Toronto at 19:45.
Boston, USA
Crowds rush to New England in autumn to catch the state’s changing leaves, but they’re missing out on Boston's stellar summers with its slap-up seafood haunts and boardwalk-lined beaches. At this time of year, the famed Red Sox are filling the stands at Fenway Park, Harvard tours whisk you through a quiet campus, and the city’s whale-watching season peaks as humpbacks splash offshore. Take off on a half-day trip to Revere Beach, then return to down oysters in JFK’s old booth at Union Oyster House.
Dream flight: Take BA0215 from Heathrow at 18:30 on Friday and arrive into Boston at 21:00.
Crete, Greece
No rain and no worries, Crete is a sun-seeker's paradise in July, when ray-soaked highs reach averages of 29°C. Now’s the prime time to unwind on the island’s fine beaches – Balos is a classic, white-sand winner – and take advantage of the 20:30 sunsets. Enjoy long cocktail hours in beachside tavernas, or toes-in-sand octopus dinners right by the surf. Fancy a break from the lounger? Spend the cooler early morning hours exploring the ruins at Knossos, a Bronze Age site said to be Europe’s oldest city.
Dream flight: Take BA0660 from Heathrow at 07:25 on Saturday and arrive into Chania at 13:25.
Vienna, Austria
With its glorious sun-filled 27°C days and relatively peaceful streets (the locals are away on holiday) you’ll love Vienna in July. Green spaces around the city – from walkers’ favourite Stadtpark to bike-friendly Prater – will entice you away from the beautiful baroque centre, especially at night, when free film screenings take over their leafy environs. By day, cool off with iced apricot ‘dumplings’ from Tichy, one of Vienna’s many popular ice-cream shops, and go swimming in the Danube or at an outdoor lido.
Dream flight: Take BA0706 from Heathrow at 19:15 on Friday and arrive into Vienna at 22:30.
To book your dream ticket with British Airways, click here
This article has been tagged Destination, Travel Tips
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