Whilst four holidays a year might seem a little excessive, we can always dream! In this blog Mike will be taking you through his ideal holiday for each season of the year…

Spring: 

For me there is no better start to the year than with a spring ski holiday! It’s all about personal preference here and I am very aware that for some travellers the spring signals time to get ahead of the weather and fly far and wide for an early dose of sun. 

For me, it is all about spring skiing. Each year I head to the Alps in March with a group of close friends as the start of spring commences, for my ski fix for the year. If I’m lucky I might squeeze in another trip during the ski season, but the March ski holiday really is the staple of the ski season for me.

When I lived and worked in the Alps, I would have said that January or February skiing would be my preference, these months typically have better snow, with more chance of days spent off-piste, and perhaps a more Alpine feel with chilly days and warm evenings spent in the chalet. However as a keen skier (well snowboarder), limited to one trip a season rather than the luxury of a whole season, it’s all about spring skiing for me now. 

In recent years I have been to Val d’Isère, Méribel, Morzine and Zermatt. Whilst the snow might be a little slushy come the late afternoon, I enjoy nothing more than a good morning on the pistes and having a late lunch to maximise my time snowboarding when the snow is decent. This is followed by a long lazy lunch on a sunny terrace somewhere, and one or two runs back into the resort or to après. If you think I am missing out on my chance for some spring sun, then you haven’t been to the Alps in the spring time and experienced just how warm the days can be. Yes the tan lines can be interesting but there certainly isn’t a lack of sun.

Summer: 

I would have to say that I really do enjoy a Mediterranean break over the summer. Of course there are more exotic destinations to travel to such as the Seychelles or Tanzania, but for a week’s holiday, the Med is perfect.

I’m fairly fickle in that I enjoy much of the Mediterranean. Two of my favourite choices would have to be either a Greek island spent dipping in and out of the pool, the sea and the tavernas, or a week in the Côte d’Azur. Southern France is full of beauty with its charming weekly markets in the quintessentially French villages, and the chic style of the French Riviera.

My eyes are set on the likes of the Villa Lerina in the Côte d’Azur region of France for a future summer holiday with friends or family. It seems to offer the best of both worlds to me, a touch of privacy and seclusion for a group of eight guests, but just 20 minutes walk away from all the fun and excitement that Cannes has to offer. It also has a swimming pool which will be much needed to cool off from the heat of the summer.

Autumn: 

Time to chase the sun. At the moment, my ideal holiday destination for the autumn time is South Africa. It strikes the ideal balance of beautiful weather and incredible wildlife spotting. Visiting South Africa is fantastic at any time of the year, and it is exceptionally popular for a winter break. But given the choice, I would visit in September or October. 

There are a few reasons for this. Firstly if you are travelling around South Africa visiting different areas and doing different things, then wherever you go, the weather is typically delightful and similar to the late-spring in the UK during late-September and October. Secondly the wildlife is really at its prime. There is whale watching on the Cape, this is typically from July to November, as the whales migrate from cooler waters. The wildlife in the likes of the Kruger National Park and the Madikwe Game Reserve is also sensational. Animal numbers are high during the birthing season and it is an amazing time to be on safari.

It is the ideal time to spend a good fortnight discovering the best of South Africa. Given the choice my itinerary would be to have a few nights discovering Cape Town, before spending some time in The Winelands, enjoying the vineyards, the natural beauty and of course the wines and gourmet dining. Then I would spend a few days on The Garden Route (I have my eye on the Morukuru Beach Lodge – ideal for whale watching), before four or five nights on safari, either in the Kruger or Madikwe, at a lodge such as the Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge.

Winter:

Now if my spring break is skiing, then I would definitely choose some winter sun for the colder months of the year! Whilst I do love a New Year spent with friends, I also love being away over New Year, so given the choice, I would have to say my perfect winter break would be a holiday over this period, post-Christmas, to the Bahamas.

The Caribbean is the ideal place to head to for some warming sunshine during the winter months, for me there is nothing more appealing. But the Bahamas in particular stands out for one good reason. This is Junkanoo. You might not have heard of it but the Junkanoo is a bi-annual event which happens in the Bahamas, a national event which takes part in the early hours of Boxing Day and New Year’s day. 

This colourful street festival which finishes with awards for best costumes, music and more, at about 8:00am, certainly would be a highlight of a stay here. So for some incredible weather, beautiful beaches and a little fun as well, my winter holiday ideal is the Bahamas. For an excursion to remember there are also the swimming pigs of the Bahamas to visit, find out more here.

Whether spring, summer, autumn or winter, if you are looking to book your next holiday to look forward to, do get in touch and we will be very happy to suggest some ideas for you.