Lifestyle, food and drink, and our family life and travel adventures.
It is finally April; the clocks have sprung forward, it is officially spring, and whilst the weather may be more January/winter wonderland right now it will not be long until we are enjoying warmer weather and the beautiful days of spring (fingers crossed anyway).
Around this time of year, I always start thinking about whether we’ll go on a summer holiday this year, if we haven’t already got one booked in, and the incredibly dragged-out winter we’ve been having is making that longing for one even stronger.
Summer days are thankfully now right around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to start planning your summer holiday. I always find that planning exciting stuff really cheers me up and having something to look forward to, especially if I’m feeling a bit down, really helps me to think positively and to just keep going. We tend to not be ones to book a holiday far in advance, because we just don’t know where we’ll be, plus I love booking something only a few months before so we can get excited about it straight away.
I’ve been thinking about where I’d really love to go with my family, and I know Ava has been asking all year when we can go back to one place in particular, so I thought I would write about the short-haul destinations that I would love to visit this year with my family.
After writing my Dubrovnik post recently I am desperate to go to Croatia and experience all it has to offer. I’ve always wanted to go, but I’d kind of forgotten over the last few years, but now it is high on my list again. It looks like such a beautiful place, with beautiful beaches and stunning historic cities to walk around.
We went with family to the Algarve in Portugal last year and had a great holiday. It was also part of our honeymoon a few years ago, when we went to a few different places. I adored Porto and am longing to go back (ideally without children this time!), it’s such a beautiful city and we stayed at a gorgeous apartment with the cutest little balcony. It was so lovely sitting outside at the little table and chairs, after Ava had gone to bed, with a glass of wine (or Port!) and reminiscing on our day. Porto is also great because it has a few gorgeous beaches just out of the city, so you have the best of both worlds.
I’d love another beach holiday in Portugal too. Ava loved it, and it’s great for kids. We stayed in a villa last year, which was perfect with lots of us there, although I think I’d probably choose a hotel stay if it was just the three of us, for convenience and price.
We spent a few weeks in Spain with Ava for our honeymoon, and she is absolutely desperate to go back. She has decided that she is part-Spanish and speaks ‘Spanish’ constantly (it’s 99% absolute gibberish, but she can say a few things!). She hasn’t stopped asking me when we can go to Spain again, and I don’t blame her at all. We had a brilliant time there, and I’d love to revisit many of the places we went to, as well as see some others.
I really want to go back to Seville; we had a brilliant time there and it’s a beautiful city, and the wine region of Logrono is top of my list too – it’s perfect for wandering around and enjoying great food and drink. San Sebastian is a place I really want to go back to as well; the lovely streets to stroll around, stopping for some pintxos and cava, as well as having a gorgeous beach right there – it’s got it all. I would love another beach holiday in Spain too – there are loads of great destinations, perfect for a family holiday – check them out here.
I’ve longed to go to a Greek island (or several) for years now. The whitewashed buildings against the backdrop of the crystal clear, aqua-toned waters appeal to me so much. I am constantly teased on Instagram with all of the stunning pictures of Santorini – it’s an Instagram lover’s dream destination and always, always looks beautiful. I think I would probably prefer to go there without Ava, so it’s very unlikely to happen this year, but I hope I can make it happen someday soon.
I’d also really love to go back to Paleokastritsa in Corfu – I went there on holiday with my boyfriend as a teenager and had the best time. It was such a beautiful little place, with incredible blue-green waters and amazing fresh seafood at restaurants looking out over the sea, and I’d love to see what it’s like now – I really hope it hasn’t changed too much.
Do you have a family holiday planned this year? Tell me where you’re going and make me jealous!
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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We are off to Spain, well Majorca next month simply due to it being such a short flight time. Can’t wait! Would love to visit Croatia next I think X
Welcome to Slovenia also.
Simply fun and relaxing to have the best vacation in your life.