Eye On Travel: Sea and the City - Weekend Breaks that have it all!

Budget Flights: Welcome to Barcelona South!

Weekend Breaks used to involve traffic jams, tents and rain. Then came the budget airlines and you could fly somewhere you had never heard of for the price of a pizza. Then the market evolved to take you somewhere you did want to go but charged extra for luggage so we all went to the same places in the same clothes.

So where is the short break market now? It’s wherever you want it to be. Let’s look at some underrated all-rounder cities -weekend breaks you can take without spoiling your main holiday appetite.

Malaga Tapas: Desayuno Ingles? No!

Look past Barcelona and head instead to Costa Del Sol gateway Malaga. With fine beaches it is gaining a reputation as a cultural and gastronomic hotspot. Very hotspot if you go in high summer.

Visit the Picasso Museum, walk the streets of the old town, enjoy frequent modern and traditional tapas breaks then hit La Malagueta beach to cool off in the Med before eating late and drinking much later.

It never really gets cold in Malaga but is best visited outside of the winter. August is ideal if you like saunas.

HOW: Fly from UK airports to Malaga airport and it’s 15mins by train to the City. Stay in the Larios area and everything is within walking distance. Stay for longer and add a day trip to nearby Seville, Cordoba or Granada.

Lisbon Trams: Built before the City

For a shabby chic alternative, try Lisbon, Portugal's capital and one of the best value for money cities in Europe. It has a relaxed, vintage feel across it’s hilly Barrios reached by similarly vintage trams.

Immerse yourself in the art deco buildings, museums and side streets to the background of Fado music. The Atlantic beaches of Cascais and Estoril are 20 minutes away before returning to enjoy fresh seafood and the vibrant and late nightlife of the Barrio Alto.

HOW: Fly from UK airports to Lisbon airport and it’s 20mins by Metro to the centre. Stay close to central Avenida da Liberdade and get a bargain at one of the top end hotels. Transport is rickety, cheap and plentiful. Best seen March-October.

Tenerife: Winter is the new Summer

For an all year round destination, take the longer flight to the Canary Islands and Tenerife. Head to the north east city of Puerto de la Cruz, the original resort area.

Explore the narrow streets and enjoy a genuine tapas trail (try finding that in Playa de las Americas!), sit on one of the traditional black volcanic sand beaches and check out wildlife at the famous Loro Parque.

Away from the centre, walk or cycle along the coast or up in the mountains, visit local vineyards or colonial town La Orotava. Longer excursions include Mount Teide and dolphin/whale watching trips. Or spend the afternoon in a spa before filling up on exceptional sea food washed down with local wine.

HOW: Fly from UK airports to Tenerife South then it’s 90 minutes by road or 30 minutes from Tenerife North (Heathrow only). Stay in one of the many high end spa hotels and feel smug sunbathing during the winter!

Muscat: The Oman, Part I

Dubai has become a popular mid-haul destination for a short break and Abu Dhabi is staking a claim too but to see what Arabia looked like before the builders moved in, try friendly Oman and the low rise capital of Muscat.

You will have to drag yourself away from the sumptuous hotels on the outskirts but a visit to Old Muscat with its buzzing souks is a refreshing world away from the air conditioned shopping malls of the neighbours.

Divers and snorkelers will enjoy the warm, clear and relatively untouched coastline of the Gulf of Oman whilst sand enthusiasts can take a trip into the desert to experience the Bedouin lifestyle (apart from the 4X4 bit) in the better than it sounds Empty Quarter.

Empty Quarter? No, it’s full of sand

HOW: Fly direct from Heathrow to Muscat or via one of the Middle East hubs from other UK airports. Stay in comfort in one of the top hotels with impeccable service. Inexpensive taxis or organised excursions can be arranged and probably a camel ride if you must. Visit any time outside of the summer when the country turns into a giant outdoor kiln.

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website.

For tailor made packages, special requests or just some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. All holidays that I arrange are ABTA/ATOL protected.

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