TRAVEL IN THE MONSOON
Sudden rains lend an abundant
beauty to much of South and
Southeast Asia during the
monsoon season, which lasts
roughly from June to September.
Monsoon doesn’t mean solid rain
all day long – showers tend to
come and go, and temperatures
are often still warm. The benefits
of travelling at this time include
lower room rates (sometimes
discounted by half) and fewer
crowds at major sites. Just be sure
to pack waterproofs.
F You can snag excellent deals
to countries such as India and the
Maldives during monsoon times
(skyscanner.net).
BEACH IT IN EUROPE
Many of us have been on a beach
with barely an inch of towel space
in summer, from Mallorca to the
Greek Islands. Italian beaches
heave in August, when the whole
country flocks en masse to the
spiaggia. Go in spring or autumn,
when it’s just about warm enough
to flop on the sand, and you
get the added bonuses of seasonal
colour, as well as ideal conditions
for coastal hiking and biking, and
lower rates.
F Winter blues? There are European
islands where the weather remains
fine long into the darker months- and not just the Canaries. Try
Malta, Madeira or Sicily.
EXPERIENCE POLAR NIGHT
It’s dark, for sure, but the Arctic
North is a magical and
otherworldly place to visit during
midwinter polar night, when the
sun never rises above the horizon
and the sky never brightens
beyond a deep ‘midnight’ blue.
Come for wizard-wand Northern
Light action, husky-sledding and
spectacular icescapes.
F A pre-winter season break to
Iceland in November will beat the
crowds. Aurora activity is frequent
in Reykjavík, a great jumping-off
point. Arctic Adventures runs
a four-hour Northern Lights Explorer
from September to April (£110;
adventures.is).