The Sunday Times - UK (2022-04-24)

The Sunday Times April 24, 2022 11

Travel Plan ahead

day passes and seven nights

at a three-star hotel from

£275pp; September 15-22

(innerstatefestival.com). Fly

to Tirana from £66pp one way

or to Corfu from £66pp one

way (britishairways.com),

from where the festival offers

boat and bus transfers

BARCELONA BEATS

For the past 15 years the

seafront site of Parc del Forum

in Barcelona has hosted some

of pop’s biggest stars for the

Primavera Sound festival. Over

two weekends this June, Nick

Cave and the Bad Seeds, the

Strokes and Gorillaz will follow

that tradition. The main stage

gets going in the early evening,

leaving days free to explore or

dip into a dozen different

venues — including one by a

bridge over the marina —

which host smaller gigs and

DJ sets. El Maresme Forum

is the closest station to Parc

del Forum and after the

metro closes there is a

shuttle bus to Plaça de

Catalunya (£1.65).

Details Tickets are sold

out but there is a waiting

list for returns from

£100pp per day

or £204pp for three

days; June 2-4 and 9-11,

(primaverasound.com/

en/barcelona). Fly to

Barcelona from

£26.99pp one way

(easyjet.com)

Beach beats at La Route

du Rock in St Malo, left;

festivalgoers at

Primavera Sound in

Barcelona, below

has wellness at its heart. Yoga,

meditation, breathwork,

barre, running, swimming and

the martial art of qigong are

among the activities and talks,

top chefs, healers and master

mixologists are promised. A

classy line-up includes Laura

Mvula, Caribou and George the

Poet. Dhermi, in the

southwest, is a four-hour drive

from Tirana and it’s worth

hiring a car to explore

Albania’s so-called Riviera and

mountains. If you don’t want

to drive, fly to Corfu and arrive

by boat and bus.

Details Tickets are sold

with accommodation. Seven-

→Continued from page 9

ROCK OUT AT A

FRENCH FORTRESS

Popular with Brits for its

easy access by ferry from

Portsmouth and friendly vibe,

La Route du Rock in St Malo

is a veteran rock fest that

features up-and-coming

UK and US acts. It’s centred

on Fort de Saint Père, a

spectacular castle by a sandy

beach with a seawater

swimming pool. Music starts

on the beach stage in the

afternoon, followed by gigs at

Palais du Grand Large before

the two main stages on the

ramparts take turns to host

acts into the night. Spend

days exploring the walled

city of St Malo with its

Roman and gothic

architecture or stroll to the

quieter, supervised Plage

du Sillon for sunbathing and

water sports.

Details Tickets are yet to go

on sale, but expect to pay

£40pp for day tickets and

£100pp for three days;

August 17-20

(laroutedurock.com).

Portsmouth-St Malo ferry

crossing for car and two

passengers from £525

(brittany-ferries.co.uk)

MUSIC AND MEDITATION

IN ALBANIA

A drop in the price of direct

flights has helped to put

Albania, at last, on the festival

map. A dozen events this

summer take advantage of the

country’s outstanding unspoilt

beaches, among them the

debut of Inner State, which

The two stages

on the ramparts

take turns to

host acts into

the night

two weekend

Cave and the

Strokes and G

that tradition

gets going in

leaving days

dip into a do

vvenues — inc

bridge over

which host

DJ sets. El

is the clos

del Forum

metro clo

shuttle bu

Cataluny

Details T

out but

list for r

£100pp

or £20 4

days; J

(prima

en/ba

Barce

£26.9 9

(easyjet.co

JULIEN NEDELEC; DESIGN PICS, DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE/ALAMY