WEEKEND BREAKS

Modern air travel means a weekend break can reach as far as New York, be a quick trip to Europe or a visit to one of the UK’s main cities. Try and allow yourself 3 or 4 days, not strictly a true ‘weekend’ break, but enough time to fully experience a new town or city.

New York

The city that never sleeps because there’s so much going on. A trip to New York should encompass its famous land marks such as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park as well as take in a serious amount of shopping. New York is a shopper’s paradise and famous for numerous large stores including Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue where you can pick up designer labels and top brands at bargain prices. And what better way to end a day’s sightseeing and shopping than with a famous Broadway musical.

Venice

Venice – city of romance, gondolas, magnificent buildings and miles and miles of waterways. But there’s more to Venice than drifting around it on a gondola devouring a delicious Italian ice-cream. Venice is an intoxicating city of history, and possibly the two most famous landmarks are St Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) and the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners supposedly took their last sigh of freedom before they were taken to the cells.

Geneva

As well as being known as the business centre Europe Geneva plays host to a wonderful array of shopping opportunities and cafes and bars. Visit in winter when it snows and the Christmas markets take place and enjoy a warming cup of gluwein and a bag of delicious roast chestnuts. And don’t leave without sampling a selection of the mouth watering handmade Swiss chocolates.

Berlin

Not a typical weekend break that springs to mind but certainly one worth experiencing. Although Berlin doesn’t have the ‘quaintness’ of many other European cities it offers a fantastic nightlife and the usual array of pavement cafes and restaurants. Famous for the Berlin Wall, that separated East and West Germany for 28 years before it was torn down in 1989, Berlin is an individual city that offers a great chance to escape for the weekend.

Valencia

If you’re contemplating a weekend break to Spain why not try Valencia instead of the usual visits to Madrid or Barcelona? An independent city that lies on the coast, Valencia enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is a lively and upmarket city. During orange season (December to April) the famous Valencian oranges can be seen growing everywhere and a glass of orange juice will most definitely be freshly squeezed. Dine out on paella (the region is a major rice growing area) or tapas, accompanied by a smooth glass of Spanish Rioja wine. If you can visit in March a fantastic experience is the Las Fallas fiesta, when enormous effigies are burnt, amazing firework displays take place and people party all night in the streets as only the Spanish know how!

Edinburgh

A bit closer to home, Edinburgh is a great choice for a weekend break. This happening cosmopolitan city has a European feel to it and trendy cafes and bars are in abundance. If tradition is more your thing there’s the castle, museums and art galleries and some stunning architecture. And if you want to escape the city you can be in the most stunning countryside within half an hour’s drive.

When planning a weekend break do as much research as you can before you go so you don’t waste any time exploring your chosen destination.