Winning tip: Glasgow
Our family trip to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games exceeded our expectations. From boat trips on the Clyde to football on Glasgow Green and the museums of Kelvingrove, there was lots to do at a reasonable cost. People were friendly and we found a great restaurant called the Bothy, where the kids ate for free. Its cullen skink soup was delicious.
foxthecox
Thingvellir, Iceand
A first visit to Iceland offered harsh beauty at every turn, with a dusting of snow highlighting every detail; glacial lagoons with stunning blue icebergs; black sand beaches and pounding waves; and glaciers, geysers and bubbling hot springs. We’re already planning a return visit.
ID2712813
Tromsø, Norway
This Arctic Circle city offers a plethora of trips for anyone dreaming of the northern lights: from an evening in a cosy fishing hut on the edge of a beautiful fjord to chasing the elusive lights by van or snowmobile. Take a bus to the Tromsø Museum then follow the path back towards the city. The well-lit track, popular with walkers and cross-country skiers is reasonably quiet at night and a good, free place from where you may also be lucky enough to see the aurora borealis.
thebluesheep
Marseille, France
It was so easy to get the train from London to Marseille, changing just once, in Lille, that my young daughter and I arrived totally stress-free and already in holiday mood. Marseille has something for everyone – great eating places (try the fish soups), swimmable waters and soft sandy beaches, plus a pretty old town to lose yourself in. Next year I hear the train times will be even faster. Allez!
TheCapeCruiser
Canoeing in the south of France
The south of France is well-known for food, mountains and castles. And you can get all of those while canoeing the Cèze, Gardon, Ardèche and many more wonderful rivers. Our family of four went with a small company, which meant our guide was also our driver and cook. We canoed under Roman aqueducts and a huge natural arch, and stayed in a castle and a former convent, all in eight days.
greenrivercanoes.com
Marco Bertamini
Mountain biking in Châtel, France
Nervous and excited in equal measure, we were keen to take on the Châtel mountains on bikes. There is a grading system, but what the French class as a green mountain bike run may be rather different from the UK version. Resort staff are helpful and the views make up for any nerves. It is great to see the Alps in summer, breathtaking and green. There’s amazing food, wine and markets – and spa facilities for a day off from pedalling.
ID5979331
Tordi Sagar, India
Venture away from the well-trodden golden triangle on a Jeep safari south from Jaipur, through countryside to the village of Tordi Sagar. You can sit among the motorbiking Rajasthani farmers, savouring piping hot chai during a spectacular sunset. At the nearby lake you can begin to reflect and digest the real India, away from the tourist trail.
Caroline Buckley
Caye Caulker, Belize
“Go slow” is the motto and true feel of Caye Caulker island in Belize. This is laid-back Caribbean bliss at its best, without any kind of mass holiday resort feel, and with opportunities for sea adventures. Yuma’s House, a beautiful, peaceful hostel with dorms and private rooms is just 100 metres from the water taxi port. During lobster season, which begins in June, a three-course lobster dinner costs around £10. Other cafes sell barbecued jerk chicken with bottomless rum punch for similar prices. Snorkelling tours to the barrier reef, with nurse sharks, loggerhead turtles and giant rays, cost about £45 including lunch.
raggamuffintours.com
nomadwarrior
Tarquinia, Italy
The Palazzo Vitelleschi houses one of the finest museums of Etruscan art in Italy, and it is only a short distance (by car or bus) from the Mecropolis of Monterozzi, where 19 painted tombs are open to the public. About 6,000 tombs have been unearthed on this site, of which 140 are painted with frescoes depicting life in the seventh century BC, with scenes of hunting and fishing, dancing and dining. Tarquinia is 90km north-west of Rome, within sight of the sea. It is in the heart of Etruria, and numerous other sites, such as Norchia and Vulci, are exciting to visit. It is a fine medieval town, and the world of the Etruscans makes a refreshing break from the heat of Rome.
RPGIBBS
Riga, Latvia
My friends and I from our local choir had an amazing time in Riga at the World Choir Games (known as the Olympic Games of singing). The idea that singing brings people together came true for us. Inspired by the setting, atmosphere, and the friendliness of the people, we met locals and tourists alike. The architectural beauty of the city created an uplifting feeling and Riga’s reputation as the Paris of the North (at half the price) is also justified - it is easy on the eye with open-air cafes and views of the glistening Baltic at every turn.
funinfinland
