A super Sicily sale
VILLA specialist Sicily4u is offering up to 20 per cent off early Med holidays. Among the properties on its books is Villa Belmonte, on the slopes of Mount Etna.
Sleeping six, the former farmhouse near Taormina has sea views and an infinity pool.
A week’s self-catering in April or May is from £1,089 in total, or £182pp, excluding flights. See sicily4u.co.uk.
IS it spring yet? Nearly. In a year when February has five Saturdays and next month only four, March has to work harder to impress us. Milestones such as St David’s Day and the spring equinox are looming and here are some great suggestions for a March break.
Tulip time Amsterdam
The flowering of the tulip fields brings colour both to the Dutch fields and to the cheeks of thousands of British visitors, many of whom will be leaving the UK for the first time in 2020.
And this year you can get to those tulip fields in the most convenient, environmentally friendly way, with Eurostar’s rail service to Amsterdam about to become smoother, avoiding the need to change trains and do passport checks at Brussels on the return leg.
The displays at Keukenhof, near Amsterdam “the most beautiful spring garden in the world” open on March 21 and fire the starting gun on the glorious tulip season.
A four night rail-based Dutch itinerary which includes two nights in Amsterdam and two nights in Delft is available from £549. See tailormaderail.com. A dedicated bus service connects Amsterdam station with Keukenhof. See keukenhof.nl.
Cheap thrills Orlando
The theme park capital of the world is recognised as one of the best value long-haul getaways for winter and early spring sun.
This year it has new attractions including Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a live-action stunt show the Bourne Stuntacular at Universal Studios, the Ice Breaker ride with the steepest vertical drop in Florida at Seaworld Orlando, and the World’s Tallest Slingshot Ride at ICON Park. A seven night break at the Rosen Inn, with flights from Gatwick, costs from £555pp, room only. See Myamericaholiday.co.uk.
Snow go Lapland – and Alp land
March is often one of the best months for skiing here. And it is still the Northern Lights season, which in Finland starts in mid-august and ends in early April. In Lapland there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied.
Cross country skiing is big, as is sauna. In Finland, Harriniva Hotels’ Jeris property has launched its own Arctic Sauna World on the banks of Lake Jeris, with five different saunas, and an ice hole swimming area – harriniva.fi.
You don’t have to climb into the mountains to find snow. At the Levi ski resort near Kittilä, seven nights half board, with flights, costs £799pp in March. See inghams.co.uk.
If you prefer the Alps there are some good bargains in March. Save 30 percent on accommodation at popular chalet-style apartments Le Hameau de la Sapiniere in Les Menuires, in the Three Valleys ski area.
A self-drive package for seven nights from March 28 in a four person apartment plus Eurotunnel crossing costs £229pp. See ernalow.co.uk.
Blossom nation Mallorca and Andalusia
There may still be snow on the high ground of Europe but further south there is a different kind of white stuff on the orange and almond trees. The sweet-smelling and delicate blossoms are a real harbinger of warmer times. On the island of Mallorca the fields are covered in powder-puff explosions and the gardens on the island are entering their best state, particularly at Raixa and Alfaiba, and the hilltop garden of Sa Torre Cega.
A six-day tour of the gardens of Mallorca departs on March 22 and includes return flights, accommodation, coach travel and some meals. See brightwaterholidays.com.
There is even more blossom on the Spanish mainland in Andalusia, home of Seville oranges. Not far from Seville is the immaculate white town of Vejer de la Frontera, its labyrinthine old quarter originally built by Moors.
Here a new hamman, or Turkish bath, has just been opened by the Califa Group, a collection of boutique hotels and self-catering Califa Casas, houses with wonderful architecture and great views. Vejer’s Las Palmeras del Califa has a two for one deal in March: stay four nights and pay