The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
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one of the mildest corners of the country just above the Costa Blanca. We took off from a wet, cold, grey Stansted and flew over hundreds of miles of solid cloud, until – just south of the Pyrenees – the sky gloriously cleared. There, far below, was the Spanish coast and the dazzling reflections of sun on sea.
Driving into the city we passed almond groves in full blossom, and orange trees heavy with fruit. The temperature wasn’t quite back to what I had experienced in Seville in
October – but it was nudging 68F (20C), not far off what you might expect from an English summer’s day.
True, there was a freshness in the air, but you could still sit outside and have lunch bathed in warm sunshine. And if it had clouded over, in a city there are always plenty of ways in which to amuse yourself.
It was a reminder that winter-sun holidays needn’t just be about engineering a sudden, temporary switch to a subtropical paradise. Those Caribbean and Indian Ocean beaches are wonderful, of course. But they are a long way away, you have to negotiate jet lag both on arrival and on your return, and they aren’t exactly cheap.
In landlocked Seville or in
Valencia – which has its own sandy beaches – you can get a different type of winter respite. In fact it is very similar to the way the Victorians approached such things. They didn’t go to Spain much on holiday, of course. For them, Nice was the most popular Mediterranean resort and peak season there was not scorching summer, but the mild winter.
Victorian sun-seekers appreciated that they might suffer the odd chilly, rainy day, but having the luxury of being able to stay for a few weeks rather than only a few days, they also knew that they would see plenty of clear, bright skies.
Valencia’s winter climate is significantly better than that of the French Riviera. I was relatively lucky this week, but only by a couple of degrees. According to the long-term climate statistics, the average daily peak for February is 61F (16C), with about six hours of sunshine. I notice, too, that the forecast for the coming few days is for similar temperatures and rather more sun – and if you prefer the idea of a trip to Seville, the climate averages and this week’s forecast are similar to Valencia’s.
You can’t really expect Caribbeanstyle beach weather after a flight lasting only a couple of hours and costing about £50 each way. But what you can expect by heading to southern Spain at this time of year is an early taste of spring – lots of warmth and light, low-season prices, restaurants and sights free of other tourists, and a timely reminder that summer is on its way.
I would like to cruise the Norwegian fjords on a small, luxurious boat, taking in iconic towns/cities along the way, with educational talks.
SARAH RAFFETY
Dear Sarah
Silversea (silversea.com) has a 14-day voyage from London to Copenhagen on June 22 aboard Silver Wind (less than 300 passengers) and goes to the North Cape. Prices start at £6,700pp excluding flights.
Seabourn (seabourn.com) has two Norwegian fjords cruises this summer on Seabourn Ovation (600 passengers). A June 7 departure features talks with the historian Gerry McCormack. World affairs expert Michael Teitelbaum will speak on the July 6 departure. The cruises last 15 and 14 days, from £5,299 and £6,999pp respectively, excl flights.
Hurtigruten (hurtigruten.co.uk) has daily sailings from Bergen to Kirkenes and back, and five vessels that hold just 590 passengers and carry a team of experts who lecture on nature, wildlife, local culture and more. The ships are not luxurious but they are comfortable. A 12-day Classic Round Voyage on MS Richard With departing July 25 costs from £2,370pp (inc return flights from London if booked by March 31). A one-way cruise is also available.
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