Summer holidays should be the centrepiece of anyone's travel calendar. It's a time to unwind, relax, and enjoy the start of the summer sunshine. Here are some destinations that will deliver an early-summer experience to savour.
Spain's most southerly coast is the perfect spot to unroll a beach mat and start to soak up some serious rays. July is hot (but not yet scorching), and rain is hardly a factor, and resorts like Marbella or Fuengirola won't be crammed with mid-summer vacationers. But it's the extras that really make Andalucia special. Visitors can base themselves in a villa on the coast, and head to magical cities like Granada or Seville. There are plenty of exceptional golf courses to tackle, as well as family attractions like Tivoli World of Fuengirola's BioParc-providing appeal for kids and grown-ups alike.
The rides of Disney World Florida are always an enticing option for holidaymakers, and they could well be at their best in July. The weather is hot, so pack light clothes. But if you book early or mid-July breaks, the queues for rides, shows, and food will be much shorter than peak season, and vacation rentals should be affordable as well. If Disney isn't exciting, Florida offers more besides. From the beaches near Naples to Miami's mix of architecture, nightlife, and coastal relaxation, the Sunshine State is easily among the best destinations for a holiday in July.
Greece will never go out of fashion as an early summer destination. The Aegean island of Rhodes has a huge selection of vacation rentals to choose from, thousands of years of history, nightlife hotspots like Faliraki, and windswept beaches like Prasonisi (one of Europe's biggest windsurfing centres). It's the kind of island where visitors can hike in remote mountains, let their hair down with hedonistic excess, or zone out and let time pass by with nothing to disturb them.
When July rolls around, not everyone thinks instantly of the beach. For others, early summer is a great opportunity to unpack their city guides and maps, and organise some urban exploration. If that sounds appealing, Paris July holidays will be ideal. The city is famous for its galleries, museums, churches, and astonishing food, but it really shines in July. Bastille Day is the city's annual jamboree, with street parties aplenty, the Tour de France streams into town at the end of the month, and appealing outdoor events multiply, such as the open air cinema in the Parc de la Villette.
