Sensational Sunshine Destinations
With Britain’s somewhat disappointing weather, most holidaymakers want to make the most of activities in places with pleasant weather and plenty of sunshine. Of course, most of the time you want a destination experiencing their summer, to benefit from longer days spent sightseeing and visiting attractions. In the northern hemisphere this of course gives peak holiday periods between May and September, whereas in the southern hemisphere the seasons are reversed and summertime occurs between November and February.
Top Sunshine Destinations
If you strictly follow the average daily hours of sunshine as a measure, North Africa, and Nevada and Arizona in the United States top the world list with around 10-11 hours of sunshine per day. These areas also experience extremely high temperatures and a visit there is not for the faint-hearted if the destination doesn’t offer air-conditioning.
Sun and sea make a great combination for a holiday destination and many coastal resorts are geared for tourism to promote their unique properties. Coral reefs with pink sand in Bermuda would offer a different holiday experience to those of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Scuba diving in the Seychelles will differ wildly from taking a dive in a Norwegian Fjord. Coastlines with cliffs and mountains in the Pacific Ocean like Hawaii will take your breath away just as much as a similar topography in Turkey in the Aegean Sea. The French Riviera on the Mediterranean and Dubai in the Arabian Gulf epitomise style, class and opulence but will present these elements with individual flair. Fine dining, exquisite hotels and world class couture shopping can sit not too far from open markets, craft stalls and family run cafes if you take a day trip from your base location.
Water Sports & Activities
Fishing, boating and traditional ways of life on the water contrast greatly with high-energy water sports such as water-skiing, jet-skiing, hang-gliding, motor boating and beaches with a party culture. Even on islands like Ibiza, Ios or Saint Lucia, old and new sit side by side offering spectacular scenery and architecture worthy of a visit. Old fortifications and castles can often be found, testament to the history of a country as a trader or holding back invaders from long ago.
Inland Activities
Inland, you can get a fantastic sun holidays at a lakeside resort, perhaps in the Alps in Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Mountains of course, at the height of summer offer tranquillity, excellent air quality and a peaceful escape from city life. Rivers can be fantastic places to holiday. Vineyards, castles, monasteries and monuments to ancient gods can line their routes. Chateaux, gites, farmhouses and chalets all offer an opportunity to relax in countryside sun in magnificent grandeur or a more humble retreat where a holidaymaker can recharge their batteries, catch up on some holiday reading or take in local festivals.
Sun seekers should be aware of the climate at their choice destination for the time of year. Temperatures can swing wildly between day and night levels and some places may experience high humidity or exceptionally dry heat compared to what the traveller is used to. Seasonal averages are just that – averages – and there may be fluctuations in the weather where rainfall might affect the expected levels of sunshine for the month.
It rises every day and sets every night, but seeing the sun overhead in a different country just feels different
