Top 3 Warm Resorts
Holding - Around The World - Escape
by Abigail Vint
For our anniversary edition, I thought I would put together something a little different for the Escape column.
We've taken a look at many major cities in Europe and North America. But what do we want most this time of year? A place in the sun.
Whether you're laden down with snow and ice or simply toughing it out with the short days and streams of rain, you will no doubt enjoy this brief interlude into my warm beach path.
Lagos, Portugal
November, 2002
We arrived in the morning, with rain pouring down and wind gusting. We were quite unsure whether this would actually be the beach location we had hoped for. Preparing to wander the streets, in the rain, looking for accomodation, a smiling woman approached us.
"Canada!" She had seen the flag on my pack. And my boyfriend's. And my hat. And my day pack. Did I say I had some flags on EVERYTHING that was visible?
She owned an apartment in the centre and made extra money by renting rooms out. She often came to the train station to find backpackers who had not yet found accommodation. She asked us and pointed to her name which was recommended in the Lonely Planet. She had a car, which was the most important selling point. No walking in the rain for us.
Her rooms ended up being perfect location, with lots of friendly foreigners. Even better, the sun came out that afternoon, so we really got to enjoy our vacation.
Lagos is located at the southern tip of Portugal, not far from Faro. It is becoming one of the best known backpacker sun spots. Secluded beaches, beautiful landscapes and lively nightlife in the centre of the town create a wonderful atmosphere for relaxation.
The three best travel months are April, May and September. It's not as busy or as hot as it is during the summer months. The winter months are quite mild but not balmy warm. You will definitely find a place to stay, however there are no guarantees that the beach will have perfect conditions. If you're scrimping, stay at an apartment and save yourself some cash. You can get a room in a central location for about $20-30 US per person per night. An evening meal is quite reasonable--around $20US per person for fresh seafood and flowing wine.
Santorini, Greece
April, 2003
Island hopping is a popular summer activity for travellers amongst the Greek Islands. Santorini was one of the last destinations on our trek, being further south then the other Cyclades Islands.
We had finally gotten the hang of disembarking, being met by a mob of apartment and pension owners and choosing the right one to agree to board with. We could never have been prepared for the beauty of the island.
Santorini is said to have some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. We experienced this ourselves over dinner and drinks at a cliffside restaurant.
Santorini was originally one island before a volcano blew out a centre section of the land mass creating a crescent shape to the island. From one side of the island, you can see a smaller island out in the sea, land which was originally part of Santorini before the volcano.
Greek Orthodox Easter is observed at the end of April. You can experience an authentic holiday as Greeks from the mainland flock to the islands for this traditional celebration. This period also kicks off the tourist season, so there is a great enthusiasm amongst staff in the shops and restaurants. The warmest time of year is July and August, but you could probably do some tanning in May, June and September as well. It is so far south that you may even see warm weather in October but the season starts winding down and less and less will be open.
It may be a bit overwhelming when you depart your first ferry in the Greek Islands. You will be bombarded by apartment and pension owners who want you to come stay in their accommodation. We never had any problems with the places we stayed so I highly recommend this option, however there are a couple of ways to be sure that you will have an enjoyable and affordable time. Have a map with you and a good sense of how far places are from the centre. Look for people who have printed flyers or cards with their establishment clearly marked. Reputable owners will let you know that there is no obligation for you to stay if you are not happy. Ask what is included, if you'll be sharing and with how many people as well as finding out the costs upfront.
The Greek Islands can be quite reasonable. Estimate from $30-50US for two people per night for a room in an apartment. You may have your own kitchen so you'll save on the food costs. Eating is cheap, especially if you're happy enough to grab a gyros and sit on the beach. These should cost you no more than $2US and are a delicious snack. If you can tear yourself away from the beach, you can rent moped for about $10US per day. Because of the terrain and mountains, you may want to consider splurging and rent a car for about $25US.
Cinque Terre, Italy
May 2003
After four days in Rome, my boyfriend and I were looking for a place to unwind. We couldn't have chosen a better area to end our Italian tour.
Cinque Terre is located along the western coast of Italy. The five little towns are linked together by paths which stretch up and down the mountain side right along the water. It has been designated a national park due to its vast natural diversity.
If you don't mind a little excercise, you can walk between the cities. Start at Monterosso, as the walk to the next city is about 1.5 hours and this is the longest. You can then make your way to Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and finally Riomaggiore.
We had chosen Monterosso as our home base as it was one of the larger cities and the first--or last--city amongst the five.
We had become quite comfortable arriving without accommodation, much to my chagrin, and had not even called ahead. Wandering through the streets of the seaside town, we were told that we may actually be out of luck; it was an Italian holiday and all the country's citizens would be flocking to the ocean paradise.
Thankfully our luck hadn't run out quite yet. A room was available for four nights, affording a perfect view of the cliffside and scenery and only 95 steps up from the centre of town.
It had four rooms, all rented out to travellers, and we managed to have our own room for the first two nights.
We ended up having a twilight dinner with an American couple out on the patio. A hostel standard: pasta and tomato sauce. But the view made it all worthwhile.
May was fantastic and not too busy--I would guess September would be the same. June, July and August will be rammed but no guarantee that the weather would hold out for October or November.
We expected to blow our budget in Rome but instead we blew it in Cinque Terre. If you can rent a room, your accommodation won't be too bad but this is a luxury tourist area so be sure to up your budget a bit more. Plan between $50-60US, sharing. The food costs were expensive, especially to sit down for an evening meal, much like the rest of major destinations in Italy. You should also factor in the cost for paying for a beach chair for the day--it was less than $10US for two and was definitely worth the exclusivity.
Those are a few suggestions from my own personal travels. I'm sure you'll have a favourite spot in the sun. I hope this journey has reminded you the enjoyment you had last time you were away on a beach.