August holiday: Where is best to go on holiday this month? (Image: Getty Images)
Where are the best places to go on holiday in August? Reigo Eljas, Country Director for lastminute.com, advises holidaymakers to try Bournemouth, Valencia, and the Spanish Costas for a trip away and great last minute deal.
UK Destination: Bournemouth
Bournemouth is the perfect seaside destination to treat yourself to a last-minute stay cation this August. Set on the Southern coast of England, Bournemouth’s seven-mile stretch of sandy coastline and temperate microclimate, is the perfect base for a relaxing, romantic or activity filled break.
Less than two hours from the capital city, Bournemouth has the excitement of city life with plenty to see and do combined with the relaxation and winding down of beach life.
What to see and do
There is plenty to see and do when in Bournemouth, and with the unreliability of British weather, Bournemouth has this in mind with an endless number of museums, galleries, amusement arcades, aquariums and more on offer.
August sees the return of the Bournemouth Air Festival, an incredible showstopping performance of aircraft displays, live music, military demonstrations and much more along the seafront. Each Friday you can catch a kaleidoscopic display at the seafront with the spectacular Bournemouth Fireworks.
The iconic Bournemouth Pier is absolute must when visiting, in the summer, the pier is the epitome of a quintessentially English seaside with ice creams, an arcade at the landward end and concession stands. The zip line from the end of the pier to the beach is great for the trill seeker. For a more cultural lover, Bournemouth is home to several churches and religious centres of beautiful architectural styles.
What to eat
A traditional British sea-side town means one thing; Fish & Chips, and Bournemouth has no shortage with plenty of spots on the promenade, or head to the coastal villages for award winning independent restaurants.
Being on the sea of course this means freshly caught seafood, some of which is the best in the country. As well as the local traditional foods, Bournemouth boasts and abundance of cosmopolitan, multicultural flavour from Lebanese, Mongolian, Mexican and Indonesian dishes.
Bournemouth Deals
3* The Cottonwood Boutique Hotel from £71 per night
4* The Greenside Hotel from £109 per night
4* Hilton Bournemouth from £99 per night
Where to go on holiday in August: The best last minute breaks in the UK and Europe
City Break: Valencia
Spain’s third largest city and one of the most visited cities in Spain, the port of Valencia is a beautiful location with an incredible cultural, eating and nightlife scenes and most importantly, the home to the ‘paella’.
Magnificently traditional buildings contrasted with the converted former riverbed with strikingly futuristic buildings including the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the city is sure to ‘wow’ all those who visit.
What to see and do
Located in the city centre is the Central Market building. High ceilings and beautiful stained-glass windows make it a perfect setting for the traditional market to which it plays host. Here you can buy and sample the local organic produce and learn why people who live here shop every day.
Visitors can cycle through Turia Park and visit The City of the Arts and Sciences, full of multilingual exhibits, interactions and live scientific experiments.
Visit the Oceanographic Aquarium and see the fantastic colour of nature with Valencia’s beauty in the background. Split into sea sections and different habitats, there are some amazing creatures from all over the world to be seen here. There are regular dolphin, penguin and sea-lion shows, a shark tunnel to keep you entertained and plenty of food kiosks for when you need to take a break.
What to eat
As the home of the paella, you’ll never be short of options to indulge in the delicious meal. The Mercado Central is Valencia’s covered market and one of the oldest working food markets in Europe. Here you can see locals buying the fish and seafood that’s used to make the legendry paella. It’s also where you can pick up local delicacies or snack on tapas while soaking up the atmosphere from the market’s bar.
Valencia Deals
Checkin Valencia 4* 3 nights, weekend getaway, breakfast included from £369pp
Ilunion Valencia 4* 3 nights, breakfast included from £199pp
NH Ciudad De Valencia 3* 3 nights, room only from £169pp
Sun & Beach: Costas of Spain
As one of the UK’s main go to destinations for a fun and full of sun getaway, Spain has endless options for a beachy holiday. If you’re looking for a simple combination of sun, sea and sand, then Spain will not disappoint.
With four unique and beautiful coastlines, the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Dorado and Costa Brava means there is an option for every kind of holiday goer.
What to see and do
Spain quite simply offers something for everyone, and each of the Costa’s are no exception. For the sun worshippers, the Costa del Sol is the go-to. The stretch of Malaga coastline offers warm temperatures throughout the year, with laid back, chilled out resorts like Marbella and Torremolinos famous for their beaches, abundance of bars and nightlife as well as chilled out beach clubs such as Ocean Club Marbella.
For those who are looking for a more party and exciting scene, Costa Blanca includes resorts such as Alicante and Benidorm, with endless amounts of bars and nightlife as well as theme parks and waterparks.
Costa Dorada is located to the Southwest of Barcelona and perfect for the cultural lovers. The Roman ruins of the city of Tarragona and the Les Ferreres Aqueduct, the area not only boasts art and cultural aspects but also an exciting nightlife scene in nearby Sitges and Barcelona.
Last but certainly not least, the stunning Costa Brava, located on the northeast of Spain showcases the rugged coastlines of Cap de Creus, the Mede Islands and the glistening waters of Aigua Blava – just be sure to pack your camera!
What to eat
Sampling the local cuisine during a holiday in Spain is no chore as the rich flavours of the country are exported and adored worldwide. The exquisite tapas of San Sebastián in the far north of the country boasts an acclaimed reputation, while the Paella of the seaside towns is hard to beat. Sangria and red Rioja wines are a keen favourite. The regional dishes range from tortilla de patatas, paella, pan con tomate, gazpacho, bocadillio de Calamares and many many more
Spanish Costa Deals
Costa del Sol
4* Sol House Costa del Sol, breakfast included. Flights + 7 nights departing 15th August from £789pp
4* Alanda Hotel Marbella, room only. Flights + 4 nights departing 26th August from £419pp
Costa Blanca
4* Sandos Benidorm Suites, all-inclusive. Flights + 7 nights departing 17th August from £789pp
4* Tryp Gran Sol, breakfast included. Flights + 4 nights departing 19th August from £399pp
Costa Dorada
4* PortAventura Hotel Gold River, room only. PortAventura tickets included – unlimited entry, flights + 4 nights departing 28th August from £399pp (or breakfast included from £429pp)
4* H10 Delfin – adults only, breakfast included. Flights + 4 nights departing 26th August from £409pp
Costa Brava
3* Europa Apartments, room only. Flights + 7 nights departing 31st August from £309pp
5* Gran Hotel Monterrey, breakfast included. Flights + 4 nights departing 28th August from £369pp