There was a time when the European holiday calendar was set firmly, if not clearly, within four defined boxes. Spring, summer, fall and winter. One of them was served hot, one was served cold, and the other two served a little bit of both. Please pack accordingly.
But things change. This is especially true of the climate. And old beliefs about travel changed with them. The southern coast of the Mediterranean was once a perfect place to escape the heat in August, but now the heat has become unbearable, as last year’s wildfires in Greece made all too clear. Not so long ago it was believed that December would bring a thick coat of Alpine White, but now ski resorts in France and Italy are anxiously awaiting the first batch of Alpine White. Even the idea of hitting the mountains during July would have caused confusion in his previous decade, but now such an idea is just as likely to prompt sensible consent.
And as weather patterns change, so do we, moving from the restricted travel window of some 30 years ago to something more fluid and flexible. The season of shoulders, wanderings under the winter sun, traveling further and further in search of whatever it is. Whether it’s the snow of Canada or the sand of the Far East, we don’t find it on our familiar lawns. Add to the current cost of living crisis, the value of a limited budget being more important than ever, and the holiday calendar looks quite different than it has in relatively recent times.
Probably something like this: If you’re already planning your New Year’s trip this year, but want to avoid sunstroke, rain clouds, or the slopes of past unfortunate holidays, these 24 suggestions (two for each month) may provide some guidance .
Skip ahead:
Switzerland
Rising temperatures have been eroding the edges of the Alpine ski season for some time, but this time last year resorts such as Adelboden, Anseer (Switzerland) and Combleus (France) suffered from severe storms in December and January. The situation became starkly clear. Lack of snow. In other words, if you want to go skiing in Europe right after Christmas, you may need to aim high. And no resort is higher than Zermatt, the Swiss watchtower. Zermatt’s highest ski area is 12,792 ft (3,899 m), making it the highest in the Alps.
How to do it: From £1,498 per person for a seven-night stay at the four-star Hotel Derby in Zermatt with Crystal Ski (020 3451 2821, crystalski.co.uk) starting from Manchester on January 20.