Three Destinations Great for a Quick Spring Break in 2019

Right about now, it is the best time to plot a spring vacation. Booking a flight in a spur of the moment is usually more expensive. It is less taxing on the pocket if we plan a few months ahead of time for a spring escape to destinations in Europe. We can save hundreds to thousands of pounds by at least initiating the process now.

It is only the second month of the New Year of 2019, and it feels like the last vacation we had was decades ago. Having a brief city break or holiday after a couple of weekends can keep your energy levels up.  You can also make a lot more friends because you gather many stories on your little adventures. Being well travelled gives you that satisfaction, and as a bonus, your Instagram account is regularly updated with all the new selfies, making you somewhat of a social media celebrity. So, let’s begin investing in ourselves this year.

March – Barcelona, Spain

March is a great month to visit Barcelona. The remnants of the winter season are still present, and spring is just around the corner. The Barcelona sun dances with a cold and refreshing breeze. It’s the best time to do a bit of exploration around the Spanish ‘Rivera’.

In March, Barcelona celebrates the Sant Medir Festival on the third. It is known to be the “sweetest festival” in Spain. Around sixty tons of candies are thrown at onlooker and cheering crowds lining the street by the “colles”, riding on their horses, floats and trucks. The real festival starts at 8 pm and continues into the night ending with a grand display of fireworks. If you are into vintage cars, Barcelona stages a rally on the 16th of March. The Rally Barcelona-Sitges brings out vintages vehicles all manufactured before 1924. Watch the 1923 Aston Martin and RR Silver Ghost glide once again over the streets of Barcelona.

The famous Barcelona Marathon is also in town on the tenth of March for you to participate. Join in and revitalise your spirit of leading a good life. Speaking of a good life – the International Beer Festival cannot be missed, without a doubt. The festival stays on for three days. For €7.75 a day or €10.95 for all three days you can taste that golden nectar from the many breweries around Barcelona.

As the Easter week would be just around the corner, booking cheap accommodations would be a bit difficult. Calling our agents in time, however, can give you the best chance at getting the best hotel rooms suitable for you. Do not forget to pre-book your ticket to Sagrada Familia Cathedral and get ahead of the crowds outside the most famous cathedral in Barcelona.

April – Florence, Italy

Arriving at Florence a bit early in April has its benefits. It’s an old tradition that on the first Sunday of each month all Florentine Museums would have zero entrance fees. The first Sunday falls on the 7th of April this year. We hope you get there soon to admire Michelangelo’s ‘David’ statue and the paintings in the Uffizi Gallery for free. Usually, a guided tour of one museum in Florence costs around €30 to €50.

The weekend is also the time to taste the local cheeses, organic bread, and wines in Florence. The famous Sunday market has booths for all sorts of culinary delights. On the 15th of April, the Vivicittà Half Marathon around the city is a non-competitive event where the participants jog through the city. Check out the Cathedral of the Santa Maria del Fiore in all its beauty and grandeur while getting a bit of exercise. It is once in a lifetime sort of experience – not many people get to say that they ran through the streets surrounding the Duomo without hitting a Vespa.

On the 21st of April is the Holy Week. Easter celebrations begin with the ‘Explosion of the Cart’ festival which involves, as the name suggests, the explosion of an ornately decorated, nine-meter high cart (affectionately called “Brindellone”) right outside the gates of the Duomo. A mechanical dove representing the Holy Spirit flies from the altar in the cathedral and lands on the cart, setting off the fireworks mounted on top of the cart.

May – Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The outdoors and Amsterdam always go hand in hand. The fabulous weather in Amsterdam in May encourages you to remain out and about. Amsterdam, more than anything, is known for its parks and squares, especially the Keukenhof, which is covered with tulips every April and May.

By the end of May, there would be tourists flocking the streets of Amsterdam, so it is best to come in early in the month before the crowds turn into mobs.  Coming in earlier can also allow you to be a part of the celebrations at the end of April. The King’s Day Parade marches on the streets of Amsterdam on the 27th of April and continues for two more days. If you can manage, do not miss this festival, where you can become like the Dutch, all clad in orange, feasting and partying through the night.

Liberation day is celebrated on the 5th of May. This day the Germans declared their retreat from the Netherlands in 1945. Liberation day is a time to celebrate freedom and peace, and it is a day when the Dutch cherish their liberties with song and drink. The Museum Market is put to gather on the 19th of May. It is the best place to buy an artsy souvenir that reminds you of Amsterdam. You can do the shopping by holding a cup full of local beer in one hand and a syrupy stroopwafel in the other.

The cities mentioned above are all in Europe, not far from home in the UK. The airfare is not going to be pricey, and the flight duration will be short. Getting to Amsterdam, Florence and Barcelona for a spring break, even for just over the weekend, is entirely doable and cheap. Partying in new cities and making new friends is how we increase our network. Maybe this spring break leads to a new gig and a whole new life. Go for it!