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00:00Hello and welcome to TravelSmart Weekly, your guide to the best of travel from
00:04the independent, and the show that aims to inform and inspire your next great
00:08escape. Deep mid-winter makes an excellent time to start planning a
00:14spring holiday, whether in the UK, Europe or further afield, and today we're going
00:20to reveal to you some of our favourite locations for a springtime refresher.
00:30Let's start right here in the UK. Spring comes early to the south coast of
00:37Britain, and as someone who was born and brought up in the fine county of
00:41Dorset, I have no hesitation recommending the coast and the
00:44countryside. Whether you yearn for a breezy walk along the shore, or exploring
00:50landscapes and villages barely changed since Thomas Hardy wrote about them,
00:54you'll find plenty to enjoy. I recommend basing yourself in a town such as
01:01Weymouth, Dorchester or Bridport, rather than the ever-popular Lyme Regis or
01:06Bournemouth. As spring takes hold further north in Britain, many travellers will
01:14head for the Cotswolds, the Peak District and the Lake District, yet consider these
01:20less crowded, less celebrated, but equally rewarding locations for watching
01:26spring unfold.
01:29Mid Wales, where the heart of the nation blossoms amid spectacular country and
01:35coastline. North Norfolk, whose locally sourced food and drink is part of the
01:41destination's DNA. Northumberland, for wild springtime shores and a deep sense
01:49of history without the crowds. And the Scottish border, a frontier zone with
01:56castles, abbeys and some exceptional places to sleep and dine while spring
02:02flourishes. Many cities are worth visiting too. In southern England,
02:09Winchester, Brighton and Canterbury are all blossoming in spring.
02:16Talking of blooming loveliness, there's nowhere quite like Keukenhof in the
02:21Netherlands. Since the tulip first arrived in Holland from Central Asia, the
02:27beautiful flower has been exquisitely cultivated. Now, the tulip fields of
02:34Keukenhof comprise a work of art close to Leiden, easily reached from Amsterdam
02:41Airport. For two months each spring, this floral theme park feels like the Chelsea
02:47Flower Show grafted onto tranquil Van Gogh landscapes. A riot of colour that
02:54revives any spectrum dulled by winter. Elsewhere in continental Europe, I'm a
03:00big fan of northern Italy in springtime, which explodes with colour as flowers
03:05bloom across the region. Along the Ligurian Riviera, which stretches from
03:11the French border near Nice all the way around to lovely La Spezia, you'll find
03:15beautiful Giardini, or gardens. Start with the Hanbury Botanic Garden, a blaze with
03:21colour on the coast each spring, continuing via the Italian lakes,
03:25particularly Como and Garda, and ending in Verona, where the Giardini Giusti is a
03:30grand formal garden that decorates an entire hillside. Spring is also an
03:35excellent time to go skiing in Europe. You'll need to aim high in terms of
03:38either altitude, 2,000 meters or above, or latitude. Norway enjoys a particularly
03:44long ski season. North Africa is also ripe for springtime exploration,
03:51especially in the coastal areas of Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Across in
03:58Asia, the prime springtime location is Japan. Each spring, the cherry blossom, or
04:08Sakura, as it's known, enriches locations across the nation from March to May.
04:15The transient beauty of cherry blossom extends to South Korea, and both nations are
04:21easily combined. Seoul to Tokyo and Osaka are two of the top five busiest air
04:28routes in the world.
04:34Now it's time for a question sent in to The Independent by someone who wants to
04:38remain anonymous, and you'll see why. Simon, this person wants to take their
04:42wife away for a significant anniversary over Easter, and they want to go somewhere
04:46warm and romantic. Where do you recommend they go?
04:49Easter 2025 is actually relatively late. Easter Sunday is on the 20th of April,
04:56which means that you don't really need to go any further than the deep south of
05:01Greece, in particular the beautiful island of Crete. And I'd say either go to
05:07Chania at the western end, beautiful ancient city, or maybe at the eastern end,
05:14the lovely bay of Ilunda, looking across the island of Spinalonga, a gorgeous
05:20place to watch the sun go down and get all romantic.
05:25Brilliant. Thank you, Simon.
05:33That's all we've got time for. The Travel Smart Weekly will continue to take you
05:37to sunny destinations that will help you through the winter months.
05:40Meanwhile, for the latest travel news, reviews and advice, go to
05:44independent.co.uk forward slash travel, and perhaps check out my daily travel podcast.
05:52Bye for now.