My lovely wife is half Malaysian and likes to hold this up as the reason she doesn’t do well in the cold, grey British spring… But I’m pretty sure none of us love January’s grey sleet! My birthday also happens to be in January so we have started the family tradition of always being abroad to celebrate.

Indeed, for the first one we spent together Claudia whisked me away to Rome for a week- where she proposed! So, you see, holidaying in the Spring really does do wonders!

So far we have been to Rome, Malaysia and Budapest in springtime and leave this week for Valencia. We’ve had such wonderful times I’ve actually started to prefer holidays abroad in spring rather than summer! Sounds like madness? Well, here’s why I think you should have a ‘spring holiday’:

1.     Something to look forward to after Christmas

January isn’t any more miserable than December- it just feels that way because you don’t have lots of presents and a break from work to look forward to… also you spent all of your money on the aforementioned presents. December might be dark, damp and cold but shops play jolly tunes and everything smells like cinnamon. If you can glide through freezing December buoyed by the idea of Christmas then you can get through sleeting January and February on the promise of a holiday at the end of it. Even if said holiday is to somewhere equally cold, it still feels fun because you’re cold by choice this time!

 

2.     Flights are cheapest- also many airlines have Jan sales!

Even if you didn’t plan a trip away BEFORE Christmas, the January sales are enough to make you think of doing it now! Every time we’ve flown in spring the airplane has been half empty and very reasonably priced… Provided you don’t bring lots of heavy bags. Always expensive! (Check my city break packing tips <https://youtu.be/9OQnwUxUf8c> for ways around this!

 

3.     It’s off peak in Europe

If you’re like us and want lots of culture, monuments and history on your holiday (we went to Venice on our Honeymoon and spent most of it gawping at buildings! … and eating… ) then a spring city break is for you. Not only are places cheaper but you’ll also have the freedom to move around without a thousand other tourists wanting to go to exactly the same place.

 

4.     You will always get a table in the top restaurants

Oh yes, those fancy restaurants who in summer scoff at the mere premise you’ll be able to book a table anything less that three months in advance will now be actively seeking your custom! Plus, there may be out-of-season price differences (see above) that mean you’ll actually be able to try the latest foodie place everyone is Instagramming about!

5.     Your Instagram photos will make everyone jealous

Speaking of which… your fun in the (probably still cold) sun will be making your friends back home very jealous! No longer will that holiday ‘perfect beach image you worked ages on and contorted your body into just the right angles’ photo be lost on a timeline of your friends and co-workers also photographing their legs on a beach- oh no, not this time! Just picture them scrolling: January diet salad, January detox smoothie, gym shot, rain, your grinning face looking super cool in front of a well lit monument!

 

6.     The tourist sites are less busy

Unlike in summer you won’t have to jostle through the crowds just to catch a glimpse of that famous painting. No, in spring you’ll actually be able to breathe at the same time. In fact, you’ll also be paying less for more as many attractions will have off-peak seasonal prices. You can finally take pictures without some random tourist walking arse-backwards into shot!

 

7.     Cheaper hotels

As previously mentioned… there are so many deals in spring! You can stay somewhere lovely for a fraction of the price you would be paying in summer (when you would be “paying through the nose” as we say here). In spring you can stay in the central hotels with the great transport links without having to sell a kidney first!

 

8.     Change of scene boosts you for the year

Making changes at home is hard. Whether you’re determined to be more productive, eat healthier or get more sleep the easiest way to kick start is a change of scenery. Try to include some of the changes within your holiday. You’ll come back rested, relaxed and knowing you can do it! Or you could just lie on a beach somewhere for a while. That’s pretty relaxing too.

 

9.     It lessens the ‘holiday pressure’

Am I the only one who feels ‘holiday pressure’? Wanting your holiday to be ‘the best ever’ and full of funny stories or great adventures you can tell everyone about? Well, in spring these expectations are certainly relaxed! Go to Italy in summer and it rains: worst holiday ever!!! Go to Italy in spring and it doesn’t rain: best holiday ever!!! When your expectations are lowered everything is perfect. We still talk about the magic of Rome’s 16 degrees in January.

10. Christmas is not a holiday- it’s hard work.

… I would say that heading is pretty self explanatory. You need a break. Especially if you did all of the cooking or hosting. You deserve that holiday.

Get some some vitamin D from the wintery sun, have a rest and when you get back you’ll be ready to conquer the year! Or just have a mildly good time despite the weather at home. Which is pretty ruddy great.