10 of the best holidays you can fit into four days
The chocolate eggs are in the shops, the daffodils are out and spring is well and truly in the air… Easter is looming – which, for many of us, means a long weekend away from work.
But how to fill those precious four days off?
There are plenty of holidays you can squeeze into this timeframe, whether you’re keen to jet off abroad or stay on home turf.
From Cornish staycations to a Spanish city break with a difference, we’ve found ten of the best holidays that you can fit into four days, for the Easter break and beyond.
For a quick pampering fix, head to Studland on the Isle of Purbeck. Feel yourself unwind as soon as you arrive at the quaint village, famous for its beaches and nature reserve. A ten-minute stoll from the beach, Knoll House is offering pamper packages, ideal for everything from a romantic spa getaway to a relaxing hen-do party. The price, from £169pp, includes one night’s B&B, lunch, dinner and a 45-minute treatment. [Photo: Getty]
Wildlife lovers can squeeze a bear viewing trip into four days. Gane & Marshall has a four-day getaway to one of Europe’s premier bear locations, Martinselkosen Wildlife Centre, in Finland. Located close to the Russian border in Suomussalmi, next to the Martinselkonen nature reserve, it’s one of the country’s best spots to see and photograph brown bears in their natural habitat. You and your guide will stay in a “hide” deep in the forest, close to bears and other wildlife. The cost, from £645pp, includes one night at Martinselkosen Wildlife Centre, two nights in the bear hide, breakfast, dinner, guiding and airport transfers. Excludes flights. Available from mid-April to mid-August. [Photo: Getty]
Savour some of Scotland’s finest sights and flavours on a three-day break to Speyside, home of over half of the country’s malt whisky distilleries. Indulge in a wee dram as you tour four distilleries, with a Scotch Malt Whisky Society lunch and tasting. The trip includes a visit to Elgin – home to the best little whisky shop in the world – and you’ll be able to explore the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. Prices start from £119pp, including transport and guiding (excluding accommodation, which can be reserved when you book). [Photo: Getty]
It may sound like a bizarre way to spend four days, but throwing tomatoes is actually a great way to embrace Spain’s more wacky cultural side. The annual La Tomatina Festival sees locals gather in the square of Buñol, half an hour from Valencia city, to throw tomatoes in what’s often dubbed the world’s biggest food fight. G Adventures has a four-day trip that includes full immersion in this festival, as well as a walking tour of the Old Town of Valencia. Departing on August 26, the trip costs from £329pp, including three nights’ hostel accommodation. Excludes meals and flights. [Photo: Getty]
Getting to the Lake District doesn’t take long (an average of just over three hours from London by rail), yet you’ll feel a world away from everyday life on arrival. The landscape – dotted with glassy lakes and rugged fells – is one of the UK’s best walking destinations, with trails that could keep you occupied for well over four days. Ramblers Walking Holidays can help you condense it into a long weekend – they offer four-day walking holidays staying at Hassness Country House on the shore of Buttermere. The price, from £260pp, includes three nights’ full-board and guided walks. [Photo: Getty]
Newquay can be reached by car, rail and also plane (Newquay airport is connected to UK hubs, including Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester and Dublin), making it ideal for a long weekend. Overlooking the world-class surf spot, Fistral Beach, the Headland Hotel has just launched the Great British Staycation package, including three nights’ B&B, a three-course dinner, afternoon tea, a hamper of Cornish goodies, tickets to the Eden Project or Lost Gardens of Heligan, a book about the South West Coast Path and spa access. The break costs from £349.50pp, based on two sharing and is available until September. [Photo: Getty]
A short hop over the Channel brings you to the Pas-de-Calais area, with its dramatic beaches, fresh seafood and good wine. And adventure-loving families are in for a treat if they book an inclusive break with Family Adventure Holidays, who offer a three-night Opal Coast Moulin – Easter trip. Based at the three-star Hotel Moulin aux Draps, which is surrounded by countryside and close to sandy beaches, it includes all meals and activities – so there’s no need to put hands in pockets after arrival. Children are kept busy with activities, from sand-yachting to visiting the sea lions and tropical sharks at the Nausicaa aquarium, while parents can enjoy a four-course meal in the restaurant. Three nights’ all-inclusive costs from from £299 per adult and £199 per child (excluding travel). [Photo: Getty]
