Now then, for various reasons, we are not well-versed in holidaying abroad, but this year, our eldest daughter does her A-levels so we plan to take the opportunity for (slightly) cheaper flights and go away somewhere before the school holidays.
I'm a bit of a dinosaur; I look back fondly on the days (20-30 years ago) where you could wander into a high street travel agent, tell them the kind of thing you'd like, browse through a few brochures, and come out having booked something that turns out to be pretty nice.
But now, with the internet providing sooooo many options, I spend an hour or two browsing and just end up getting overwhelmed and not even knowing where to start, ie possible destinations ...
So, obviously, the answer is to come on here for advice ...
I think what we want is a relatively quiet, low-key, not massively developed destination. Somewhere Greek-Islands, possibly Majorca, possibly Italy mainland. Would prefer to self-cater (so a flat/apartment/small villa) picturesque, with easy access to a nice, not too crowded, sandy beach. It'll be a mostly relaxing holiday, mooching around. No need for watersports or (dare I say it, cycling!).
I'm happy to plan and book accommodation / flights / hire car etc separately.
Where would STW suggest as a starting point for me to research further.
Cheers all!
EDIT: We're in Leeds, so destinations that can be glen from Leeds-Bradford would be ideal. At a push, we'd go from Manchester or East Midlands, but I'd rather not have the added ball-ache of extra driving and parking costs.
Where are you flying from?
What do you consider hot/too hot?
Hardly exhaustive but in stw 'based on what I like' I'd be looking at Tuscany. We aren't beach fans so have stayed inland close to Lucca and Volterra, where we have had villas or apartments with pools, but there is an area closer to the coast.
Hot, culture, GREAT food, and just a nice place to be.
I'm a bit of a dinosaur; I look back fondly on the days (20-30 years ago) where you could wander into a high street travel agent, tell them the kind of thing you'd like, browse through a few brochures, and come out having booked something that turns out to be pretty nice.
In all seriousness, try a bit of AI. Apparently the number of people using ChatGPT or similar to put together half a dozen holiday itinerary suggestion is very high now. It's a rubbish in, rubbish out situation and the more details you add in the better (like preferred departure airport, maximum flight time, preferred temperature range, type of resort/location, potential activities etc etc). You might be surprised.
I have been known to go on Skyscanner filtering it quite widely (all English airports, all the world, all of May) and start narrowing it down from there.
Next step is open 3 more tabs: Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com and find somewhere I'd like to stay within my budget.
It's hardly ever gone wrong.
Kayak and Trivago have been recommended to me by a travel expert but I've not got the hang of them in the same way.
Oh, and if flying into Málaga, I prefer to catch the train into the city and hire a car from there instead of the airport.
Have a look at Crete. Beautiful. Has hills and mountains, cliffs and beaches. Has everything from overdeveloped resorts to smaller villages / towns with mainly locally owned accomodation and restaurants to small accommodations in the middle of nowhere. Has 2 airports - at least one of which will be served by an airport close to you then get yourself on booking.com, loveholidays and TUI.com along with your airline options. Can sometimes be cheaper to book accomodation directly / pay cash when you get there (the Greeks love cash). Play around with dates until you find the holiday you want at the price you want.
Have a look at Crete.
i'll second Crete, our favourite holiday destination.
if you can fly to chania airport id recommend the authentic town of kalyves with its lovely sandy beaches. or you may prefer its next door neighbour, the small resort of almyrida which also has a lovely sandy beach. theyre in the apokoronas region, not too far from the airport and is a lovely scenic area with a smattering of charming villages.
theres also enough nearby for days out, lake kournas which is beautiful and has turtles swimming near you, springs, hikes.... i could go on......
Montenegro
Sicily would be my choice. Active volcano you can climb, greek and roman ruins, good food, small historic towns like Syracuse, museums, and a slightly run down vibe. Had a great couple of weeks in a villa on the foothills of Etna with a hire car from Catania.
Don't laugh, but Ibiza.
Avoid San Antonio and Ibiza town and you have a wonderfully chilled, sunny island with great food and an awesome coastline.
Did you every follow through with my AI suggestion? I just did, based on your criteria (sort of..ish) just to see how good it could be. Not bad....
Here are six fully‑formed, realistic itineraries that meet all your criteria:
- Direct flights from Leeds Bradford
- ≤ 5 hours flight time
- Early July temperatures 30–35°C
- Villa accommodation preferred
- Small, quiet, culturally rich, authentic locations
- Countryside walking + historical/cultural landmarks
- Seaside not required
I’ve selected destinations from the direct‑flight list from Leeds Bradford and matched them with inland or semi‑inland regions that fit your temperature and cultural criteria.
1) Mallorca (Inland Tramuntana Villages) – Spain
Flight time: ~2h 45m
Why it fits: Inland Mallorca is nothing like the coastal resorts. Stone villages, UNESCO‑listed mountains, quiet walking routes, and superb villa options.
Base yourself in: Valldemossa, Fornalutx, or Biniaraix
Activities:
- Walk the GR221 Dry Stone Route
- Visit Cartuja de Valldemossa monastery
- Explore Soller’s modernist architecture
- Day trip to Deià for art and literature heritage
Temperature: 30–34°C in early July
Vibe: Peaceful, traditional, culturally layered, mountainous.
2) Rhodes (Inland Villages & Medieval Town) – Greece
Flight time: ~4h 10m
Why it fits: Move away from the coast and Rhodes becomes a world of quiet hamlets, olive groves, and ancient sites.
Base yourself in: Lachania, Apollona, or Embonas
Activities:
- Walk Mount Attavyros trails
- Explore Rhodes Old Town (UNESCO medieval city)
- Visit Ancient Kamiros
- Vineyard visits in Embonas
Temperature: 31–35°C
Vibe: Rustic, historical, slow‑paced, culturally rich.
3) Sicily (Madonie Mountains or Baroque Southeast) – Italy
Flight time: ~3h 30m to Catania or Palermo (direct to Sicily from LBA)
Why it fits: Sicily offers extraordinary inland culture, ancient sites, and villa‑friendly countryside.
Base yourself in:
- Madonie National Park (Castelbuono, Polizzi Generosa)
- Ragusa countryside (for Baroque towns)
Activities:- Hike in the Madonie
- Visit Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Noto
- Explore Greek ruins at Agrigento (longer day trip)
Temperature: 30–35°C
Vibe: Deeply historic, gastronomic, architecturally stunning, quiet rural landscapes.
4) Malta (Rural Gozo) – Malta
Flight time: ~3h 40m
Why it fits: Gozo is Malta’s quieter, more traditional sister island—stone farmhouses, archaeological sites, and countryside walking.
Base yourself in: Xagħra, Għarb, San Lawrenz
Activities:
- Visit Ggantija Temples (older than the pyramids)
- Walk Gozo’s cliff and valley trails
- Explore Victoria Citadel
- Local craft villages and traditional bakeries
Temperature: 31–34°C
Vibe: Slow, rural, ancient, culturally distinctive.
5) Croatia (Inland Dalmatia – Imotski or Konavle) – via Dubrovnik or Split
Flight time: ~2h 55m to Dubrovnik or Split
Why it fits: Inland Dalmatia is quiet, traditional, and full of vineyards, karst landscapes, and heritage towns.
Base yourself in: Imotski, Konavle Valley, or Sinj
Activities:
- Walk around the Blue & Red Lakes near Imotski
- Visit Konavle’s traditional villages
- Explore Sinj Fortress and its museum
- Day trips to Dubrovnik’s old town (if desired)
Temperature: 30–33°C
Vibe: Rural, authentic, culturally rich, away from modern development.
6) Portugal (Alentejo Interior – Évora Region) – via Faro
Flight time: ~3h to Faro, then 1.5h inland drive
Why it fits: The Alentejo is one of Europe’s quietest, most culturally intact regions—whitewashed villages, cork forests, Roman ruins, and villa‑style farm stays.
Base yourself in: Évora countryside, Monsaraz, Estremoz
Activities:
- Visit Évora’s Roman Temple and medieval cathedral
- Walk the cork oak and olive grove trails
- Explore Monsaraz hilltop fortress
- Wine tasting in Reguengos de Monsaraz
Temperature: 32–35°C
Vibe: Slow, spacious, deeply historic, atmospheric.
If you want, I can now:
- Build day‑by‑day itineraries for any of the six
- Compare them based on walking quality, culture, food, or quietness
- Suggest specific villas that match your style
- Filter further by budget, travel dates, or preferred activities
Which of these six feels closest to your ideal holiday?
Have spent many a summer mooching around the Cyclades. Santorini and Mykonos are hot spots I would avoid so I would target Naxos which is nicely chilled and can be used as the start point for a mini tour around some of the other islands. Island hopping will give you a change of scenery and jumping on the ferries is a bit of fun in its own right.
so I would target Naxos
Good shout – we island hopped last summer and spent a few days in Aghia Anna – it's a lovely little resort with a long beach and a load of tavernas that spill out onto the beach on an evening, so you can sit and eat watching the sun go down, with sand underfoot. You can also get the bus over to Naxos town which has lots of beautiful old narrow streets and quaint shops to explore.
We stayed in a place called Aggeliki's Diamond – just a couple of minutes from the beach, with a *really* quiet pool (well, it was when we were there last August), and a lovely little coffee shop/snack bar next door.
The only downside is that you can't fly direct from any UK airport, so you'd have to fly to Mykonos or Santorini and get a ferry. It *IS* worth the effort though. And, as said above, they are a bit of fun anyway.
Montenegro
... appeals, but no direct flights from Leeds.
Cheers all. Keep the suggestions coming!
Did you every follow through with my AI suggestion? I just did, based on your criteria (sort of..ish) just to see how good it could be. Not bad....
Here are six fully‑formed, realistic itineraries that meet all your criteria:
- Direct flights from Leeds Bradford
- ≤ 5 hours flight time
- Early July temperatures 30–35°C
- Villa accommodation preferred
- Small, quiet, culturally rich, authentic locations
- Countryside walking + historical/cultural landmarks
- Seaside not required
I’ve selected destinations from the direct‑flight list from Leeds Bradford and matched them with inland or semi‑inland regions that fit your temperature and cultural criteria.
1) Mallorca (Inland Tramuntana Villages) – Spain
Flight time: ~2h 45m
Why it fits: Inland Mallorca is nothing like the coastal resorts. Stone villages, UNESCO‑listed mountains, quiet walking routes, and superb villa options.
Base yourself in: Valldemossa, Fornalutx, or Biniaraix
Activities:
- Walk the GR221 Dry Stone Route
- Visit Cartuja de Valldemossa monastery
- Explore Soller’s modernist architecture
- Day trip to Deià for art and literature heritage
Temperature: 30–34°C in early July
Vibe: Peaceful, traditional, culturally layered, mountainous.
2) Rhodes (Inland Villages & Medieval Town) – Greece
Flight time: ~4h 10m
Why it fits: Move away from the coast and Rhodes becomes a world of quiet hamlets, olive groves, and ancient sites.
Base yourself in: Lachania, Apollona, or Embonas
Activities:
- Walk Mount Attavyros trails
- Explore Rhodes Old Town (UNESCO medieval city)
- Visit Ancient Kamiros
- Vineyard visits in Embonas
Temperature: 31–35°C
Vibe: Rustic, historical, slow‑paced, culturally rich.
3) Sicily (Madonie Mountains or Baroque Southeast) – Italy
Flight time: ~3h 30m to Catania or Palermo (direct to Sicily from LBA)
Why it fits: Sicily offers extraordinary inland culture, ancient sites, and villa‑friendly countryside.
Base yourself in:
- Madonie National Park (Castelbuono, Polizzi Generosa)
- Ragusa countryside (for Baroque towns)
Activities:- Hike in the Madonie
- Visit Ragusa Ibla, Modica, Noto
- Explore Greek ruins at Agrigento (longer day trip)
Temperature: 30–35°C
Vibe: Deeply historic, gastronomic, architecturally stunning, quiet rural landscapes.
4) Malta (Rural Gozo) – Malta
Flight time: ~3h 40m
Why it fits: Gozo is Malta’s quieter, more traditional sister island—stone farmhouses, archaeological sites, and countryside walking.
Base yourself in: Xagħra, Għarb, San Lawrenz
Activities:
- Visit Ggantija Temples (older than the pyramids)
- Walk Gozo’s cliff and valley trails
- Explore Victoria Citadel
- Local craft villages and traditional bakeries
Temperature: 31–34°C
Vibe: Slow, rural, ancient, culturally distinctive.
5) Croatia (Inland Dalmatia – Imotski or Konavle) – via Dubrovnik or Split
Flight time: ~2h 55m to Dubrovnik or Split
Why it fits: Inland Dalmatia is quiet, traditional, and full of vineyards, karst landscapes, and heritage towns.
Base yourself in: Imotski, Konavle Valley, or Sinj
Activities:
- Walk around the Blue & Red Lakes near Imotski
- Visit Konavle’s traditional villages
- Explore Sinj Fortress and its museum
- Day trips to Dubrovnik’s old town (if desired)
Temperature: 30–33°C
Vibe: Rural, authentic, culturally rich, away from modern development.
6) Portugal (Alentejo Interior – Évora Region) – via Faro
Flight time: ~3h to Faro, then 1.5h inland drive
Why it fits: The Alentejo is one of Europe’s quietest, most culturally intact regions—whitewashed villages, cork forests, Roman ruins, and villa‑style farm stays.
Base yourself in: Évora countryside, Monsaraz, Estremoz
Activities:
- Visit Évora’s Roman Temple and medieval cathedral
- Walk the cork oak and olive grove trails
- Explore Monsaraz hilltop fortress
- Wine tasting in Reguengos de Monsaraz
Temperature: 32–35°C
Vibe: Slow, spacious, deeply historic, atmospheric.
If you want, I can now:
- Build day‑by‑day itineraries for any of the six
- Compare them based on walking quality, culture, food, or quietness
- Suggest specific villas that match your style
- Filter further by budget, travel dates, or preferred activities
Which of these six feels closest to your ideal holiday?
Yep - that was a good shout. Got a similar-ish list of suggestions (with slightly tweaked requirements). You do have to check Chat GPT for accuracy though; Firstly, it told me there are no direct flights from LBA to Sicily (there are!), and then asked it to drill down and offer eg a list of 10 specific properties in Sicily available on the dates we wanted, and it initially returned a bunch of broken or duplicate links, or properties that actually weren't available on the dates requested.
But, asking on here, and Chat GPT, had given me some options to go at.
Have researched a few options on Sicily, a couple of which are contenders. Need to look at Crete, Rhodes a bit more. Naxos appeals, so will research that further. Tuscany worth looking at too.
Sicily or if you don't mind flights from MAN, Sardinia (Alghero specifically)
Croatia is lovely, but dependant on location may fail on your "sandy beach" criteria.
Would also throw in Sardinia as an option.
Just to note, the AI response above seems to have used the requirement "seaside not required", whereas you said "easy access to a nice, not too crowded, sandy beach". 🤨
I look back fondly on the days (20-30 years ago) where you could wander into a high street travel agent, tell them the kind of thing you'd like, browse through a few brochures, and come out having booked something that turns out to be pretty nice.
Errrr you still can...?
If you like holidays to be low carbon and a mild adventure try this:
Flixbus or train to London, Eurostar to Paris. Cheap hotel for two nights then train to Saint Jean de Luz. Stay a few nights. Use local buses and the topo train to visit St Seb. Take a bus and walk La Rhune. Another possible day out is to bus to Hendaye, walk the St James way to St Sebastien and take the topo train and bus back.
Reverse the journey or if you want to see how the other half live: local bus to Bayonne, Flix bus all the way back home. Travel light, if it won't go in a 50l rucksac you don't need it.