Travel experts are suggesting British holidaymakers are opting for so-called ‘coolcations’ this summer as wildfires ravage parts of Europe including Spain, France, Italy and Portugal
The destination is easy to reach from the UK(Image: Getty Images)
Wildfires are currently raging across large parts of southern Europe. France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece have all been affected – and this could potentially have a knock-on effect to British summer holiday plans.
These nations are often among those favoured by UK tourists during the warm summer months, but these nations may be too warm at the moment with temperatures surging past 40C.
France’s president Emmanuel Macron described the escalating situation as the nation’s worst wildfire crisis since World War Two, with firefighters battling blazes around the clock. Flames are also spreading at an alarming rate across Spain, while active fires continue to rage in northern and central Portugal, as well as Sicily and parts of southern Italy.
With this in mind travel experts have been suggesting potential alternatives if people want to take a so-called ‘coolcation’, and one name keeps cropping up.
Several industry insiders suggested to Reach PLC that people might consider visiting Norway, and Scandinavia more broadly, owing to the milder temperatures that come with heading north instead of south, reports the Express.
Jacqueline Mondelli, of travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth, was among those to recommend Norway. She added: “Similar to last summer, we’re seeing coolcations draw travellers away from the traditional European hotspots like Italy, France, and Spain, in lieu of cooler climates and outdoor adventures.”
Emily Grossman, travel expert with the site TrustedHousesitters, said Norway could be a possibility for travellers looking for cooler climes: “For holiday travellers still weighing up their plans, it’s worth considering destinations less exposed to extreme heat and drought.
“We’re already seeing cooler summer climate choices reflected in TrustedHousesitters’ booking data. House-sitting stays in Norway up nearly 30% year-on-year, and Denmark is up over 24%.”
Norway, Denmark and Sweden are all straightforward to get to from the UK, with direct flights available from a range of airports across the country.
Alicia Hempstead, travel insurance expert at MoneySupermarket.com, suggested that those planning a holiday might want to look towards Scandinavia as an alternative destination.
She said: “As wildfires are unpredictable and can arise at any moment, especially during periods of extreme heat, it’s difficult to say where people should choose instead.
“However, the safest approach would be to choose destinations that are less prone to extreme heat, for example, countries in Scandinavia such as Denmark or Sweden.”
Tim Gunstone, of HotelPlanner, was in agreement, saying: “Tourists are choosing cooler European destinations and to travel to the hottest destinations in October rather than August.
“The biggest winner has been Scandinavia. This has seen August bookings grow by a massive 120%.”
Bryce Collins, founder of INTRO Travel, said: “If you’re set on Europe, head north. The nordics rarely see the extremes, and anywhere on a coast or a big lake stays cooler, there’s something calming about having all that water around.”