The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

The Independent

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00:00beach break or city escape action-packed adventure or pure sun-soaked holiday summer is officially

00:18here but if you've not yet booked your next getaway don't panic travel smart team is here

00:24to help we've chosen our personal picks the places we love to return to and those hidden gems we think

00:30are definitely worth exploring so whether you're after some fresh holiday inspiration or just need

00:37a nudge to hit that book now button we are here to help you find your perfect summer destination

00:54portugal is a classic for a summer getaway and my top tip porto this place is ridiculously photogenic

01:02it'll set your instagram on fire and it's completely walkable you don't need public transport to get

01:09around for me the most picturesque spot was the ribera district which is a unesco heritage site

01:15and exploring the area you can see why around eufree corner there's a gorgeous cobbled street

01:23and beautiful patchwork buildings painted in yellow porto is also known for its stunning tile murals

01:29they have really intricate designs which you can see all across the city and if you come in by train

01:36you'll see one of the best examples at the train station which is a landmark in itself i saw people

01:43going on tours just to see the train station that's how beautiful it is of course you can't visit without

01:49trying one of the things that portugal is most famous for and that's port across the river in

01:56villa nova de gaia is portugal's oldest port house copca which was established in 1638 when i went with

02:04my partner we got to indulge in some delicious port matched with dark chocolate naughty but very nice

02:12indeed even if port is not your thing i reckon this experience will change your mind

02:18now i like a little bit of adventure on my summer holidays so for me morocco is a top destination

02:29it's only a four hour flight from the uk which is very manageable but you feel like you're a world

02:35away from europe i'd always start my trip in marrakesh which is excellent for a city break

02:40you can stay in a riyadh for not too much money and there's some very affordable hotels as well

02:46and spend a couple of days wandering among the soups shopping and eating the food there is brilliant

02:51i would then head up to the atlas mountains where you'll be spoilt for choice in terms of activities

02:57there's amazing mountain biking and hiking is really accessible one of my top tips would be to

03:04hire a local guide from the berber community as not only will they be able to show you the best hikes

03:10amazing views and really lovely villages to hike through but they'll also very like to know people

03:16in the local community and this is a community that is incredibly hospitable people will very likely

03:22invite you in you can have a meal with a local family they'll serve tea and with a local guide

03:28they'll be able to really immerse you in the culture as much as i love marrakesh this summer i'm

03:35probably looking for a slightly slower pace of life for my city break which is why i've been

03:40considering agadir which is on the coast i spent some time a little bit further down the coast in

03:45tagazoo which is a very laid-back surf town and to get that same sort of vibe there are plenty of

03:52resorts in agadir where you can just kick back on the beach and relax there's also tons of culture

03:57nearby if you're looking for a great city break this summer i'd recommend visiting prague i know

04:05it's known as a bit of a boozy destination with a few stag do's here and there but when i visited

04:10with my boyfriend we had a completely different experience if you're really into your architecture

04:15then this is the place for you to visit with its baroque romanesque and gothic styles and one of

04:22the standout spots was the medieval astronomical clock i'd also recommend going and visiting

04:28prague castle that's perched on a hillside one of the things i value in traveling is seeking a break

04:34on a budget and prague certainly delivered i visited with my boyfriend but i could see

04:39why it'd be a great place to come with a group of friends especially because of its cheap pints

04:45costing around £2.40 where else are you going to get that in europe but aside from the drinking

04:50there's so much that prague has to offer from its historical architecture its cultural hot spots

04:57to its all-around beauty and that's why i would recommend a visit this summer

05:02all right emily we've heard from the rest of the team but what's your perfect summer escape

05:10you can't beat the balerics for me i've been to ibiza and i've been to mallorca quite a few times

05:15and what are your highlights on particularly mallorca the biggest island

05:19my favorite thing to do in mallorca is to take the old wooden train from palma to soyer in the

05:25mountains you get these absolutely incredible mountain views as you're trundling along

05:30and if you've got a bit more time on your hands you can go from soyer via the tram down to port

05:35to soyer and have lunch on the beach there's this gorgeous spot called patiki beach which i

05:40personally rate it serves amazing fresh seafood and local mallorcan wines

05:44so simon tell me about your perfect summer holiday destination in terms of sheer value i am aiming

05:51straight for turkish shores you are guaranteed a warm welcome warm sunshine and to stretch your pounds

05:59and talia itself the airport that you fly into is a fascinating city i've made a 48 hours from there

06:08so much to see and then going west along the coast dalaman really opens up some lovely quieter resorts

06:16what about you have you had much experience of turkish adventures i've been to bodrum in fact but it was

06:21more of a clubbing holiday i think um we probably didn't see as much culture as we should have done

06:26well there is plenty to see there including the original mausoleum so um i urge you to return there soon

06:34perhaps with a different set of eyes yeah

06:38so those were just a few of our top picks for summer if you're still unsure where to go visit

06:48independent.co.uk travel for ideas inspiration and tips and for more episodes of travel smart

06:56go to independent tv or the independent app see you next time

07:02go to independent.co.uk

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