We’ve all had those kinds of holidays, where we come back more stressed than we left. City breaks that have ended up being more of a pain than it was worth. The sightseer’s checklist mentality makes for a stressful urge to see everything and do everything, so that when the holiday is over, you brain is fried. So, we are going to look at the best destinations that are far from city life for the perfect stress free holiday. These are places that are guaranteed to improve your well-being and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. We’ll be taking you through the vineyards of Tuscany and the beaches of Malaga, before escaping to the green countryside of Somerset and strolling along the desert paths of the Joshua Tree National Park. That’s quite a variety of terrain: vineyards, beaches, greenery and an arid desert. And all you have got to do is turn up, de-stress, and trust our extensive research. We are Plum Guide after all. So, take a deep breath and come with us.
Book a calming trip to Tuscany
Travel to Tuscany to guarantee a stress free holiday. Green valleys and hills drape across the mixed topography of northern Italy, the peaks adorned with the rustic edifices, and vineyards that make Tuscany famous. Make your way around the countryside, tasting truffles in San Miniato and rummaging through the wilderness of Monti dell'Uccellina. Meander between the cypress trees of the Val d’Orcia, admiring the sloped vineyards and farms. Enjoy a few glasses (or bottles) of the local grape variety at some of the wineries, such as the Capitoni Marco, the Terre Senesi Valdorcia. If you do (somehow) get tired of this absolute serenity, you’re spoilt for choice with iconic Italian cities, from Florence and Pisa to Siena and San Gimignano. Snap photos of your relaxed smile, while you pretend to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
A sleepy town in Tuscany, Italy
When in Metato, Plum Guide home in Tuscany, Italy
Get away from the city life in Andalusia
If you’re looking to escape from all of the chaos of city life and work back home, there’s nothing quite like a retreat to the Costa del Sol. And if you think that’s a coffee shop owned by a guy called Sol, you may be right. But we’re writing today about the other Costa del Sol - the south coast of Spain, known for good reason in Spanish as the Sun Coast. In the city of Malaga, visit the Malaga Port, the Malaga Cathedral and the Alcazaba historic ruins. As for the stress free stuff we’ve been banging on about, head to the beach. Travel southwest down the coast and stop off at Torremolinos for El Bajondillo Beach and La Carihuela Beach. Continue west to Marbella for its beaches, resorts and lively ports. You might even spot a few celebs at Puerto Banus.
Harbour in Marbella, Spain
Where Sand Meets Sea, Plum Guide home in Malaga, Spain
Savour some peace and quiet in Somerset
If you’re looking for a totally stress free holiday, avoid all the hassle of airports (if you happen to live in the UK, that is), by driving down to Somerset. Ask all the locals the name of the county to hear them pronounce Somerset with that famous hard ‘r’. It’s somewhere between exotic and pirate-esque. OK, now it’s time to explore. You’d be forgiven for thinking that England is all pretty flat…but a trip to Cheddar Gorge will quickly disavow you of such naive thinking. It’s where Lord of the Rings writer JRR Tolkien took his honeymoon (it was probably a touch harder back then to get to Malaysia, Marbella or...Middle Earth). Wander through the quaint village of Wells to see its magnificent cathedral, and head to the Roman Baths in…Bath. Down on the coast, you’ve got the Clevedon Pier, a reminder of the Victorians’ preference for Somerset as a summer holiday spot.
Clevedon Pier, Somerset, UK
Starry Fields, Plum Guide home in Somerset
Explore Joshua Tree to free your mind
Apologies for our UK-centric previous suggestion of Somerset. Some of you are in other countries, of course, with the US among the most likely places. The Joshua Tree National Park makes for another idyllic and quiet spot away from it all. Stand in the middle of the desert and gaze up at the stars, considering the enormousness of it all, and our insignificance in the scheme of the universe. Wait, maybe that is stressful. OK, in that case, turn off your brain, and embark on paths and trails around the park. It’s a bit hot for intense hiking in summer, but spring, autumn and winter make for ideal trekking conditions. Among the favourites are the Barker Dam Trail, the Hidden Valley Trail and the Ryan Mountain Trail.
Barker Dam Nature Trail, Twenty Nine Palms, California
Desert Perspective, Plum Guide home in Joshua Tree
