The quest for cooler climes
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Most of the Travel Desk roll their eyes when I mention the term “coolcation”. It is, indeed, a terrible non-word that I truly hope never reaches the dictionary. Yet in these times of extreme heat, it has proved quite useful when describing the increased interest in summer holiday destinations where the temperatures aren’t in the 30s.
The term is not being used – as you may have assumed – to describe particularly chilly getaways. We’re not talking about Christmas in Lapland, snowy escapes in the Alps or a cruise around Antarctica. Indeed, the term “coolcation” is often deployed for destinations that sit in the mid-20s in the summer – basically, anywhere that isn’t completely scorching.
For as long as I can remember, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Turkey have been the top holiday hotspots for Brits. Until recently I would have found it hard to imagine that anything could prise us away from villas in the south of France, all-inclusives in the Algarve and beachfront hotels in Mallorca. Yet research that we ran in The Independent this week shows that many travellers are turning away from traditional Mediterranean holidays and instead searching for “coolcations” in the likes of Canada, Norway and Scotland. Travel search engine Kayak said that flight searches to cooler domestic and international destinations are climbing sharply year-on-year, including the Canadian city of Ottawa (currently 24C) and Salzburg in Austria (25C), as well as Glasgow (17C) and Aberdeen (16C) closer to home.
This doesn’t come as much of a surprise to me as we’ve been seeing this trend for several years now. The term “coolcation” entered our Travel Desk vocabulary back in 2023, and we’ve been seeing an increased interest in Scandinavian destinations for a while, as summers in the Med get increasingly hot.
However, the intensity of this year’s heat makes me feel like summer 2026 may be a turning point for many holidaymakers. Wildfires, drought, temperatures in the 40s, cruise ships stopped in their tracks by low water levels – there’s no doubt that our summer holidays are already starting to look very different. This week we’ve seen Italy place all of its major cities, stretching from Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily, under the highest heat alert, with tourists being advised to stay indoors when possible. That doesn’t sound like much of a holiday.
It seems that our Travel Desk has inadvertently already jumped on the “coolcation” bandwagon. Senior travel writer Natalie raves about Sweden’s Vrångö island; deputy travel editor Sophie is a big fan of Bodø in Norway; and travel writer Amelia was exploring Shetland in June while the rest of the team were sweltering in an early heatwave.
That being said, Natalie is off to Crete today, while Amelia will be headed to Croatia next week, and Sophie enjoyed a lovely holiday in Naxos last month – so clearly we haven’t sworn off the Mediterranean summer holiday just yet…
My summer getaway this year? Later in the month I’ll be heading to Pembrokeshire, which I’ve been reliably informed is currently 19C, breezy and drizzling. I couldn’t be happier.
Are you still holidaying in the Mediterranean? Or are you looking to cooler climes for your summer break? I’d love to hear your thoughts at annabel.grossman@independent.co.uk.
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Chill out: A paddle with the oystercatchers on Sweden's Vrångö island (Intrepid Travel)
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Airline reports huge loss as war sends fuel costs soaring
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UK airport closed for years takes step towards reopening
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Jetstar to charge for carry-on bags in overhead lockers
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Air India flight drops 300ft following turbulence
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London bus drivers to strike over heatwave working conditions
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Our travel experts share their advice on the best destinations for hiking, paddling and sipping
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Natalie Wilson was won over by European Sleeper’s new-ish route – and all its kinks – on an overnight roll to Berlin
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On the southwest fork of Lake Como, the minimalist Il Sereno provides serenity and privacy
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Will rising airport drop-off fees encourage you to take public transport to the terminal?
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After an analysis from the RAC found that drop-off fees at Britain’s busiest airports have risen by a third on average since last summer, this week I want to know if the charge will push you towards public transport. Is the farewell fee worth it for a kiss and fly? Or are terminal taxes forcing you to take the train? Vote by selecting the buttons above.
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When we asked if you’d be happy to pay a tourist tax on your UK break, you were divided, with 56 per cent saying no.
We also had a deluge of emails on the topic, with Travel Insider readers largely agreeing on the principle but split on who should actually foot the bill. Several argued that the current model lets the wrong people off the hook – overnight visitors are taxed while day trippers, who can put just as much strain on a city’s infrastructure, pay nothing at all.
One reader, Cathie Wood, wrote in from Oxford: “I live in Oxford, which is increasingly swamped by tourists – mostly fleets of day trippers who come in coaches that clog up beautiful St Giles. However, Oxford city itself struggles for money and looks tatty – poor roadway quality, no decent public loos… I would definitely apply a tourist tax and find a way to tax the day trippers, not least making the coaches stop at the Park & Rides.”
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Where to see the solar eclipse in the UK
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In five days, parts of the planet will be cast into shadow as our moon passes over the sun in a solar eclipse. To see this natural spectacle in all its glory, your best bet would be to head to Spain, Iceland or Greenland, which are all in the path of totality, as well as a small corner of northwestern Portugal. (A full solar eclipse will also be experienced in Siberia, but I wouldn’t recommend northern Russia for a holiday right now.) The eclipse will also be partially visible in a number of countries, including parts of the United States, Canada, Senegal, Morocco, Germany, Poland and the UK and Ireland.
On our home shores, around 90 per cent of the sun will be covered by the moon – the most coverage since the last total solar eclipse in 1999. Natalie has been scoping out where best to see the eclipse in the UK and suggests looking to the Southwest (having been reliably informed by Royal Museums Greenwich).
In Cornwall, you are likely to see up to a 95 per cent solar eclipse from 6.18pm, with maximum sun coverage at 7.16pm. Wales, including Eryri Snowdonia, will see around 90 per cent coverage, with Pembrokeshire set to experience 94 per cent. Londoners won’t be quite so lucky, but if you’re in the capital it might be worth heading to viewpoints at Primrose Hill or Greenwich Park, as 90 per cent coverage is expected from 7.12pm. Up in Scotland, Edinburgh can expect a 91 per cent eclipse, while in Ireland, one of the country’s most south-westerly points, Mizen Head, is potentially set to experience almost 97.5 per cent coverage on August 12.
Finally, please remember it’s not safe to look directly at the sun, so if viewing the partial eclipse make sure you get your hands on some safe solar viewing glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer.
Read our full article on where to see the solar exclipse in the UK
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Even if your best efforts from behind the lens of a camera are unlikely to gain you a ‘photographer of the year’ award, when it comes to your travels, there are no better mementoes than the images you capture along the way.
Smartphone cameras are continuing to improve on everything from zoom to low-light performance, while still offering all the versatility of a mobile. After putting myriad models to the test, tech expert Thomas Deehan was particularly impressed by the Oppo Find X9 Pro. “The prowess of this phone means that, in certain situations, you can get shots that are on par with (and sometimes better than) those taken with a dedicated camera,” he said.
If you’re looking for a step up from a smartphone, technology journalist and professional photographer Alastair Jennings has reviewed a range of compact cameras, highlighting the Panasonic TZ99 as being a great option for travel. “In bright sunlight, image quality is impressive across the full zoom range,” he said. “And it should be noted that this quality is considerably better than any smartphone zoom feature when used at an equivalent length.”
For serious snappers, a digital camera with an interchangeable lens is the best choice if you want to take high-resolution, detail-rich images. Sony’s Alpha V is Alastair’s top choice, thanks to impressive image quality and video performance, but he also recommends the Canon EOS R50 as an entry-level option.
No matter how you choose to photograph your latest adventures, the best digital photo frames can showcase your favourite images on a rolling display, while taking up minimal space in your home. Tech expert Ian Evenden rates the Aura Carver smart HD digital photo frame. “The photos on display were beautifully bright, with sharp detail and no visible glare,” he said, making it an ideal choice for snap-happy holidaymakers.
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Being a ‘good’ tourist on Exmoor
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This week we learned that Exmoor National Park is rewarding visitors who exhibit good behaviour such as litter picking or taking public transport. Anyone who can show evidence of “positive actions” that help take care of the local areas will receive 20 per cent off purchases at Exmoor National Park Centres in Dulverton, Dunster or Lynmouth. These actions include going car-free, completing a two-minute litter-picking session and recording local wildlife on the iNaturalist app.
The initiative was inspired by Copenhagen’s CopenPay scheme, which has been in place in the Danish capital for three summers now, designed to encourage visitors to explore the city through “good actions”, such as biking rather than driving, arriving by train, and helping to clean up the harbour. Rewards range from free bike rental or a cup of coffee to discounts on cultural and outdoor activities.
Although I’m not sure how many people will be enticed to pick litter or take photos of wildlife for the sake of 20 per cent off a mug or a T-shirt, I actually quite like the sentiment. It serves as a reminder of the small things that we should all do when visiting other cities, parks or any destination: take care of our surroundings, make choices that consider the environment, and think carefully about how our actions affect local communities.
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Save on a Virgin hot air balloon flight
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Take life higher with spectacular views, then toast your adventure with a celebratory glass of Prosecco once you touch back down. Enjoy a 3-4 hour experience with about an hour in the air. Find out more.
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4* DoubleTree Cadbury House Spa Stay from £79
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.jpeg?quality=75&width=1368&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=167%2C0%2C169%2C0&auto=webp "European Sleeper")
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