Wildfires are currently raging across large parts of southern Europe, including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. The escalating situation could impact British summer holiday plans as these nations are typically favoured by UK tourists during the warm months. Temperatures have surged past 40C in some areas.
France's president Emmanuel Macron described the crisis as the nation's worst wildfire outbreak since World War Two, with firefighters battling blazes around the clock. Flames are spreading rapidly across Spain, while active fires continue in northern and central Portugal, as well as Sicily and parts of southern Italy.
Experts Suggest 'Coolcations' in Scandinavia
With this in mind, travel experts have been suggesting potential alternatives for those seeking so-called 'coolcations', and one name keeps cropping up: Norway. Several industry insiders told 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.
Jacqueline Mondelli, of travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth, recommended Norway. She said: "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 TrustedHousesitters, added: "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%."
Direct Flights and Growing Bookings
Norway, Denmark and Sweden are all straightforward to reach 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. 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, agreed, noting: "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."
