A mother of one has revealed how she swapped a Mediterranean getaway for a 'coolcation' and says she'll do it again next year. Monica Krenner and her husband, Peter, were about to book flights to Sardinia, Italy, for their young son Lewis's first holiday. However, as temperatures soared, the couple decided against braving 39-degree heat with a three-year-old. The fatigue of parenting through relentless London heatwaves made her avoid more sweltering temperatures abroad.
Monica, 57, told the Mirror: "It was the best decision we made." Instead of heading to the airport, the family drove five and a half hours from London to St Ives, Cornwall, in June, where temperatures between 16 and 24 degrees felt more appealing.
Why she changed her mind
Nutritionist Monica explained that after speaking with friends and clients from Sardinia, she began to worry about the heat on the Italian island. "After talking with a lot of people, searching all the weather apps, I then said, 'I cannot imagine going there, because then we have to be indoors the whole day, because it will be too hot to go outside'," she said. She also considered her son's sensitive skin and sleep issues, fearing the heat would make things worse.
In Cornwall, the family slept comfortably at night after days of walking in fresh air and exploring the coastline. It was Lewis's first time at the beach, and despite seagulls, it was a memorable trip. Monica, originally from Vienna, said: "It was just relaxed, and in the evening, there was a nice breeze in your face. It felt like you could really breathe properly."
A new trend
The trip "completely changed" how the family views summer holidays. They now prefer exploring options "rather than chasing guaranteed sunshine." Next year, they plan another 'coolcation', eyeing Denmark, Sweden, or Scotland. During the late June heatwave, searches for cool-weather city breaks surged by 33 percent compared to the previous week, according to Opodo. Stockholm, Geneva, and Gothenburg were top choices.
With four UK heatwaves this summer, many holidaymakers seek gentle breezes. Airbnb reported bookings in Scarborough up by 30 percent, and Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland saw a 29 percent rise. Awaze found searches for "escape the heat" rose by 300 percent, and 'coolcations' searches were up by 420 percent. Matthew Price, Awaze's chief executive, said rising temperatures are "creating a new category of holidays."
Heti Morus from StayCotswold told the Mirror: "It's no wonder 'coolcations' are growing in popularity here in the UK. I recently flew back from Bordeaux and saw the wildfires firsthand from the air." She added that cooler staycation destinations are more appealing this year.
