Doc Holiday: What’s a less busy alternative to Italy this summer?

The Paris Olympics will make this European Summer one to remember, but what is the best spot to escape the crowds?

Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions.

Our travel agent believes Italy will be overcrowded this European summer due to the Paris Olympics and that we should postpone our May trip. Where would you suggest we go as an alternative?

Olympics or no Olympics, overcrowding is a regular problem in major European cities come the summer months, which is why I always recommend visiting the likes of Italy and France in the shoulder seasons (April to May or September to October).

The Paris Olympics run from July 26 to August 11, so you should be okay for the duration of your trip, provided you depart in early May, as you’re likely to run into summer crowds come June. And if you’ve booked everything – accommodation, attractions and restaurants – well in advance, crowds shouldn’t be a problem. If you’ve missed the boat, you should either consider departing for your trip in April, or look at an alternative holiday destination (if you don’t have your heart set on Italy, that is).

The Albanian Riviera is an excellent (and ridiculously affordable) alternative to the Italian Riviera, its pristine beaches lapped by turquoise waters and its landscape teeming with quaint villages and ancient ruins. Check out the picturesque towns of Ksamil, Saranda, Himara and Dhermi to get an idea of what a holiday here could look like, and remember that a daytrip to the island of Corfu is only about an hour’s ferry ride from Saranda, if you’d like to add a little Greek Island magic to your trip and don’t mind battling peak holiday crowds for a short period.

The archipelago of Malta is another worthy alternative. Malta has around 3000 hours of sunshine each year and offers options for every kind of traveller, from those interested in historic sites to others keen on a relaxed beach holiday. Visitmalta.com is a fantastic resource and I advise taking time to browse the site to see whether a holiday here will appeal to you.

There’s nothing to say, of course, against why you can’t spend the bulk of your time in Italy, visiting lesser-known regions and towns such as the Lazio lakes, the Langhe and Lombardy regions, Treviso and Urbino. Although lovely in their own right, they don’t attract the kinds of crowds that plague Rome, Venice and Florence.

As you’re heading to Dublin in July, I recommend booking all of your accommodation well before you travel. Picture: iStock.

My husband and I are planning a six-week trip around Ireland, Scotland and Wales in July. Should we drive or catch public transport, and do we need to book accommodation?

I’m sure you don’t want to hear “it depends” but… it depends (sorry) on whether you’re looking at mainly sticking to cities or would like the freedom to explore rural areas and anywhere else not serviced by public transport. As a rule, public transport in Ireland, Scotland and Wales is efficient around the paths well-trodden and not only is travelling by train and bus a greener and more relaxing way to travel, you also don’t have to worry about parking or the cost of fuel. That said, while you’ll get from point-to-point quickly, you’ll also miss a lot of the scenic sightseeing along the way.

The biggest issue you may come across with car hire is taking it on a ferry out of Ireland (particularly if it’s a one-way rental). While it’s possible with some rental companies, expect to pay a premium for both the service and the additional insurance cover you’ll have to take out. Once you have your route worked out, it’s best to contact a few of the major companies, such as Hertz and Avis, to get their position on it and then decide whether it will be better to return the car in Dublin and then rent another car once you’ve arrived at your next destination. It’s also worth noting here that ferries tend to be expensive for vehicles and will need to be booked well in advance – particularly for northern summer travellers.

I can’t quite suggest a route without knowing what you’d like to see (the ferry from Dublin across to Holyhead once you’ve completed your circuit of Ireland is a common route), but I recommend tackling Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Scotland’s North Coast 500, the Cambrian Way in Wales and, should you be visiting Northern Ireland, the Causeway Coastal Route.

As you’re heading to Dublin in July, which is the peak travel season up north, I recommend booking all of your accommodation well before you travel. If you’d like a little flexibility, opt for accommodation options which allow free cancellations right up until the date of your stay. You can run a search for such properties on sites including Booking.com and Expedia.

Originally published as Doc Holiday: What’s a less busy alternative to Italy this summer?