Short Breaks

Away for a day or with a whole weekend to spare, we've got the hot destinations for short breaks in the UK and beyond.

Step into the wealth that is at your doorstep with a train trip to a nearby destination. Scotland , England , Wales and Ireland offer the workaholic inside of us a chance to take a back seat to the pleasure and fun seeker waiting to get out. For the outdoorsman, Scotland offers a wealth of hiking and scenic vistas that can make us wonder how we can keep our heads working away under those fluorescent lights. Try hiking a section of the West Highland Way, which starts in Glasgow and ends in Fort William (much of it accessible by train, bus, and road) for a feast of beauty, history, and fresh air. If history is your game, you can find it a short bus ride away in Cambridge. Go early and hire a punt, then stay late for a Pimm's along the Cam, soaking in the sights and sounds of young people among some of Britain 's oldest and most storied buildings.

While many with a few days to spend decide to use their time effectively re-filing their paperback novels by height and their album collection by the length of the singer's hair, some of us choose to take the time to see the sights and come back to work with a Winter tan.

One of the first destinations for travelers with just a few days to spare is the islands of the Mediterranean . While Mallorca, Minorca, and Ibiza may be deeply entrenched on the red-faced tourist trail, you can still find plenty of highlights on less explored islands.

Sicily and Sardinia are two examples of Italian islands that offer everything you should expect from a short break—sand, sun, and succulent seafood—while maintaining a level of cultural and historical interest high enough for the most discerning travelers. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean offers the chance to sample some of the best cuisine in the world, think classic Italian with more seafood, and more parsley. Sardinia may not be as well known, but it too is an island paradise just waiting to be discovered. Scuba diving, snorkeling, and pristine beached make this and many others ideal locations for anyone with a little extra time on their hands.