Where to go in June

Thinking of booking your summer vacation? Whether you seek sunshine and the holiday crowds – or you’re looking to escape them – there are plenty of options for all.

We’ve rounded up some of the best destinations for a June vacation with tips on what to do and where to stay. Here are our top recommendations.

Where to go in June

Barbados

It may be the start of the Caribbean hurricane season, but June can actually be one of the best times to visit Barbados. High season is tapering off which means lower prices on flights and accommodation, plus the weather remains quite dry.

There are other reasons to visit Barbados in June. The adrenaline-pumping Sol Rally Barbados kicks off at the beginning of the month, with an action-packed weekend of rally car racing through the island’s backroads, led by some of the fastest drivers in the world. Get ready for some action as this event attracts thousands of spectators – and there are some serious after parties to enjoy.

If you need a break from the crowds you can head off to explore the island’s other attractions, including underground caverns and old colonial plantation houses hidden in leafy sugar cane fields. Then there’s the wave-pummelled east coast which boasts stunning views, and the bustling capital of Bridgetown with its many shops, restaurants and historic buildings. You’ll find some great golf courses in Barbados too, located at the luxury resorts in St. James on the idyllic west coast of the island.

If lazing on the beach is your idea of vacation bliss you’re well placed in Barbados  – it has more than 70 miles of beaches including Crane Beach, regularly tipped on ‘world’s best beaches’ lists.

The English Cotswolds

The Cotswolds – just a 2-hour drive from London but far removed from the hectic capital – boasts some of the UK’s prettiest villages and countryside. Spanning five separate counties, this 800-square-mile region is home to quintessentially English villages of honey-colored stone, lively market towns and some of the country’s greatest palaces, castles and manor houses.

The start of the Engish summer but not quite the school summer holidays, June is an ideal month to visit the UK with warm sunny weather pretty much guaranteed (well, okay, it could rain a bit too). What’s more, the Cotswolds offers a rich harvest of locally produced cheeses, jams, vegetables and drinks which are at their best in the summer, and appear prominently on the menus of the many and varied places to eat – expect everything from quaint cafes and old unassuming inns to world-famous gastro pubs and fine dining restaurants.

First-timers will marvel at the area’s outstanding natural beauty, with around 3000 miles of footpaths and trails winding through nature reserves, woodlands and wildflower meadows. There are postcard-pretty villages like Chipping Campden, a famous old market town, and Lacock, one of the prettiest villages in England (and where scenes from Harry Potter were filmed). For a livelier buzz head to the larger towns like Witney which is known for its manufacturing of woollen goods, and Cheltenham, with its renowned racecourse and its wealth of festivals – the Cheltenham Science Festival is in June.

Disney World, Orlando

June may be one of Florida’s rainier months but don’t let that stop you taking the kids there. The sun shines all year round in Orlando, and the theme parks are open for business every day, so there really is no bad time to go.

There are 4 fantastic theme parks at Disney World Orlando, plus 2 water parks, 2 exciting entertainment districts, a state-of-the-art sports complex and unlimited opportunities for shopping, dining, recreation and relaxation.

The parks get pretty busy during the holidays but you’ll avoid the worst of the crowds if you visit before summer vacation starts. It’s likely to be hot in June and yes, there may be some rain, but any showers are usually light and they’re quickly followed by clear sunny skies.

Disney World offers a Fastpass service which is handy as it allows you to skip the queues for certain rides and attractions by making reservations in advance. If you want to skip the theme parks altogether you’ll find loads of other things to do in and around Orlando including free and cheap activities for all the family and plenty of day trips to Florida’s top attractions.

Koh Samui, Thailand

You can expect sunshine – and lots of it – if you’re visiting Koh Samui in June. Average temperatures for the month hover around the mid 80s and the days are long and sunny making it a perfect place for a summer beach vacation.

Sports-wise you’ll be just in time for the Queen’s Cup golf tournament, held every June at the beautiful Santiburi Golf Club. There’s the Samui Marathon too, an annual event which attracts top marathon runners from all over the world.

If sporting events aren’t your thing you can kick back and relax on one of Samui’s many and varied beaches, or head to one of the many boutique spas on the island – or even see the world from a new perspective on an elephant trek.

For something a little livelier you’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the Chaweng area. Serious party-goers can head over to Koh Phangan for a full moon party. These epic all-night beach parties happen once a month and are a short 30-minute ferry ride away.

Destin, Florida

There are countless deep-sea fishing destinations in the world, but Destin, located along Florida’s aptly-named Emerald Coast, is one of the best. The region is home to a host of offshore charter boats and fishing guides, and is one of the best places to catch deep sea game fish like marlin, tuna, swordfish and wahoo.

There’s plenty more to do in Destin besides just fishing though. The city’s outstanding natural beauty is a massive draw for those who visit, with never-ending powder-white beaches like Crystal Beach and Miramar, the rugged wilderness of St. Vincent Island, and the endless nature parks. There are plenty of great shops and entertainment offerings in and around Destin, as well as lots of buzzing restaurants and bars.

June is peak season along the Gulf of Mexico so expect the beaches to be bustling and the sun to be be shining almost the entire time.

Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos islands see around 350 days of sunshine throughout the year, so there’s no ‘bad’ time to visit, but June has the added benefit of especially hot and sunny weather – without peak season prices.

The Conch Bar Caves, located near the village of Conch Bar on Middle Caicos, are the largest and oldest underground caves in the entire Caribbean region. You’ll marvel at the sight of this massive cave system complete with underground lagoons, ancient Indian artefacts and age-old stalactites and stalagmites that jut out dramatically from above and below.

The rest of the Turks and Caicos is well worth exploring too: in fact there’s an almost endless list of things to do. The main tourist centre is Providenciales, the largest and busiest island where you’ll find most of the shops, restaurants, entertainment and vacation homes. The quieter islands of Middle and North Caicos are home to the majority of natural attractions, and the capital island of Grand Turk is home to a cruise port and a historic district.

You can spend your days lazing on unspoilt beaches and cays, or try your hand at scuba diving, snorkeling or even freediving (where you dive without compressed air). South Caicos can be reached relatively easily, and it’s a great spot for fishing, especially around Cockburn Harbour, the best natural harbor area in the entire country. Most of the islands are only around 15-25 minutes by air from Providenciales, and most of them can also be reached by boat.

St Tropez, France

A place where glitz and glam blends with old-world charm, St Tropez is one of the best-known cities on France’s Cote d’Azur. With a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, it caters to its flashy guests in many ways, from its designer boutiques and fine-dining restaurants, to the famous St Tropez Port that’s full with bobbing super yachts.

It’s not all about the opulence though. If you head away from the yacht-filled marinas and flashy Ferraris you’ll find a wealth of traditional charm with cobbled streets, quaint cafes, art galleries and museums. The surroundings are glorious too, with the wooded, rocky St Tropez peninsula and views across the sea to the Maurres mountains.

St Tropez vacations can be spent visiting museums and monuments, or wandering from the port through the winding streets of the old town and out onto the Place des Lices where 100-year-old plane trees become the backdrop for the twice weekly farmers’ market. June is a great month to visit for the beaches, which range from the popular beach clubs of Pampelonne to lesser-known bays that are perfect for an afternoon of relaxation.

Be warned, St Tropez gets very busy in the summer (it sees up to 100,000 visitors a day) so time your trip around the school holidays.

Other useful resorces

Things to do in Orlando when it rains
Five great reasons to visit Barbados in 2018
Travel expert's guide to 2018

If you’re thinking of booking a June vacation and you need advice on the best places to stay then contact us today. Additionally, our dedicated concierge team can arrange any added extras you need such as great-value car hire.

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