Last minute mountain/country holiday suggestions

CrazyIndianZA

Hi,

I am urgently looking for holiday suggestions that conform to the following parameters:

- Min 3 max 7 nights
- somewhere scenic that has some good country walks and bike rides
- for 2 people, aged 32
- Budget for 1 week economy flights+accomodation is max £2.5k
- NOT the US/Canada/Eastern Europe (I don't have a visa)
- Can cover UK/France/Germany/Italy etc (Schengen signatories) or any place that is unlikely to be visa fussy (I have a South African passport)
- Capable of being booked on short notice (I want to leave on Saturday/Sunday)
- Holidays need to be decent i.e UK 4* or German 3* and above

I know its fairly short notice but I have just found myself with a week free and would rather do something with it...

Thanks!

Galtizz

The Peak District! You can walk along peaceful flat river walks or you can climb Kinder Scout, you can cycle along flat old railway tracks or you can cycle across moorland and up and down dales. It really is a beautiful part of the country. You wouldn't have to worry about passports and for 2.5k you could hire your own cottage in the middle of nowhere or you could stay in a very nice posh hotel in Buxton.

Another option is the Dordogne (Les Eysies is a good base, if you can get a hotel on the outskirts) I went there on holiday last year and there were loads of people cycling across the region, stopping in a different place each night. You can cycle, walk and even canoe, which is a lovely way to see the scenery and so peaceful. Easyjet and BMI baby (not sure about Ryan air and others) both fly into Bordeaux then it's a 2 hour train raide or hire a car to get into the region.

If you want somewhere really different (not sure how you'd get on with passport, but it is part of the EU now) is Slovinia, Ryan Air now fly into Ljubiana (the capital) and it's 1 1/2 bus or train ride to Bohjni where you'll find loads of pensions and hotels. There is walking in the Julian Alps (proper mountains ) or the forests and Triglav national park or you can go white water rafting down the river! Not sure about cycling there but I'm sure you'll be able to hire one from somewhere.

How about Austria? This is a very posh hotel in St Wolfgang, it may be fully booked, but they do offer packages including collection from the airport provided you can get the flights (flying into Saltzburg) there is a really good hire shop 2 minutes walk from the hotel who will provide you with everything you need to do every sport (including bikes), there is a bus which will take you up the mountain (1/2 an hours very scenic drive) and you can do most things up there, it is also on the side of a lake and you can do watersports on there. St Wolfgang is a very busy summer resort though so, until you get into the mountains it will be busy.

Wherever you go, have a nice time