Monday, August 3, 2015

Travel Link-Up: Beach Breaks vs. City Breaks


So, this month's Travel Link-Up theme is all about "travel contrasts" and it got me thinking: do you prefer beach breaks or city breaks?

Looking at the photos above, the destinations couldn't be more different: the laid-back vibe of Sri Lankan beaches, where all I could hear was the ocean crashing on the sand from where I read my book in a hammock that swung gently beneath a palm tree ... to the rush of traffic in the middle of New York City's Time Square, with hundreds of tourists craning their necks up to take photos of the neon lights and signs.

And yet ... I prefer a bit of both.

'That's cheating!' I hear you say. But it's not. Not really. A city break can often be as refreshing as a beachy break ... a new city waiting to be discovered on foot, the rush a different kind of rush than the one I might be used to.


The other day, I was talking to someone about how underrated and often forgotten Brussels is as a location for a city-break. That trip I took in February with my best friend Udita remains firmly stamped in my mind as one of the most memorable - and not just because I was travelling with her, but also because I loved the feel of the city. The verve; the vibe.

Cities have hearts - don't you think? They're pulsing, reaching out, navigating, yearning, hoping - it's what I love about discovering a new city. Finding its pulse. Walking it, living it, breathing it, tasting it.

Another favorite city of mine? Berlin. Such an incredibly artistic, hip, and impossibly cool city. Beyond that? New York and Madrid. New York is - well, New York. And Madrid is so elegant: sophisticated and fabulous.

But the beach also beckons. And whether it's Vietnam or Thailand or Sri Lanka or the Oregon Coast (where I haven't been back to since I was a child), there's something about that magical lull of the ocean - the little inlets and infinite pool of blue that make me feel like I've just magically stepped into a screensaver. It's just so intoxicating.


There are no cares in the world during these kinds of vacations; only the thought that you're on vacation and what that means is no shoes, no watch, and salty wet hair. All the time.

And time. Time moves so slowly during these beachy breaks. My movements themselves become languid and delayed. Reaching for a glass beside my sun lounger suddenly seems like so much effort.

But this is good. Beach vacations are like interventions. They force you to slow down. To really see around you. To understand what it means to replenish your heart and your mind with joy, calm, and quietness.

So, tell me: do you prefer city breaks? Or beachy breaks? Or a bit of both?

This month's travel link-up is hosted by Rebecca, Kelly, Emma, and Zoe. Head over to their blogs to read more about travel contrasts and to discover the different ways we all like to travel!
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22 comments

  1. TOTALLY not cheating - I'm exactly the same, so much so that I'm trying to think of somewhere to go later this year and have been toying with both a return to NYC or a week in the Caribbean as possible ideas. Slightly different trips but they both appeal in such different ways. Ps, keep hearing a lot about how lovely Oregon is!

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    1. BOTH, DO BOTH!!! :) But I totally know what you mean ... I'd have a difficult time choosing between both of those! I could see the appeal of NYC, although the Caribbean would also be heavenly. Decisions, decisions!

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  2. I love the buzz of a city break, Paris, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong all have my heart! But I love the gentle beauty of watching the ocean crash against a cliff or the sand. The benefit for me of a city break is that we're always doing something but on a beach break Mr S just wants to sit and do nothing!
    Lots of love,
    Angie
    SilverSpoon London

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    1. Totally agree, Angie! I think I would be with Mr. Silver on the beach break ... I like to fall asleep in the sun and transfer from pool to ocean to sun lounger, repeat! :) xx

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  3. I'm such a beach girl, but I also love a city break every so often! I'm not great in cities though (despite working in London), so can only survive a few days before I feel ready to jump off the nearest bridge - hence I still insist on living in the countryside and commuting 3 hours a day! I love big open spaces and beautiful scenery, and tend to get very claustrophobic in cities.

    I think my favourite one has to be Budapest, I completely adored it and loved that there weren't a lot of tourists there. I also loved Los Angeles and New Orleans - both great cities with a soul and vibe that I just fell in love with!

    C x | Lux Life

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    1. It's a luxury to be able to live in the countryside, Catherine - I'm envious! I think that's one of the reasons why we picked the place we're in now to buy a house ... we're really close to Epping Forest, so within minutes, we can be on a bike ride deep into the middle of fields, though it takes a while to cycle away from the noise of the road!

      AND - I totally forgot about Budapest. WHAT A FANTASTIC CITY! I loved it when we went a few years ago and have been longing to go back ever since. The spas!!! Ahhh!!! x

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  4. I also loved the trip to Brussels we took and think it does not get enough love either! I grew up in a beach city so I always wanted to do city trips but now that I have been away from there I am longing for a nice few days on a beach!

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    1. Right? Most people definitely do NOT see Brussels as a citybreak option, which I think is a shame! Love the museums, the antiques, and ... oh, all the chocolate!!! Lucky you - growing up in a beach city! I can't imagine what that would be like. I bet you do want the opposite of what you're used to though!

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  5. I feel the same way: city breaks and country breaks both make me happy for different reasons. This is also why I still don't know where I really want to live. I've tried both sides and I love them both, with all their advantages and inconvenients. :)

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    1. I completely agree, Charlotte - have a hard time deciding between both! I adore country breaks. I think we're really lucky to live in a country where the countryside is so darn beautiful and has so much to offer!

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  6. I. Love. That. Pool. exactly where is it please... the Sri Lankan one! Beach/countryside/sea for me - but with a city en route to mix it up...

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    1. Hey, Anna! It's a pretty awesome pool. And then it's the ocean just beyond that! It's at Apa Villas, Thalpe Beach in Sri Lanka - one of my favorites that we stayed at while we were there. It's small - so I think only 6 or 7 suites. A really lovely place at very reasonable prices - simple luxury!

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  7. I definitely need a bit of both... too much city time and things can feel too hectic, too much beach time and I get bored!

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    1. I don't think I could ever get tired of the beach ... :) But I know what you mean!

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  8. I definitely don't think both is cheating!

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  9. You have to love both, surely! I'm all about short city breaks and lounging on the beach for a week + ;) Lots of love, Andrea xxx

    Andrea's Passions

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    1. Same here - short city breaks can be just as refreshing! Although ... lying on a beach for a week is just the ultimate. :) xxx

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  10. I love a bit of both, but I like to combine beach breaks with some activities as well whether it be snorkelling, diving, visiting the local town, etc. I'm not good at sitting still for too long.

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    1. I agree, Stacey! Well ... actually, I could sit around all day. But I'd probably get bored after a few days, though we never go away for long enough for me to get bored! Definitely love it when a beach is close to a town as well so you can just wander between the two and explore depending on what mood you're in.

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  11. Great minds think alike, I wrote about beach vs. city too! As someone who hasn't been on a lot of beachy holidays, I always think I really want to go on them, but then the city breaks get booked instead, so I guess that's where my really priorities are.

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    1. Ha! Just went to read it and commented, Dannielle! I'm the opposite - I feel like I need to do more city breaks! Let's switch. :)

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