Hello Reader

As we head towards the end of May, the weather is warming up in Bristol and it's a great time to visit northern Europe.

While I love the heat of Greece and Spain, I also appreciate that not everyone likes burning hot weather. If you are more of a cool climate lover, seeking sunny days but temperatures that are comfortable for sightseeing, then northern Europe is a great option for trips in May and June.

In this newsletter, I decided to focus on some travel inspiration for Austria. It's a country that I've visited many times and love its atmosphere - they like to say that it combines the best of Germanic efficiency with Italian joie-de-vivre.

And of course there's all that glorious mountain scenery, for sound-of-music moments and twirling in flower-filled Alpine meadows.

Read about some of my inspiring trips to Austria below, from the fabulous cities of Vienna, Graz and Salzburg, to lesser known mountain regions like Vorarlberg.

I have a trip to Scotland coming up very soon, with some sightseeing in Glasgow, so hope to bring you the highlights next time.

Wishing you travels that are sunny but not sweltering.

Heather x

PS. Austria is an amazing outdoor destination, so why not get my free download - 10 Tips for staying active on holiday​

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Travelling soon?

If you are travelling soon it really helps us if you use the booking links below.

We make a small commission at no additional cost to you, which helps keep this newsletter and blog free.

Hotels: I use Booking but Expedia is also good for flight + hotel packages.

Tours: For top end food tours, we recommend Devour Tours and small group tours with Take Walks. Both Get Your Guide and Viator are also great for tours and experiences.

Trains: For train bookings in Europe use Rail Europe. Byway Travel also offer great no-fly itineraries in Europe and beyond.

Car Hire: For car hire I use the car rental arm of Booking.com (but always check the scores and reviews of each provider).

Villas & Cottages: VRBO for villas and holiday rentals worldwide and Sykes Cottages for UK cottages.

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Austrian inspiration for May and June

Austria has so many beautiful cities and mountain regions - there's something for everyone, especially if you want sunny days without burning heat.

Graz

• Best for a citybreak in Austria's charming second city

Read: Graz in Austria - a perfect weekend itinerary​

Personal Highlight: Getting lost in the 'Bermuda triangle' of hidden courtyards in Graz

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Salzburg

• Best for music lovers, from Mozart to Sound of Music

Read: Top 10 things to do in Salzburg, Austria​

Personal Highlight: posing with the stone lions in the Mirabell Gardens, to recreate a photo of me as a child.

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Seefeld

• Best for hiking in summer and snow sports in winter

Read: Hiking near Seefeld in Austria – the wild Leutasch Gorge​

Personal lowlight: Tumbling down a mountain side while walking in the Gaisatal Valley and twisting my ankle.

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Vorarlburg

• Best for nature in the mountains, with wildflowers enhanced by sculpture

Read: 10 reasons to visit Vorarlberg in Austria​

Personal Highlight: Food foraging for wild garlic and pine shoots with local chef Herbert.

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Vienna

• Best for big city culture with a wealth of art galleries and museums

Read: 6 reasons to fall in love with Vienna, Austria​

Personal Highlight: Making plaited Viennese rolls sprinkled with poppy seeds at a bakery class and eating them hot from the oven

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Printable resources to download

As a thank you for being part of the Heather on her travels community, I provide extra travel resources exclusively for subscribers (that's you!)

These FREE resources are easy to download, to print or save on your mobile as a handy reference - check them out below.

Downloads - General Travel Tips

​10 Tips for staying active on holiday​

​Planning for a big trip - our pre-flight checklist​

​10 tips for packing light​

​10 tips to get the best hotel rate​

Downloads - Destination Resources

​Piraeus Greece - 1 day itinerary​

​Bondi to Coogee coastal walk Guide - Sydney Australia​

​Sydney 1 day itinerary - with 3 extra day trip ideas​

​Tour de Mont Blanc - Packing Guide and checklist​

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