The world’s about to go all sporty, thanks to the 2024 Olympic Games finally, officially, rocking up to Paris on the 26th of July. Now, we’re all for getting some exercise, but we thought we’d have some fun with a little Olympics of our own – the Holiday Olympics, obvs!
Much more our speed than, well, Usain Bolt speed.
From first place in the 100m sprint to the gold for Short Board (that’s surfing, if you’re wondering), these destinations are the medal winners in our book.
100m Sprint
Paris, France
Why it gets Gold:
We’ve not just picked Paris because it happens to be the host for the 2024 Olympics (although it’s a handy little coincidence), but because, for us lucky Brits, it’s actually dead close and mega quick to reach. Fly out of the UK and it’s pretty much the first major city you’ll meet – from London it’s just over an hour in the air.
Paris doesn’t just get Gold for being mega quick to get to, but because it makes for one of the world’s best city breaks – you can be in and out in a weekend, easy, and still get your fill of baguettes and brie, mille-feuilles and macarons (we’ll skip the escargot).
Wake up on a morning and before it’s lunch you can be in the land of le Louvre, le Eiffel Tower, le Notre Dame, le Champs-Elysees and more. Although we would tentatively suggest not packing your bags just yet – whilst the Olympics are in town, Paris is going to be a little bit on the busy side.
Cheap flights to Paris
10,000m
Sydney, Australia
Why it gets Gold:
The 10,000m race looks like a right old slog, and a flight to Sydney is the long-haul of long haul. It actually clocks in at just over 10,000 miles from London – 10, 573 to be exact. It’s so far you can’t actually get a direct flight from the UK to its sunny shores, the only non-stop trip is currently to Perth, on the opposite side of the country.
But just like crossing that finishing line and collapsing on the ground in glory, you can wrap up your 21 hour journey through a whopping 9 time zones by collapsing on Bondi Beach. Once revived, begin your exploration at the Sydney Opera House, then just a short walk away is the Royal Botanic Garden, a lush oasis perfect for a lazy stroll or a picnic with views of the harbour. Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Beach, where you can swim or surf, and for panoramic views of the city, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge or visit the Sydney Tower Eye.
And don’t forget a day trip to the Blue Mountains to experience stunning natural scenery, including the Three Sisters rock formation and scenic hiking trails. Sydney is worth the trip.
Cheap flights to Sydney
Long Jump
New York, USA
Why it gets Gold:
Everyone calls it a hop across the pond, but really it’s more of a long jump. London to New York is around 3,500 miles by plane, after all. That being said, it’s still one of the shortest transatlantic trips you can make, clocking in at just over 7 and half hours from London.
If we were to tell you all the things you could do in New York you could probably fly there quicker, so we’ll do a quick run down of the greats: get started with a visit to Times Square, before heading up the Empire State Building or One World Observatory for views literally right out of the movies. Culture vultures, you need to run to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
Central Park is an obvious must-do, perfect for strolls, boat rides, and pretending you’re in a movie. Or wander through the High Line, an elevated park with stunning views and public art installations. After that, you can take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty or head to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The perfect way to end any day, though? That’s a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for a perfect view of the city skyline at night.
Cheap flights to New York
Triathlon
Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui
Why it gets Gold:
The Triathlon’s a corker – it involves a a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km cycle, and a 10 km run. Sounds like a lot of work, if you ask us. Our kind of triathlon’s a bit less bruising and a whole lot more beachy. You’ll have your breath taken from you, for sure, but it’ll be from the drop-dead gorgeous views.
We’re talking about a triple-centre trip, obvs! What’s a triple-centre trip, you say? Well, that’s a bit of travel trade lingo for a holiday that takes in more than one destination. Basically a holiday inside a holiday inside a holiday – what’s not to love?!
One of our faves? It’s gotta be a classic tour of Thailand. You’ll start right in the buzz of Bangkok, one of the craziest cities on the planet (and incredible for foodies), before taking it back a notch as you head to Pattaya, a coastal city known just as much for its beaches as for its nightlife. Then it’s time to dial it right down by hopping on a quick flight to the pretty island of Koh Samui, where even the airport is dreamy. It’s got temples, it’s got tonnes of beaches, and it’s got tom yum.
A triple-centre trip ticks a whoooole lotta boxes, if you ask us.
Cheap flights to Thailand
Short Board
Tahiti, French Polynesia
Why it gets Gold:
Yes, they have surfing at the Summer Olympics. But where, we hear you ask, do they plan on surfing in the centre of Paris? The answer is they’re not! Instead, those lucky surfers are heading to Tahiti in French Polynesia. Being part of French territory, this breaks the record for the farthest medal competition to stage outside the host city. Sucks to be the other athletes.
Teahupo’o, where the surfing will be staged in Tahiti, is known for its massive waves, that often reach up to 3m, and sometimes as high as 7m – pretty handy. It’s also the site of the annual Billabong Pro Tahiti Surf competition, part of the World Championship Tour. So it’s got some serious surfing chops. If you end up in Tahiti (the dream!), make sure you know what you’re doing before you head into the waters of Teahupo’o – it’s considered one of the ‘heaviest’ (surfer lingo for dangerous) waves in the world, and its name actually loosely translates to English as ‘to sever the head’ – yikes.
If surfing’s not your thang, there’s plenty of other watersports (and more land-based) activities here. Paraglide or scuba dive, go on a round island tour in a 4×4 or hike a mountain, jetski or sail into a lagoon. Or, you know, just chill on the the kinds of beaches all other beaches wish they were.
Cheap flights to Papeete
