subject: Indoor Activities To Keep Out Of The Sun When On Holiday This Summer [print this page] Everyone loves a summer holidayEveryone loves a summer holiday. The idea of escaping the great British weather to warmer, more settled climates certainly has its upsides. However, our British skin and personal thermostats are not always prepared to handle the hot weather that is usually part of summer sun getaways. Drat! But we need not fear.
Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, often sees temperatures reach the mid-40s, which, although arguably a welcome change from UK weather, isnt always comfortable, especially for children. Fortunately, Dubai has cracked onto that fact and so offers tourists a lot of indoor activity options. They have the usual bowling lanes and cinemas as well as an indoor air-conditioned go-kart track and even an ice-skating rink and indoor ski-centre. Refreshing!
For the older or more discerning tourist, then there are museums and galleries in Dubai also air-conditioned worth exploring. Dubai Museum is a mixture of a fort (outside, dating from the late 18th century) and indoor galleries depicting life in Dubai before, during and after the discovery of oil. ArtSpace Dubai is a gallery of contemporary and Middle Eastern art, open 10am-8pm making it a great place to escape the sun.
Tunisia is a melting-pot of cultures; a mixture of Arab, Mediterranean and North African influences. Most tourists head to the Mediterranean beaches or the main cities of Tunis (the capital) and Gabes, but again, the heat can often get a bit much, especially at midday. Tunisia isnt quite as geared up to tourism like Dubai (the results of which are much more charming) but there are still a number of hotels and resorts which offer kids-clubs, much of which are held inside to help your little ones stay cool.
Tunisia is world-known for its national spa treatment, Thalassotherapy, which combines massage with seaweed or mud wraps over a 6-12 day period. Of course, in between Thalassotherapy sessions you can indulge in a spot of swimming (to cool off), a stint in a sauna (slightly less refreshing) or a number of the more traditional beauty treatments like reflexology or a mani-pedi.
By far the best way to get the best of out of your holiday in a hot country is to do your research. If you want to go somewhere that offers plenty to do both indoors and outdoors, then a quick use of a search engine will help establish which destinations offer the best of both worlds. For example, cities like Barcelona and Rome are great for sun-seekers but also offer lots of museums, galleries and churches to keep you out of the sun for a few hours every day. The same does not always apply to smaller or less touristy towns or tropical island destinations.
If using hotel kids clubs are really important, then again there are plenty of websites out there to help find the right one. As adults, if you really want to visit a hot country for its culture but worry that you will suffer with the heat, then book somewhere that offers air-conditioning (preferably within the price; at some places this can cost extra) and try and avoid being in the direct sun between 11am and 4pm when the sun is at its hottest. These tips apply to anyone travelling to warmer climates.
And finally remember; even if you are going from one indoor place to another or are planning on spending the day in the shade, slap on that sun-cream to protect your skin from burning.
