It’s 2022. A new year, a new you, and all that nonsense. This one’s going to be a good one though; the best one yet. As long as you start making plans now. What’s happening this year that’ll make it even better than last year? If you don’t know yet, it’s time you decided. There’re hundreds of things you can do to make your 2022 summer holiday epic; here are just a few…
Staycation
Everybody likes a holiday (well normal people do, anyway) but since the onslaught of coronavirus, foreign travel has been ‘difficult’. But that’s fine, because there are loads and loads of really good places you can explore in the UK. Over the past couple of years, I’ve had some absolutely banging ‘staycations’, and you could too.
You can head down to the south coast, Wales, the Lakes, Scotland, and not only find some of the best riding roads in the world, but be tripping over campsites. Campsites with well stocked bars and Michelin star restaurants. Ok, not many of them will have Michelin star restaurants, but if you’re happy with burger and chips, you’re laughing.
That’s if you want to slum it. If you don’t mind throwing a bit more cash at your summer holiday, you could always plan a big old riding route with some hotel stops along the way. Because there’s nothing like a proper shower and a warm bed, is there?
You might think you can book something like that last minute, but if you want to go away in the peak season, you might struggle. So if you’ve been wanting to do it for years, there’s no better time to book it, then right now. Find a route, pick some dates, and get something booked. Why not give yourself something to look forward to?
Euro Adventure
Whilst I’m hoping travel will be a bit easier this summer-time, I’m not holding my breath. The hoops you have to jump through to travel to certain parts of Europe at the moment are ridiculous. I know it’s all for the greater good, bla bla bla, but that doesn’t stop it being a pain in the arse.
But, if all you have to do is be vaccinated, if you ask me that’s a small price to pay for the privilege of being able to travel round the continent. Although I realise not everyone would agree with me as far as that goes.
If you are in a position to be able to travel to Europe this summer, I would definitely advise it. There are loads of roads all over France, Germany, Italy and Austria that’re both awesome to ride and flanked with breath-taking views. The Stelvio Pass in Italy, the B500 to Baden-Baden in Germany, A-397 ‘Rhonda Road’ in Spain are some of my favourites, that if you haven’t got on your bucket list yet, you ought to.
Ireland/Island hopping
If you don’t have time to spend a week chasing your mates round Europe, why not spend a weekend watching some other lads chasing each other round, instead. This year should be a really good year for road racing, with the Isle of Man TT, the North West 200 and possibly the Ulster GP happening once again. Take your bike over on the ferry and do some laps of the circuit yourself, or just fly over and watch the pros. Either way, whether you’re there for a day or a fortnight, you’re bound to have a blast.
Northern Ireland and the IOM both seem to turn into massive biking festival venues when any of the racing is on. The locals love it (well some of them do) and everyone else over to watch the racing wants to be your mate. It’s like going on holiday with a few thousand friends. Brilliant.
Sun, sand and circuits
If you’d rather be giving it the berries yourself, rather than watching the other boys do it, I know the feeling. And if that sounds like you, why not book yourself a week in the sun, with your bike. Imagine flying round Jerez, Valencia, or Catalunya a few weeks after all the MotoGP lads have been there.
I know you can do trackdays in this country in summer, but we don’t have circuits like the Spanish do. And it might be easier to persuade the missus that’s what you’re doing if you can give her a week on the beach, sunning herself and sipping sangria.
All you’ve got to do to make 2022 a corker of a year is make some plans and try your best to pull them off. Let’s all hope there isn’t another wave of the dreaded C word, and we can make this year a good one. Let’s all go on a summer holiday. I think it’s about time we all deserved a break, don’t you?
