May bank holidays 2010 travel deals

May bank holidays 2010 travel deals

In the UK, May is blessed with two bank holiday weekends, and it seems a shame to spend those rare three day bank holiday weekends at home when there are so many fantastic places to escape to for a short break. The May Day bank holiday (Early May bank holiday) on the first Monday and the Spring bank holiday on the last represent the two bank holidays in May, with the actual bank holiday Mondays falling on the 3rd and 31st May in 2010.

The actual origins of the May Bank Holidays, especially May Day, are somewhat unclear, originating in pre-Christian Europe, yet adopted to mean many things to many people. The May Bank holiday celebrations are now usually seen as the start of summer, providing a chance to rid you of the winter blues over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Eurostar comes up with May Bank Holidays2010 Travel deals . And with the weather likely to hold up far better than at home, Paris, Brussels and Lille are ideal destinations for your early summer sojourn. Words that come to mind when I think of Paris in May are flourishing and buzzing: the entire city is a hyperactive hive of visitors, lush blooms, and excitement. Tourism is at its hilt and even blasé natives start to really see the city again, perhaps inspired by the infectious enthusiasm of visitors. Similarly Brussels and Lille have its own charm and attraction during this month.

EVENTS IN MAY

15th Brussels Jazz Marathon 28 - 29 - 30 MAY 2010

Brussels jazz marathon is drawing attention across the world since more than a decade. A huge jazz party which makes the capital of Europe swing for one weekend, with more than 450 musicians performing on the main squares in Brussels (Grand Place, place du Sablon, place Ste-Catherine & place Fernand Cocq) as well as in 50 venues/clubs/hotels.

Through May: Foire du Trone (Annual Fair)

Parents and kids can look forward to the annual Paris fair (Foire du Trône), which runs through the end of the month and delivers all the traditional fun of a county fair, with Ferris wheels, roller coasters, and cotton candy included.

French open

Tennis fans should not miss one of France's most exciting and important tournaments. Tennis greats like Steffi Graf made their debuts at Roland Garros, and the French Open continues to host some of the world's unforgettable matches. Procuring tickets, however, can be quite a feat, so try to snag much-coveted spots at the matches several months ahead.

Museum Night

As part of the global Museum Night event, Paris museums will open their doors free of charge to visitors until 1 am. Special events and illuminations wait in many of Paris' major museums.


Wazemmes Accordion Festival

\Lille's Wazemmes district parties during May's Accordion Festival. You're likely to come across impromptu performances, dancing and revelry in bars across town, but most major concerts take.

Lille-Lens Route du Louvre Roadrace

Cheer on competitors as they take on the Lille-Lens Route du Louvre Roadrace. Runners enter either a 10km run or full-blown 26-mile marathon.