All-inclusive Whitsun

Whitsun is an interesting time for an all-inclusive holiday. The days are long, the weather is improving in many parts of Europe, and many travellers can plan a short break or a long weekend even with just a few days off. At the same time, Whitsun is not a holiday period that works the same way in every country. In some countries, Whit Monday is a public holiday. In others, Whitsun plays hardly any role in travel planning. And in yet others, the peak travel period mainly coincides with school holidays, half-term, Pfingstferien or local bank holidays.

That is why Whitsun as a travel period differs from the summer holidays, Christmas holidays or May holidays. It is often shorter, more flexible and more dependent on the country where you live or are travelling to. In the Netherlands, Whit Sunday and Whit Monday are official public holidays, but the national government states that not everyone automatically has the day off on Whit Monday; this depends on the collective labour agreement or individual employment contract. In Belgium, Whit Sunday and Whit Monday are also included in the official list of public holidays. In Germany, Pfingstmontag is a public holiday in all federal states, whilst some federal states also have their own school holidays around Whitsun.

Why Whitsun is a good fit for all-inclusive holidays

Pentecost falls in May or June. This is precisely the period when many destinations are coming out of their early season. Resorts open more facilities, restaurants stay open later, beaches become livelier and the weather is often more pleasant than in April. At the same time, many places are still quieter than in July and August. This makes Whitsun ideal for travellers who want that summer feeling but not the hustle and bustle of the high season.

All-inclusive holidays are well suited to Whitsun because the trip is often short. On a long weekend or midweek break, you don’t want to waste too much time planning. You want to arrive, eat, swim, relax and perhaps go on one or two excursions. An all-inclusive hotel ensures that breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and often snacks are all taken care of. This feels particularly efficient on a short holiday.

For families, the advantage is clear. Children want to get straight to swimming, eating and playing. Parents don’t want the hassle of restaurants or shopping. A hotel with a swimming pool, a children’s buffet, family rooms and entertainment makes a short break much easier. For couples, it’s a different story. They often opt for adults-only resorts, wellness facilities, sea views, a good restaurant and peace and quiet. Whitsun is a lovely time for this, as it’s often warm enough to spend time outdoors, but places aren’t yet fully booked.

How Whitsun differs from country to country

In the Netherlands, Whitsun is recognised as a long weekend. Whitsunday falls on a Sunday and Whit Monday on a Monday. For schools and many employees, this often means an extra day off, but it isn’t a major school holiday like the summer or Christmas. That’s why many Dutch people book short breaks: a weekend, a midweek break or a few days away to enjoy the sun, a spa or a holiday park.

In Belgium, it works in a similar way, as Whitsun and Whit Monday are official public holidays. Holiday schedules in Flanders and the French-speaking community may differ at other times, but Whit Monday itself is a recognisable long weekend. For Belgian travellers, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the Canary Islands are popular choices during this period.

In Germany, ‘Pfingsten’ is a more significant travel concept. ‘Pfingstmontag’ is a public holiday in all federal states, and some federal states have ‘Pfingstferien’ (Whitsun holidays). This means that German demand for hotels can vary significantly by region and year. A hotel in Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain or Germany itself may be busier around Whitsun due to German families.

In Austria, Whitsun Monday is also an official public holiday. The Austrian Ministry of Education lists Whitsun Monday in its overview of school holidays. Austrians mainly use Whitsun for short breaks, visiting family, enjoying nature and lakes, wellness, and sometimes a long weekend in Italy, Croatia or Slovenia. For all-inclusive holidays in Austria itself, Whitsun is a good time for lakes, hiking hotels and wellness.

In France, Lundi de Pentecôte is a statutory public holiday, but whether it is actually a day off may vary due to the ‘solidarity day’. Service-Public lists Lundi de Pentecôte in its overview of public holidays and long weekends. For French travellers, it is mainly a long weekend or ‘pont’ if the dates are favourable. For destinations within France itself, such as the Côte d’Azur, Provence, Brittany and the Atlantic coast, this can lead to increased crowds.

In the United Kingdom, Pentecost is less suitable as a key term. The official public holiday is called the Spring Bank Holiday and falls at the end of May. This period may coincide with the school half-term, but is not routinely marketed as a ‘Pentecost holiday’.

In Italy, Whit Monday is not a public holiday in the same way that Easter Monday is. The official Italian tourism website does list Easter Monday amongst public holidays, but does not list Pentecost as a general public holiday. For Italy as a destination, Pentecost is therefore mainly of interest because of the season, not because of a specific national holiday week. The lakes of northern Italy, the Adriatic coast, Tuscany, Sicily and Sardinia may well be attractive, but the crowds are mainly due to foreign travellers or local weekenders.

Best destinations for Whitsun

For sun and all-inclusive holidays, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta are excellent choices. Whitsun often falls late enough in the spring to allow you to really enjoy the outdoors. The Canary Islands offer the most reliable sunshine. Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura have hotels that operate all year round and are suitable for families and couples.

In Spain, Mallorca, the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca and Andalusia are also worth considering. Mallorca is often already bustling around Whitsun, but still less crowded than in July. For families, hotels with heated or spacious swimming pools are ideal. For couples, adults-only hotels and quiet bays are particularly appealing.

Greece is really coming into its own around Whitsun. Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu and Zakynthos are good choices. Depending on the date and year, the sea may still be a bit chilly, but hotel and pool facilities are often already in full swing. For families, Crete and Rhodes are practical choices due to the wide range of hotels on offer. For couples, smaller resorts and hotels with sea views are lovely.

Turkey is a strong contender thanks to its large resorts and high standards of hotel comfort. Antalya, Lara, Belek, Side and Alanya are ideal for all-inclusive Whitsun holidays, especially if you’re travelling with children. Water parks and slides are often more appealing around this time than in April, but always check that everything is open. If Whitsun falls early, it can still have a bit more of a spring feel to it. If Whitsun falls late, Turkey already feels almost summery.

Portugal and Madeira are ideal for couples, walkers and those seeking peace and quiet. The Algarve is lovely for beaches, golf, walking and small seaside resorts. Madeira is better known for its nature, wellness and views than for traditional beach resorts. Malta is ideal for culture, small towns and short breaks, particularly for couples and families with older children.

Whitsun with children

For families, Whitsun is a smart time to travel, as you can often get away for a short break with just a few extra days off. The journey is shorter than a summer holiday, so the hotel needs to be just right. Choose a resort with a swimming pool, family rooms, a children’s buffet, entertainment and clear information about facilities.

The best choices for families with children are the Canary Islands, Turkey, Mallorca, Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus, the Algarve and holiday parks or family hotels closer to home. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and France are also great destinations for ‘all-inclusive light’ options, holiday parks, wellness hotels or family packages.

If you’re travelling with children, pay particular attention to the swimming pool. In May or early June, the water can still be a bit chilly, especially in southern Europe outside the warmest regions. A heated or indoor swimming pool makes a big difference. Water slides are fun, but check whether they’re actually open. Photos on hotel websites are often taken in summer, whilst Whitsun can sometimes fall just before the peak season.

Whitsun for couples

For couples, Whitsun is a lovely time for a short, relaxing holiday. Adults-only hotels, wellness resorts and small-scale all-inclusive hotels really come into their own at this time. You’re travelling before the summer holidays begin, but you’ll often already enjoy plenty of daylight, terrace weather and outdoor living.

Good choices for couples include Mallorca, Madeira, Cyprus, Malta, Crete, Rhodes, the Canary Islands, Turkey, Slovenia, Austria and Italy. If you’re mainly looking for peace and quiet, avoid family resorts in countries where the Whitsun holidays or half-term cause extra crowds. If, on the other hand, you want a lively atmosphere, choose seaside resorts that are already in full swing.

Wellness is also an attractive option around Whitsun. A spa, sauna, hammam or indoor swimming pool enhances your holiday when the weather is changeable. Turkey, Austria, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary and coastal wellness hotels are good choices for a combination of relaxation and pampering.

Whitsun and city breaks

Not everyone is looking for sun or beaches at Whitsun. As these breaks are often just a few days long, city breaks with hotel packages are also an attractive option. Think of Barcelona, Valencia, Lisbon, Porto, Rome, Florence, Ljubljana, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Paris, Kraków, Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam, Brussels or Berlin.

Fully all-inclusive packages make less sense in cities, as you’ll want to eat out and go for walks. However, a hotel offering breakfast, dinner, spa facilities or special packages can work very well. When visiting international cities, you do need to take local public holidays and crowds into account. In countries where Whit Monday is a public holiday, museums, shops or restaurants may have adjusted opening hours.

All-inclusive offers around Whitsun

Whitsun can be a good time for special offers, but it depends heavily on whether it coincides with school holidays. If the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and the United Kingdom are all on holiday around the same time, prices tend to rise more quickly. If Whitsun falls outside major school holidays, you can sometimes find good deals.

What should you bear in mind when booking for Whitsun?

First, check when Whitsun falls. The date changes every year, as Whitsun is linked to Easter. Next, check whether Whit Monday is a public holiday in your country or your destination country. Then, check whether there are any school holidays, Pfingstferien, half-term or bank holidays around the same period.

Next, look at the hotel. On a short break, you don’t want to be let down by the facilities. Check the swimming pool, water slides, entertainment, restaurants, spa facilities and recent reviews from May or June. A hotel that runs smoothly in August may operate on a more limited basis around Whitsun. Conversely, a spa hotel might be just perfect during this period.

Also bear in mind the duration of your trip. For a long weekend, destinations with a short transfer and plenty of convenience are more pleasant. For a week, you could look further afield to Turkey, the Canary Islands, Cyprus, Greece or Madeira.

Whitsun in practice

An all-inclusive holiday over Whitsun is all about making smart choices. It isn’t a universal school holiday, but it is a popular time to travel. In the Netherlands and Belgium, it’s a well-recognised long weekend. In Germany, ‘Pfingsten’ is a key term, particularly due to ‘Pfingstmontag’ and regional holidays. In France, the focus is more on Lundi de Pentecôte and long weekends. In the United Kingdom, the Spring Bank Holiday or May half-term are more common. In Italy and Spain, it’s mainly the season that counts, not Whitsun as a national holiday.

The best destinations depend on what you’re looking for. For sun, choose Spain, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Portugal or Malta. For wellness, choose Turkey, Slovenia, Austria, Germany or Hungary. For families, choose resorts with swimming pools and children’s facilities. For couples, opt for adults-only resorts, sea views or wellness options. For short breaks, choose cities or destinations offering plenty of convenience.

Whitsun isn’t a summer holiday, but it can give you that first real taste of summer. That’s precisely why all-inclusive holidays are such a good fit for this time of year. You’re booking comfort, avoiding hassle and making the most of a few days off.

FAQ on all-inclusive holidays over Whitsun

Is Whitsun a good time for an all-inclusive holiday?

Yes, Whitsun is ideal for all-inclusive holidays, especially for short breaks, long weekends and early summer holidays. Hotels are often busier than they are in April, whilst it can still be quieter than in July and August.

Where is it warm at Whitsun?

Spain, the Canary Islands, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Madeira and Malta are all good choices. The later Pentecost falls, the greater the chance of proper summer weather.

Is Whitsun called the same thing in other countries?

No. In Germany it’s called Pfingsten, in France Pentecôte, in English Pentecost or Whitsun, but in the United Kingdom the holiday period is more often linked to the Spring Bank Holiday or May half-term.

Is Whit Monday a public holiday everywhere?

No. Whit Monday is a significant day in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and France, amongst others, but it is not a public holiday throughout Europe. In Italy, for example, Pentecost is not a national public holiday like Easter or Easter Monday.

Is Whitsun a good time to travel with children?

Yes, especially if you choose a hotel with a swimming pool, children’s facilities and family rooms. Do check, however, whether the water slides, entertainment and kids’ clubs are fully open around Whitsun.

Are all-inclusive hotels expensive at Whitsun?

That depends on whether it coincides with school holidays. If several countries have holidays at the same time, prices may rise. If Whitsun falls outside major school holidays, there are often special offers.

Which destinations are good for a long weekend over Whitsun?

For short breaks, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Slovenia and city breaks are practical options. For a longer week, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Portugal are excellent choices.

What should you bear in mind when booking?

Check the date of Whitsun, local public holidays, school holidays in other countries, swimming pool temperatures, which facilities are open, entertainment, wellness facilities and recent reviews from May or June.