THAT’ S SUMMER SORTED
Not yet booked? Don’t panic — dreamy family villas are still available in the peak weeks
ST TROPEZ, S’IL VOUS PLAIT
PACK your Gucci swimwear — glitzy St Tropez is still up for grabs during peak season. After mingling with the yachtloving, champagne- quaffing beautiful people, retire to your own private idyll. THE DEAL: Sheltered by pine forest, La Pinede, which sleeps eight, lies on the Bay of St Tropez. This white-washed beauty is close to the beach, has its own pool and a personal cook service. One week in August is £900 pp, cvvillas.com, 020 7261 5499. Fly to nice from £150 return, ryanair.com.
MAKE FOR MONTENEGRO
The Budva Riviera, two hours from Croatia’s south, is Montenegro’s most fawned- over tourist spot; where redroofed medieval architecture, blue-flag beaches and the Adriatic meld perfectly. THE DEAL: A family of four can stay at twobedroomed Villa Vita Adagio with its sea views and use of a shared pool for £376 pp,
montenegroholidays.com, 0800 177 7460. Flybe jet to dubrovnik in August from £257 return, flybe.com
COSTA CHIC
TAP into the Costa Brava’s reinvention in the stylish little town of Begur, an hour north of Barcelona on Spain’s ‘wild coast’. Best family beaches include Sa Riera and Sa Tuna. THE DEAL: Two-bedroom Villa Carlita has a pool and garden, and pretty fishing village Aigua Blava is nearby. July price is £370 pp, based on four sharing,
vintagetravel.co.uk, 01954 261 431. Fly to Barcelona from £250 return, easyjet.com.
KEFALONIAN SOUL
WiTh its infinite blue horizons, verdant interior, child-friendly beaches and italianate architecture, Kefalonia is truly relaxing. THE DEAL: Villa Odysseus, on the southerly Liakis peninsula, has views of Zante, sleeps six and is available for a week from August 14 at a discounted rate of £ 535 pp, freelance- holidays.
co. uk, 01789 297705. Fly to Kefalonia from £ 250 return, thomascookairlines.com.
APHRODITE’S ISLE
heAd for Cyprus’s north-west coast, where the Akamas mountains provide a backdrop to seaside villages such as Argaka. THE DEAL: Stay a week in a sugarcube-style villa with pool, garden and Jacuzzi in Argaka for £228 pp, based on four sharing from August 26, novasol.co.uk, 0333 012 4926. Fly to Paphos from £330 return with jet2.com.
COOL CANARIES
WiTh its slate-grey sands and low-rise monolithic architecture, Lanzarote is the most striking of the Canaries. it’s also the breeziest, which means energetic teens with energy to burn can indulge in a large variety of high-octane sports. THE DEAL: Close to the fishing village of Arrieta, in the north west, is Villa Guatiza, a Moroccan-themed farmhouse with its own pool and sauna. A week-long stay in August for up to four adults and two children is £230 pp, i- escape.com, 0117 946 7072. Flights to Lanzarote from £350 return, ba.com.
TURKEY TEMPTS
KALKAn old town’s pretty streets have wooed well-heeled travellers for decades. The surrounding hills hide peachy self-catering villas too. THE DEAL: Stay at five-bedroom Korsan Kuzey and enjoy private access to a 50-metre beach. A week’s stay from August 26 is £1,533 pp, based on four adults and two children, simpson
travel.com, 020 8003 6557. Fly to nearby dalaman from £341 with thomascookairlines.com.
SICILY’S CHARMS
The stomping ground of famous fictional sleuth inspector Montalbano, Sicily’s south-east is awash with handsome sandstone towns, superb restaurants and dreamy stretches of sand at donnalucata and Sampieri. THE DEAL: Seven- bedroom domus Olivae, on an olive estate, lies just below hilltop Chiaramonte Gulfi. it has a pool
and sleeps 14. Peak price e is £1,220 pp, thethinkingg
traveller.com, 020 73777 8518. Fly to nearbyy Catania from £390 return,, norwegian.no.
CLASSIC CORFU
iF iTV’s The durrells has reignited your ardour for Corfu, you’ll be glad to know there are gorgeous villas still for hire. The Greek island remains fantastic value, too. THE DEAL: Sleeping seven, Villa Olivia, above Avlaki Beach, has unspoiled views of the Adriatic between Corfu and Albania. Prices are from £699 pp a week based on an August 18 stay,
villacollective.com, 0203 950 1588. Flights to Corfu from £200 return, jet2.com.
MALTESE MALTESEMAGIC MAGIC
MALTA’S visitor numbers have soared in recent years, and with world-class diving, hidden coves and a tiny, but captivating, 16thcentury capital in Valletta, there’s plenty to entertain. THE DEAL: Brand- new Villa Munqar, on the island’s south coast, near Zurrieq, sleeps six. One week from August 21 costs £770 pp, jamesvillas.co.uk, 0800 074 0311. Flights to Valletta from £215 return, airmalta.com.