ESSENTIAL CHECKS TO DO BEFORE BOOKING YOUR LONG-STAY GETAWAY

■ Always check the room basis when you’re booking your stay – the cost difference between room-only and allinclusive will be huge.

■ If you go for a self-catering apartment, check what the kitchen is like. For long stays, you won’t be happy if there’s just a microwave and a tiny table.

■ Don’t book a place too remote – it’s much better to at least be on the edge of a town with restaurant options, supermarkets, laundrettes and so on, so you’re not relying entirely on your hotel.

■ Think about what activities are available for exercise: hiking trails, swimming, parks, bicycle hire.

■ Of the main tour operators,

Jet2 Holidays, Thomas Cook and British Airways Holidays tend to have the best deals. Ryanair has return flights to the UK from €26.

■ If you’re heading off on a long-stay getaway you should also consider online selfcatering apartment options offered by Airbnb (airbnb. co.uk) or Vrbo (vrbo.com) – and buy flights separately.