Sun sea and sand
Summer in the UK has fi nally warmed up, but if you still want a relaxing beach holiday, head for one of these brilliant destinations renowned for sun, sea and sand…
FUERTEVENTURA
Most easterly of the Canary Isles and just 60 miles o the coast of Morocco, Fuerteventura claims to have some 125 miles of the best beaches in the world. In the unlikely event that you get bored being busy doing nothing by the pool or stretched out on the beach, there’s sailing, fishing, diving, whale watching, bird watching and a huge range of other activities available to keep you amused.
Left: Do nothing by the pool in Fuerteventura. Right: The Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahia Real
The Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahia Real, Corralejo, offers a seven-night stay in August for two adults and a child sharing a family deluxe room from €2,772, including breakfast, dinner and lunch (not drinks), a welcome gift and one Rasul spa treatment per couple. Flights to Fuerteventura are not included.
00 34 928 537 153, www.bahiarealresort.com
www.turismodecanarias.com
MALTA
The ancient Phoenicians called it ‘Maleth’, meaning refuge, and the lovely little Malta is still a sunny, safe haven in which to relax and unwind. Only a two- and three-quarter-hour flight from the UK, the Mediterranean island has been called Europe’s Caribbean thanks to its appeal for those seeking a relaxing sunshine holiday.
Special bus tours make sightseeing easy. Visit the capital Valletta, the forts of St Angelo and St Elmo, and there are many splendid churches. Choice Holidays offers a saving of £100 per person on a seven-night, half-board holiday at the four-star Topaz Hotel in Bugibba, Malta, from £299 per person, including ights from a UK airport (Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow Prestwick, Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Stansted). These options are available from July to October and must be booked by 31 July.
0800-811 9025, www.choiceholidaysdirect.co.uk
www.visitmalta.com
ITALY
Wealthy travellers have been visiting the elegant Italian seaside resort of Viareggio since the late 19th century when it was part of the Grand Tour. Around 20km north of Pisa, it lies on Italy’s west coast in the area of Tuscany known as the Versilia Coast.
The elegant seaside resort of Viareggio
Viareggio has wonderful Art Nouveau buildings, seafood restaurants, great beaches and an elegant promenade on which to take evening walks, Italian-style. Kirker Holidays offers three nights at the stylish Hotel Principe di Piemonte from £659 per person, including ights from Gatwick to Pisa return, private car higher, breakfast and Kirker concierge.
020-7593 2283, www.kirkerholidays.com
www.italia.it
GREECE
Stunning blue seas, bonewhite beaches, silver-green olive groves and golden, endless shimmering sunshine – it’s no surprise the beautiful Aegean and Ionian islands make wonderful beach destinations, whether you choose Kefalonia, Paxos or Corfu, Skopelos or Skiathos. Planet Holidays offers a seven-night, half-board holiday at the recently renovated five-star Marbella Beach Hotel in Agios Ioannis, Corfu, staying in a deluxe double, including flights from Gatwick to Corfu and transfers, from £887 per person.
0871-871 2234, www.planet-holidays.co.uk
www.visitgreece.gr
FLORIDA
America’s Sunshine State has some lovely beach resorts. Like many seaside towns, Naples has great hotels, shops, restaurants and bars galore, top-class golf and water sports, an art museum and botanical gardens. Or explore the numerous state parks – don’t miss an airboat trip through the nearby Everglades. Virgin Holidays offers a seven-night holiday in Naples from £919 per person, departing in September, including ights with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow to Miami, room only at the Inn On Fifth and car hire.
Go to Florida and get away from the crowds in the Everglades
0844-557 3859, www.virginholidays.co.uk
www.visitflorida.com
All prices are correct at time of going to press.
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Weekend discount
A family of four can save £145 on a weekend break in a comfortable 4-6 berth self-catering Danestream chalet at Shorefield Country Park on the edge of the New Forest, with prices down to £299 for a three-night weekend break, arriving on 26 July. 01590-648331, www.shorefield.co.uk
Italy deal Save on a holiday at Poggio Landi, the private one-bedroomed wing of an elegant old stone house near Siena. Invitation To Tuscany offers a week for £871 until 30 August (saving £290). 020-8444 9500, www.invitationtotuscany.com
Cyrpus steal British Airways is offering seven nights for the price of five at the five-star Le Meridien Limassol Resort & Spa in October, from £719 per person, including return flights on BA’s new service from Gatwick to Larnaca. Book by 31 July. 0844-493 0758, www.ba.com/larnaca
FUERTEVENTURA
Most easterly of the Canary Isles and just 60 miles o the coast of Morocco, Fuerteventura claims to have some 125 miles of the best beaches in the world. In the unlikely event that you get bored being busy doing nothing by the pool or stretched out on the beach, there’s sailing, fishing, diving, whale watching, bird watching and a huge range of other activities available to keep you amused.
Left: Do nothing by the pool in Fuerteventura. Right: The Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahia RealThe Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahia Real, Corralejo, offers a seven-night stay in August for two adults and a child sharing a family deluxe room from €2,772, including breakfast, dinner and lunch (not drinks), a welcome gift and one Rasul spa treatment per couple. Flights to Fuerteventura are not included.
00 34 928 537 153, www.bahiarealresort.com
www.turismodecanarias.com
MALTA
The ancient Phoenicians called it ‘Maleth’, meaning refuge, and the lovely little Malta is still a sunny, safe haven in which to relax and unwind. Only a two- and three-quarter-hour flight from the UK, the Mediterranean island has been called Europe’s Caribbean thanks to its appeal for those seeking a relaxing sunshine holiday.
Special bus tours make sightseeing easy. Visit the capital Valletta, the forts of St Angelo and St Elmo, and there are many splendid churches. Choice Holidays offers a saving of £100 per person on a seven-night, half-board holiday at the four-star Topaz Hotel in Bugibba, Malta, from £299 per person, including ights from a UK airport (Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow Prestwick, Heathrow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Stansted). These options are available from July to October and must be booked by 31 July.
0800-811 9025, www.choiceholidaysdirect.co.uk
www.visitmalta.com
ITALY
Wealthy travellers have been visiting the elegant Italian seaside resort of Viareggio since the late 19th century when it was part of the Grand Tour. Around 20km north of Pisa, it lies on Italy’s west coast in the area of Tuscany known as the Versilia Coast.
The elegant seaside resort of ViareggioViareggio has wonderful Art Nouveau buildings, seafood restaurants, great beaches and an elegant promenade on which to take evening walks, Italian-style. Kirker Holidays offers three nights at the stylish Hotel Principe di Piemonte from £659 per person, including ights from Gatwick to Pisa return, private car higher, breakfast and Kirker concierge.
020-7593 2283, www.kirkerholidays.com
www.italia.it
GREECE
Stunning blue seas, bonewhite beaches, silver-green olive groves and golden, endless shimmering sunshine – it’s no surprise the beautiful Aegean and Ionian islands make wonderful beach destinations, whether you choose Kefalonia, Paxos or Corfu, Skopelos or Skiathos. Planet Holidays offers a seven-night, half-board holiday at the recently renovated five-star Marbella Beach Hotel in Agios Ioannis, Corfu, staying in a deluxe double, including flights from Gatwick to Corfu and transfers, from £887 per person.
0871-871 2234, www.planet-holidays.co.uk
www.visitgreece.gr
FLORIDA
America’s Sunshine State has some lovely beach resorts. Like many seaside towns, Naples has great hotels, shops, restaurants and bars galore, top-class golf and water sports, an art museum and botanical gardens. Or explore the numerous state parks – don’t miss an airboat trip through the nearby Everglades. Virgin Holidays offers a seven-night holiday in Naples from £919 per person, departing in September, including ights with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow to Miami, room only at the Inn On Fifth and car hire.
Go to Florida and get away from the crowds in the Everglades0844-557 3859, www.virginholidays.co.uk
www.visitflorida.com
All prices are correct at time of going to press.
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Weekend discount
A family of four can save £145 on a weekend break in a comfortable 4-6 berth self-catering Danestream chalet at Shorefield Country Park on the edge of the New Forest, with prices down to £299 for a three-night weekend break, arriving on 26 July. 01590-648331, www.shorefield.co.uk
Italy deal Save on a holiday at Poggio Landi, the private one-bedroomed wing of an elegant old stone house near Siena. Invitation To Tuscany offers a week for £871 until 30 August (saving £290). 020-8444 9500, www.invitationtotuscany.com
Cyrpus steal British Airways is offering seven nights for the price of five at the five-star Le Meridien Limassol Resort & Spa in October, from £719 per person, including return flights on BA’s new service from Gatwick to Larnaca. Book by 31 July. 0844-493 0758, www.ba.com/larnaca