Despite the somewhat unsettled weather here in the UK of late, Summer is just around the corner (we hope!)
If you’ve not made any plans yet, fear not as we have compiled a selection of ideas to help you with the all-important holiday selection.
Please feel free to get in touch any time to discuss.
European Family Resorts
Due to the laws of supply and demand, some family friendly resorts in Southern Europe have become quite expensive. Our favourite resorts that offer great value for money include:
Martinhal Sagres in the un-spoilt western corner of the Algarve (they already have limited availability for August). It combines excellent childcare and activities for all ages, with delicious cuisine and plenty to do for the grownups – if we can get rooms it does offer great value.
Elounda SA Resorts on the island of Crete is also a firm favourite; we like the balance it strikes between being family and convivial for grown-ups, with 3 separate hotels sharing some superb facilities and restaurants it has the benefits of a large hotel without feeling enormous. The kids club is excellent as are the sporting academies.
This time of year the iconic Tenerife resorts of Bahia del Duque and Ritz Carlton Abama are also good value as it’s not peak season – August is not as hot as you might think with temperatures mid 20’s to early 30’s – perfect beach temperatures in our opinion.
If you do want to splash out and go for the very best, we would recommend Borgo Eganzia, Sani Resort and Forte Village as our top picks for families.
The all-inclusive Ikos Olivia in Greece also represents excellent value for money, when you take into account all the extras included.
European Villas
We would highly recommend a villa holiday, they work brilliantly for groups of friends, families travelling together and multi-generational family gatherings. Your own villa gives you much more space and privacy. If there are groups of children they should entertain themselves, leaving parents and/or grandparents with plenty of time to relax, catch up, read a book or enjoy a glass of rosé. The only problem is finding the right villa! This is where we come in, we have a network of trusted specialist villa suppliers across Europe and beyond, all you need to do is get in touch with us, let us know your requirements and preferences and we’ll do the rest presenting you with a curated selection of the best options.
African Safari
Summer is one of the best times for a safari to both East and Southern Africa. In East Africa the Great Wildebeest migration will be getting exciting as the herds group together and prepare to cross the Mara. The Kenyan (Maasai Mara) and Tanzanian (Serengeti) sides are equally as good this time of year. There are camps and lodges to suit all budgets from the out-of-this-world opulent, to the comfortable bush camps and the basic mobile camps. If you want to witness this bucket list event this year, booking now is essential. It’s also the perfect time of year for a Southern Africa safari, the cooler dry season ensures beautiful blue skies and as the water dries up greater concentrations of game – no more so than the Okavango delta, where fresh water from Angola quenches the land attracting beasts from afar.
Asia
Despite the longer flight, Asia still offers fantastic value for money. There are a diverse range of experiences to be found that are both active and cultural – perfect for family holidays, couples or groups of friends. The array of beautiful hotels will suit all tastes and budgets whilst the delicious food, that often is best enjoyed at simple local cafes and foodstalls, will be a highlight.
You do have to choose carefully as weather patterns differ greatly; this is where we can offer advice and carefully plan your holiday to make sure you get the best out of your precious time away.
British summertime is a great time to visit Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. Bali, being a much larger island than is often realised, we would recommend combining a stay on the beach with at least 2 to 3 days inland around the cultural town of Ubud. We love COMO Uma Ubud and Chedi Club Tanah Gajah and on the beach Alila Manggis offers something a little different as well as The Legian in Seminyak always being a top choice.
It is also an excellent time to visit The Gulf of Thailand. Particular favourites on Koh Samui are Zazen Boutique Resort and Tongsai Bay, for something particularly special there is the Six Senses Samui or Banyan Tree Samui.
Off-Season Bargains
With weather patterns changing across the globe, British summertime is also a great time to take advantage of those parts of the world that traditionally aren’t in their prime and so offer fantastic value.
First up would be The Maldives, which needs no introduction! Not just a destination for romantic getaways and Honeymoons, there are a variety of stunning resorts that are great for families and in terms of weather it is becoming much more of a year-round destination.
Looking to the West, the US state of Florida is good value. By early August a lot of the US schools have gone back and the hotels bring out some excellent offers. As with the Carribean it will be hot and humid, but by no means unbearable. Of course you do run the risk of encountering a tropical storm so we would advise travelling in July or early August to avoid this. Read about the Burke family’s trip last summer here.
In Asia, certain areas of Thailand are off-season and within what they call their ‘green season’, you will have to take into consideration it is very likely to rain (mainly in short sharp showers), though you can save yourself a great deal as hotel rates are considerably lower. Likewise across the border into Cambodia, July and August are much quieter times of year to visit Siem Reap and the famous temples of Angkor Wat, as well as being better priced.