Ischia
With Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia crossed off many holidaymakers’ lists, bookings to Spain have leapt by nearly 40 per cent over last summer’s figures. That’s in spite of a tourism tax that will be imposed on visitors to the Balearic islands from 1 July. But although travel agents warn of a European holiday shortage this summer, there are still some prime choices available in June.
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Italy
Perennially popular Italy hasn’t been slacking either, thanks to a winning combination of top-class cities – Rome, Venice, Florence – and its sublime landscapes ranging from alpine lakes to volcanic Sicily. As bookings to the Amalfi Coast have shot up by 30 per cent from last summer and accommodation is being snapped up quickly, consider a more tranquil break on the nearby island of Ischia. ExperttoItaly (expertoitaly.com; 020-7520 3100) offers a week’s half-board at the Garden Villas Resort near the village of Lacco Ameno, with the beach at San Montano and the Negombo thermal spa a short walk away. Prices start at £750pp throughout June and including transfers but not flights to Naples.
Sardinia's Costa Verde
Inntravel (inntravel.co.uk; 01653 617001) has a self-guided walking holiday in Sardinia, for which demand is surging. A seven-night walking holiday on the south-western Costa Verde, which includes the Unesco-listed Piscinas sand dunes, costs from £775pp until 12 June, including half-board and luggage transfers. Flights are extra.
Portugal
Vintage Travel (vintagetravel.co.uk; 01954 261431) is reporting a surge in bookings to the Algarve of 30 per cent since last summer, but there’s still an opportunity to bag a holiday at its new addition, Casinha Goa. This two-bedroom villa is in the fishing village of Ferragudo on the banks of the River Arade, with the beach of Praia Angrinha just a short walk away. The villa features a roof terrace with a plunge pool, and costs from £795 for a week starting 4 June.
Mauritius
While European football fans will be gripped by Euro 2016, Mauritius will be hosting the World Club 10s Rugby tournament on 18-19 June featuring teams including Saracens and Toulon. Co-host Beachcomber (beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 367946) offers seven nights’ half-board at Le Mauricia Hotel from £1,080pp departing 14 June, including flights, transfers and rugby tickets
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Mountain air
The usually hedonistic ski resort of St Anton in Austria will have a more zen-like air when it hosts the outdoor Mountain Yoga Festival from 1-4 September. Inghams (inghams.co.uk; 01483 371217) has a week’s half-board here at the Hotel Alte Post from £838pp, including flights and transfers, departing 31 August.
St Anton Mountain Yoga Festival
Autumn colours
Don’t follow the crowds to New England to see the autumn colours in all their glory. Instead, head north of the border to Canada and quieter Quebec, where the display is just as vivid. Wexas Travel (wexas.com; 020-7590 0635) offers a 10-day self-drive tour taking in Montreal, the Laurentian mountains, Sacacomie Lake and Quebec City. Costing from £1,975pp and based on departure dates from 15 September to 21 October, it includes flights, accommodation, city tours and car hire.
Low season delights
September is one of the mellowest times to visit Greece, with warm temperatures and few crowds. Combine beaches and mountains in lushly forested Thassos, the most northerly of the Greek islands. A week’s self-catering in the Mikro Kazaviti apartments in the pretty village of Kazaviti with Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk; 020-8568 4499) costs from £752pp, including flights, transfers and car hire, departing 16 September.