It’s raining in the UK in early July, which is normally good news for the travel industry. Companies selling holidays to Europe quietly celebrate when the UK has a wet summer because it guarantees a surge in bookings. But with a General Election, a lingering cost of living crisis and the Euro 2024 finals in Germany, this has been an unusual year. Throw in a few wildfires in Greece and a hurricane in the Caribbean and you have a very muddled picture.
The upshot is a lot of unsold holidays available at bargain prices. Some peak season packages to the Mediterranean are reduced in price by as much as 50%. Here’s my pick of the best deals right now, from last-minute getaways to early booking offers in the autumn months.
By Mark Hodson
Last minute deals in the Med
54% off last-minute Skopelos
On the lovely Greek island of Skopelos, Glifoneri is a secluded one-bedroom apartment located just a five-minute walk from Glifoneri Beach. Seven nights self-catering costs £589 pp (was £1,278 pp) with flights departing 13 July and transfers, based on two sharing. Details from Sunvil.
46% off Corsica for couples
On the French island of Corsica, Le Home is a quiet adult-only getaway set in beautiful gardens in the heart of Calvi with a shared pool. Seven nights self-catering costs just £499 pp (saving £440 pp) including flights departing Stansted on 21 July, transfers and welcome pack. Details from Corsican Places.
50% off luxury villa in France
If you fancy renting a large luxury villa in France this month, there’s some late availability at La Belle Demeure (sleeps 12), a magnificent house in the Languedoc with a large gated private pool and air-conditioning, within walking distance of cafes and restaurants. A week’s rental from 20 July is reduced from £7,838 to £3,895 based on 12 guests. For 6 guests, the price is just £2,495. Details from Vintage Travel.
44% off last-minute Corfu villa
If you want to relax in a secluded corner of Corfu, Villa Halikounas is perfect. It’s close to an unspoilt sandy beach and local taverna with a pool, gardens and spacious interiors. Seven nights self-catering costs £688 pp (was £1,246 pp) based on six sharing including flights departing Gatwick on 15 July and car hire. Details from GIC The Villa Collection.
25% off summer boating holidays
If you fancy a boating holiday this summer, Nicols has 25% off prices in July and August on boat hire across all its destinations in Europe, whether you’re a couple or a group of up to 10 people. Find all the details here.
35% off South of France villa
The Villa Des Pins (sleeps 8) is a fabulous tranquil retreat an hour’s drive from the French Riviera. The house has modern amenities and is set in extensive gardens with olive and pine trees and a private swimming pool. Get 35% off a seven-night booking between 29 June and 30 August, reduced from £4,515 to £2,935 with Oliver’s Travels.
Autumn deals
50% off St Lucia in autumn
Head to the Caribbean island of St Lucia in the autumn and save up to 50%. Seven nights all-inclusive at the four-star Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa costs from £1,599 pp (saving £1,600 pp) including flights and transfers in October. Book before 31 July with Tropical Sky. Discounts are available between now and 2 January 2025.
36% off luxury Maldives hideaway
Dhigali is among the most luxurious resorts in the Maldives. Utterly secluded, it’s only a 45-minute seaplane hop from the capital, Malé. In September, seven nights all-inclusive in a Beach Bungalow costs from £2,549 pp (saving £1,450 pp) including flights with Emirates and transfers. Book by 15 September with Turquoise Holidays.
Also in the Maldives, there’s 25% off an all-inclusive stay in a Sunset Beach Villa at Atmosphere Kanifushi. Seven nights all-inclusive costs from £2,805 pp in September including flights and seaplane transfers with Inspiring Travel.
14-night Iberian cruise from £813
Here’s an amazing price for a 14-night cruise to Spain and Portugal on the MSC Virtuosa sailing out of Southampton on 28 September. Inside cabins start at just £813 pp with outside cabins from £1,174 pp. Ports of call include Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca. Details from iglu cruise.
£100 off exciting Turkey group tour
There’s a lot more to Turkey than beach resorts. Travelsphere has £100 off its exciting 11-night tour, Treasures of Turkey, which takes you from Istanbul’s iconic Blue Mosque to the incredible cave dwellings of Cappadocia via the Hagia Sophia, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus and the legendary city of Troy. It now costs £1,749 pp with departures in September and October. The price includes accommodation in four-star hotels, flights, breakfast, 10 dinners and two lunches.
30% off five-star Sicily for couples
There’s a late summer offer for couples at Sir Rocco Forte’s five-star Verdura Resort in Sicily where seven nights B&B in a Superior Deluxe Room with spa access costs from £2,175 pp (saving £949 pp) if you travel between 25 August and 14 September. Book by 31 July with Sardatur Holidays. Flights are not included.
£600 off luxury river cruise
There’s £600 off the luxury Lyon, Provençal Rhône & the Camargue River Cruise on board the Lord Byron. The 11-day cruise departing 25 October includes visits to Cluny Abbey, Beaune, Lyon, Avignon, Uzès, Arles, Orange and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, plus wine tastings in Mâcon and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The price for a middle deck cabin including flights or rail travel is £2,999 pp (was £3,599 pp). Details from Riviera Travel.
£300 off South Africa tour
Cox & Kings has a stunning escorted tour, Highlights of South Africa, combining wildlife, walks and wine. There’s a private safari on a Big-Five reserve, an ascent of Table Mountain by cable car, tastings in various Cape Wineland vineyards, and a trip along the iconic Route 62. Eleven nights departing 21 November costs £4,395 pp (saving £300 pp).
Savings on Sandals butler suites
Couples can save up to 45% on a stay at Sandals Royal Plantation, Jamaica, in September. Seven nights all-inclusive in an Oceanfront Butler Suite costs from £2,149 pp including flights and transfers. Details from Sandals.
20% off luxury Greece villa
Get 20% off Aiolos, a luxury modern villa in Lefkada, Greece, in July, August and September. For example, seven nights self-catering costs from £883 pp (was £904 pp) based on six sharing including flights departing 22 September. Details: CV Villas.
Free night at luxury treetop retreat
If you want to escape the summer heat, head to the Italian Dolomites where My Arbor is a luxury treetop retreat in a beautiful mountain setting with fine dining and a world-class spa. Stay five nights and pay for four between 5 October and 20 December. Details from Long Travel.
More summer bargains
55% off luxury Dubai in August
If you like it hot, there are some amazing deals in Dubai this summer (and this is a city with lots of indoor air-conditioned attractions, along with water parks). Seven nights B&B at the five-star Grand Hyatt Dubai costs from £809 pp (saving 55%) including flights between 8 and 16 August. Details from Away Holidays.
Walking and cycling deals
Fancy a hiking holiday? Ramble Worldwide has a five-night group trip, Northumberland’s Coast and Castles, departing on 16 September for £869 pp (was £955 pp) including half-board accommodation at a historic coaching inn in Alnwick and visits to Howick Hall Gardens, Alnwick Castle & Gardens, Bamburgh Castle and the National Trust’s Wallington Estate.
Headwater Holidays offers a fabulous range of self-guided walking and cycling holidays in beautiful corners of Europe, and has £150 off each booking until the end of September if you book by 15 July.
30% off Cornwall cottage
If you’re looking for a deal in the West Country, there’s 30% off Mount Wise Farmhouse (sleeps 6) in Stithians, Cornwall. The week beginning 19 July now costs £1,015 with Classic Cottages.
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