Great Britain
Mortehoe, north Devon
After Britain’s patchy summer, perhaps September will be glorious. Holiday Cottages (01237 426256, holidaycottages.co.uk) still has plenty of properties on its books including Rockham Bay View, a smart, recently renovated house with three bedrooms sleeping six close to Woolacombe and Croyde beaches in the village of Mortehoe. There’s a garden with a barbecue, and it’s close to the South West Coast Path. A seven-night stay is from £720 on September 5; this is a saving of £175.
Near Salcombe, south Devon
The Thurlestone is a family-friendly traditional hotel with a spa with indoor and outdoor pools, a playground, indoor playroom, extensive gardens and a beach close by. During September the owners are offering free stays for children aged under five — who also get a free supper — with the room rate set at £245 a night for a family of three, breakfasts included (01548 560382, thurlestone.co.uk). Dogs are welcome at the hotel and are given welcome packs with doggy treats.
Fort William to Inverness
Fancy a last-minute adventure? Wilderness Scotland (01479 420020, wildernessscotland.com) has a five-day guided canoeing break along the Great Glen Canoe Trail, which covers 60 miles from Fort William to Inverness, departing on September 5. During the journey along rivers, canals and part of Loch Ness, participants go “wild camping” near the water. No canoeing experience is required. The price is from £625pp with all meals and camping equipment included.
Short haul
Lake Garda, Italy
Stay at the magnificently plush five-star Palazzo Arzaga, in rolling countryside two miles from Lake Garda, and use the hotel as a base to catch the end of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, the oldest open-air opera festival in the world (www.arena.it). Citalia (01293 731722, citalia.com) has a five-night B&B break departing next Saturday from £699pp, a saving of £236 a couple. Hiring a car to reach Verona is £30 a day, and Citalia can help arrange opera tickets.
Gascony, France
There are seven pools, water slides, a sandy beach, horse-riding and cycling at the Messange campsite in Gascony. Venue Holidays (01233 629950, venueholidays.co.uk) has a seven-night stay from September 5 from £112 in a simple, two-bedroom mobile home with decking. This is a saving of £105. The mobile home can fit two adults and up to four children. Ferry crossings can be arranged but are extra: about £80 for a Dover-Calais return.
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Fuerteventura, Spain
For a blast of sunhine at a hotel in Europe on a sandy beach with a massive pool and modern spa, look no further than Barcelo Fuerteventura Thalasso Spa, where the price of a week’s half-board is from £671pp — a saving of £212 per couple — for departures on September 2 from Gatwick. Thomson (020 3451 2688, thomson.co.uk) is offering the break at the big, sporty hotel, which also has a tennis court, a five-a-side football pitch, table tennis and water sports. Children under six years old stay for free.
Long haul
St Lucia
St James’s Club Morgan Bay is a four-star hotel set in lush palm tree-filled gardens on the northwest coast of St Lucia, not far from the lively capital of Castries and the Pitons, dramatic dormant volcanic peaks. Hayes & Jarvis (01293 735831, hayesandjarvis.co.uk) has seven nights’ all-inclusive from £1,249pp — a saving of £104pp — for departures from Gatwick on September 8; transfers are included.
Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
Stay in a stylish, minimalist water villa close to one of Malaysia’s best beaches on a last-minute getaway with Turquoise Holidays (01494 678400, turquoiseholidays.co.uk). It is offering seven nights’ B&B for the price of five at the Pangkor Laut Resort, if you book by Tuesday. The holiday is now from £1,695pp for travel up to December 11; this is 40 per cent off, with premium economy seats on new British Airways flights and private transfers. The hotel is set in 300 acres of land, surrounded by ancient forest.
Tom Chesshyre