Where to go on holiday in July

Where to go on holiday in July holidays in July 2012 holiday ideas July

By Mark Hodson, Sunday Times Travel Writer and Editor of 101 Holidays

July is the month where early summer turns to high season – if you travel towards the beginning of July you can escape the school holidays and pick up some surprisingly low-priced deals. As you move further into the month, prices rise, as do the temperatures in the Mediterranean.

Although the Mediterranean is the obvious place to go on holiday in July – see below for our suggestions – there are many other exciting options: you could go north to Scandinavia or Iceland to enjoy long days and midnight sun, or enjoy the clear mountain air in the Alps. You could book an activity holiday, go long haul or save on flights and stay in the UK. Here’s where to go on holiday in July.

Beach holidays in July

Mediterranean beach holidays in July

Renting a private villa with pool is one of the best ways to enjoy the Med. We recommend the coast of Catalonia for fishing villages, pretty coves and mountains, and Paxos, a step-back-in-time Greek island. Gozo – little sister to neighbouring Malta – is a beautiful island where you are sure to relax.

If you want beach holidays in July, head to the Costa de la Luz in south-west Spain, or the delightful but often overlooked French island of Corsica. The Balaerics – once you get away from the busiest resorts – are superb, especially Mallorca and Ibiza. The lesser-explored Menorca has beautiful unspoilt beaches and is great for villa holidays. Check out the latest deals.

If money is no object, consider a luxury staffed villas complete with private chef, host and nanny.

Mainland Italy is a perfect holiday destination in July. We recommend Le Marche for its luscious countryside and beautiful villas. Or head south to Puglia where you can stay in a five-star masseria or one of these luxury self-catering trulli with pools.

The Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia have superb beaches: we recommend Forte Village in Sardinia and Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in Sicily – both world-class holiday ideas. July is also a great month to be on Amalfi Coast, while Umbria has a wealth of great hotels and self-catering accommodation.

For families, we recommend the Sani Resort on a spectacular stretch of beach on mainland Greece. The island of Crete has many charming houses to rent and some first-class hotels including the contemporary Daios Cove. In Turkey you can stay at one of these amazing boutique hotels, or explore the coast on a gulet cruise.

See our selection of the best Mediterranean holidays, and more holiday ideas in Spain. Remember, if you want cheap holidays in July, you usually need to travel before the start of the school holidays.

Family holiday ideas in July

Still not found something to amuse the kids this summer? How about hopping across the Channel to Camping Duinrell, a fabulous site in Holland. If you like cruising try these amazing family cruises.

For a great value family holiday in July, rent a self-catering apartment in a car-free holiday village complete with aqua parks and slides, golf, tennis, farms and free kids clubs. Belle Dune in Normandy is just an hour’s drive from Calais, with resorts across France and Spain.

A great way for families to bond is on a sailing holiday at Club Vounaki in Greece, or enjoy some watersports at Lakitira Beach resort.

The Italian Lakes offer a great setting for family holidays in July, with charming hotels, great beaches and lots of opportunities for boat trips and activities.

The coastline of Northern Spain is perfect for families in July. It has lovely uncrowded beautiful beaches, green countryside, excellent food and wine, mountains and charming villages. Fly or take the overnight ferry, staying in a self-catering cottage or traditional small hotel.

In Britain we particularly like Sands Resort in North Cornwall, which has a great programme for children.

If you’re travelling with a large group of friends or families, rent a large house that sleeps 12 or more. The Big Domain has a great collection of houses, villas and chalets in the UK and overseas, by the sea, in cities and in the countryside. Or rent a chateau in France with Simply Chateau (see their latest special offers).

If you want to combine adventure, culture and relaxation, take the kids on a cruising holiday aboard a traditional Turkish gulet. Explore the coastline of Turkey, Italy or Greece, with lots of swimming in deserted bays, and guided visits to cultural sites.

Find more ideas on our new website, 101 Family Holidays.

Activity holidays in July

If you don’t want to lie on a beach, how about a cycling holiday in Europe, or a walking holiday in the splendid mountain countryside of northern Spain.

The Alps in summer are gorgeous: great weather, clean air, low humidity and sparkling lakes where you can swim or do watersports. We recommend a stay near the lake at Annecy or Evian, or in the mountains in Les Deux Alpes. This is also a great time of year to get a deal at The Lodge, Verbier, a luxury chalet owned by Sir Richard Branson.

If you want to get away from the crowds and discover beautiful places in the company of like-minded people, consider a cultural walking tour.

Take a golfing holiday in France and keep the costs down by staying at a self-catering holiday village. Recommended locations include Moliets Holiday Village on the Cote d’Argent, and Port Bourgenay Holiday Village in the Vendee.

In the Cotswolds you could combine sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and fishing at Cotswold Water Park Hotel or take a painting holiday at The Bear of Rodborough, a charming 17th century coaching inn. In the pretty Cotswold village of Old Minster, the Old Swan & Minster Mill is a 15th-century inn set in 65 acres of gardens and meadows that has recently been restored by the de Savary family.

Get the wind in your hair on a sailing holiday – either bareboat or skippered. If you don’t know the ropes yet, get yourself to sailing school or join a flotilla. My fellow editor David Wickers is an expert on sailing and cruising. See his selection of best sailing holidays.

For an adventurous road trip at a bargain price, rent a funky customised campervan and explore the backroads of Spain, Italy, Germany or Holland.

UK holidays in July

In recent years July has been the month with the most reliable weather in the UK. It’s a great time to rediscover the quaint charms of the Isle of Wight or try a boating holiday, perhaps on the Norfolk Broads. You don’t need to go abroad for white-sand beaches – just nip across to the Scilly Isles. Or go self-catering with a cottage in Devon or Cornwall where we recommend Hawke’s Point apartments in St Ives.

We also recommend this collection of great-value rental cottages.

For a touch more pampering, stay at one of our recommended hotels including Gilpin Lodge in the Lake District, Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa near Bath and Pentre Mawr Country House in the beautiful North Wales countryside. If you want stylish self-catering in Wales check out the beautiful cottages offered by Sheepskin.

From London it is easy to reach Maison Talbooth in Constable Country. In West Sussex there are some excellent places to stay including Bailiffscourt Hotel.

This is a great time of year to visit Edinburgh, one of Britain’s most beautiful cities. Hop on the train and book a room at one of these four hotels in convenient central locations. You can also find a wide range of short breaks in Scotland including whisky tours on Islay, and the chance to see Minke Whales, otters, seals, porpoises on a Mull Wildlife Experience.

Camping is all the rage but if you can’t face cramped tents and damp sleeping bags, check into Feather Down Farms which has superb spacious fixed tents at 20 working farms across the UK. Alternatively, sleep in a luxury tent in the palatial grounds of a posh country house with Country House Hideout.

You can also stay in a well-equipped and spacious log cabin set in a secluded forest in England. Locations include the Forest of Dean, Cornwall and the North Yorkshire Moors.

For something more grand, you could get together with family or friends to rent a Downton Abbey-style stately home.

Explore the best of Britain on a small-group cultural tour. Under the guidance of an expert in art, music or architecture, you can get together with like-minded people and visit some of the Great Houses of England or attend a classical music festival. New itineraries for 2012 include Turner & The Sea, Charles Dickens and Mediaeval Middle England.

Find more UK holiday ideas. Or look for cheap holidays in July.

Long haul holidays in July

Borneo is at its best in our summer. As well as seeing orangutans, you can laze on sandy beaches, walk in tropical forests and visit indigenous villages. We recommend an overnight climb of Mount Kinabalu.

Many destinations are Asia are a bit wet in July, but the east coast of Malaysia and Thailand is an exception. Head to Koh Samui, where backpacker huts have been replaced by gorgeous hotels such as Anantara BoPhut Resort & Spa, or to Malaysia for the superb Tanjong Jara Resort.

If Africa, July is great month for a safari holiday in Botswana. It’s also a perfect time to explore the magnificent landscapes and game parks of Namibia. For a Big Five safari that won’t break the bank, we recommend Kenya and in particular this Kenya Signature Safari.

It’s wrong to assume that Australia is only for our winter. The north of the country is perfect for a fortnight in July, staying in the Kimberley, staying at working cattle stations followed perhaps by a luxury island resort on the Great Barrier reef.

Bermuda is warm, sunny and colourful in July, with its pink sand beaches, lush gardens and pastel houses. Best places to stay include Cambridge Beaches, the child-friendly Fairmont Southampton and the good-value Grotto Bay Resort.

Canada is a great choice for July holiday with options including a fly-drive around the Eastern provinces of Québec and Ontario. Find holiday ideas and special offers to Canada.

July is also a good month to explore the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands – take a luxury small ship cruise on the MC Athala or MV Eclipse. See the full range of expedition cruises.

Finally, the Caribbean is nearing the end of its season but still popular with low prices at hotels. See our top 10 Caribbean holidays.

Head north

July is not just about going south – it’s also a great month to head north to enjoy long sunny days, beautiful unspoilt scenery and a glimpse of the midnight sun.

How about a holiday in Iceland to explore an amazing country of mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and geysers. Choose from some great fly/drive tours and see the latest special offers.

Head to Norway for dramatic summer scenery, spectacular skies and fascinating culture. You can take a Coastal Voyage on a ship used by local people, see whales and traditional fishing villages in the Lofoten Islands or take the train along the Roof of Norway between Oslo and Bergen. Visit Tromso – Land of the Midnight Sun – or set off to explore Fjords, Lakes and Mountains.

For the ultimate northern experience, we propose an Arctic cruise on a small expedition ship that will get you up close to polar bears, beluga whales, seals and reindeer. You can go kayaking and stay up late into the night marvelling at the glistening glaciers and beautiful northern skies.

Find more hot holidays in July and see our sister site for honeymoon destinations in July.

Try our holiday quiz

If you’re still stuck for ideas, why not try our fun holiday quiz. Answer 10 easy questions like the one below to find out what kind of holidaymaker you are, and get personalised travel recommendations. Try the quiz now.