Where to go on holiday in July

Where to go on holiday in July holidays in July 2013 holiday ideas July

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

July is the month when early summer turns to peak 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 across Europe and 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. If you have children, check out our recommendations for family holidays in July.

Note: all the travel companies featured are personally recommended by our editors.

Beach holidays in July Puglia, Italy Mediterranean villa

Mediterranean beach holidays in July

Renting a private villa with pool is one of the best ways to enjoy the Med. We recommend the pretty coastline of Catalonia for fishing villages, pretty coves and mountains, and Paxos, a step-back-in-time Greek island. Malta offers sun, sea and a fascinating dose of history while neighbouring Gozo is all about sleepy rural charm.

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.

If money is no object, Scott Dunn has some 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 good-value accommodation. Or head south to Puglia where you can stay in a five-star masseria or one of these luxury self-catering trulli with pools. For something different, you could get ringside seats to the traditional Palio horse races in Siena.

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 the Amalfi Coast, while Umbria has a wealth of charming hotels and self-catering accommodation. Find more holiday ideas in Italy.

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. We also list some cheap holidays in July, but you’ll usually need to travel before the start of the school holidays.

Water park Ile de Re Sailing Club

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.

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, where we recommend Sunsail, or enjoy some watersports at Lakitira Beach resort.

The Italian Lakes offer a picturesque 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 offers lovely uncrowded beautiful beaches, green countryside, excellent food and wine, mountains and historic 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 sister website, 101 Family Holidays.

Mountain biking in the Alps Canal du Midi Walking holidays

Activity holidays in July

If you don’t want to lie on a beach, how about a cycling holiday in Europe Headwater, or a walking holiday in the splendid mountain countryside of northern Spain. You can also take a (less expensive) cycling break in theUK, either road cycling or mountain biking, from just £225.

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 in 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 the Cotswold Water Park Hotel. 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. See our selection of the best sailing holidays.

The Grove Classic car holidays Lucknam Park

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 rent a boat with Waterways Holidays, 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 in Devon or Cornwall. One of the best ways to enjoy the gorgeous beaches and coastal paths of Cornwall is to rent a cottage with Classic 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.

If you want a stylish place to stay in a remote location it’s hard to beat Pen-y-Dyffryn Country Hotel set in five acres of grounds in the rolling hills of the Welsh-Shropshire border. It has an award-winning restaurant, lovely bedrooms and also welcomes pets.

From London it is easy to reach Maison Talbooth in Constable Country.

This is a great time of year to visit Scotland. You could join an intimate cruise in the Highlands and Islands on a lovingly-restored traditional wooden boat or choose from a range of short breaks including whisky tours on Islay and the chance to see Minke Whales, otters, seals, porpoises on a wildlife cruise around Mull.

Camping is all the rage but if you can’t face cramped tents and damp sleeping bags, check into Feather Down Farms which has luxurious and 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. If you can’t bear to leave your dog behind, try one of these dog-friendly caravan parks across the UK.

Or go “glamping” at Trevella Park which is set beside a stunning beach near Newquay, Cornwall. The park has nature trails, fishing lakes and a heated outdoor swimming pool and a range of accommodation including tepees, safari tents and bell tents that sleep 4-6 and have comfortable beds, duvets, decking, a fridge and camping stove.

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 include Turner & The Sea, Charles Dickens and Mediaeval Middle England.

Find more UK holiday ideas.

Kenya in July Koh Samui Sarawak

Long haul holidays in July

Borneo is at its best in our summer. As well as getting the chance to encounter orangutans in the wild, you can laze on sandy beaches, walk in tropical forests and visit indigenous villages. This nature tour covers all the best bits.

It’s also the best time of year to visit Peru where you can tick several things off your bucket list: hiking the Inca Trail, visiting the Lost City of Machu Picchu and exploring the wondrous Amazon rainforest. More ideas here.

Many destinations are Asia are 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.

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 pick of the top Caribbean holidays.

Nida Lagoon Riga Iceland

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.

The Latvian capital of Riga makes an exciting city break – it’s a fascinating city, buzzing with life, packed with sights and culture – and almost embarrassingly cheap. Other great (value) cities visit in Eastern Europe including Budapest and the Ukranian capital, Kiev. Or spend a few days in one of the great cities in German – Cologne or Berlin.

For the ultimate northern experience, we recommend One Ocean Expeditions which runs Arctic cruises 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.

July is a great time to visit America

Rent a car, hit the road and it won’t take you long to get under the skin of America. This is truly the world’s most diverse holiday destination, and home to extraordinary and friendly people. New England is a great place to start: the distances are short and there’s a lot to see and do

California has some classic road routes. You could rent a convertible and drive from Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast Highway.

If you want Big Country, try this Best of the Northwest self-drive tour out of Seattle or head to Colorado which has some great fly-drive options including this Goldmine Towns and Old Time Trains route. Alternatively, point your car towards Wyoming and South Dakota, where you’ll find Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, Fort Laramie, Cheyenne and Fort Collins en route.

A camping tour is a great way to see America. Head to the Northern Rockies or New York and Niagara, or take the kids on a 12-day Western Discovery tour that visits the Hoover Dam, Yosemite National Park, Bryce Canyon and San Francisco. Find more family adventures.

Other child-friendly options include this Cowgirls and Beach Boys private tour that combines New York City with a ranch in Montana and a beach in California.

Talking of beaches, you could rent a summer house in Cape Cod or stay at The Vanderbilt Grace in Newport, Rhode Island. If you’re travelling with a large group, rent a big house such as Solana, a spacious condo on St Pete Beach.

If you want somebody else to do the driving, take an escorted tour. The 14-night Western Discovery tour is packed full of crowd-pleasers including the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Yosemite, LA, San Francisco and Las Vegas. You could take the trip down Route 66 or discover the colonial charm of Louisiana plantation homes.

An escorted tour of Texas will take you to Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, and everywhere from Southfork Ranch to the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Or you could explore the Great Eastern Cities – New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC – with visits to the Niagara Falls and Amish Country.

It’s a perfect time of year to visit Alaska – where you’ll be overawed by vast forests and mountain ranges, dramatic glaciers and wildlife from humpback whales to grizzly bears.

A great way to explore Alaska is aboard a small ship – try one of these Un-Cruise Adventures. You can even combine a cruise in Alaska with a railroad ride across the Rockies and a city break in Chicago on this fabulous 2-week private tour.

Other great holidays in America in July include cycling through the vineyards of Napa Valley, staying at a desert ranch in Joshua Tree National Park and sleeping in a yurt overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

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.