Planning your summer 2026 getaway? Whether you dream of lounging on Italy's Ionian shores or dining al fresco on the Isle of Wight, travel expert Mary Novakovich shares her top picks for an unforgettable holiday.
France: Languedoc's Vineyard Retreat
Head south to Languedoc for a taste of French living at the Wine Terrace, a six-bedroom villa set in an old priory surrounded by vineyards. You'll share extensive grounds, terraces, and a swimming pool with two other cottages, but there's ample space for everyone. A short drive takes you to charming Pézenas and its fabulous Saturday market. Vintage Travel offers availability in July, with seven nights' self-catering from £2,210.
Italy: Puglia's Coastal Charm
A week in Puglia is irresistible, especially at Casa Cosima, a beautifully restored 19th-century townhouse in Spongano. Sleeping six comfortably in three bedrooms, it features elegant furnishings under vaulted ceilings. When not lounging by your private pool, you can reach Italy's Ionian beaches in a short drive. Essential Italy has a week's self-catering from 4 July starting at £3,200.
Isle of Wight: Houseboat Living
Fancy a holiday on a boat without the hassle of sailing? Stay at Oystercatcher, a stylish three-bedroom houseboat moored in Bembridge harbour. Light, airy, and spacious, it boasts a terrace overlooking the harbour for al fresco dining and waterfront cocktails. Booked through Unique Hideaways, it costs £2,293 for seven nights' self-catering, including booking fee and damage waiver.
Mauritius: Tropical Bliss
For guaranteed sunshine with Creole, Chinese, and French influences, head to Mauritius. The Veranda Grand Baie Hotel and Spa offers a relaxed break in sheltered Grand Baie, with two pools and enticing beach restaurants. Seven nights' B&B with Away Holidays cost from £1,089 per person in July, or upgrade to all-inclusive for an extra £440 per person.
Greece: Samos Island Escape
Stay in one of the Eleonos Villas on Samos, with Votsalakia beach a 10-minute walk away, plus your own pool and shaded terrace. These stone houses sit on a gentle hillside, offering lovely sea views. GIC the Villa Collection has availability in July for two-bedroom villas starting at £3,226 per couple, including flights and car hire.
Cornwall: Clifftop Apartment
Combine hotel facilities—indoor pool, health club, restaurants—with apartment convenience at SeaSpace. Perched on a clifftop on the South West Coast Path overlooking Watergate Bay, north of Newquay, you can save 15 per cent off a four-night stay, starting at £316 per night in July.
Kenya and Tanzania: Safari and Beach
For a splurge, consider the 13-night Kenya Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday by Rainbow Tours. After spotting the Big Five in the Maasai Mara and sleeping in luxurious tents at Governors' Camp, you'll enjoy a night in Zanzibar Palace Hotel in Stone Town, then relax on Zanzibar's white sands at Pongwe Beach Hotel. Prices in July start at £6,860 per person, including flights, transfers, accommodation, most meals, entrance fees, and specified excursions.
Borneo: Jungle Adventure
Make the most of July's dry heat with a jungle adventure in Sabah. Selective Asia's 13-day Sabah's Lost Worlds trek is tailor-made, allowing you to explore remote rainforests, visit an orangutan sanctuary, and cruise the Kinabatangan River. Prices start at £4,390 per person, including transport, accommodation, guides, and some meals, excluding flights.
