Travel tips: the Swiss Alps, and this week’s best deals

Climb the Matterhorn – or let the train take the strain.
 Plus holidays in Wales and Sweden

 On a high: the Matterhorn and Zermatt at dusk. Photograph: Jorg Greuel/Getty Images

Take me there: the Matterhorn

Why go?
On 14 July 1865, British climber Edward Whymper made the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn. At the foot of the mountain, the village of Zermatt will be celebrating the 150th anniversary with a summer-long programme of events, from fireworks displays to theatrical mountain-top re-enactments of the climb(zermatt.ch). But the highlight of the celebrations will undoubtedly be the reopening of the Hörnlihütte, the iconic mountain refuge beloved of climbers, after a two-year renovation.

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Savvy Tips for Smart Business Travel

In this day and age, travel has become increasingly necessary for business, even with the advent of video chatting and text messaging. Along with this expansion of travel comes an expansion of services and products designed to help the traveler in their journeys. Let’s take a look at some smart business travel tips.

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Travelling With Kids - Packing Tips

Holidaying Kids

With the summer holidays just around the corner I thought I'd share some great ideas for travelling with tots- whether that be somewhere in the UK or abroad, for a day trip or a couple of weeks.

My first and probably most important tip would be to make a list. It sounds ridiculous but if you try and pack for a day trip, or longer, the morning you are travelling, you are bound to forget things - usually the most obvious things and you end up feel stressed before you've even started. If you know you are going on a trip somewhere, start making a list a week or a few days before you go and take the stress of travelling with children away.

For day trips, think about all the things that you use on a daily basis; keep a note pad or your phone handy and jot things down as you go. It's no good sitting down at the end of a long day to write it as you will have forgotten things by then. Don't forget to consider drinks and snacks or food for the day as they can be really expensive to buy when you're out and about. A cool bag and some of your child's favourite items could make a great picnic and save you a small fortune. Once you've sorted your everyday items (and added in a spare change of clothes for any accidental spills!) think about the weather; do you need sun cream and hats or a rain jacket? Don't forget your camera and make sure it's charged the night before. Importantly, add some lightweight items that you can use to entertain your little ones on the journey not forgetting to hold one or two of them back for the return journey. See below for some ideas.

For holidays or longer trips, again, think of your every day items including night time and then think worse case scenario in terms of clothes needed. I would actually use two separate lists for holidays; one for hand luggage and one for suitcase. Your hand luggage bag is probably the most important as with small people around, you will probably need to access these items a lot and usually very quickly. Think specifically about the items you need and then add things you could use to entertain your little ones.

If you want to see what we packed for our holiday, check out my other post here 

For a fun family day out pack right

Be realistic about how you can entertain your little one on long journies; depending on your child's age and their usual interests, they aren't necessarily going to be happy with one activity to entertain them for the duration. I have found the best way to keep my daughter entertained is to use activities that she hasn't done over the past few days. Things I've used that don't take up a lot of space are:

• Printable colouring sheets from Snapfish  (they also have cards and origami) and pens or pencils

• Little toys (cars/figures) that can be used on a tray or on their lap - I have found that if you wrap up little toys (they don't have to be new, just toys they haven't seen in a while) it adds to the excitement and therefore keeps her entertained for longer

• For cars, why not try a car seat tray?

• Books she can 'read' on her own or favourites she will never tire of

• I made a quiet book which always goes down a real treat as you can change the pages so mix things up and I only use this for travelling

• Stickers - I can't express how much I would recommend stickers; I don't know any child who won't be entertained for a while with a pack of new stickers.

• Electronic devices - never underestimate the allure of an iPad or Kindle. I have downloaded some of Isabella's favourite films and TV programs onto my Kindle and when all else fails, this comes out and is a real treat.

I think my next tip would be to take PLENTY of snacks. If you know you will be travelling for a long time I would take the snacks you know they like and will eat rather than trying to be healthy. Although it's really important to give a balanced and healthy diet, one day isn't going to be the end of the world. For flights etc I would take things that won't get too messy and won't spill; for days out, you can be a little more adventurous - I freeze tube yogurts and wait until they melt which a) keeps them cool but b) helps keep other snacks cool too.

Hopefully this will help keep summer trips a little happier and less stressful.

Michelle Haslett

WhatMummyThinks

Read more: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/parenting/travelling-kids-packing-tips-834099.html#ixzz3cwzYQdPV

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What travel docs are needed when travelling with kids - made unbelievably simple by new tool

Cape Town - Would-be travellers can now quickly and accurately determine which documents they’ll need when travelling in and out of South Africa with children, thanks to the Child VISA Checklist App created by local travel company Drive South Africa.

The app - launched as South Africa's new child visa regulations came into play - removes the fear and uncertainty faced by parents trying to work out exactly which documents they need when travelling with their youngsters.

Complex, vague and with glaring errors

In an effort to help the tourism trade understand the new regulations, and share these new requirements with travellers, the Department of Home Affairs issued a standard operating procedure summary document.

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What Not to Do as a Tourist: 40 Don'ts for Travelling Around the World

Us Brits tend to have a bad reputation for jetting across the globe and being a tad ignorant to local traditions, customs and laws.

Well, let's stick a pin in that outdated stereotype right now by brushing up on some local knowledge before we all go on holiday this year. Luckily this handy visual from FlyDubai summarises a load of the key no nos for us so we're not caught out.

There are some that you're likely to have heard before, like no kissing in public in the United Arab Emirates, but some are a little more obscure, like don't touch anyone's head in Thailand and don't eat with your hands in Italy. Yeah, really!

For most of the don'ts, the guide also tells you just how bad doing that particular thing is, from getting arrested to just being considered a bit rude.

[Via FlyDubai] [ Main Image Via Swaminathan]

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How We Afford to Travel

Life is a product of our choices. One of the most important choices we make in life -- on a daily basis -- is what we spend our money on. I choose to spend a disproportionate amount of my money on travel for myself and my family. Spending lots of money on family travel is an investment in my family's growth and development. The shared experiences in foreign lands help strengthen our bonds as a family and give our daughters new perspectives on the world and their lives.

We've been traveling as a family for more than three years. We've been to dozens of destinations all over the world, including New York City, Honolulu, Buenos Aires, Taipei, and Phuket. We've spent anywhere from three days to three months in certain destinations. And we've been able to do this because we've made travel a priority in our lives.

To begin to explain how we afford to travel, let's start with some background information on myself:

First, we're a single income family when I'm working. When I'm not working, we're a zero income family, as we are now on our current gap year of travel.

Second, I never struck it rich with a family inheritance or employee stock options from an IPO. In fact, I missed my part of the biggest IPO ever when Alibaba went public on the NYSE in September 2014. But that's another story for another day... *I previously worked at Alibaba from 2007-2010. 
Third, I don't get paid to travel or write about it (yet).

Where does all the money come from for our travels?

Working Income - In my career, I've worked as a full-time employee, a full-time contractor, and an independent contractor. Each of these positions pulled in a paycheck, which paid bills, contributed to savings, and eventually gave us the kickstart to help fund our travel dreams.

Passive Income - When we traveled on our sabbatical in 2014, we rented out our house and our SUV while we were away for four months. This covered all payments on both the house and the car. Similarly, we've rented out our house while we're away on our current gap year of world travel in 2015. The rent payments cover all housing costs with a little buffer.

Savings - Even though I have a mortgage, bills, and all the high expenses of living in the Bay Area, I have been able to eliminate my debt and save up significant amounts of money over the years. That being said, my wife and I are very frugal with our spending. We don't buy excessive amounts of expensive clothes, toys, electronics, etc. We don't spend $250 on fancy dinners. When we're at home, my wife cooks 90 percent of the time. When we eat out, we normally go to Chipotle or get some Vietnamese pho. We live within our means.

How do I afford to travel for long extended periods of time with my family?

We afford to travel by traveling within our means, setting a budget, and sticking to it. Similar to how we live within our means at home, we keep costs down by spending frugally on transportation, accommodation, food, and leisure activities abroad. In other words, we don't spend what we don't have.

How do we keep costs down while traveling?

1. We travel primarily in countries that are cheap to live in.
We spent approximately $80 per day for our three months in Thailand. $80 per day covered our accommodations, transportation, food, leisure, and kids' education costs while in Thailand. That comes out to approximately $2500 per month and $7500 for three months. $7500 is equivalent to what we would have spent for one month of living costs in the Bay Area.

2. We travel slowly. 
Twelve weeks in Thailand, five weeks in Argentina, four weeks in Guatemala...These are just examples of the lengths of trips we have stayed in different countries. The longer we stay, the less we spend on a per day basis because Airbnb apartment rentals become cheaper for weekly and monthly rentals. We eat-in more since we can go grocery shopping and cook our meals. Transportation costs also go down because we're not flying as much.

3. We get creative on flights. 
I've booked many free flights on United and Star Alliance flights for my family over the years by accumulating miles on my Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. Recently, I've booked flights from Hawaii to Phuket, Thailand and Phuket to Hangzhou, China for all four of us, all on points. This has saved us at least a few thousand dollars.

I book cheap flights. I recently booked roundtrip flights on AirAsia from Phuket, Thailand to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for $110 each. That price is basically cheaper than a one-way ticket between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

I've also booked flash deal flights on major airlines for amazing deals on international trips. I've booked $249 per roundtrip ticket from San Jose, California to Guatemala City, Guatemala and an unbelievable deal of $149 per roundtrip ticket from Los Angeles, California to Lima, Peru. Since I booked tickets for all four of us, the savings of these deals were in the range of $1000-$2000 per trip.

4. We travel together for my business trips.
I like to mix business with pleasure, especially if I can save on costs for a trip with my family. I've traveled in many major cities within the USA with my family for a mere fraction of what it would cost if we were traveling on vacation.

For example, I spent about $150 out-of-pocket for five days in New York City on a business trip with my family while staying at the Hilton in Manhattan. I covered my wife's and kids' flights with miles so there was no extra cost there. $150 for 5 days in NYC, one of the most expensive cities in the world, isn't too shabby for a family of four.

So that's it...we afford to travel the world by traveling within our means. Whatever amount we can save up and budget for, we use to travel. And we continue to spend whatever money we have to travel because we believe it is a valuable investment in ourselves and our kids. In the end, it's the shared experiences, not the material possessions, that make all the difference in the quality of our lives.
_____

*For more reading on how you can fund YOUR travel lifestyle, click here.

This post originally appeared on LiveFamilyTravel.com. Images courtesy of author.

Cliff Hsia is a father who is determined to live a better than normal life by traveling the world, slowly and purposefully, with his wife and two young daughters. He's currently on a gap year of world travel with his family. He writes about travel, family, love, happiness, faith, and everything else that life throws at him.

Read Cliff's articles at Live Family Travel and connect with him on Facebook andTwitter.

Follow Cliff Hsia on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffhsia

Read the original articles from here

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Summer holiday heat seeker: where to find your perfect temperature

Two of the most crucial questions when choosing a holiday are “where should I go?” and “what will I see when I arrive?”. These are twin queries which drive our wanderlust, sending us forging to distant corners of the planet in search of everything from pyramids to polar ice. But sometimes travel questions can be less cerebral. And there is nothing wrong with the enquiry “how warm will it be in my chosen destination?”, not least as the summer raises its head and you start to dream of snoozing away a few days amid weather of your liking.

Here we attempt to settle this latter issue by splitting Europe (and a dash of North Africa) into three temperature brackets and four time slots. The equation is simple: the places that you might consider if you prefer holidays to be relaxed events backed by days at your preferred temperature – and the months in which you should travel to enjoy them. All suggested locations are within five hours’ flying time of UK airports, and all the statistics used are researched from the detailed online resource weather2travel.com.

There are, of course, several caveats to these potential getaways. Summer holidays during June and September can be dogged by inconvenient clouds and showers. Countries that, by repute, are chilly more often than sunny – like Denmark and Sweden – can revert to type in July and August. Weather which leaps over the tipping point of 30C can be just as restrictive as a week of thunderstorms – where the sun is too ferocious for lunches al fresco, and any visits outdoors should be accompanied by a thick layer of Factor 30.

However, for the most part, the results below map out a continent (and a bit) along the seismic lines of “hot”, “very hot”, or “that’s hot enough, thank you”. Let the summer commence...

June

19C-24C

Corsica

France’s largest Mediterranean island rarely loses its cool entirely thanks to its mountain-laden interior, but basks in pleasing warmth in June. Corsican Places (0845 330 2059; corsica.co.uk) rents out villas in this Gallic escape zone – including Villa Terra Vecchia, a three-bedroom retreat with pool, near Porto Vecchio in the traditionally hotter south. A seven-night package, flying from Heathrow to Figari on June 14, costs £1165 a head for two with car hire – or £399 per person if the villa is booked to its maximum capacity, six.

Sea temperature: 20C
Daily hours of sunshine: 10

• The 20 best hidden beaches in the UK

^{France’s largest Mediterranean island rarely loses its cool (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

Tenerife

Bathed in Atlantic breezes, the biggest of the Canary Islands is an excellent choice for unexcessive sunshine in June. Prestige Holidays (01425 480 400; prestigeholidays.co.uk) sells breaks at Spa Villalba, a four-star hotel, pitched on the southern slopes of Mount Teide, which is perfect for those who want to hike the pine forests that swaddle the great volcano – before the mercury really rises. A seven-night trip, flying from Heathrow to Tenerife South on June 17, costs from £582 per person (two sharing), including breakfast. For the best hotels in Tenerife, see:telegraph.co.uk/tenerifehotels

Sea temperature: 21C
Daily hours of sunshine: 9

25C-29C

Ibiza

The most southerly of the three biggest Balearic Islands, Ibiza hits its summer stride early – with temperatures veering into the upper 20s as soon as the club season starts. Of course, the “White Isle” dispenses relaxation as well as nightlife. Abercrombie & Kent (0845 618 2205; akvillas.com) offers luxury retreats such as La Viola – a villa with a 20-metre infinity pool which houses up to 10 above the curve of Cala Moli, on the south-west coast. It is still available this month from £6460 a week. BA and easyJet fly to Ibiza. For the best hotels in Ibiza, see: telegraph.co.uk/ibizahotels

Sea temperature: 21C
Daily hours of sunshine: 10

• Spain summer holiday guide

^{Ibiza hits its summer stride early (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

Kefalonia

The Greek summer can be infernal at peak intensity – but is a well-adjusted friend to the largest of the Ionian Islands in June. Kefalonia is a wonder, home to the glories of Petani, Myrtos and Antisamos Beaches, and winsome outposts like Assos and Fiskardo. Ionian Island Holidays (020 8459 0777; ionianislandholidays.com) offers escapes to Villa Luna, a tiny hideaway near the latter, which sleeps up to four. A seven-night stay here, flying from Gatwick on June 20, starts at £699 a head (two sharing), with car hire and transfers.

Sea temperature: 22C
Daily hours of sunshine: 11

• Greece summer holiday guide

30C+

Rhodes

So close to the Turkish mainland that Dalaman is almost tangible, the largest member of the Greek Dodecanese archipelago sizzles throughout the summer, the sun shining hard on the rocks of the ancient acropolis at east-coast Lindos. Olympic Holidays (020 8492 6868;olympicholidays.com) offers getaways to the Lindos Royal Village Hotel – a four-star with swimming pools, tennis courts and beach access. A seven-night all-inclusive stay, flying from Gatwick on June 13, starts at £642 a head (two sharing) – with transfers.

Sea temperature: 23C
Daily hours of sunshine: 13

Marrakech

Morocco’s endlessly eulogised city of markets and mysticism keeps its head above the 30-degree mark through all four months of summer – and makes for a mini-break where a tan is all but guaranteed in June. Kirker Holidays (020 7593 1899; kirkerholidays.com) dispenses three-night sojourns at the elegant Four Seasons Marrakech – which preens in manicured grounds next to the Jardins de la Menara. A three-night stay costs from £1124 per person (two sharing) including direct flights, breakfast, transfers and private city tour. For the best hotels in Marrakech, see:telegraph.co.uk/marrakechhotels

Sea temperature: N/A
Daily hours of sunshine: 11

^{Marrakech keeps its head above the 30-degree mark through all four months of summer (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

July

19C-24C

Sweden

The Scandinavian summer – bright nights and welcoming temperatures – finds its feet in July. And does so with gusto in the Koster Islands – a tiny archipelago 100 miles north of Gothenburg in the Skagerrak Strait. Car-free, these birdlife havens proffer gentle days of hiking and cycling. A six-night self-catering break in July, at the four-star Hotel Ekenas on South Koster, costs from £960 a head, including flights from Heathrow to Gothenburg, train and ferry transport – through Simply Sweden (01427 700115;simplysweden.co.uk). For where to stay in Sweden, see:telegraph.co.uk/swedenguide

Sea temperature: 14C
Daily hours of sunshine: 8

Austria

The Alpine realm revels in blue skies and even-handed heat in summer. Austria plays its part at Saalbach-Hinterglemm – a hiking oasis which is easily accessed from Salzburg. Inghams (01483 345 743; inghams.co.uk) sells holidays at the Hotel Alpine Palace in Hinterglemm – a five-star, with indoor and outdoor pools, which makes a fine base for days of wandering on foot. A seven-night half-board break for a family of four, staying in a suite, flying from Gatwick to Salzburg on July 8, starts at £1172 a head – with transfers.

Sea temperature: N/A
Daily hours of sunshine: 7

^{Salzburg, Austria (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

25C-29C

Croatia

Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast – 300 sand-edged miles along the Adriatic – shimmers in the July haze, whether you head to Zadar in the north or Dubrovnik in the south. James Villas (0800 074 0122; jamesvillas.co.uk) sells escapes to Villa Tereza – a four-bedroom stone property at Cavtat, near the latter, whose grounds frame a pool and a 15th century chapel. It is available in July from £1969 per person with two sharing, including car hire and flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik – or from £954 a head at total capacity (eight people). For where to stay in Croatia, see:telegraph.co.uk/croatiaguide

Sea temperature: 24C
Daily hours of sunshine: 10

Provence

The high-summer weather is as reliable in the most fabled portion of the Gallic south as the citrus fragrances which drift across it – whether you are in busy Marseille or gentler Aix. French Country Cottages (0345 268 0796;french-country-cottages.co.uk) offers La Belle Maison, a three-bedroom villa at Visan, 35 miles north of Avignon, that works well for families with its large pool. It still has availability in July – from £2149 per week. Avignon and Marseille are linked to London by Eurostar (03432 186 186; eurostar.com). For the best hotels in Provence, see: telegraph.co.uk/provencehotels

Sea temperature: 21C
Daily hours of sunshine: 12

• France summer holiday guide

^{Avignon, France (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

30C+

Bodrum

This increasingly chic Turkish town is steadfastly wed to the Thirties for most of summer, its historic sites – its 15th century castle; the remains of the Tomb of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – pinned under a cloudless sky. Destinology (01204 821 169;destinology.co.uk) proffers holidays at the five-star Marmara spa resort, which lies just north-east of the centre. A seven-night sojourn, flying direct from Gatwick to Bodrum on July 12, starts at £957 per person (based on two sharing), including breakfast. For the best hotels on the Turquoise Coast, see: telegraph.co.uk/turquoisecoasthotels

Sea temperature: 23C
Daily hours of sunshine: 14

Cyprus

Divided it may be, but the two halves of Cyprus – an island so near to Lebanon that its weather is more Middle Eastern than European – are united in blazing summer conditions. Sovereign (01293 733 279;sovereign.com) deals in holidays to west-coast Paphos, and suggests the Hotel Almyra – with its pools and children’s clubs – as a family-friendly option. A seven-night stay, flying from Gatwick on July 18, including breakfast and transfers costs £1247 a head for two adults – or £1096 per person for a family of four. For the best hotels in Cyprus, see:telegraph.co.uk/cyprushotels

Sea temperature: 26C
Daily hours of sunshine: 12

^{The weather in Cyprus is more Middle Eastern than European (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

August

19C-24C

Denmark

The north of Zealand – the largest of Denmark’s islands, which hosts Copenhagen on its east flank – is a (nonetheless sunny) refuge from summer at its fiercest. Danish Holiday Homes (0045 7199 3026;danishholidayhomes.com) has properties all across this serene slice of Scandinavia, including a three-bedroom house (ID: 29560077) half a mile inland in the northerly fishing town of Gilleleje. It is available for the week starting August 22, for €762. British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) flies to Copenhagen from Heathrow. For the best things to do in Denmark, see:telegraph.co.uk/denmarkguide

Sea temperature: 17C
Daily hours of sunshine: 7

Guernsey

The second biggest of the Channel Islands does woozy summer days without breaking the thermometer, and August is a fine time to tackle its perimeter. Macs Adventure (0141 530 4002; macsadventure.com) sells a self-guided “Guernsey Coastal Path” walking tour which covers the full 40 miles in seven days, starting and finishing in the capital St Peter Port – from £545 per person in August, including hotels with breakfast, maps and bag transfer. Aurigny (01481 822 886; aurigny.com) flies to Guernsey from six UK airports. For the best hotels in Guernsey, see:telegraph.co.uk/guernseyhotels

Sea temperature: 17C
Daily hours of sunshine: 7

^{St Peter Port, Guernsey (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

25C-29C

Tuscany

Northern Italy’s most perfumed region embraces the upper Twenties in August, both in the piazzas of Florence and along 250 miles of Mediterranean shore. Tuscany Now (020 7684 8884; tuscanynow.com) can arrange holidays at La Trappola, a cottage which gazes at the sea near Porto Ercole, in the very south-west corner of Tuscany. It sleeps up to six, and still has open weeks during August – from £3323 for seven nights. It is easiest to fly into Rome, 90 miles to the south-east, via BA, easyJet or Jet2 (0800 408 1350; jet2.com). For the best hotels in Tuscany, see:telegraph.co.uk/tuscanyhotels

Sea temperature: 26C
Daily hours of sunshine: 9

• Italy summer holiday guide

Mallorca

The giant of the Balearic archipelago is so much more than Magaluf – all craggy might in the northerly peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana, and Hispanic culture in the capital Palma. But August on Mallorca is about sunbathing on beaches such as the crescent which lights up Alcudia. Mallorca Farmhouses (0800 121 8992; mallorca.co.uk) offers stays at nearby Finca Las Martorell – which has three bedrooms, a pool and a table tennis table. A week’s break in August costs from £2198 in total (£486 a head for six people). BA flies to Palma. For the best hotels in Mallorca, see:telegraph.co.uk/mallorcahotels

Sea temperature: 25C
Daily hours of sunshine: 10

^{Mallorca is so much more than Magaluf (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

30C+

Andalusia

From the beaches of the Costa del Sol to the Moorish history of Granada, Andalusia mops its brow during August – providing suitable sunshine for those desperate for such heat. Red Savannah (01242 787 800;redsavannah.com) has a raft of villas in the region – like El Refugio, which, perched in the village of Canillas de Aceituno, is convenient for both Malaga and Granada. It sleeps six and comes with a pool and day beds. A week in August starts at £3483 (£581 per person at full occupancy). BA dashes to Malaga from Heathrow.

Sea temperature: 23C
Daily hours of sunshine: 11

^{Granada, Spain (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

Malta

Often (unfairly) dismissed as a bargain bolthole, Malta is awash with heritage befitting its position as a Mediterranean crossroads. It also bakes in August – when a cultural tour, letting you dip in and out of cool buildings, may be the best of all things. Cox & Kings (020 7873 5000;coxandkings.co.uk) sells a six-night “Malta In Luxury” trip which visits the Crusader-built capital Valetta and the medieval citadel Mdina. The jaunt is available as a private tour – from £980 a head in August, including flights, transfers and breakfast. For the best hotels in Malta, see:telegraph.co.uk/maltahotels

Sea temperature: 26C
Daily hours of sunshine: 11

September

19C-24C

Slovenia

This diminutive Balkan state may be able to claim a mere 29 mile miles of coastline – but every inch fringes the Adriatic, retaining a pleasant glow well into late summer. Balkan Holidays (020 7543 5555; balkanholidays.co.uk) proffers breaks at the Kempinski Palace Portoroz – a five-star hideaway with spa, gourmet restaurants and pool complex, near the photogenic town of Piran. A seven-night stay in September costs from £815 per person (two adults sharing), including breakfast, transfers and flights from Gatwick to Ljubljana. For where to stay in Slovenia, see:telegraph.co.uk/sloveniaguide

Sea temperature: 23C
Daily hours of sunshine: 7

Basque Country

Spain’s north-east corner dazzles via the artistry of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, soft beaches at Bakio and Lekeitio, and culinary thrills in San Sebastian. Its summer heat has also faded enough by September to make hiking plausible. Inntravel (01653 617 002; inntravel.co.uk) sells “The Three Faces of Green Spain”, a nine-night self-guided tour which walks the region (and Asturias and Burgos) – from £898 a head in September, with half-board lodging. easyJet (0330 3655000; easyjet.com) flies into Bilbao from Stansted.

Sea temperature: 20C
Daily hours of sunshine: 6

25C-29C

Sardinia

Italy’s off-west-coast outcrop is vastly dependable for hot weather, but cools its heels slightly in September – enough to make cycling through its scenic grandeur an advisable pursuit. Exodus (0845 287 1069; exodus.co.uk) runs an eight-day “Cycling In Sardinia” group jaunt which makes unflustered progress through the flatlands of the south-west – ticking off the likes of Portixeddu and the islet of Sant’Antioco. A departure is slated for September 26 – from £1199, with flights to Calgiari and breakfast. Bike hire is £70 extra. For the best hotels in Sardinia, see:telegraph.co.uk/sardiniahotels

Sea temperature: 24C
Daily hours of sunshine: 8

^{Sardinia cools its heels slightly in September (Photo: AP/Fotolia)}

Essaouira

Tucked north of Agadir on Morocco’s Atlantic lip, Essaouira has traditionally been hard to reach – but, as of May, has been tied to the UK by a direct easyJet flight from Luton. It is still revelling in high summer during September. Kuoni (0800 092 4444; kuoni.co.uk) sells escapes to the four-star Le Medina Essaouira – a beachside retreat and spa well placed for those hoping to absorb late-season sunsets. A seven-night stay, flying out on September 13, starts at £652 per person (two sharing) – including breakfast and transfers.

Sea temperature: 21C
Daily hours of sunshine: 8

The Algarve

Portugal’s lower edge is a loyal devotee of summer sunshine – easily accessible via Faro, and home to unpretentious resort towns like Carvoeiro and Albufeira. The region is also home to a wealth of golf courses. Your Golf Travel (0800 043 6644; yourgolftravel.com) offers tee-time adventures at the five-star Pestana Vila Sol Golf & Resort. A seven-night break in July costs from £375 per person (two sharing), including four rounds and accommodation with breakfast. BA, easyJet, FlyBe and Jet2 all serve Faro from the UK. For the best hotels in Tuscany, see:telegraph.co.uk/algarvehotels

Sea temperature: 20C
Daily hours of sunshine: 12

30C+

Tunisia

Anyone hoping to indulge their Indiana Jones fantasies can do so in Tunisia in September – when the many Roman and Carthaginian sites simmer at 30°C. Despite March’s terror attack in Tunis, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) still sees the North African country as safe to visit. Audley Travel (01993 838 445; audleytravel.com) touts a 13-day “Grand Tour of Tunisia”, which splices the remarkable Roman amphitheatre at El Djem with the beaches of Djerba. The per-person price of £2,960 includes international flights.

Sea temperature: 25C
Daily hours of sunshine: 9

Marmaris

Those keen to leave their summer trip until as late as possible, but still toast themselves, can depend on Marmaris – which rarely dips into the Twenties Celsius between June and September. Neilson (0333 014 3351;neilson.co.uk) tips its hat to the south-west corner of Turkey by selling weeks at the Adakoy Beach Club. This sporty oasis has facilities for waterskiing, wakeboarding and kayaking. A seven-night stay, flying from Birmingham on September 5, costs from £740 a head (two sharing) – including transfers and most meals. For the best hotels on the Turquoise Coast, see: telegraph.co.uk/turquoisecoasthotels

Sea temperature: 25C
Daily hours of sunshine: 11

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