Families looking for a beach holiday should look no further then Menorca where Meon Villas has a range of villas close to the south coast beaches. In the popular resort of Santo Tomas with its long stretch of sandy beach, Villa B6 Santo Tomas is rated excellent for families just 250m from the sands and with its own pool – 8m x 4m, separated from the house by a gated stairway. Sleeping six, the villa is available for one week from July 20 and costs £999 – or £166.50pp when full, saving £1,100.

Kids in tow, and you think your clubbing days are behind you? They needn’t be. El Sueño on Ibiza sleeps eight (ideal for bringing baby-sitting grandparents), has a child-friendly pool and is in a quiet setting three minutes from a beach – but less than two miles outside San Antonio, so handy for nocturnal visits to Es Paradis, Amnesia and Privilege. It’s £2,675 for a week from July 21 or August 4, with Hoseasons (0870 405 9485); fly with EasyJet.

Villa specialists Premier Holidays (0870 443 2302) has added 15 villas to its Ibiza programme, many of which have availability during the summer months. Can Noria has availability during August and is at the top end of the scale at £5,103 per week for the week of August 4. The restored traditional Ibethencan house, set in grounds with its own 11m x 5m pool and glorious views over countryside to the sea is in the village of St Rafael, practically in the centre of the island and just 8 kms from Ibiza town.The price is for the property only and doesn’t include flights which are available via a number of low cost and charter airlines. BMI Baby, for example, is currently offering flights to Ibiza in August from Cardiff for £25.99 one way (www.bmibaby.com).

Spend 7 nights at the Hotel Los Monteros in Marbella for £1,041pp, and save £70pp per week . Price is based on two people sharing a twin/double room on a bed & breakfast basis and includes return flights from Gatwick and private transfers. Departs 23 July. Call Classic Collection Holidays on 08701 424222 or 01903 823 088.

During July and August, locals from Nerja celebrate the painted prehistoric caves for which their town is famous, with a series of concerts and ballets from international artists staged in the caves themselves. With the 38th International Cave Festival about to get underway, Keyplaces is offering apartment accommodation at the Toboso Aparturis residence from £30.50pp.The apartments share an outdoor pool, gym and sauna.

Keyplaces also has a seven night break between July 14 and September 30 at Toboso Aparturis, Costa del Sol for £854 for a one bedroom apartment sleeping up to four, accommodation only. Fly-drive packages are available at a supplement, with return Thomson Fly flights from Luton to Malaga starting at £63 per adult.

Italy

Good stuff is thin on the ground, but you can bag a 10th-century Umbrian fortress. Okay, not the whole place – La Rocca has been split into eight apartments – but you get a pool, tennis courts and a good restaurant, which the original inhabitants didn’t have. La Colombaia is roomy, sleeps six and costs £873 for the week from July 28 with Real Holidays, which can arrange flights and car hire.

There’s also a bargain in Sorrento. Citalia (0870 909 7554) has knocked more than £300 off the price of a week at the Imperial Tramontano hotel, on the Bay of Naples; it’s now £499pp, B&B, from July 20, including flights. Shelley, Byron and Keats liked it here, and they didn’t get anything like that sort of deal.

Combine Florence with the chance to learn or improve your tennis skills with Scottish Internationalist player Ian Campbell, on a one week holiday. Ideal for beginners, enthusiasts and non tennis players, the International Academy in Florence is world renowned and right of the doorstep of Florence. The week includes a private villa on a 200 hectare wine estate with swimming pool, coaching lessons, lunch daily and the opportunity to play social tennis. Departs July 22 - prices from £499pp based on four persons staying at the Villa Fienile. Call 0141 576 7205 or email info@tuscantennis.com

Now this sounds refreshing. A week in the mountains of the South Tyrol – great hiking, climbing and canyoning – combined with a range of esoteric local treatments at the rustic-chic spa of the Hotel St Veit (www.hotel-st-veit.com): they use hay, whey or milk and honey, or you can let love bloom with a flower bath in a copper kettle big enough for two. Weeks available from £252pp; fly to Brescia with Ryanair (0871 246 0000, www.ryanair.com).

The Masseria Santa Lucia in Puglia still has rooms available for summer - with a private beach, grounds with large pool, tennis courts, golf course, restaurant, this four-star renovated "masseria" (fortified farmhouse) is near to Ostuni. In July & August B&B prices start at £62pp. Special offer for all Long Travel clients - Book seven nights and get one night free, plus book 14 nights and get two nights free. Nearest airports: Bari and Brindisi, return flight prices start at £160 per person.