Then it’s a short hop to Alghero, and the verdant west coast of Sardinia. Alghero is a place for evening strolls atop battlements and along cobbled streets, and echoes everywhere with Catalan influences. Their army invaded in 1353, and you can still see dual-language signposts today. West of town is a string of pretty fishing villages and crescent bays, ending abruptly in the 350ft sheer plunge of Cape Caccia. All along the coast, you’ll find perfect sunsets — a chance to see out the summer in style.

How? Stansted to Gerona, then to Alghero and back to Stansted, all with Ryanair. Fares from £16 + £9 + £13 = £40.

Where to stay: strong Costa Brava options include the Hotel Aigua Blava (00 34-972 622058, www.aiguablava.com; from £89), an impressive family-run hotel on the beach at Fornells, just outside Begur, and the Hotel Llevant (972 300366, www.hotel-llevant.com; from £47), in the fishing village of Llanfranc.

Just north of Alghero is the resort-style Hotel Punta Negra (00 39-079 930222, www.hotelpuntanegra.it; from £90, half-board), with good facilities and a beach. Or try the Villa Las Tronas (079 981818, www.hotelvillalastronas.it; from £70, B&B), which is set on a private promontory right in town.

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ALCHOLIC TRIANGLE - Cologne and Lisbon

Feeling thirsty? Then we suggest you order a double: Cologne, with a Lisbon chaser. Cologne is a great place for an authentic tipple with the locals — it has more pubs than any other German city, and 26 local breweries fuelling the flow.

Before you start, you have the spectacular cathedral and pretty old town to tick off. Then it’s down to the serious business. The drinking here has a veneer of sophistication — no brutish steins, just slim 200ml glasses brimming with the local light ale, Kölsch. Any self-respecting tour of the microbrewery beer halls should start at Zur Malzmühle (Heumarkt 6), where you’ll find maddeningly matey waiters, but excellent local craic. Brewing is in the blood here, and in the 18th century, the city found further fame by distilling flower blossom — if you find yourself ordering a pint of eau de Cologne, you’ve already had too many.

From here, it’s a quiet afternoon flight to Lisbon, Portugal’s instantly lovable capital. Raise a glass to cheap flights in the atmospheric Bairro Alto district, with its pub-crawl-perfect grid of densely packed lanes. Here you’ll find every type of hostelry, from olde-worlde stand-up bars to chic cocktail lounges and clubs. Drown your sorrows listening to mournful fado singers in the Alfama district; or, for a total change of pace, soak up the African scene at Luanda (Rua Rodrigues Faria 17).

How? Stansted to Cologne and Cologne to Lisbon with Germanwings; Lisbon to Gatwick with Monarch Scheduled. Fares from £24 + £42 + £39 = £105.

Where to stay: in Cologne, a 130-year-old water tower has been transformed into the smart Hotel im Wasserturm (00 49-22 120080, www.hotel-im-wasserturm.de; from £120). Or try the comfortable Lint Hotel (22 192 0550, www.lint-hotel.de; from £76), in the Altstadt district.

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