Yes, it’s the 11th-hour – but you can still snag a stylish and affordable seasonal break, whether it’s for all the family or just you and a partner.
At the time of writing all the spots featured below still have availability in August and early September.
We can’t guarantee it’ll last, though, so if you’re keen you’d better book quickly.
Amada Colossos Resort, Greece
Best for: Burning off pre-teens’ energy
You want serenity and style. The kids want a waterpark. Meet them halfway with this coastal resort on the Dodecanese isle of Rhodes, where thoughtful design blends with a rambling list of ‘skibidi’ amenities. While Gen Alpha gets stuck in with the five water slides, three kids clubs, tennis courts and a 430m beach, you can sneak off to the adults-only zones – which features a swim-up bar, exclusive dining area and laid-back, sun-soaked loungers.
Book it: From £169, B&B. amadacolossosresort.com
Saltmoore, North Yorkshire
Best for: British beaches
With its broad golden sands, coastal North Yorkshire is an underrated star when heatwaves hit – as has been promised this August – so don’t delay in booking Saltmoore’s The Beach House, near Whitby. An extension of the new estate hotel, outside it channels a regal castle atmosphere with a brick double-turreted entrance; inside, it’s all current-chic with rattan webbing headboards, sea-toned horizontal wall panelling and a suite with freestanding bath in the lounge. A new perspective on the timeless British beach break.
Book it: The Beach Hut Getaway costs from £265 per room, including £30pp allowance in the Pizzeria, breakfast and spa access. saltmoore.co.uk
Cyprianerhof Dolomit Resort, Italy
Best for: Alpine adventures
Embrace the 2025 trend for coolcations at this South Tyrol resort, set by the base of majestic Rosengarten massif in the UNESCO-listed Dolomites. The family-owned resort sees a flurry of activity during the ski season, but there’s still the chance to squeeze in for quieter summer to make the most of hiking and biking trails, a saltwater outdoor whirlpool and ultra-seasonal produce rendered by chef Monika Damian, the hotel owner’s daughter. Don’t forget to visit the spa, either, where a glass-lined sauna features panoramic mountain views.
Book it: From £342 half-board. belvita.it
Morse, Cornwall
Best for: Cornwall (or WWII buffs)
Cornwall, in August? Affordable, and still available? Morse, a former WWII bunker-cum-chic-stay outside Penzance just opened this week, meaning at the time of writing it had *full* summer availability. Nestled beneath a grassy knoll, the brutalist concrete walls keep things (literally) cool while a chic design with natural woods, sink-in leather sofas, palms and modern art keeps things chill on a proverbial level. Sleeping up to four, including babes in arms and kiddos over 10, this unicorn property is just a hop away from the coast, where August-perfect beaches like turquoise-tinged Pedn Vounder are made for lazy days.
Book it: From £1,495 per week. uniquehomestays.com
Viceroy Ombria Algarve, Portugal
Best for: Rural sun
Just opened in autumn 2024 – so still box-fresh in hotel terms – this southern Portugal stay from the Viceroy group is currently offering 25 per cent off when you book for at least four nights… so why wouldn’t you? Only a half-hour drive from Faro airport, just north of Loulé, and yet with views across sun-beaten hills and plains, the white-washed buildings are filled with wood beams and patterned tiles, echoing a traditional Algarve village. The brood will love it, particularly given that when you book for a week or more, they get complimentary access to the kids’ club and its glut of supervised activities.
Book it: From £280 when you stay four nights or more. viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
The Fish Hotel, Worcestershire
Best for: Kiddo-friendly trips to the Cotswolds
Summer is peak season in the Cotswolds, and hotel prices can get silly, but across the luxurious Farncombe Estate outside Broadway there are, miraculously, still deals to be had. At family-friendly hotel The Fish, where rooms are dressed in coddling Scandi tones and the 500-acre estate awaits exploration just outside your doorstep, bring the kiddos for a break full of falconry, axe-throwing and tennis. Restaurant Hook serves seafood (including mini cod fillet and new potatoes for tiddlers), and even Fido can join in with a dedicated pooch playground on site.
Book it: Summer sleepover offer includes three nights at the cost of two, from £151 per night, B&B. thefishhotel.co.uk
Zafiro Palace Andratx, Spain
Best for: Balearic cool
All the boho design creds of Mallorca, combined with the easy-breezy life of an all-inclusive. Zafiro Palace Andratx on the Camp de Mar, just a 25km drive from cool island capital Palma, throws in all your food and drink, ranging from Mediterranean-inflected breakfasts overlooking the surf to intimate sushi dinners under the glow of lanterns. Suites gaze to a green ramble of rugged Mallorcan hills and have balconies for you to soak up the last of the summer sun.
Book it: 25 per cent off stays before 15 September when you book by 15 August. From £489, all-inclusive. zafirohotels.com
Gamekeeper’s Cottage, Aberdeenshire
Best for: Self-caterers
Self-catering is always more cost-effective than a hotel; the key is finding a stay with style. This six-person cottage on the Glen Dye Estate in Aberdeenshire – still with August and September availability – is a stone-fronted classic on the outside but features a playful modern update within. Pops of colour, trendy wood panelling, upcycled furniture and retro reads all lend a bit of a grown up summer camp vibe, while electric vehicle charging and a wood-burning stove with unlimited firewood cover off the practicalities. Meanwhile, the wider estate has all kinds of Highland fun, from a BYOB pub to a sauna tucked in the forest.
Book it: Four nights from £955. glendyecabinsandcottages.com
Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa, Cognac
Best for: Refined drinking
By the time you get to the end of six weeks at home with the kids, you’ll be needing a stiff drink. Get ahead on things with a visit to Cognac in the southwestern French Charente region, where this elegant hotel is set in a former distillery. Blending old-world romance with dramatic modern architecture, Chais Monnet boasts a spa, its own Michelin-starred restaurant and helpful staff who will arrange for you to visit local spirit producers such as Hennessy. Onsite Bar 1838 has the best list of Cognacs you will ever come across; set the kiddos free and work your way through the niche pours.
Book it: From £230. chaismonnethotel.com
Hillside Beach Club, Turkey
Best for: Beachy activities
Whether you’ve got a baby in tow or a busy teen, this much-awarded resort on Kalemya Bay in Fethiye has the facilities to suit, all centred around a curve of beach lapped by luminous blue waters (this bit of Turkey isn’t known as the Turquoise Coast for nothing). It’ll still be hot in August and you can punctuate days sunning and splashing with a long list of on-site activities, such as sailing, Zumba and tennis. Minimalist white-washed rooms have terraces draped in bougainvillea and rates include full-board meals of sizzling locals grills and fresh salads. There’s even a dedicated ‘baby chef’ for the littles.
Book it: From £175 full-board. hillsidebeachclub.com
LUXME Kos, Greece
Best for: Splashing around
Is there such a thing as too many pools? Plush all-inclusive LUXME, on the parkland-carpeted eastern fringe of Kos, has a whopping six on site to choose from – not to mention a pebble beach, lapped by warm surf. Children under 12 stay and eat for free, while grown ups can take their pick from the onsite patisserie, creperie and wine library, as well as the clutch of proper restaurants. Children’s activities include a lazy river and a family disco, and even the youngest of guests are accommodated for with everything from buggies to toilet trainer seats and bottle sterilisers.
Book it: From £295. Book by 14 August to receive a complimentary all-inclusive upgrade on a minimum stay of four nights. grecotel.com
Magma Santorini, Greece
Best for: Volcanic vibes
Evoking the cave-like yposkafa homes found on this volcanic isle in the Cyclades, Magma overlooks the glittering Aegean from its perch on Santorini’s north-eastern coast. Wrought in angular, earthy materials, just 59 rooms with private pools and verandas have a grown-up feel, framed for the Instagram era. Rise for daily sunrise yoga before exploring the island’s black beaches, then return for a treatment in the Lava Spa, lined in dark stone like the inner depths of a volcano.
Book it: From £295, B&B, but offering a 25 per cent discount on this price on stays until 31 October. hyatt.com
Baia del Sole Resort, Italy
Best for: Italian romance
You’ll love the farmhouse-style exteriors at Baia del Sole; the terracotta roofs and wraps of Mediterranean-scented greenery make this seaside Calabrian resort feel like a classic Italian getaway. The kids, meanwhile, will love the interiors, where teal, red and cloud-like lighting installations add a dose of fun. This being Italy food is a star, so sign up Junior for their own dedicated cooking class or book to dine together alfresco at beach restaurant Le Pignate, serving caprese salads and tagliata sliced beef.
Book it: From £239. baiadelsole.com
FERGUS Style Punta Arabi, Spain
Best for: hippies who shop
For more than 50 years Ibiza’s hippie style has been defined by the sprawling Punta Arabí market on the east coast – which happens to be held on the grounds of this newly opened adult-orientated hotel. After taking in the drummers, food trucks, street artists and hundreds of stands, retire to rooms of simple boho fabrics and woods, or to a palm-flanked pool overlooking the water. With rooms starting from under £130, August in Ibiza never looked so tempting.
Book it: From £127, B&B. fergushotels.com
