The fevered reporting of bargain holidays this summer overlooks one crucial fact: few of the packages being discounted by the big operators are available during the peak period. The current offers are mainly for late June and early July - no good to a family confined to the school holidays.
Inevitably, prices are higher in July and August but there are still some good holidays to be found at reasonable prices. For families, the best value tends to come from self-drive packages but this selection also includes packages with flights. Unlike many of the so-called bargains, these are holidays you would choose.
The headline prices here are for an adult. Where the price quoted is for a family, these are under £1,500.
Under £400
Channel Islands: Guernsey
Up to two children under 11 go free when a family travels as foot passengers on crossings from Portsmouth, for seven nights' B&B at the St Martin's Hotel, Guernsey. The cost for adults is £358; children pay £4 a day for evening meals. Prices valid from July 12 to August 31. With flights from Gatwick, the cost for adults in July is £393 and £79 per child.
· Channel Islands Direct, 0870 889 0817.
Egypt: Sharm el Sheikh
It will be mighty hot on the Red Sea but the water sports - and the prices - will keep a family cool. A week's B&B at the Amar Sina hotel costs £369pp for Sunday departures between July 21 and August 25 (£269 for children aged 2-11 sharing their parents' room).
· Regaldive, 0870 2201 777, regaldive.co.uk.
France: Brittany
A week in a holiday cottage from August 7 costs £618 for a family of four. This includes return ferry travel. A selection of cottages and gîtes is still available.
· Brittany Ferries, 0870 5360360, brittany-ferries.co.uk.
France: Loire
An extended family or friends travelling together can share the stable block of a 19th-century chteau which has been converted into holiday accommodation, sleeping up to 12. There's a swimming pool, and use of a tennis court can be arranged. Price per person for a full party is £297 for an August 3 departure, including Channel crossing for three cars.
· Vacances en Campagne, 08700 771771.
France: Normandy
A stone-built farmhouse in rural Normandy, sleeping six, for two weeks from July 27 costs £2,266 (£378 per person). The price includes return Hoverspeed Dover-Calais crossings.
· VFB Holidays, 01242 240310, vfbholidays.co.uk.
France: Alps
Bourg d'Oisans is a small mountain campsite with views over the Sarennes falls. A 12-night stay in a mobile home from August 6 will cost £1,361 for a family of two adults and up to four children, including a return Dover-Calais ferry crossing.
· Canvas Holidays, 01383 629000, canvasholidays.com.
France: Dordogne
Seven nights at the Grottes de Roffy holiday parc, which has three swimming pools and a free circus club for children, costs £454 under canvas for a family of two adults and up to four children, and £666 in a holiday home. The price is for departures on August 26 and includes return Dover-Calais crossings.
· Eurocamp, 0870 366 7552, eurocamp.com.
France: Riviera
If you are prepared to take an overnight coach journey to the south of France, you can enjoy a 14-night holiday from July 29 at a self-catering Diamond Lodge at Port Grimaud for £348 (children under 10 £308). There are various pick-up points in England and Wales.
· Club Cantabrica, 01727 866177, cantabrica.co.uk.
France: holiday villages
Studios and small apartments are still available at Pierre et Vacances holiday villages across France. One week from July 27 at the Port de Crouesty village in Brittany costs £859 for a family of up to five, including Channel crossings.
· Leisure Direction, 020 8324 3030, leisuredirection.co.uk.
Holland
Seven nights' self-catering at a choice of Gran Dorado resorts with sub-tropical water complexes, will cost a family of two adults and two children £837 for arrivals on August 2 and 9. The price includes Eurotunnel crossings (after 2pm).
· Eurotunnel Motoring Holidays, 0870 333 2001, eurotunnel.co.uk.
Ireland
Explore the linked Shannon and Erne waterways on a cruiser. Seven nights in July and August on a boat sleeping four, starting at Portumna on Loch Derg costs from £1,227, including Holyhead-Dublin ferry crossings.
· Cresta Holidays, 0870 238 7711, crestaholidays.co.uk.
Sweden
A week at Glommen country cottage, close to the west coast, costs £995 for a family of four. The package includes return overnight crossings (with a four-berth cabin) between Newcastle and Gothenburg and one night's hotel B&B in Gothenburg.
· DFDS Seaways, 08705 333 111, dfdsseaways.co.uk.
UK: West Country
A week at the Old Coach House, which sleeps four, in the Dorset village of Ansty Cross costs £996 for two weeks in July and August. Other cottages are available in Devon and Cornwall.
· Classic Cottages, 01326 555 555, classic.co.uk.
Under £500
France: Loire Valley
Cycle through chateau country in the Loire, where the roads are flat. Six nights for departures on July and August 7, 27 and 29 cost from £499pp (two sharing). This includes half-board accommodation, bike hire, Channel ferry crossing and maps.
· Belle France, 01797 223777, bellefrance.co.uk.
France: Alps
Nurseries and activity clubs for children are offered at Chalet Mont Blanc in Montchavin, which costs £459 for a week between July 20 and August 17 (50% reduction for children sharing a room with their parents, 25% for two children in their own room). This includes short ferry crossings.
· Esprit Alpine Sun, 01252 618300, esprit-holidays.co.uk.
France: Corsica
Seven nights' self-catering in an apartment sleeping four at the Residence le Padro, near Calvi, costs from £468pp with flights from Gatwick on July 21 and 28. The price includes car hire and travel insurance.
· VFB Holidays, 01242 240340, vfbholidays.co.uk.
Greece: Crete
Catch some late summer sun in the Greek islands. Two weeks at a traditional two-bedroom family house in Agia Paraskevi, on a south-west hillside, costs £444pp (four sharing) including flights from Gatwick on August 20 or 28 and car hire.
· Freelance Holidays, 01789 297705, freelance-holidays.co.uk.
Greece: Kalymnos
If you can depart on July 17, a family of four can enjoy two weeks on the Greek island with accommodation at Villa Constantina for £485 (£445 for children under 17). Flights from Gatwick or Manchester (£35 supplement).
· Laskarina, 01629 822203, laskarina.co.uk.
Portugal: The Algarve
Seven nights' self-catering in a converted town house in the fishing village of Burgau costs £440 for adults and £330 for children, for Gatwick departures between July 7 and September 1. The price is based on four sharing and includes flights and car hire.
· Simply Portugal and Madeira, 020-8541 2207, simplytravel.com.
Switzerland
An activity holiday based at Davos with guided walks and runs through the Dischma and Sertig valleys costs from £465 for seven nights' self-catering from July 19. This includes flights from Heathrow or London City airport and a regional rail pass. Based on three sharing.
· Leisure Pursuits, 0800 0186 101, leisurepursuits.com.
Exceptional deals
Cruise: Alaska or the Mediterranean
Nine days with Norwegian Cruise Lines from Vancouver to Alaska starts at £1,599 (saving 15%) for August 4 departures. This includes flights and is based on two sharing an outside cabin. There's a reduction of 33% on a seven-night Mediterranean itinerary with Seafarer Cruises. Up to August 15, prices start at £695, including flights to Genoa.
· Cruise Direct, 020 8385 9000, cruise-direct.com.
France: Provence
The offer of two weeks for the price of one means that 14 nights at Pomodoro, a converted tomato plantation near Puyricard costs £3,220. The house sleeps up to eight people, reducing the cost per person to just over £400.
· French Chapters, 020 7722 0722, villa-rentals.com.
Greece: Kos
Mark Warner has cut the cost of seven nights at the Lakitira beach resort in the hills of southern Kos to £645 for an adult (saving £540) and £445 for children aged from two to 12 sharing their parents room (saving £266). This includes full board with wine at lunch and dinner, children's clubs, windsurfing and sailing. The offer applies to departures between July 17 and August 28, and includes flights from Gatwick, Stansted or Manchester (£40 supplement).
· Mark Warner, 0870 770 4222, markwarner.co.uk.
