Caribbean
Jakes, Jamaica
What's it like?
Once described by Vogue as "the chicest shack in the Caribbean", this small hotel in a fishing village on the south coast is renowned for its laid-back atmosphere. Choose from 10 one-bedroom cottages with a decor combining Jamaican, Mexican, Greek and Catalan styles. Each cottage has a CD player and CDs, in-room safe and mini fridge; some have decks overlooking the water, but there's no air conditioning. Chill out with a rum punch at the poolside bar, which only closes when the last guest leaves, and tuck into Jamaican specialities such as ackee 'n' saltfish and banana flambé.
Peak-season price From July 17-December 31, seven nights' room-only accommodation costs £1,046pp with Scott Dunn (020-8682 5010, scottdunn.com) including Heathrow flights and transfers.
Low-season price
£796pp for departures before July 16.
Saving
£250pp.
What's the weather like?
32/34C June-September. Wettest months are May, June, September and October. Hurricane season July-September.
Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos
What's it like?
You'll be falling over Hollywood stars at this discreet celebrity retreat Bruce Willis owns one of the villas while Julia Roberts and Richard Gere are regulars. The decor is simple with smooth woods, white muslin and four-poster beds. Stay in one of the one-bedroom beach houses and you can take a dip in your private plunge pool on the terrace overlooking the ocean.
Peak-season price
From October 20-December 31, seven nights' B&B costs £4,027pp with Caribtours (020-7751 0660, caribtours.co.uk) including flights, transfers and access to the executive lounge at Heathrow.
Low-season price
£3,114pp until October 20.
Saving
£913pp.
What's the weather like?
32C June-September. It's also the hurricane season.
True Blue Bay Beach Resort, Grenada
What's it like?
This friendly, relaxed hotel set in tropical gardens overlooking True Blue Bay in the south of the island is particularly popular with families and divers. Chill out in a hammock on your private balcony in the waterfront apartments. The new villas have their own plunge pools. And there's also a great waterfront restaurant serving Caribbean and Mexican dishes and seafood.
Peak-season price
Over the Christmas period, seven nights' B&B costs £1,239pp with Regaldive (0870 2201777, regal-diving.co.uk) including Gatwick flights and transfers.
Low-season price
£599 until July 4 and between September 1 and October 24.
Saving
£640pp.
What's the weather like?
A very acceptable 29/30C June-September. But again, it's also the hurricane season.
Middle East
Sonesta Beach, Sharm el-Sheikh
What's it like?
A four-star Arabian-style resort with a free kids' club for 5-12 year olds (10am-4pm), five swimming pools and restaurants offering Italian, Mexican and Oriental cuisine. Take the children on a glass-bottomed boat trip or try snorkelling, windsurfing or waterskiing.
Peak-season price
In November and December, seven nights' B&B costs £664pp with Kuoni (01306 747008, kuoni.co.uk) including Gatwick flights.
Low-season price
£305pp for departures on June 24.
Saving
£259pp
What's the weather like?
32/ 33C June-August.
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Hotel, Dubai
What's it like?
A five-star hotel with its own 500m private beach, a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Facilities include five swimming pools, a gym, football pitch and a PADI diving centre. Shop in the souks or take the kids to the Wild Wadi water theme park.
Peak-season price
October 1-9, seven nights' B&B costs £1,010pp with Voyana (0871 2715488, voyana.com) including Heathrow flights and transfers.
Low-season price
£598pp, including a £255pp discount, for bookings made before June 30 and taken by August 24.
Saving
£412pp.
What's the weather like?
Very hot; 40C in August.
Indian Ocean
Denis Island, Seychelles
What's it like?
The classic paradise island with white-sand beaches, shallow lagoons and tropical forest. Walk around it in two hours or go snorkelling or diving. All but six of the 25 cottages have air conditioning and all have ensuite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers and private terraces.
Peak-season price
Between December 17 and 31, six nights' full-board costs £2,410pp with Carrier (01625 547030, carrier.co.uk) including Heathrow flights and transfers.
Low-season price
£1,890pp until September 30.
Saving
£520pp.
What's the weather like?
28/29C June-September. April-September is the dry season.
Banyan Tree, Maldives
What's it like?
A great hotel for romantics, this five-star property in the North Malé atoll has 48 thatched private villas with four-poster beds and private terraces with sea views. Go snorkelling, diving or rent a glass-bottomed boat. Have dinner cooked in your villa or take a speedboat ride to a sandbank for dinner à deux.
Peak-season price
Between December 9 and 24, five nights' full-board in a Jacuzzi ocean view villa costs £2,276pp with Asia Direct (0870 0436023, asia-direct.co.uk) including Heathrow or Manchester flights and transfers.
Low-season price
£1,378pp before July 15.
Saving
£898pp.
What's the weather like?
29/ 30C July-September. Some rain May-October.
Paradise Cove Hotel and Spa, Mauritius
What's it like?
Built around a lagoon, this family-run hotel's 67 rooms and suites have stone-tiled floors, polished wood furniture and a balcony or terrace with direct access to the beach or swimming pool. Dine under the stars in a thatched roof pavilion on the beach or take a cruise round the island in the hotel's catamaran.
Peak-season price
In October, 14 nights' half-board costs £3,160pp with Elite Vacations (01707 371000, elite-vacations.co.uk) including Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham or Manchester flights and transfers .
Low-season price
£2,357pp between July 16 and August 23.
Saving
£803pp.
What's the weather like?
24/25C June-September. Dry season May-November.
Asia Chedi Hotel, Phuket
What's it like?
This chic bolthole is made up of 89 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom thatched cottages, all with private verandas and decorated in earthy colours with teak floors and white cotton bed linen. Take a dip in the dramatic black swimming pool or try out the numerous watersports. Four tennis courts, beach volleyball and two outdoor and indoor spa treatment rooms complete the picture.
Peak-season price
Between January 10 and February 25, 10 nights' room-only costs £1,250pp with Magic of the Orient (01293 537700, magic-of-the-orient.com) including three free nights, Heathrow flights and transfers.
Low-season price
£899pp between September 1 and October 31.
Saving
£351pp.
What's the weather like?
It will be hot 32C in June, dipping to 30C between July and October. But it could also be very wet. The rainy season is officially May-October but most of it falls in September and October. It's very unlikely you'd get 10 solid days of rain but it could happen.
Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort, Malaysia
What's it like?
Stay in one of 400 Malay-style rooms and suites in 70 acres of landscaped gardens. There's also a huge swimming pool, gym, spa and tennis courts. Try your hand at waterskiing or go trekking in the jungle.
Peak-season price
Between December and March, 14 nights' room-only costs £1,035pp with Trailfinders (0845 0587000, trailfinders .com) including Heathrow flights and transfers.
Low-season price
£652pp between September 1 and October 17.
Saving
£383pp.
What's the weather like?
The same as Thailand (see above). Around 32C June-October
