1 Sardinia

Away from the footballers' wives-style glitz of the Costa Smeralda, La Coluccia on the northern tip oozes understated glamour.

£942pp for 7 nights half-board including Gatwick flights and transfers. 020-7242 2455, sardinia-holidays.co.uk.

2 Cannes

Modestly described on the website as a multi-ethnic universe (the five floors each reflect a different continent), Hotel 3.14 is one block from La Croisette with access to a private beach.

€220 per room high season. 00 33 4 92 99 72 00, 3-14hotel.com.

3 Lithuania

Lithuania cool? Hell yeah. The five-star Hotel Palanga on the Curonian Spit, a glorious 98km-long sand bar, has won numerous architectural awards for its sleek, modern design.

Three nights from £499pp with flights and transfers. 020-7610 9008, blacktomato.co.uk.

4 Mykonos

Kivotos Clubhotel tumbles down the hill to a private pebble beach on the Aegean Sea. Each of the 40 chic rooms has a sea view.

From £186 per room through travelintelligence.com. 0030 22890 25795, kivotosclubhotel.gr.

5 Spain

The name says it all. The 100% Fun hotel caters to the young dudes who flock to Tarifa, one of Europe's top surf spots.

Rooms from €75 B&B. 00 34 956 680 330, 100x100fun.com.