Eilean Shona, Western Scotland
Lounging on Richard Branson's private Caribbean island may be beyond your wildest dreams, but his sister's equally lovely island of Eilean Shona on Loch Moidart in Inverness-shire is a distinct possibility. All you need to do is rustle up a large family or group of friends (up to 14, with a maximum of 10 adults) and the sum of £7,000 between you. This buys you your very own country house and island for a week of open fires, four-poster beds, long walks on the beach, boating, picnics, seal-watching, tennis and piano-playing - with none of the responsibilities or chores. The housekeeping team of four will see to your every need. Eilean Shona is remote all right, though the overnight Scotrail sleeper from London's Euston station to Fort William makes light work of the distance. Further details: Eilean Shona 01967 431249.

Petit St Vincent, The Grenadines
Petit St Vincent, or PSV to those in the know, is laid-back to the point of no return. From your private cottage on the soft white sands, you have the delicious feeling that no one in the whole world knows where you are, nor can they possibly reach you unless you choose to be accessed. Phones and TVs are part of another world. There's no need even to meet other guests and no pressure to appear in the bar and restaurant up on the hill. It's not self-catering exactly - staff meet all your requirements at the hoist of a flag. Yellow for room service, red for privacy. As the younger sister of St Vincent further up the chain, PSV is an island for lovers of understated luxury. One week's full board with Caribbean Connection (0870 7519310) from £3,332pp in January.

Bird Island, The Seychelles
A 40-minute flight from Mahe, Bird is the most northerly of the Seychelles; swim too far offshore and you will pass over the lip of the Seychelles bank and be hovering over a 6,000ft abyss. Walk all round the island, one foot in the sea, one on the sand, a three-mile journey that takes you to a sand and seascape that could pass for the end of the world. There are 24 detached cottages, among the best in the Seychelles, each with open-louvred sides and a king-size four-poster netted in white. The food is good, and the service with a smile. There are no Hobie cats, windsurfers or dive centres, and neither live music nor Muzak. You can swim in confidence in front of your cottage, or snorkel across the lagoon at the "back" of the island. And you can watch the birds. Just north of the Lodge is the summer nesting site of 3m sooty terns, one of the most amazing spectacles of the animal world. Two nights' B&B Mahe, five nights' full-board Bird Island from £1,543pp with BA Holidays (0870 600 0500) in August.

Anguilla
Anguilla is famed for its exclusive hideaways, where Cap Juluca, with a one-to-one staff/guest ratio, sits in a 180-acre private estate, with a mile of white sand shared by a handful of Moorish-style villas. Its sister is the Malliouhana, also in the high-glamour bracket, with six French chefs in residence during the winter. Anguilla is a heaven of 33 squeaky white beaches, generally acknowledged to have no rivals in the Caribbean. And of them all, Shoal Bay is considered the winner, a favourite spot for picnics and snorkelling, now becoming more developed with the gentle arrival of villas and simple restaurants. From £3,286pp with Complete Caribbean (01423 531031) for a week in January.

Cephalonia
With more than 220km of coastline, Cephalonia has lots of beaches to shout about. Tiny, bijou Fiskardo, one of the prettiest Ionian harbours, is the hub of the action, its quaysides lined with 18th-century Venetian houses and a waterfront. While not exactly gold chains and Gucci loafers, it has a distinctly cosmopolitan feeling, and the Captain's Cabin does a roaring trade. If you prefer your beach bare, head to the wild, lonely expanses of sand down at the bottom of the raw corniche that cuts into the west coast cliffs. Assos is the place to stay, with a bed at the delightful cliffside Cavos Inn being hard to beat (ask Simply Travel, 020-8541 2202). For families, however, the more developed south coast is the only viable option, since it has the sandiest, most user-friendly beaches backed by lots of pines. Lassi is the main resort here with all the usual facilities. From £399pp for 14 nights' self-catering in July based on five sharing in Lassi with Thomson (0870 5502555).

Koh Samui, Thailand
One of an archipelago of tropical islands off the south-east coast of central Thailand, an island paradise for beachcombers. You can either get there by boat from Surat Thani or fly direct to Samui airport. Either way, rent a Jeep as soon as you can for inland forays to coconut plantations and bamboo groves. The two most crowded beaches for bungalow "villages" and tourist hotels are Chaweng and Lamai in the east. But the sandy strands along the north, south and west coasts are more peaceful. Stay under the palms in a local bungalow on a deserted beach and you'll feel like Robinson Crusoe. From £799pp room only for a week in July with Magic of the Orient (01293 537700).

Corfu
The passengers with the plummiest accents in the queue at Gatwick will undoubtedly be heading to the island's north-east corner. This stretch of coast is decidedly lovely, beginning just north of Nissaki and stopping in the hills just behind Kassiopi. Along the way, it takes in a series of magnificent tiny coves with small pebble beaches, crystal waters, decent tavernas and no hotels. Hooray for the 100 or so houses, monopolised by a handful of British tour operators, tucked into the greenery. Some are purpose-built, several are retired olive presses, many have pools, and some offer a cook as well as a daily maid service. From £400pp for a week's self-catering in July with CV Travel (0870 6060013).

Barbados
When it comes to long-haul self-catering, the biggest flocks migrate to Barbados, which has more villas than any other island in the world. And we're not talking shacks on the beach. Properties range from simple cottages to luxurious villas, and there's precious little self in the catering. Every property has at least a maid, probably a cook, many a waitress, watchman and gardener. The bigger the party, the cheaper the holiday, and the sun, sea and talcum-sand formula is, of course, guaranteed. Just hand the cook your wallet and leave the shopping to her. As you mix a sundowner on your private veranda, allow yourself a few ounces of smugness. From £989pp for a week in January based on four sharing, with Owners Syndicate (020-7801 9801).

Corsica
Napoleon claimed he could recognise the place before he saw it from the scent of the maquis that blankets the mountains, its tangy aroma a blend of lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, honeysuckle, myrtle and thyme, which gave rise to Corsica's nickname, "the scented isle". Between the peaks are forests of beech, cork, pine, oak and chestnut, plus lakes, river, deep gorges and, down the eastern side, a 100km sandy beach. Self-catering is widely available in often luxurious villas but is most commonly in the form of studios, cottages or apartments in some 50 "villages" (ie attractive units spaced around a pool and bar/lounge area) around the island. From £584 for a week in July, villa for four with car, with Simply Corsica (020-8541 2200).

Finnhamn, Sweden
Each June, Stockholmers abandon their city to frolic among the 24,000 islands of the Swedish archipelago. Follow in the ferries' wake to join in the long days' fun in Finnhamn. You'll stay at the youth hostel, a grand old wooden mansion called Utsikten ("the View"). Once the summer house of a coal merchant, you'll sleep in a stuga , a hut the size of a box of Swan Vestas, cook in the communal kitchen, and you can explore the island's woods and whispering reeds, climb outcrops of smooth pink rocks, picnic in grassy meadows and celebrate Midsummer's Eve like born-again Swedes. Flights to Stockholm from £39 return in January (July fares yet to be published) with Ryanair (0870 3331231). Book the hostel direct on 00 46 8542 46212.

Majorca If all you're looking for is a decent, friendly, three-star hotel that welcomes children, and has a safe, sandy beach and a handful of restaurants and lilo shops nearby, look no further than Majorca (pictured). The island is brimming with possibilities in resorts that range from Alcudia in the north to Cala Mondrago in the south-east. Hire a car if you can - it's essential to spend a little time exploring inland, the island is so gorgeously perfumed with orange and lemon groves and has entertained many a visitor in the monasteries and mountain villages of the north. If you prefer a villa hidden in the orange groves, head north-west where all manner of old farmhouses are available for hire in glorious valleys and fertile plains around Pollensa, 10 minutes from the prom and beach at Puerto Pollensa.
From £334pp in July, based on four sharing, with The Travel Club of Upminster (01708 225000).

Mauritius Not, perhaps, the first destination a family may think of when planning its annual holiday yet, despite the distance from home, Mauritius is actually remarkably child-friendly. Overnight flights (11 hours) and minimal jetlag (four hours differnce) mean you're ready to enjoy the perfect white beaches almost immediately. There are flowers, forests, rare wildlife and nothing remotely dangerous. And best of all, most of its hotels, even the top of the range properties such as St Geran, Le Touessrok and The Royal Palm, all have children's clubs and positively welcome mini guests. Sugar Beach hotel is even more dedicated to families, with free water sports, gym, floodlit tennis courts, table tennis and games room. From £1,399 in January with Somak (020-8423 3000).

Andros, The Bahamas
The best of the Bahamas is to be found in the Out Islands. Take Andros, only a 15-minute hop from Nassau but far further removed in spirit. Andros is not only the bonefishing capital of the world, but less than a mile off the eastern shore is the second-largest coral reef outside Australia, stretching the entire 100-mile length of the island. From the shore to the edge of the reef, the depth of water averages 6-12ft, ideal for snorkellers and L-plate divers. Fully-certified diving instructors, needless to say, are always on hand. From £1,321pp all-inclusive for a week in January with Discover the Bahamas (01737 218803), or £1,567pp to include three dives per day.

Heron Island, The Great Barrier Reef
Australia's Great Barrier Reef shares the super-phenomena league with the Himalayas, the Sahara and the Grand Canyon. It's a 2,000km-long, up to 90km-wide chain of reefs, cays and atolls. Stay right on top of the action. Heron Island is a natural wonder, small enough to saunter around in 30 minutes and home to a resort and research station but otherwise nothing. Paddle out, and within a second you'll see coral. Swim along the shallow walls or take a dive which can be arranged through the resort. And yes, there are herons, picking their way along the reef tops at low tide. From £1,501 for a week's full-board with Bridge The World (020-7734 7447).

The Maldives
The most dreamed about islands in the world, yet perhaps among the least understood, they add up to more than 1,000 clustered in two dozen atolls some 400 miles south west of India. Some are tourist islands, some local islands, most are uninhabited. Choose your island carefully (hopping is not easy or cheap) and head underwater. Going to the Maldives without snorkelling - or, better still, diving - is like going to the Himalayas without trekking. All resort islands have a diving school where beginners can learn the basics, a much more appealing prospect in the silky waters of the Indian Ocean than in the chilly public baths at home. From £931pp a week B&B on Baros in January with Kuoni (01306 740500).

Bali
Despite the South Seas' image, it is the hilly countryside, tiered by emerald rice paddies, that makes Bali special, not its beaches. So rather than a waterside hotel, head for the hills around Ubud, the art heart of Bali. Here, the Amandari is the chic address, built like an intimate hamlet on the edge of an escarpment. The hotel is one of three stunningly beautiful, stunningly expensive Aman resorts. The understated, more hideaway Kupu Kupu Barong, with dramatic views over the gorge, is a viable and less expensive alternative. From £665pp for five nights with Sovereign (08705 768373).

St Bart's
With planning permission hard to come by, and high rise hotels unknown, it's no wonder St Bart's is able to preserve its atmosphere of quiet intimacy. Celebrities love it, lured by the tropical scenery, palm-fringed beaches and cosmpolitan atmosphere. By day, Gustavia, the capital, is bustling, its harbour dotted with gleaming yachts and schooners. Tourists browse through Ralph Lauren, Versace and Gucci boutiques and stock up on island-life souvenirs. By night, the tourists are back in force, sipping cocktails at the island's numerous bars and dining on fresh seafood. As a French dependency, St Bart's has a reputation as a gastronomic Mecca, so chefs from all over France will make a pilgrimage at some point in their careers, some staying on and opening their own restaurants. Add stunning mountain scenery, unfeasibly blue sea and a friendly, relaxed pace and St Bart's is jolie near perfect. From £2,222pp for a week's B&B with Caribtours (020-7581 3517).

Costa Smeralda, Sardinia
The Emerald Coast, Sardinia's luxury north-east corner, earned its name from its pale green, transparent waters, which have made it a playground for the mega-rich and a yacht paradise. Short enough to drive in a few minutes, the Costa Smeralda was "discovered" in the early 60s by a group of property developers led by the Aga Khan, who transformed it into a tastefully landscaped strip of villas, apartments, hotels and restaurants. Exclusive properties are hidden above beautiful coves and surrounded by lawns so green and spongy they make Lord's Cricket Ground look like African scrub. Porto Cervo is the "capital" of the coast, where celebrities lounge on Bond-style launches and the poodles in the waterfront cafes are as pampered as their owners. From £3,435pp for a week's half-board in July with Citalia (020-8686 5533).

Ibiza
Ibiza would be worth visiting if only for its old town, the D'Alt Vila, a magnificent warren of lanes and old buildings contained by a remarkable renaissance wall. Galleries, stylish bars, romantic restaurants and small, chic hotels rub shoulders with each other within them. But Ibiza is arguably at its best by night, when there are three distinct zones: Ibiza Town, the most sophisticated; San Antonio, sadly sun, sex and booze; and the road in between the two being the most outrageous. After fish at the old town waterfront, go to Teatro Pereira, the old theatre, for decent live music and a fine long bar. Then go down to the marina for a drink at Izay, Keeper or Il Devino, followed perhaps by salsa at Indiana before going on to one of the many clubs that have made the island internationally famous. From £659pp room only in a small hotel in Ibiza Town, including flights, from The Real Spain 020-8686 3638.

Key West
America's last resort comes at the end of the chain of islands that appear off Florida's southern shoreline, threaded to the Overseas Highway, the most beautiful dead-end street in the world. Although the climate is subtropical and the ambience Caribbean, the amenities are distinctly American. Famous former resident Ernest Hemingway called it "the St Tropez of the poor". Evenings begin in Mallory Square to watch, applaud, then toast with Michelob, Key West's famous fiery sunsets. From here, bars make up the bulk of the nightlife - there are many, from the famous Sloppy Joe's to the loud and rowdy Bull & Whistle Bar on Duval Street. Live music, whether country, folk or rock is often a bonus, and no bars are more than a few minutes apart. From £672pp for a week in January with US Airtours (020-8559 7721).

Cuba
Let the group Buena Vista Social Club be your guide -there's far more to Cuba than the all-inclusive pile 'em high resort hotels in Varadero. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, with more than 300 beaches, an impressive spine of mountains and a rich cultural history. Music is the round-the-clock entertainment, pulsating from every taxi, shop, restaurant and bar. There are enough live music and dance clubs to last a lifetime, let alone a week or two's holiday, predominantly in Havana, Santiago and Varadero. From £1,229pp for two weeks' all-inclusive in July with Thomson (0870 2413156).

Isle of Wight
When is abroad not abroad? When it's cast away 20 minutes off Britain's south coast. Blink and you'll miss the border crossing from Hampshire, despite the gentle ferry motion. Long favoured by royalty and writers and now kept afloat by a small, discerning and loyal clientele, the Isle of Wight is a Britain in bonsai. If you hear rumours of tacky resorts, fuel them. It will allow you to hug the stuff of childhood dreams to yourself - chalky cliffs, flat golden beaches, birdy mud flats, sweet-flowering meadows, Victorian resorts, sailing villages and dinosaur graveyards. B&Bs and guesthouses abound, but victims of style may prefer the minimalist Biskra Beach Hotel on the sands at Ryde; or the more maritime and equally foodie Seaview Hotel in the village of Seaview. Wightlink (0990 820202) is the biggest operator. A two-night half-board package break costs from £109pp in July including ferry. Ferry only: 0870 5827744.

Tresco, Isles of Scilly
On a boiling hot day, the blindingly white beaches and transparent turquoise waters of this archipelago of low-lying granite outcrops can more than match the Caribbean. The Isles of Scilly lie 28 miles off the western tip of Cornwall. Only five islands are inhabited, their appeal to holidaymakers the overwhelming flavour of a daily lifestyle that seems more appropriate to the pages of nursery rhymes than 21st-century realities. Because of the Gulf Stream, the islands certainly enjoy the warmest of British winters, which accounts for the profusion of plants that thrive in the famous Abbey Gardens on Tresco. Come to this island to breathe its purest airs and watch the sun and clouds cast brilliant shafts of light across its gentle scenery. There are only two places to stay - the New Inn (01720 422844) and the Island Hotel (01720 422883). The Information Centre (01720 422536) can point you in the right direction, but won't have a favourite. Boats and planes are bookable through the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and Isles of Scilly Skybus on 08457 105555. Helicopters from Penzance are run by British International Helicopters (01736 363871).

Lundy Island, Devon
Little has changed on Lundy since the Marisco family established itself here in the 12th century, using the shingle beaches and coves to terrorize shipping along the Bristol Channel. There are still only 20 permanent residents on this tiny, windswept island, although the enormous population of marine birds more than makes up for that. Breezy walking and filling your lungs with sea air is the thing to do here, since Lundy has no cars, just one pub and one shop. In April and May, you'll spot puffins coming ashore to mate; grey seals, however, bob offshore year round. The Landmark Trust in Bideford (01237 470422) has some fascinating houses to rent, from the remote Admiralty Lookout (no electricity, battery-pumped water) to the granite Barn hostel sleeping 14. A property sleeping four for a week in July costs from £532.

Panarea, Italy
Usually, if it were at all possible, you would avoid Italy in August - overcrowded, overpriced and massively overheated. But Panarea is a cult island, a summer hub of Italian society and celebrity, with the Hotel Raya as the epicentre of cool. The island, floating well off Sicily's north-eastern corner, has been fashionable with Italians since the 1960s, when Antonioni came to film L'Avventura. This designer destination has no street lighting, no cars, little soul and hardly a beach, but there is always the Raya wth its colony of superb rooms with terraces and fantastic views. Citalia can tailor make a trip. Phone 020-8688 9989 for details.

Bora Bora, Polynesia
The name is synonymous with heaven, and the five-star bungalows, lush vegetation and white sandy beaches around an enormous turquoise lagoon are anybody's honeymoon dream. In reality, there are more attractive French Polynesian islands, but Bora Bora still has the cutting edge on fascination. Highlights of any holiday include a tour of the lagoon on a motorised pirogue, stopping for a picnic on a motu and for a shark and ray-feeding session; snorkelling and scuba diving; ascending Mount Pahia with a guide; and ending the day at a five-star hotel (the island is famous for some of the most spectacular hotels on earth) for a cocktail while watching a Polynesian dance performance. There are, incidentally, plenty of budget places to stay, including two camp sites. From £2,215pp for a week with Holiday Options (01444 239999).

Funzi Island
Africa's hottest destination, now challenging the Caribbean in terms of accommodation, flying time and price. But where is it? Just (and only just) off the coast of Kenya, separated from the mainland near Msambweni by a narrow channel you can walk across at low tide (though dhow trips from Bodo, due west, are popular and cheap). All life and happenings are focused on Funzi Village at the southern end. Funzi Beach Fishing Club is the place to stay - an upmarket tented camp sleeping only up to 12 in a grove of mango trees. Room prices include a stunning location, all watersports facilities, meals, drinks and transport. From here you can book crocodile-hunting trips up the Ramisi river and excursions to the island's gorgeous beaches and forested shores. From £2,960pp for a week's full-board, available through Worldwide Journeys (020-7386 4646).