The UK
Cornwall
West Country specialist Classic Cottages (01326 555 555) has just added a three-bedroom property in Porthcurno. Pisces has a tennis court and is near a sandy beach and the Minack theatre. A one-week self-catering holiday at Pisces, which sleeps six, costs £688.
London
Take advantage of the lowest hotel rates for 10 years to take the family to the capital. The drop in numbers of American tourists combined with the traditionally low season, means there are some great deals around. Sunvil UK (020 8232 9788) is offering a free London Pass giving entry to more than 60 attractions for a family of four booking a two-night break between now and 6 September. An executive suite at the Plaza on Hyde Park costs £389 for two adults and two children. Extra nights cost £40 per adult and £25 per child.
Manchester
Take football-mad children for a budget short break in Manchester staying at a youth hostel (0161 839 9960). A family of four has the use of an en suite room for two nights, full board from £200. Free annual membership along with entry to the Manchester United Museum and Museum of Science and Industry are included in the price. Five-night stays start at £300.
Short-haul
Turkey
Escape the crowds at Turunc Bay. Interest and Activity Holidays (020 8251 0208) offers a free Jeep safari and another trip during a week at a two-bedroom self-catering flat at the four-star Loryma Resort Hotel. A family of four can stay for £1,999. Leave on 26 August from Stansted on scheduled day flights. Transfers are included.
Red Sea
The unrest in Israel means great deals by the unaffected Red Sea. Longwood Holidays (020 8551 4494) offers seven nights half-board at the five-star Hyatt Regency Hotel in Taba Heights from £419 a head for departures from Luton on 13 August. Children over 12 can have a five-day diving course for£180.
Spain
Take the kids to Port Aventura theme park in Salou for a seven-night beach holiday with Cosmos (0870 908 4299). It has Europe's largest roller-coaster. The all-inclusive price at the three-star Hotel Cambrils Playa is £595 per adult and £239 per child between two and 12. Leave Gatwick on 28 August.
Greece
Sunvil Holidays (020 8568 4499) offers a week's self-catering at the seafront Big Blue Apartments at Mytros, Crete, from £467 per adult and £427 per child (under 12), leaving on 21 August. Flights and transfers are included. Or visit historic Olympia and Epidavros while your kids are cared for at the three-star Royal Flisvos Hotel in Tolon. Club Pavilion (0870 241 0427) has seven nights from £299 per adult and £269 per child, leaving on 26 July. Includes B&B and flights via Gatwick.
France
Enjoy two nights' free babysitting during a week with Sun Esprit (01252 618300) in Chamonix, Montchavin or Morzine, leaving on 29 July. Mothers go free on 29 July. Fathers pay £299 and children under 17 go for £99 each, including Channel crossings for a car and passengers and seven nights' chalet stay. Allez France (01903 748155) has a two-week holiday from 28 July which costs £900 a villa and includes ferry crossings with a car.
Italy
A self-drive holiday to Umbria is offered by Cottages to Castles (01622 775 217). A house for up to eight in Todi for the weeks of 28 July or 25 August costs from £203 a head, including ferry fares.
Germany
Canvas Holidays (08709 022022) has mobile homes free at Steinach, near the French border: 14-nights for two adults and up to four children, arriving on 7 August, costs £1,087, including mid-week ferry crossings for a car.
Long-haul
South Africa
Take your kids on a game drive in the African bush and treat them to a chauffeur-driven ride on a Harley-Davidson through the Winelands during a 14-night holiday with African Odyssey (01242 224482). The 14-night, self-drive holiday also includes a cable-car ride to the top of Table mountain, a trip to Boulders Beach penguin colony, quad-biking and canoeing in Grabouw. The cost, based on a minimum of three people, is £1,967 per person. This includes flights from Heathrow, domestic flights plus all taxes, transfers, accommodation, some meals, 10 days' hire of a VW Microbus and maps.
Florida
Travel with Bridge the World (0870 444 7474) to Disney's all-star family resorts in Walt Disney world theme park for departures between 21 and 31 August. Seven-nights B&B accommodation for a family of four costs £3,176 (children under nine) and includes return Virgin Atlantic flights and a five-day entrance ticket to the four main theme parks - Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM studios and Animal Kingdom.
Bahamas
Both parents and children are well-catered for at the Reef Village resort on Grand Bahama. Set in seven acres on a white sandy beach, the hotel has three pools, two golf courses, tennis and basketball courts and watersports. Camp Lucaya children's centre caters for children up to 12. The younger children can do nature trails and treasure hunts while the older ones have numerous sporting activities available on site. A two-week holiday for departures from or after 7 August starts from £2,011 per adult (based on two sharing a standard room), £389 for the first child (2-11) and £990 for the second child with Discover the Bahamas (01737 218803).
Mauritius
This island in the Indian ocean is renowned for its great hotels. Leave the children at the Bob Marlin children's mini club at the Shandrani hotel overlooking Blue Bay lagoon and spend the rday on the beach. There's waterskiing, windsurfing and snorkelling. Beachcomber Tours (01483 533008) is offering a 10-night holiday for £1,623 per adult and £842 per child under 11 for departures on 29 July. The price includes two sea- view rooms, half-board, with flights from Heathrow.
Barbados
Go with Kuoni (01306 747 000) to the three-star Sugar Cane Club from £859 per adult based on two adults sharing a room. Children under 12 sharing the same room are half price. The hotel is close to the beach and has a pool with a children's section. The price includes return flights from Heathrow on 11 August and transfers.
