We've picked 10 blissfully quiet and relaxing holidays for anyone who wants to get away in peak season without the kids in tow
Unless stated otherwise, prices are based on week starting 26/27/28 July
Brittany, France
In summer you can't walk three paces on Brittany's glorious sandy beaches without tripping over a bucket and spade, but just a few miles inland from the beautiful Golfe du Morbihan is a haven for anyone who has to travel in the school summer holidays but who'd rather not spend their week dodging frisbees or being dive-bombed by eight-year-olds in the swimming pool. La Longère is a boutique B&B with just three soothing bedrooms surrounded by orchards and meadows. British couple Elaine and Paul have transformed this crumbling 18th-century farmhouse into a cosseting adults-only retreat with decadently comfortable beds, heated pool and hot tub. The delightful harbour of St Goustin and the neolithic standing stones at Carnac are within easy reach, assuming you can bear to leave the guesthouse. A double room costs £110 per night, or £385 per week per person. Fly to Quimper with British Airways, or to Rennes with Flybe.
Sintra, Portugal
As its whimsical name suggests, the House of the She-Pine-Tree is something of a one-off. Owned by a former war reporter turned artist, poet and art collector, this quirky guesthouse in the hills surrounding Sintra is stuffed to the rafters with paintings and antiques but the atmosphere is laid back. With its air of genteel decay, exotic vegetation and fairytale palaces, the hilltown of Sintra offers a cool respite from the sun-baked streets of nearby Lisbon. Explore the ramparts and towers of Pena Palace, the medieval splendour of the National Palace of Sintra and the lush, botanical gardens, before indulging in some R&R on the beaches of the Costa do Estoril, a short drive away. A week in a superior double room costs £352. Fly to Lisbon with British Airways, TAP or easyJet.
Crete, Greece
Finding a peaceful spot in the Greek Islands during July and August can be a challenge but the tiny hamlet of Agia Paraskevi, hidden away on a hillside in the south of Crete, delivers. There's just one taverna, two churches and a smattering of terracotta-roofed village houses, one of which is Emilio's House– a cute stone-built cottage with sea views from the bedroom and a flower-draped terrace. The cottage actually sleeps four but it's probably best suited to couples looking to get away from it all. There's no pool, but you're welcome to use the one at the taverna – just repay the owner by having a meal or a few drinks here – and there are good sandy beaches a short drive away. It's tremendously good value house rental for a week in July costing £595 when booked with Freelance Holidays (01789 297705, freelance-holidays.co.uk). Flights and car hire not included.
Ibiza, Spain
Affordable hotels in the Balearics during peak season are few and far between, unless you're prepared to take your chances on a package hotel deal. The Hostal Sa Rota in the seaside town of Santa Eulalia del Rio in south-east Ibiza is a bit of an insider secret. It may not look much from the outside, but this family-run, no-frills B&B offers spotless rooms with balconies and friendly service, just a five-minute walk to the beach. It's right on the town's main restaurant drag, but Santa Eulalia is not one of Ibiza's party towns so the rooms are quiet at night. The continental breakfast is worth getting up for and the English-speaking owner Tony is happy to advise on days out. €512 per week for a double room with private bathroom. Thomson, Monarch, easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways fly to Ibiza, among others.
Cilento, Italy
Formerly a fishermen's tavern, Residenza d'Epoca la Corallina is now a nine-bedroom seafront hotel, just outside the medieval town of Castellabate. Rooms are bright and attractive with balconies overlooking the working harbour. The Cilento coast with its small bays, dramatic cliffs and seaside villages offers plenty of opportunities to escape the tourist hordes, even in peak season, but if it's splendid isolation you're after, head inland to the extraordinary valleys and gorges of the Cilento national park. It's great walking country and you're never too far from a mountain inn serving some of the country's best mozzarella and wine. One week's B&B starts at £532pp, inclusive of car rental, with Expert to Italy (020-7520 3100, experttoitaly.com). Fly to Naples with easyJet or British Airways.
Marseille, France
Combine culture and sunshine with a visit to Marseille as it basks in the spotlight of its status as European Capital of Culture. As well as showing off its newly revamped Vieux Port, designed by Sir Norman Foster, and new attractions such as the architecturally striking Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (or Mucem, which is due to open in June), the city will be putting on an exciting programme of cultural events from street theatre to open-air concerts. But perhaps one of the best reasons for visiting this summer is to stay in the recently-opened Mama Shelter hotel, which offers some of the best-value rooms in the south of France. A playful Philippe Starck design, buzzing bar and restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine have ensured the hotel's success, but if you move quickly you can still bag a double room in July or August for €59 per night. Fly to Marseille with British Airways, Ryanair or easyJet, or take the train.
Korčula, Croatia
Korčula is one of Croatia's most beguiling islands, with its red-roofed medieval old town squeezed on to a peninsula, shady pine forests and picturesque coves. Stay at Marta, a one-bedroom self-catering apartment on the first floor of a stone house close to the old town walls, and you'll enjoy one of the best locations on the island, just a short stroll from the beach, restaurants, shops and the port for island-hopping trips. The apartment has bags of character, from the stone walls to the cool, leafy courtyard where you can dine outside. A week's stay at the apartment in high seasons costs €700. Fly to Dubrovnik with British Airways, easyJet, Monarch, Jet2 or Flybe.
La Rioja, Spain
The coastal resorts and Michelin-starred restaurants of the Basque country are heaving in July and August, but head inland and you can enjoy some of northern Spain's finest food and wine without having to sell your soul or book months in advance. The Posada de Sajazarra is a guesthouse in a medieval village in the Rioja Alta region, which has just been added to the portfolio of northern Spain specialist Casas Cantabricas (01223 328721,casas.co.uk). Stone walls, beamed ceilings and antique furniture give a rustic feel and two of the eight bedrooms have terraces that look out over rooftops, vineyards and the Sierra de la Demanda beyond. The village is ideally placed for exploring the Rioja wine region – Berta, the owner, will organise tastings in local bodegas – and the cities of Vitoria, Burgos and Bilbao can be visited on day trips. £90 per night for two people sharing a double room with breakfast included. Vueling and easyJet fly to Bilbao, and Ryanair to Santander. Or you can catch a ferry to Bilbao from Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries.
Liguria, Italy
Casa Villatella is the perfect getaway for grown-ups. A charming five bedroom guesthouse in the foothills of the Ligurian Alps above the medieval town of Dolceacqua, it offers peace and privacy in abundance. Spend your days dozing by the pool, reading in the pretty gardens, playing boules on the lawn or admiring the mountain views from the private terrace of your bedroom. There's a sitting room with open fire for cool evenings and the dining room will serve breakfast or dinner on request. If you want something livelier, the resorts of the Italian Riviera and the French Cote d'Azur are both within striking distance – the French border is just a half-hour drive from the guesthouse. From £263pp per week for a double room including breakfast. The nearest airport is Nice, which is served by British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet among others.
Near Larnaca, Cyprus
Modus Vivendi offers some of the best-value accommodation in Cyprus – six rustic-chic, self-catering suites overlooking an inviting pool terrace in the sleepy hamlet of Psematismenos (try saying that after a couple of brandy sours). Husband-and-wife team Yiannos and Christiana have created an unpretentious and thoroughly appealing hideaway here on the south coast, halfway between Larnaca and Limassol. Suites have thick stone walls and stone-flagged floors, wrought-iron bedsteads and a pleasing mishmash of old and new furniture. There are kitchenettes if you wish to self-cater or you can pay extra for a breakfast hamper or a Cypriot meal to be prepared for you. From €560 per week for two adults sharing. British Airways, Cyprus Airways, Thomson, Monarch, easyJet and Jet2 are among the airlines that fly to Larnaca.