Bag a bargain and get some late summer holiday action
THAILAND
Anantara, on the north of the island of Mai Khao Beach, is wonderfully tucked away from the main tourist areas of Phuket and Kuoni is now offering seven nights for the price of five, a saving of £366 per person. Each of the 82 villas comes with its own 33 square metre pool, set either within beautiful gardens with exotic paths leading down to the sea, or by the lagoon with its bamboo water fountains and flaming torches. Villas are spacious and colourful – 120 square metres of living space with colourful silks and prized Thai furniture.
Offer can be booked before 30 November, package starts at £1,718 per person based on two sharing a pool villa on a bed and breakfast basis and includes flights with Eva Air from Heathrow with private transfers. To book, visit www.anantara.com.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Little Dix Bay – stop smirking at the back – is a stunning tropical hideaway in the British Virgin Islands, with unspoilt beaches, breathtaking views, a beautiful pool and terrific water activities – it’s not far from a spectacular barrier reef. And there’s a £300 per person saving to be made for those wanting a slice of the Caribbean high life at this Rosewood resort with an offer of seven nights for the price of five, that’ll last right into the winter.
Seven nights at Little Dix Bay from £1,525 per person based on two sharing a Garden View room, including breakfast, economy flights and transfers. Departure from 19 September, valid until 17 December. To book visit www.elegant resorts.co.uk or call 01244 897 516
CORSICA
Perfect for a European break with a bit of a twist, Corsica is ideal for a luxurious and sunny early autumn holiday. Coastline offers seven nights from £484 per person based on eight sharing at the Villa Belvedere, a saving of £300 per person. The Villa sits in the hills and looks directly across the old town and marina of Porto Vecchio. Inside it is furnished with immaculate contemporary luxury – think sleek lines, caramel colours and a teak terrace.
Package available throughout September, costs £484 and includes return flights from London, car hire, twice weekly maid services, daily deliveries of bread, pastries, newspapers and 24 hour concierge service. Call 0844 557 1020 or go to www.coastline.co.uk.
GREECE
Take advantage of the long, hot Greek autumn with a getaway at Porto Sani Village, where you can save £645 if you book now for September-October. From £1,760 per person based on two adults and two children sharing, Sani combines a family-friendly vibe with luxury and tranquility – handcrafted furniture, linen fabrics and wood lend subdued elegance, while seven kilometres of pristine beaches and idyllic swimming pools guarantee ideal sunbathing. There is babysitting and a host of children’s activities as well as a range of cuisine and sport. Available 28 August-31 October, at £1,760 per person based on a family of two adults and two children sharing a Standard Suite Garden View for seven nights. Includes breakfast and British Airways flights from Gatwick. Call 01244 355 527 or go to www.itcclassics.co.uk.
MALDIVES
You can’t really go wrong with the Maldives – especially when your guest is put up for free. Diva Resort is offering seven nights in a beach villa with economy return flights for £1,769 per person – a saving of £1,692 per person. If you’re interested in hardcore fish spotting, then Diva, which opened in 2008, is just your place with its five-star PADI diving centre. Four kilometres of paradisal beach by a turquoise lagoon make for idyllic sunbathing whether you’re into diving or not. Rooms are kitted out with low-key, elegant furnishings and many have sea views.
Second person free of charge special offer available until 30 Oct, from £1,760 per person sharing and a complimentary upgrade from half to full board, and upgrade from Beach to Water villa. Call 01425 673 848 or go to www.ultimatehideaways.co.uk.
SARDINIA
Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda is perhaps less well-known than other Mediterranean spots, but that only adds to its charm. Hotel Pitrizza is a splendid retreat consisting of secluded villas perched amid the flower-covered cliffs overlooking the Bay of Liscia di Vacca. It’s got its own private beach, a swimming pool carved out of the natural rocks, and all the luxury accoutrements – clubhouse, wellness and fitness centre, posh restaurant and bar – you’d expect. And you can make a saving of a heart-stopping £956 per room per night with the hotel’s Endless Summer package, in which a week’s stay in a Classic Double Room is reduced from over five grand per person to just £3,640 all in.
The Endless Summer package includes breakfast buffet, lunch or dinner in the hotel restaurant, rental car and use of sports facilities, and cost £3,640 per room for a seven night stay, and is valid from September 13-30. To book visit www.luxurycollection.com/hotelpitrizza or call 00 390789930111.
MAURITIUS
Close your eyes and picture the ultimate in beach-bound luxury, and it’s probably Mauritius that you imagine. Stretching sands of purest white, still turquoise waters and scattered palm fronds – it’s the stuff of total, glorious escape. Right now you can make a saving of £604 on a week spent living the high life, Mauritian style, at the rather special Beau Rivage resort. If you want to do something other than stretch out on the most perfect beaches, there’s diving, snorkelling and all manner of water sports, as well as the de rigeur luxury spa. For Beau Rivage guests willing to splash out, you can get a luxury villa with a butler and private plunge pool. Seven night stay in a Junior Suite on a half board basis from £1,165 per person, including return flights with Emirates and private transfers. The package is valid until 15 September. To book visit www.if only.net or call 0141 955 4000.
CHINA
What better way to start your holiday than experiencing China’s moon festival – when the moon is said to be at its brightest – in Beijing, on 15 September? The festival also includes the opportunities to eat “moon cakes”. The 21-day Very Best of China Tour continues on an escorted journey through the country, and it also includes a trip to Xian to see the famous Terracotta Warriors, a three-night cruise on The Yangtze River, a trip to Shanghai, Guilin and then on to Hong Kong.
Very Best of China tour costs £3,685, with a saving of £360per person, including flights, transfers, bed and breakfast accommodation in four and five-star hotels, some dinners, most excursions and a tour manager escorting from the UK. Call 01704 88 300 or go to www.jod.uk.com.
INDIA
Of all India’s regions, Rajasthan is best for summer breaks, for the very simple reason that it is not subject to monsoons and has very little rainfall in August. Even better, this trip also has a whopping £1,500 saving at the moment. The 12-day tour follows a classic tourist trail, starting with Delhi and its old and new cities (which can be seen traditionally by rickshaw), stopping at Agra and following on to Jaipur’s jewellery market and ornate palaces.
The tour also visits Diapur, enabling a trip to the so-called “city of dreams” with its tranquil floating island palace, followed by a final stop in Mumbai.
The trip costs £2,390 per person, a saving of £1570 each, all through August. The price includes flights from London Heathrow with all transfers, all taxes and ned and breakfast at Oberoi hotels. Call 020 7359 3938 or see: www.indiaportfolio.co.uk.