YET to book your summer holiday? Or looking to squeeze one more in before the kids are back to school?
The last week of August tends to be the cheapest time to have a summer break and there are plenty of scorching deals still up for grabs.
From family beach breaks to city escapes for couples, Sophie Swietochowski picks out her top last-minute deals for the end of summer.
RHODES
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PALM-FRINGED sands frame the clear blue ocean behind the four-star Sentido Sunrise Beach hotel in Rhodes — and guests have direct access to it.
Neat and spacious rooms give off a cool Scandi vibe, with wooden furniture and plump pillows on the beds, while the gardens resemble a laid-back beach club, with tables facing the sea and loungers dotted around a long pool.
All-inclusive stays don’t just include buffet brekky, lunch and dinner, but also limitless ice cream, plus snacks and local spirits.
GO: Five nights’ all-inclusive costs from £219pp including flights from Stansted on August 24. See travelsupermarket.com.
LA ROCHELLE
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THIS city on the south-west coast of France is a family holiday favourite for a reason.
Its historic streets are crammed with boutique cafes serving proper French grub, it’s not short of rainy-day attractions — such as the aquarium — and there are sandy beaches aplenty.
Rest your heads at 3* Le Domaine Du Château, which features modern studios and apartments, plus a swimming pool.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only costs from £149pp, based on two adults and two kids sharing and including flights from Stansted on August 29. See loveholidays.com.
TENERIFE
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KIDS will love the playful bedrooms at this 4* family-friendly resort on the island’s north coast.
Some have been decorated to look like a fortress, with 3D tree sculptures bulging from the walls and a set of double bunk beds, that look like a mini castle, plastered in wallpaper that resembles stone bricks.
Aside from an outdoor pool, there’s a mini playground for younger kids, and a tennis court, on site — and some of the island’s top beaches are a short stroll away.
Even the fussiest of eaters will be kept happy at the buffet, which has endless international options, both hot and cold.
GO: Seven nights’ B&B costs from £339pp including flights from Liverpool on August 31. See loveholidays.com.
PARIS
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HOW good does this sound? a brief city break enjoying a coffee and a croissant while admiring the Eiffel Tower before a sunny stroll along the tree-lined paths of the Champs-Elysees?
In Paris’s culturally rich Latin Quarter, the 3* Hotel André Latin makes the perfect base for city explorers, with the Luxembourg Gardens right on your doorstep and very comfortable beds to welcome you back after a busy day of sightseeing.
The hotel has a very swish cocktail bar, so night-time tipples here are a must.
GO: Two nights’ room-only costs from £223pp including flights from Gatwick on August 31. See onthebeach.co.uk.
BOA VISTA, CAPE VERDE
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THIS one’s for grown-ups seeking a luxury fly-and-flop, where sleepy beach days drift into sundowners with the ocean and an orange-tinged sky as your backdrop.
The islands, off the coast of West Africa, are likely to be a comfortable 30C towards the end of this month, and the 5* Hotel Riu Touareg has in-pool loungers that will keep you cool while you soak up those rays.
With its seven bars, six pools and six restaurants on site, you’ll never need to leave.
GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive is from £658.51pp, based on two sharing and including flights from Manchester on August 29. See tui.co.uk.
DALAMAN
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THE rugged charm of the Turkish countryside is yours at the Loryma Resort — which at first glance looks more like a family-owned villa than a holiday resort, with its rustic stone facade and quiet pool carved into the cliff face.
Even so, there are facilities on site that are suited to families with kids, including a playground and a couple of bars and restaurants.
The resort has a great vantage point from the pool, with breathtaking views of towering mountains and the sun-drenched ocean.
GO: Seven nights’ self-catering is from £522pp, based on four sharing and flying from Leeds Bradford on August 25. See jet2holidays.com.
