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(make sure you get a lake-view room).Departure date: June 5. Price: £908per couple, including flights and carhire, through Crystal Lakes (08712315661, crystaDakes.co.uk).

GOZO .It's Malta in miniature, andadmittedly that makes it very, verysmall indeed, but nevertheless there'sroom for more than SO generouslydomed churches, Europe's oldesttemples and some of the best divesites on the Med. Original Travel(0207978 7333, originaltravel.co.uk)recommends the thoroughly modemthree-starSan Andrea hotel, whichhas a spectacular locationoverlooking beautiful Xlendi Bay,and arooftop terrace to ensure youcan enjoy those views to the max. Aweek costs £880, B&B, in May.

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SARDINIAIfwe had to pick just one deal-for-twothis summer, it would be thefabulous Casa Teulada, about 40 milesby spectacular coast road fromcagliari and a 2O-minute drive fromsa Tuerredda beach, considered to beone of the 10 best on the island. Thehouse is a thick·waDed, rose-washed,rustic-beamed jewel that regularlyfeatures in the Italian interiorsmagazines and has its own YouTubevideo (bit.ly/dd3196). It costs a paltry£687 for the week beginning July 8,booked through Holiday Lettings(holidaylettings.co.uk). Add flights toCagliari at £76 each with EasyJet(easyjet.com), and car hire at £159from Auto Europe (00800 223S SSSS,autoeurope.com), and the total is £998.

LEMARCHEIt's prettier than Umbria, withtastier cuisine than Tuscany, so ifyou're up for exploring the Adriaticregion of Le Marche, book yourselfinto casal dei Fichi, a farmhouseconverted into six self-cateringapartments, set high in the hills.Expect luxurious bathrooms,designer kitchens, beamed ceilingsand a smaD pooi in a garden sun trap.Aweek up to June 30 is £625, bookedthrough Real Holidays (020 7359 3938,realholidays.co.uk). Returns toAnCODa start at f38 with Ryanair(08712460000, ryanair.com). car hireis £124 with Expedia (0871226 0808,expedia.co.uk). Total cost: £825.

LAKE GARDAMonth: June. Temperature:25C. Hours of sunshine per day:nine. Water temperature: 21C.Crowds: zero. Wine: drinkable.Accommodation: the Nettunoapartments, in Peschiera del Garda

UMBRIADown the lane from the bar in thevillage of Orgia. just outside Siena,youll find II Gelso, a fairy-talemedieval cottage formerly ownedby Little Red Riding Hood. Pictureopen fireplaces, beamed ceilings,distant views ofsiena and longafternoons swimming in the clear,shallow waters of the nearby river.The high-season cost is £602, throughInvitation to Tuscany (020 84449500,invitationtotuscany.com). Returns toPisa start at about £7S with EasyJet(easyjet.com). car hire is £150 withEuropcar (0870 6075000, europcar.com). Bottom line: £902.

ITALY

EBROThe Ebro delta, where the mightyriver meets the Med, is one ofSpain's best-kept secrets - avastwetland of paddy fields, canalsand wild, dune·backed beachespopulated by more than 300 speciesofbirds, including flamingos,herons and egrets. Inntravel (01653617000, www.inntraveLco.uk)hasaweek in the Delta Cottages, thatchedformer fishermen's homes in theheart of this wateryworld, completewith orgardc gardens thatyou'rewelcome to plunder. The price is£736, including car hire - flightsto Reus start at £98 with Ryanair(oan 246 0000, ryanair.com), makinga total of£932.

IBIZAOn Ibiza's peaceful north coast, fiveminutes from the delightful covesaround Portinatx, lies the lovelyCasa vilda Marge (00 34 971333234,casavildamarge.com), afive-roomhostal rural with a swimming pooland a tapas bar, in grounds shadedby almond, orange and carob trees.Aweek here between J1,1Ile 14 andJuly 4costs £5n. Flights start at£44 with Ryanair (0871246 0000,ryanair.com). Car hire is £146 withHoliday Autos (08714n 5229,holidayautos.co.uk). Total: £806.

wine and rich, local food (the jamonis superb). You can hike the sierras,bike the Via Verde "olive trail" - areclaimed railway line - or loafbythe pool. The price for the week is£528; flights to Malaga in July startat about £45 with Ryanair(08712460000. ryanair.com); car hirestarts at £187 with Holiday Autos(08714n 5229, holidayautos.co.uk).Total cost: £803.

ANDALUSIACasa Olea (00 34 696 748209, casaolea.com) is a boutique B&B in a traditionalcornjo, deep in the undiscoveredSierras subbeticas. It's shamefullyself·indulgent - aD big beds, strong

VALENCIATo make the most of this mostnocturnal of Spanish cities, you'llneed somewhere comfy to recuperateduring daylight hours. We've found it- a funky, retro-styled second·floorflat in a typical Valeociano buildingthat's just five minutes from town,a stroll from the Hipica pool, in theJardines del Real, and a tram ridefrom the beach. It costs just £362 forany week from July1-look forproperty 83483 on homeaway.co.uk.with returns to Valencia going for£57 in early July with EasyJet(easyjet.com), that's the holidayfor £496.

distillery in the loirely town of St Jeand'Angely, you'll find the recentlyrenovated Le Gite du Puits. We pickedthis one from dozens of deals offeredby Pure Holiday Homes (0844 2498090, pureholidayhomes.com)because it has a pool and a spa bath,and, crucially, because it's cheap- just £364 for any week up to July 2.Decor is in the French style known as"rope¥", but the area.enjoys thesecond·highest number ofsunshine.hours in France, so the sofa won't bean issue. Returns to La Rochelle startat £20 with Ryanair (0871246 0000,ryanair.com), and Europcar (0870 6075000, europcar.com) has carhire from£184 - total damage just£588.

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Sf JEAN D'ANGELVAn hour inland from La Rochelle,in the grounds of a former coguac

oyou want sun and sea,served up with style, andyou want it for less thana grand for two? Noproblema. First, go in May,June or september, not inhigh season, which is hot,crowded and expensive.

second, look for self-catering cottagesand villas, and smaller, family·runhotels. Third, when the herd turnsright, you should turn left to find theremoterbeauty spots. The fourth ruleis to be as dogged as a bloodhoundinyour pursuit ofa hargain, and thefifth rule is to forget aD ofthe above,because we've done it far you.

CANNESThe French tour operator Pierre &Vacances (0870 026 7144, pv·holidays.com) has self-catering flats for £510per week in July at the Residencevilla Francia, on a hillside in La Croixdes Gardes - 10 minutes' walk fromthe centre of cannes. There are greatviews of the hay, the lies de Ikrinsand the red rocks of the Esterel,especially from the infinjty pool.Returns to Nice start at £46 withEasyJet (easyjet.com), and car hire is£181 with Argus Car Hire (0844 3302581, arguscarhire.com). Total: £783.

:~ unless stated, pricesfor packageholidays arefor two people and includeflights from London and transfers.Independently bookedflight prices werecorrect at the time ofgoing to press

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