Summer sorted! Not yet booked? Don't panic - dreamy family villas across Europe are still available in the peak weeks

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 MAKE FOR MONTENEGRO 

Fun in the sun: Pack the whole family off for a European villa holiday this summer

The Budva Riviera, two hours from Croatia's south, is Montenegro's most fawned-over tourist spot; where redroofed medieval architecture, blue-flag beaches and the Adriatic meld perfectly. 

THE DEAL: A family of four can stay at two bedroomed Villa Vita Adagio with its sea views and use of a shared pool for £376 pp, montenegroholidays.com, 0800 177 7460. Flybe jet to Dubrovnik in August from £257 return, flybe.com

ST TROPEZ, S'IL VOUS PLAIT 

 Ooh la la: La Pinede, which sleeps eight, is close to the beach  on the Bay of St Tropez

Pack your Gucci swimwear — glitzy St Tropez is still up for grabs during peak season. After mingling with the yacht loving, champagne-quaffing beautiful people, retire to your own private idyll. 

THE DEAL: Sheltered by pine forest, La Pinede, which sleeps eight, lies on the Bay of St Tropez. This white-washed beauty is close to the beach, has its own pool and a personal cook service. One week in August is £900pp, cvvillas.com, 020 7261 5499. Fly to Nice from £150 return, ryanair.com.

COSTA CHIC 

Spanish chic: In Begur, not far from Barcelona, is the pretty two-bedroom Villa Carlita

Tap into the Costa Brava's reinvention in the stylish little town of Begur, an hour north of Barcelona on Spain's 'wild coast'. Best family beaches include Sa Riera and Sa Tuna.

THE DEAL: Two-bedroom Villa Carlita has a pool and garden, and pretty fishing village Aigua Blava is nearby. July price is £370 pp, based on four sharing, vintagetravel.co.uk, 01954 261 431. Fly to Barcelona from £250 return, easyjet.com.

KEFALONIAN SOUL 

Sea views: Villa Odysseus on the Greek island of Kefalonia is close to child-friendly beaches

With its infinite blue horizons, verdant interior, child-friendly beaches and Italianate architecture, Kefalonia is truly relaxing. 

THE DEAL: Villa Odysseus, on the southerly Liakis peninsula, has views of Zante, sleeps six and is available for a week from August 14 at a discounted rate of £535 pp, freelance-holidays.co.uk, 01789 297705. Fly to Kefalonia from £250 return, thomascookairlines.com.

APHRODITE'S ISLE 

Perfect perch: This cool holiday home in Argaka has views of the Akamas Mountains

Head for Cyprus's north-west coast, where the Akamas mountains provide a backdrop to seaside villages such as Argaka. 

THE DEAL: Stay a week in a sugarcube-style villa with pool, garden and Jacuzzi in Argaka for £228pp, based on four sharing from August 26, novasol.co.uk, 0333 012 4926. Fly to Paphos from £330 return with jet2.com.

COOL CANARIES 

Chic retreat: Villa Guatiza is a a Moroccan-themed farmhouse with its own pool and sauna

With its slate-grey sands and low-rise monolithic architecture, Lanzarote is the most striking of the Canaries. It's also the breeziest, which means energetic teens with energy to burn can indulge in a large variety of high-octane sports.

THE DEAL: Close to the fishing village of Arrieta, in the north west, is Villa Guatiza, a Moroccan-themed farmhouse with its own pool and sauna. A week-long stay in August for up to four adults and two children is £230pp, i-escape.com, 0117 946 7072. Flights to Lanzarote from £350 return, ba.com.

TURKEY TEMPTS 

Lavish living: Splash out on the Korsan Kuzey and enjoy private access to a 50-metre beach

Kalkan old town's pretty streets have wooed well-heeled travellers for decades. The surrounding hills hide peachy self-catering villas too.

THE DEAL: Stay at five-bedroom Korsan Kuzey and enjoy private access to a 50-metre beach. A week's stay from August 26 is £1,533 pp, based on four adults and two children, simpsontravel.com, 020 8003 6557. Fly to nearby Dalaman from £341 with thomascookairlines.com.

SICILY'S CHARMS 

Serene spot: Domus Olivae is on an  olive estate, just below hilltop Chiaramonte Gulfi

The stomping ground of famous fictional sleuth Inspector Montalbano, Sicily's south-east is awash with handsome sandstone towns, superb restaurants and dreamy stretches of sand at Donnalucata and Sampieri.

THE DEAL: Seven-bedroom Domus Olivae, on an olive estate, lies just below hilltop Chiaramonte Gulfi. It has a pool and sleeps 14. Peak price is £1,220pp, thethinkingtraveller.com, 020 7377 8518. Fly to nearby Catania from £390 return, norwegian.no.

CLASSIC CORFU 

 Rustic romance: The seven -person Villa Olivia offers great value for peak season bookings

If ITV's The Durrells has reignited your ardour for Corfu, you'll be glad to know there are gorgeous villas still for hire. The Greek island remains fantastic value, too.

THE DEAL: Sleeping seven, Villa Olivia, above Avlaki Beach, has unspoiled views of the Adriatic between Corfu and Albania. Prices are from £699 pp a week based on an August 18 stay, villacollective.com, 0203 950 1588. Flights to Corfu from £200 return, jet2.com.

MALTESE MAGIC 

Stylish bungalow: Villa Munqar is a new addition to Malta's south coast and sleeps six

Malta's visitor numbers have soared in recent years, and with world-class diving, hidden coves and a tiny, but captivating, 16th-century capital in Valletta, there's plenty to entertain.

THE DEAL: Brand-new Villa Munqar, on the island's south coast, near Zurrieq, sleeps six. One week from August 21 costs £770 pp, jamesvillas.co.uk, 0800 074 0311. Flights to Valletta from £215 return, airmalta.com.