I’m a travel expert and these are the destinations I would visit in summer 2026

The glorious weather over the May bank holiday might have put you in the mood to think about where to go on holiday once the summer really kicks in.

Perhaps a villa in France’s Languedoc, or in Puglia in southern Italy. Then again, there’s always a laidback Greek island waiting to be discovered.

Head further east to Mauritius, or stick closer to home with a houseboat holiday on the Isle of Wight or a coastal retreat in Cornwall.

If you’ve been planning a major adventure, think about combining a Kenyan safari with a Zanzibar beach break, or explore the jungles of Borneo and fall in love with its wildlife.

Wherever you decide to go on holiday in July, you’ll get some inspiration from these ideas.

Read more: The last-minute summer holidays you can still book

France

Go south to Languedoc for a slice of French life in the Wine Terrace, a six-bedroom villa set in an old priory surrounded by vineyards. You’ll be sharing the extensive grounds, terraces and swimming pool with two other cottages, but there’s plenty of space to go around – and you’ll be a short drive from pretty Pézenas and its fabulous Saturday market. Vintage Travel has availability in July, with seven days’ self-catering starting at £2,210.

Read more: How accessible is Eurostar? I tested a journey as a wheelchair user

Italy

A week in Puglia is hard to resist, especially if you’re in Casa Cosima, a 19th-century townhouse in Spongano that’s been restored beautifully. Six sleep comfortably in three bedrooms, and it’s elegantly furnished under vaulted ceilings. When you’re not lazing in your private pool, you’ll be at one of Italy’s Ionian beaches a short drive away. Essential Italy has a week’s self-catering from 4 July starting at £3,200.

Read more: I recreated my own Roman Holiday on a Vespa tour of Italy’s capital

Isle of Wight

Fancy a holiday on a boat without having to drive it yourself? Stay at Oystercatcher, a stylish three-bedroom houseboat moored in Bembridge harbour on the Isle of Wight. Light, airy and spacious, it also has a terrace overlooking the harbour for al fresco dining and waterfront cocktails. Booked through Unique Hideaways, it costs £2,293 for seven nights’ self-catering, including booking fee and damage waiver.

Read more: Our travel team’s favourite beaches in the UK

Mauritius

If you want guaranteed sunshine spiced up with Creole, Chinese and French flavours, head to Mauritius for a relaxed break at the Veranda Grand Baie Hotel and Spa. Set in sheltered Grand Baie on the north-eastern side of the island, the hotel has two pools and enticing beach restaurants. Seven nights’ B&B with Away Holidays cost from £1,089pp in July, or upgrade to all-inclusive for an extra £440pp.

Read more: This beach hotel in Mauritius blends old-school luxury with nature

Greece

Stay in one of the Eleonos Villas on the island of Samos and have Votsalakia beach a 10-minute walk away, as well as your own pool and a shaded terrace. The villas are part of a collection of stone houses sitting on a gentle hillside, offering lovely sea views. GIC the Villa Collection has availability in July for these two-bedroom villas starting at £3,226 per couple, including flights and car hire.

Read more: The best cruises for exploring the Greek islands in 2026

Cornwall

Combine the facilities of a hotel – indoor pool, health club, sports, activities, restaurants – with the convenience of an apartment in SeaSpace. You’ll be in a fabulous clifftop spot on the South West Coast Path overlooking Watergate Bay, just north of Newquay. Save 15 per cent off a four-night stay, which in July starts at £316 a night.

Read more: The best walks in Cornwall, from coastal routes to countryside ambles

And if you want to splash out…

Kenya and Tanzania

Safari and sunshine go hand in hand with this 13-night Kenya Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday run by Rainbow Tours. After spending a few days on safari in the Maasai Mara spotting the Big Five and sleeping in luxurious tents in the Governors’ Camp, you’ll then have a night in the plush Zanzibar Palace Hotel in Stone Camp. Finally, you’ll get the chance to chill out on Zanzibar’s white sands at Pongwe Beach Hotel. Prices in July start at £6,860pp and include flights, transfers, accommodation, most meals, entrance fees and specified excursions.

Read more: The safari that taught me to step out of the Land Rover

Borneo

Make the most of July’s dry heat and go on a jungle adventure in Sabah to discover some of Borneo’s most remote rainforests. Selective Asia’s 13-day Sabah’s Lost Worlds trek through Borneo is tailor-made, so you can decide to rough it in the nearly untouched Maliau Basin, visit an orangutan sanctuary, go on a longboat ride down Kinabatangan River and discover Borneo’s empty, secluded beaches. Prices start at £4,390pp and include transport, accommodation, guides and some meals, but exclude flights.

Mary Novakovich is editor at large at 101holidays.co.uk