Travel

Where to get more holiday for your pound

With the euro still riding high against the pound, holidaying in the Eurozone will be painfully expensive this year. But don't worry – you can still enjoy cheap summer sun without having to fly halfway round the world. Here are three great short-haul alternatives.

Swap Italy for Turkey

Another great way to escape the euro is to go to Turkey. "For too long, holiday makers to Turkey have been willing to put up with decidedly average hotels because of the backdrop, the cuisine, the value, and the people," says Paul Gogarty in The Independent on Sunday. But now top-notch small hotels have opened in the country.

Beyaz Yunus is in the beautiful resort of Olu Deniz on the southwest coast of Turkey. The resort is home to one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean, and Beyaz Yunus has featured on The Times's list of the "hottest rooms on the planet".

The hotel is set on a series of terraces, giving great sea views from almost anywhere on the property. Each suite has its own private terrace and a hot tub to laze in.

Should you prove capable of dragging yourself away from your terrace, the hotel also offers a spa, infinity pool and "one of the best seafood restaurants in Turkey", says Tom Chesshyre in The Times. There is no menu – the manager checks ahead with hotel guests that they are happy with that day's suggested dishes. "Notwithstanding the advance warning, each evening is still a revelation as to what Turkish cuisine conjures from 'barbecue meats', 'grilled red mullet', or 'a lobster dish'," says Gogarty.

One week's half board at Beyaz Yunus Olu Deniz costs from £900 per person with Exclusive Escapes (020-8605 3500; www.exclusiveescapes.co.uk).

Ditch France for Croatia

With its medieval walls, historic palaces and delicious food, Dubrovnik is a great alternative to the sky-high prices of Western Europe. "There aren't many cities where you can spend the morning wandering the fortified walls, the afternoon admiring their splendour from the clear blue sea and the evenings sitting within them listening to live jazz," says Jenny Coad in the Daily Mail.

The Excelsior is Croatia's first five-star hotel and the place to stay in Dubrovnik. It offers wonderful views of Dubrovnik's old town and harbour, plus all the facilities you'd expect in a top-notch European hotel. The hotel has a spa, indoor pool and private beach.

A double room costs £208 a night (00 385 20 353 353; www.hotel-excelsior.hr).

Trade Greece for Tunisia

The village of Sidi Bou Said, with its "whitewashed walls, cobbled streets and blue-shuttered windows", is a picturesque "gem" says Lonely Planet Magazine. It's also a convenient base from which to explore Tunisia's history, thanks to its proximity to the historic Carthage and the city of Tunis with its medina, souks and mosques. Sidi Bou Said is also home to "one of the world's top boutique hotels". The Dar Said is a converted 19th-century Arabic mansion with 24 luxurious rooms, a swimming pool and a traditional hammam.

Best of all, life is pretty cheap for tourists in Tunisia. The train from Tunis Marine station to Sidi Bou Said takes around 35 minutes and costs around 50p for a first-class ticket. And a taxi from the station to your hotel room will cost about £6.

Double rooms at Dar Said cost from £141. See www.darsaid.com.tn.