Not booked a holiday yet? We have the best last-minute ideas for any budget
DON’T panic if you haven’t booked a summer holiday for your family yet.
There are lots of late deals out there for all budgets, whether you want a beach hotspot abroad, holiday park at home or even a canal boat.
Here, TRISHA HARBORD brings you her top ten late-deal ideas.
BEACH BREAKS
PUERTO Rico in Gran Canaria is a fantastic family fun hotspot – there’s an activity for everyone.
The resort has golden sands with watersports including jet-skiing and scuba diving, while on dry land there is mini golf, tennis, go-karting and camel-riding.
Plus there are bars and restaurants galore fringing the promenade.
Seven nights’ self-catering at the 3H Eden Apartments, leaving Gatwick on July 29, is from £354. See .
CULTURE
TAKE the kids back in time and introduce them to Paphos, the European Capital of Culture.
The ancient Cypriot port, linked to Greek mythology, is set around one of the Med’s most beautiful harbours.
There are also nesting grounds for green loggerhead turtles and beautiful countryside.
Seven nights’ self-catering at the 3H St Nicolas Elegant Residence, including Gatwick flights on August 18, is from £338. See
CANAL BOAT
GLIDE across the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales – one of the “Seven Wonders of the Waterways”.
Passing through stunning landscape, the journey to the pretty town of Llangollen and back is perfect for a short break.
Alternatively, take a week and travel east to the beautiful Shropshire lakes.
Three nights on a six-berth narrowboat is from £1,079, seven nights is from £1,615 by August 31. See .
ADVENTURE
IF you struggle to wear the kids out, take advantage of this deal.
A week at PGL’s Family Adventure Centre at Barton Hall in Devon is action-packed for adults and children over five.
The centre has an outdoor heated pool, lake and activities including raft building.
There are kids-only events in the evening to let parents relax.
Book before Friday to get one child free with one adult paying £469, from August 5 or 12. See .
COTTAGE
SAVE hundreds of pounds on a cottage holiday with properties available for all-size families.
The Old Drift House, sleeping eight people, is an idyllic “chocolate box” cottage in the heart of the Suffolk countryside.
Harry Potter fans should visit the nearby town of Lavenham, a film location in Deathly Hallows.
Save £300 on a week’s self-catering in the Old Drift House from August 14 or 18, from £1,264.
For more details, see .
GLAMPING
SAVE money by glamping. To take the kids sightseeing in London, stay one hour away at Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park, with cabins costing £50.
To visit Chester Zoo, bed down seven miles away at Big Foot Glamping and Camping at Tarvin Sands, with its own fishing lakes.
A two-night stay in a pod sleeping four people in July and August is £150.
Tent, caravan and motorhome pitches are also available. See .
HOLIDAY PARK
THE Yorkshire coastline is one of the most stunning in Britain.
Nature lovers can take a boat trip around Bridlington Bay, go birdwatching at Bempton Cliffs or cycle through the Wolds.
Haven’s Primrose Valley Holiday Park, between Bridlington and Filey, is a perfect base with day family attractions and entertainment day and night.
Four nights’ self-catering for a family of six in Deluxe accommodation from July 31 is from £562. See .
CRUISE
IN August, Cruise & Maritime’s Columbus welcomes families with children.
There are two heated pools, a screen for outdoor movies and five dining options on the ship.
A 14-night cruise from London’s Tilbury on August 11 calls at Gibraltar, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Tenerife and Madeira.
The full-board cruise costs £949 per adult and £199 per child. For this and other summer cruise offers, see .
CITY STAY
NOT a beach fan? Jet2CityBreaks has a selection of destinations including flights across the UK.
Try Toulouse. Three nights’ room-only in the 3H Residhome Toulouse Occitania is from £319 per person, flying from Manchester on July 28.
Or Florence – three nights’ B&B at the 4H Palazzo Ricasoli, flying from Newcastle on July 29, is from £349 per person.
See to find out more about these and other city stays.
THEME PARK
A HOLIDAY in Orlando is never cheap, but 14 nights for less than £800 is a good deal for the summer school holidays.
Fourteen nights’ room-only at the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort is from £799 per person based on two adults and two children.
Includes Virgin Atlantic flights from Glasgow or Manchester on August 8 and tickets to Boggy Creek.
See and .
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