Where's hot in August? From Corsica to Croatia, here's where to find guaranteed sun

Although it’s peak season and the school holidays have made prices shoot up, the unpredictable British weather is enough to send many people off in search of something resembling sunshine. The plunging pound won’t help, but there’s still some availability and bargains to be had. And if you’re planning a November escape to warmer climes, here are a few ideas to inspire you.

While everyone else is at the beach, hole up in the lush countryside on the border of Umbria and Lazio with seven of your friends or family in stylish Villa Olmo. This four-bedroom villa has a large pool, an outdoor hot tub and a large veranda with dreamy views of the countryside. The appealing towns of Orvieto and Viterbo are less than an hour’s drive. CV Villas (cvvillas.com) has a week’s rental from 19 August for £3,824, including maid service and a welcome pack.

Couples in search of a last-minute getaway can head to Calvi and have some of Corsica’s loveliest beaches within reach. Corsican Places (corsica.co.uk) has availability at Le Home, whose apartments are surrounded by luxuriant gardens and a pool. Calvi’s crescent-shaped sandy beach is just over 10 minutes’ walk away. A week’s self-catering in a studio, departing 6 August, starts at £599 per person and includes flights, transfers and a welcome hamper.

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Croatia’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down, and availability is disappearing fast. If you want to combine history with a beach holiday, stay in the sleek new four-star Salona Palace Hotel, which is a short walk from the extensive Roman ruins at Solin just north of Split. The hotel also has a free shuttle to its private sandy beach. Completely Croatia (completelycroatia.co.uk) has a week’s B&B at the hotel for £1,139 per person, including flights and transfers, departing 8 August.

It’s adults only at Spa Village Resort Tembok, an elegant 31-room hotel on the quieter north-eastern coast of the Indonesian island. It’s certainly the place to relax, helped by a free daily spa treatment for full-board guests. Western Oriental (westernoriental.com) has a week’s holiday departing 24 August for £2,149 per person, including flights, transfers and full-board accommodation.

It’s dry season in Laos in November, an excellent time to travel through this fascinating corner of South-east Asia. Explore (explore.co.uk) runs a 15-night Spirit of Laos small group tour that takes you up and down the country, including a slow boat trip along the Mekong, visits to ancient Luang Prabang and French-flavoured Vientiane, and a journey through the remote southern islands. The price of £2,615 includes flights, breakfast, transport and a guide.

Explore the traditional towns and villages of Tenerife’s northern coast during the pleasantly early-20s temperatures that November brings. It’s also the time of the Fiesta de San Andres at the end of the month, when the new season’s wine is celebrated in exuberant style. Cachet Travel (cachet-travel.co.uk) offers a week’s self-catering in the cottages of Finca Las Barandas near Icod de los Vinos, with views both of the sea and Mount Teide. The price of £737 per person includes flights and car hire, departing 24 November.

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Enjoy late spring in Queensland with a self-drive tour of the coast and the hinterland. Starting in Brisbane, the 13-day fly-drive holiday offered by Trailfinders (trailfinders.com) carries on to Lamington National Park, the foodie haunt of Noosa and Hervey Bay, before ending on the beach highway of Fraser Island. The price of £1,999 per person includes flights, car hire and most breakfasts.

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