Most destinations fail to live up to the glossy brochure hype. The Maldives is an exception. No phot

Even if you can only manage a two week holiday, Australia is still well worth considering. You can plan a trip that blends vacation rentals the villages florida beaches with the outback, rainforests with Aboriginal vacation rentals the villages florida culture, and vineyards with cosmopolitan cities without having to spend half your time travelling.
Renowned for its profusion of wildlife and flora, 80 per cent of which can be found nowhere else on Earth, Madagascar is a nature lover s dream. The island s unique evolutionary path has produced elephant birds, giant lemurs and pygmy hippos. It also offers dazzling beaches and clear turquoise waters teeming with marine life.
Spain has a fast and comfortable state-run rail network, which includes some outstanding luxury trains. Tour northern Spain, vacation rentals the villages florida gliding through stunning vacation rentals the villages florida countryside and visiting historic cities such as Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao. Facilities vacation rentals the villages florida on board include dining cars, lounges and private cabins with double bed and shower.
Spend a day walking the coastal paths of Cornwall and you might wonder why Brits ever travel abroad. The undulating hills, the secret sandy coves, the miles of beach and the soaring cliffs are as fine as you ll see anywhere. With excellent local restaurants and superb self-catering cottages, this is one of the finest UK holiday destinations.
Verbier is one of Europe's most glamorous ski resorts, and the place to stay is Sir Richard Branson's Lodge a stunning catered chalet with indoor pool, snooker room, gym, Jacuzzis and children's bunk room. Rent it in winter with friends, or enjoy the beauty of the Alps in summer when you don t need to hire the whole property.
Nowhere in Cape Cod lies more than six miles from the sea. Soak up the atmosphere of a proper seaside resort, or explore the protected dunes of the National Seashore. Easily reached from Boston, the Cape offers whale watching, ferry trips to the nearby islands of Nantucket and Martha s Vineyard and old sea captains houses.
Some places have that elusive wow factor, others don t. The Seychelles has it in spades. The silky beaches, the tropical forests, the super deluxe hotels. Swim with turtles in the morning, spend an afternoon unwinding in the spa then dress for cocktails at sunset. Perfect? You bet.
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Just four hours from the UK, Lanzarote ranks among the prettiest of the Canary Islands, with low-key resorts, sandy beaches, dramatic volcanic landscapes and a wonderful year-round climate. It s easy and fun to explore and offers a wide selection of villas with private pools, making it an ideal choice for families, couples and groups of friends.
The dramatic scenery of the Amalfi coast, with its lemon groves, almond trees and bougainvillea, is stunning. You ll find resorts for all tastes, from popular Sorrento – an ideal hub for boat trips to Capri and Ischia, and outings to Pompeii and Vesuvius – to super-chic Positano and the exquisite hilltop retreat of Ravello.
The Dalmatian coast of Croatia is dotted with delightful beaches overlooked by mountains vacation rentals the villages florida and pine forests. Whether you opt for beautifully-restored vacation rentals the villages florida Dubrovnik, the historic city of Split or one of the island hotspots like Hvar or Brac, throw in good food and friendly people and you have one of Europe s most underrated destinations.
Not all the Canaries have been over-developed. On La Palma you'll find soaring volcanic peaks, wild forests and few other tourists. Its capital Santa Cruz is a cobbled colonial outpost with great charm. The barely known and tiny La Graciosa could pass as a desert island with tranquil beaches and crashing surf.
Think of Africa and you might conjure up images of safari parks and overcrowded cities. But one of the best ways to see this amazing continent is on a guided walk, whether it's a short break in Morocco's Atlas Mountains, an ascent of Kilimanjaro or a sensational trip to the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia.
vacation rentals the villages florida Nowhere within a four-hour flight of the UK is as exotic and alluring as Morocco. The highlight is Marrakech, with its swirling souks, ornate palaces, elegant vacation rentals the villages florida back street restaurants and stylish riads, but you won t want to miss the soaring Atlas Mountains nor the majestic kasbahs of the south.
Most destinations fail to live up to the glossy brochure hype. The Maldives is an exception. No photographer vacation rentals the villages florida can do justice to the splendid natural colours – the cobalt seas, the turquoise lagoons, the fiery orange sunsets. The standards of hospitality are outstanding and the modern world is a million miles away.
If Dorset is a county you merely drive through to reach Devon or Cornwall, you re missing a trick. Its Jurassic Coast offers long sweeping beaches, vacation rentals the villages florida quaint Lyme Regis, arty Bridport, sleepy rural villages vacation rentals the villages florida and great foodie pubs. Stay at a gorgeous B B or cosy cottage and join a local expert for a fossil hunt on the beach.
If there's a single US state that conjures up the American dream, it's California. As well as surf and sunshine, cities vacation rentals the villages florida on the sea (San Francisco, LA and San Diego), vineyards and national parks including Yosemite, it also boasts vacation rentals the villages florida one of the world's most scenic drives, the Pacific Highway.
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A Caribbean vacation rentals the villages florida villa holiday has little to do with self-catering. vacation rentals the villages florida Even the smallest properties have a daily maid who may also do your cooking, while larger houses come with a full brigade of staff to shop, cook, launder and even fix your favourite cocktail. It makes the holiday surprisingly affordable, especially if you avoid the peak season.
On an inland waterways cruise, the water s calm, there s always passing scenery on both sides and, unlike touring by road, you only have to unpack once. Choose vacation rentals the villages florida a luxury crewed hotel barge to explore the rivers and canals of France and other countries and you won t even have to tilt your own wine bottle, let alone take your turn on the tiller.
vacation rentals the villages florida Most visitors to Malaysia head for the resorts on the west coast but for unspoilt beaches, lush countryside and fascinating local culture we recommend a visit to the quieter east coast of the peninsular. You'll find jungle treks, authentic fishing villages, rivers vacation rentals the villages florida and islands to explore and some gorgeous hotels.
Many of the summer pleasures of South Devon are to do with water: beaches, bathing and seafood suppers, surfing, rock pooling, boat trips and walking on coastal footpaths. Even the voluptuous vacation rentals the villages florida curvy countryside is incised vacation rentals the villages florida by rivers, creeks, estuaries and tidal flats.
The beauty of Sri Lanka lies in the easy proximity of cultural treasures and world-class beaches. Take a tour of magnificent temples and national parks, stay in boutique hotels then relax on the beach. You ll find a rich seam of experiences with friendly people, excellent food and nonstop flights from the UK.
Grand Cayman is sophisticated, polished and safe in every sense of the word with classy hotels, top restaurants and dreamy Seven Mile Beach. There s also plenty to explore with pristine reefs, stingray encounters, submarine trips, botanical parks and island-hopping excursions to Cayman Brac or Little Cayman. Perfect with or without the kids.
Jordan is a safe, friendly and cultured country blessed with a fabulous array of natural and manmade vacation rentals the villages florida treasures including the Dead Sea, the vast deserts of Wadi Rum made famous by Lawrence of Arabia and the ancient rock-carved city of Petra. Take a private journey, group tour or organised trek.
One of the best ways to experience a destination is on foot. A guided cultural walking tour gets you up close and personal – whether you're exploring the backstreets of Venice, the monasteries of Armenia or the mountain trails of Bhutan. The trick is finding a tour operator that combines imaginative itineraries with expert guides and organises vacation rentals the villages florida small groups of like-minded vacation rentals the villages florida travellers.
Crete is one of our favourite islands. Away from the package resorts, it has some stunning villas, boutique hotels and hideaways as well as mountain villages, hiking trails, archaeological treasures, wild flowers and unspoilt coastlines. The season is long: you can get a tan in March and swim in the sea as late as November.
As well as those familiar Greek island assets of blue seas, delicious swimming, jaunts by boat and long, lazy lunches vacation rentals the villages florida in waterfront tavernas, Paxos is an island of silvery-leafed olive groves, vacation rentals the villages florida a legacy of the 14th century Venetian occupation. With no airport and not even a single traffic light – it's a perfect place to escape the crowds.
Two of the Mediterranean's smallest islands, vacation rentals the villages florida Malta and Gozo punch well above their weight. Aside from sea and sunshine, vibrant Malta is jam-packed with history from megalithic temples to the Knights of Saint John, its skyline dotted with grand churches and golden walled cities. Gozo, Malta's little sister, offers vacation rentals the villages florida tranquillity, rural beauty and top diving.
Tobago is the Caribbean of your imagination. Pristine beaches, children playing vacation rentals the villages florida cricket, a friendly vacation rentals the villages florida bar serving cold beer and barbecued shrimp, fishing boats bobbing in the sea. Untroubled by mass tourism, this picturesque island has some excellent hotels and direct flights from the UK.
The most awe-inspiring views of the Rockies, the spine of mountai