Retrace the steps of the Ancient Greeks and visit some of the most spectacular and historic monuments in the world!

Athens is the perfect starting point for a Classical Greece Tour and if you haven’t climbed up to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, then you really haven’t started your journey of ancient exploration…

Approach the majestic Acropolis from the Plaka and Monastiraki side as it is traffic free, and visit either early or late in the day as it can get very hot taking the steep walk.  Let your imagination go as you walk through the Propylaea, where you can see the port of Piraeaus on a clear day, and walk onto the small temple of Nike Athena.  From the area around the acropolis spot the ruins of the huge Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Olympic stadium as well as the National Gardens and First Cemetery.  You may be lucky to watch a concert or performance at the theatre of Herod Atticus built in 161 AD or at the stone Theatre of Dionysious.

From Athens you may drive to the ancient Epidarus theatre, before heading via Argos, to Mycenae to visit the Tomb of Agamemnon and later (or the next day) to Olympia where the first Olympic Games were held and the Temple of Zeus archaeological site and Museum, is located.  Most Classical Greece Tours (guided) will then take you via Patras to Rion by ferry, which is across the Corinthian Bay, and onto Delphi’s archaeological site and museum.

There are many tour companies if you wish to take a guided journey through Greece, but if you would prefer to travel at your leisure, then do book a hire car.  In July and August, car hire prices start from less than £25 per day with easyCar for a Super Mini 3 door (based on 7 days hire total £173.58), with September from less than £20 per day (based on 7 days hire £137.34).  Collect your car hire at Athens Airport (be aware that there are two airports).

Athens International Airport (Elefterios Venizelos) – ATH – is located around 30 km east of Athens, with a journey time into the city centre by road of about 35 minutes (depending on traffic).  Athens Airport car rental desks are on the Arrivals level with the rental area a short walk north of the main terminal building.

The beautiful Italian island of Sardinia, with a coastline of nearly 2,000 km, is situated south of French Corsica and to the west of Italy’s mainland, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea.

Lowcost, charter and scheduled airlines fly from the UK to Sardinia, arriving at Alghero Airport in the north west, Olbia (Costa Smeralda) Airport in the north east and Cagliari-Elmas Airport in the south of the island. Do hire a car whilst on holiday in Sardinia even just for a few days (there are no motorways), so that you can visit some the many superb archaeological remains, explore mountain side villages or to discover hidden coves and beaches.

Ancient Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia and has one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean. Take a walk up the steep hill to the old town of Cagliari, Castello, for spectacular views of the Gulf of Cagliari, then walk down to the magnificent long white sandy Poetto Beach to relax, before heading off to Via Roma and Largo Carlo Felice for some shopping.  Following the coast to the west is Pula with its Roman excavations including an amphitheatre, and stunning white sand dunes and beaches such as Porto d’Agumu. Following the coast from Cagliari to the east, visit the traditional village of Villasimius, and Spiaggia di Porto Giunco, one of Sardinia’s most spectacular beaches.

On the north east coast between Palau and Olbia, is the Costa Smeralda or Emerald Coast, boasting 55 km of unrivalled beaches, hidden coves and 80 bays.  This area is a playground for the rich and famous, and a trip to Porto Cervo or Porto Rotondo in Olbia is ideal for designer boutique shopping and fine dining.  From Costa Smeralda you will also discover the island archipelago of La Maddalena, with ferries taking visitors from Palau.

If you have booked a cheap flight to Alghero, then do visit the Spanish Towers and Ramparts in the centre of this historic town, and if you love to eat seafood, make sure you try the Catalan-style lobster and sea urchin mousse!  Whilst on your island holiday in Italy, visit the Neptune Grottoes which are about a three hour trip from Alghero or via 656 steps down (and up!) the stairway called Escala del Cabirol. There are many small beaches around Alghero and Fertilia, including Le Bombarde and the second Mugoni Beach, 18 km from Alghero, calledLa Stalla which is a few kilometres long protected by eucalyptus trees but boasting fine white sand and crystal clear waters.

Located in the Atlantic Ocean, the volcanic Spanish Canary Island of Gran Canaria is less than one hundred miles from the west African coast.  Gran Canaria is often referred to as a miniature continent and as you’ll discover the south is an endless sand dune, although the west of the island is rocky, the east is flat with smaller beaches and the north a cooling contrast to the very hot south.

The most popular Gran Canaria holiday resorts are Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles backed by the magnificent Maspalomas Sand Dunes which stretch for some 17 km along the south coast. Linking beach resorts of Aguila, Las Burras and San Agustin, there is an excellent choice of self catering and hotel accommodation to suit all budgets. In the south you can ride a camel through the dunes, enjoys days out at one of the theme parks and water parks, or simply relax by the pool or beach.

Built into the cliffs is Puerto Rico on the western coast with its two beaches, one of sand imported from the Sahara and the other, a quieter Playa de los Amadores. This small resort has built up from around its bay and port with some of the properties quite steeply located in the canyons.  Further to the west is Puerto de Mogan, a tasteful Spanish resort with traffic free roads and a café lined port together with a small man made beach of golden sand.

August and September are the hottest months to visit Gran Canaria and the average temperature is around 24 with nine hours of sun per day and no rain.  Gran Canaria International Airport is situated on the east coast of the island, 11 miles south of Las Palmas and Gran Canaria car hire may booked through easyCar.com so ensuring that you make the most of your Canary Island holiday.

Jet2 currently has cheap holidays to Gran Canaria in August, departing on the 7th for 7 nights staying in the two star Los Juncos Apartments in Maspalomas. Book a one bed self catering apartment with flights from Manchester and transfers included for just £320.30 per person based on three people sharing.

If you would like to book a villa with private electrically heated swimming pool for two adults and two children, then how about staying just 5 miles out of Maspalomas at the Salobre Golf Resort with James VIllas? A car is essential but the cost for this very modern accommodation in a Tabaibas V2PP is just £326 per person or £1302 for the villa for 7 nights from 28 August.

For cheap flights to Gran Canaria Las Palmas in August, Avro are selling departures from Gatwick to Las Palmas with Monarch Airlines from £285 per person departing on Monday 9 August for a week or from 30 August for a week for just £215 per person.

Cheap car hire in Gran Canaria with easyCar.com costs from just £146.10 for a week based on a Super Mini 3 door such as a Ford Ka. For a few pounds more you may include an additional driver, pay on arrival and relax in an air conditioned car of the same size. A compact convertible two door car won’t cost a fortune either with easyCar, at just £388.31 for 7 days.

Cheap holidays in the Costa del Sol usually start in the city of Malaga.  An historic city, there is an incredible array of cheap flights either by charter plane or low cost airline and even scheduled flight prices are bargains too!

Jet2 fly to Malaga from Blackpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester in England or from Edinburgh in Scotland. Fly from Manchester Terminal 1 on Monday 7 June to Malaga, returning on Thursday 17 June and the return flight price is around £122.48 per person including taxes at the moment. Fly Leeds Bradford to Malaga 18 June to 24 June and the return price per person including tax is from just £105.48.

Rent a car from easyCar and Costa del Sol hire car prices in June for 7 days start from £123.46 for a Super Mini 3 door with air conditioning.  For a little more boot space, look at an Economy 5 door with air con (VW Polo or similar) and the low price car hire starts from £133.38.  Booking car hire from Malaga airport means that you don’t have to stay in one location on your holiday. Why not stay in a hotel in Benalmadena, before moving onto a Marbella apartment followed by a villa near Estepona?

Popular cheap holiday resorts in the Costa del Sol include Fuengirola and Torremolinos.  Lowcostholidays.com offer dynamically packaged holidays.  Their holiday price per person including accommodation from 5 May in the two star Tiburon Hotel in Torremolinos and flight from Bristol to Malaga return costs just £109.00 for one week!  Fancy a four star Aparthotel, then how about the Roc El Pinar from just £156.50 per person for a twin room with balcony and terrace on bed & breakfast basis and flight?

Golf holidays in the Costa del Sol are a bargain and with such wonderful weather most of the year, the perfect location to get away and enjoy the varied greens!  Choose from mountain side resorts or a small lodge in one of the Andalucía White Villages inland, or a popular beach holiday resort on the Mediterranean coast or luxury sea side villa – there are many wonderful holidays to think about in Spain’s Coast of the Sun.

Less than three miles from Geneva’s city centre, is Geneva International Airport (GVA), close to the Swiss – French border.  A one terminal, one main runway airport, Geneva is split into a French and Swiss sector, so it is important that when you hire a car from Geneva Airport that you collect and return your rental vehicle to/from the correct sector for your holiday (a charge will be made otherwise).

The Swiss sector car hire desks at Geneva Airport are located at the Arrival level near La Poste and the Montreux Jazz Café.

To access the French sector car hire desks at Geneva, once you have passed through passport control and collected your luggage, exit through the Swiss side on the Arrivals level, but go UPSTAIRS to the Check In level. You will reach the French side by crossing customs to the right of the check in area, near the KLM and Air France desks.

You don’t need to pass through Swiss territory to get to the French sector of Geneva Airport as Ferney-Voltaire France is situated before you reach the Swiss border.  It is said that it is easiest to reach the French Alps by travelling out of the airport through Switzerland, crossing Geneva city and then entering France, although do check with your car hire company before hand.

To avoid Switzerland on the way to the French Alps, when you leave the airport on the road at the end of the French sector road, turn left (right will take you into Switzerland). With the border crossing on the right, turn left to Ferney-Voltaire, and follow the signs to Lyon at the 1st roundabout and onto the D35.  Next follow the signs to Lyon on the D884 motorway and at the junction with the D906 Annemasse, turn left and the road will become the N206 with signs directing you to Geneva. At St-Julien-en Genevois, turn left and follow the N201, then right towards Annecy A40-A41. Follow the A40 to Chamonix.

Should you wish to drive on the motorways in Switzerland, you will need to purchase a Vignette before doing so. The car hire company at Geneva airport will be able to advise you where you may purchase one.

For cheap car hire at Geneva Airport, subscribe to you easyCar newsletter and you will receive a promotional code.  Based on 7 days car rental during April 2010, prices for car hire at Geneva start from £28 per day. Terms and Conditions apply.