The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily, is not often considered as a low cost destination with cheap hotels.  But like most locations, if you look, you will find!

July and August are the peak summer vacation months in Sicily, when the weather is very hot and the beautiful beaches, busy.

Book a budget flight into Catania Airport on the east coast and a cheap hotel in the popular seaside holiday resort of Taormina. With views towards Mount Etna and the islet Isola Bella, long sandy and shingle beaches, historic sites, and a huge choice of hotel accommodation and restaurants, Taormina is the perfect choice for a cheap holiday in Sicily.

From 20 July for three nights, lastminute.com has availability at the four star Hotel Villa Paradiso in the heart of Taormina from £238.22 for the hotel stay including taxes and fees. For a cheap yet well reviewed hotel in Sicily, the three star Hotel d’Orange d’Alcantara is set in the hills, an hour from Taormina and the beaches of Giardini; with lastminute.com costs just £120.01 for 3 nights from 20 July 2010.

With laterooms.com you should be able to book a room in a two star hotel in Catania from around £20 per night. This price is based on two sharing a room at the two star I Vespri Rooms from 13 August for 7 nights.

Flying with British Airways, the Italian specialist Citalia, is currently offering a cheap holiday to Sicily from £678 per person based on two sharing a room, at the four star Grand Hotel Villa Politi in Syracuse from 7 August 2010 for a week.

Thomson Holidays have cheap package holidays in Taormina, Sicily from 15 August for 7 nights starting from £518 per person including web saving and coach transfer with flights from Gatwick; Kristina Villa Hotel.

Sicily is particularly popular with couples and groups wishing to explore the many wonderful ancient sites of this Italian island, and to climb Mount Etna, but around Giardini Naxos, there are a number of large family friendly hotels including the Caesar Palace Hotel and Naxos Beach Hotel.

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.

One of the oldest cities in the world, Naples is known for its ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, art, architecture and Neapolitan cuisine!  Capital of the Campania region, Naples is situated between the volcano, Mount Vesuvius, and the Campi Flegrei volcanic area on the west coast of Italy overlooking the Gulf of Naples and the islands of Capri and Ischia.

Flights from London to Naples Airport take around 2 hours 40 minutes with the airport less than four miles from the Capodichion district of Naples. Travelling around central Naples can be very “interesting” as many of the streets don’t have pavements and the traffic is generally crazily busy! There is however a six line underground railway called the Metroplitana di Napoli, four cable cars, two tram lines, buses, and regional train services and of course, ferries, ships, hydrofoils and boats departing from Molo Beverello, Mergellina or Pozzuoli in Naples to Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano and the islands of Capri and Ischia (all fantastic day trips or ideal two centre short break holiday locations).

You won’t help but be amazed by much of the architecture in Naples but whilst exploring the city, do be aware that many a door could be hiding the most beautiful of palace garden courtyards, quaint historic churches or fascinating boutiques selling local arts and crafts.

The picturesque Castel dell’Ovo or Castle of the Egg is a visit not to miss in Naples, situated on an island by the Santa Lucia district and surrounded by fishermen’s houses and alleyways. Visit the Castel Nuovo (New Castle) or Maschio Angioino which is surrounded by a moat and modelled on the castle in Angers, France. Take a stroll along the Piazza del Gesu where you’ll discover the baroque spires of Guglia dell’Addolorata, then walk along the Via Benedetto Croce to the church, monastery and museum, Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara. The Royal Palace and San Francesco di Paola church are on the beautiful Piazza del Plebiscito, and Naples has a spectacular choice of museums to visit such as the Museo Nazionale, a fantastic Roman Empire museum (many museums are closed on Mondays).

For trips outside of Naples, you can drive from the airport to Rome in two hours, or take a hydrofoil to tiny Capri with its sandy beaches or ferry to beautiful Sorrento.  Just 17 miles south east of Naples, is Pompeiii, the ancient city buried following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, now the famous archaeological site where over 100 acres have been excavated.  The Bay of Naples is superb for watersports such as diving, windsurfing and swimming, but for sandy beaches head to Minori, Positano and the Amalfi Coast.

In central Italy, the historic city of Pisa, located at the mouth of the Arno River, is one of Tuscany’s gateways and is without a doubt best known for the famous Leaning Tower, the city’s cathedral bell tower. Pisa is in fact full of fabulous historic buildings and monuments with the impressive Pisa Duomo (cathedral) standing majestically with the circular Baptistery and Leaning Tower next to the Camposanto (cemetery) in an area known as the Campo dei Miracoli or Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles); an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Art lovers should not miss the sculptures and paintings at the Museo dell’Opera and the sketches in plaster in the Museo delle Sinopie; you won’t help but be impressed by the palaces and mansions lining the Via Santa Maria and the Santa Maria della Spina churches!

There is a huge choice of beaches and Italian beach resorts close to Pisa, with the most popular namely Versilia, Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi and Marina di Pietrasanta.  The closest beaches to Pisa are only about 20 minutes away; Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia.

After a few days sightseeing in Pisa, how about travelling onto beautiful Florence just 90 minute away, for a twin centre city break, or alternatively Lucca or Siena?

Known as the capital of arts, Florence, surrounded by the Chianti hills, houses over half of Italy’s most important works of art including Michelangelo’s David.  The famous skyline of Florence is best viewed when approaching from Siena, 90 minutes to the south, with Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Campanile and the Basilica di Santa Croce, taking your breath away!

Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport is just 5 to 10 minutes road or rail ride from central Pisa city with beautiful Florence just 50 miles away.

Gothic Siena rivals Florence with its beautiful structures and this enchanting city is bursting with tiny museums, fascinating churches and a UNESCO World Heritage Site centre.

Just 30 minutes from Pisa Airport is Lucca, the only town in Italy totally surrounded by a stone wall.  A Tuscan secret, Lucca oozes with medieval charm and Renaissance architecture. The long sandy beaches of South Versilia are closest to Lucca and known to be family friendly.

Summer Mediterranean Cruises have become increasingly popular again particularly throughout the last decade, as Cruise companies have attempted to widen their client base.  Now, not only can you take a formal cruise around the Mediterranean, but also a cruise more suited to families, activity cruises, themed cruises or a cruise which comfortably mixes all these components!

With Carnival Cruise Lines you are guaranteed a great family holiday in a relaxed fun environment with fantastic entertainment and a choice of restaurants and eateries. Sail the Carnival Magic ship from Barcelona in Spain, exploring Monaco, Livorno, Rome, Naples and Sicily over 7 days, with slight variations for their 9 and 12 day Mediterranean cruises.

Cruise with Royal Caribbean International (RCL) for a choice of activities on a Mediterranean cruise. The Splendor of the Seas ship departs throughout the summer from Venice, Italy sailing onto Croatia, the Greek islands of Corfu and Mykonos, Piraeus on the mainland and back to Venice. Prior to the cruise is a tour which starts in Milan, before you are taken to Stresa where you will enjoy a boat excursion of the Borromean Islands before travelling onto  Venice where you will stop off at Lake Como for a private cruise. On the ship enjoy the swimming pools, rock climbing, the casino, shopping centre and spa centre.

For a luxury cruise where attention to detail is key, the five star Celebrity Cruise ships are a great choice.  Their 11 night Eastern Mediterranean Cruise starts in Rome with the following day at sea before arriving on the Greek island of Santorini.  Mykonos is the next stop, followed by a few days in Turkey before cruising to the Greek mainland, then Italy.  Celebrity boasts one staff member to every two guests; staff who have been handpicked for their professionalism and dedication.

Thomson, one of the UK’s leading package holiday companies, also has a cruise programme offering cruising either out of the UK for those who don’t like to fly, or fly and cruise.  A great introduction to cruising, how about the Thomson Cruise Mediterranean Discovery for 7 nights which starts in Palma, capital of the Balearic Island, Majorca? With a day at sea, you then arrive in Villefranche on the French Riviera (Cote d’Azur) where you can take a choice of either half day or full day shore excursions. Day Four takes you to Florence and Pisa with Day Five in Rome, and Day Six on the gorgeous island of Corsica.  The shores of Menorca greet you on Day Seven before arriving back in Palma, Majorca on Day Eight.