Now is the time to start planning your Summer 2010 holidays as there are super low cost deals, plenty of availability, free child places, offers if holidays are booked online and superb lead in prices to take advantage of!

January has notoriously been the peak period for booking summer holidays for decades and tour operators will be looking to ensure you book yours with them…

The Spanish Canary Islands are always a firm summer holiday favourite, although the Costa del Sol and the Portuguese Algarve tends to be where the best holiday deals can be found.

Greece is beautiful in the summer; explore the scenic north of Corfu for a fantastic, relaxing family holiday or buy a package holiday in the glorious sandy south and stay in the party town of Kavos. How about the pretty historic south east of Rhodes island with self catering accommodation in Lindos or a hotel in Ixia, the windsurfing favourite in the north east? Greek Skiathos island is ideal for holiday makers who like to travel but would rather not drive, as a regular bus service runs along the south coast from the beautiful sandy arc of beach at Koukounaries in the east, to the bustling capital Skiathos Town, in the west.

Combine a city break with a summer beach holiday and head to Nice in the South of France on the Cote d’Azur; a cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean. From Nice you could head west to Monte Carlo and then onto Italy, or head east to Cannes, Cap Esterel, St Raphael and St Tropez.

The Croatian coast will be warm during the summer and perfect for family holidays or group holidays as will Algarve holidays, as both offer a good choice of budget and luxury accommodation, with a huge choice of diverse resorts.
 
Majorca holidays, Menorca holidays and holidays to Ibiza have been popular for a long time. There are many low cost flights to the Balearic Islands, and resorts such as Magaluf in Majorca and Ibiza Town (Ibiza) are clubbing hotspots for young party goers.  Santa Eulalia and Portinatz in Ibiza are ideal for a more relaxed and friendly holidays, whilst Port de Pollenca in Majorca and Ciutadella in Menorca are family hot spots.

From Canet to the Cote d’Azur, from the Spanish border to the Italian border; this delightful area of France is gently lapped by the Mediterranean Sea.

A little known piece of France by the Brits, the Languedoc Roussillon region covers from the Spanish border to Provence, and if you’ve not been here before, you really are missing a treat! There are miles upon miles of long sandy beaches, some wild, some developed and with the towns so close to Spain, there is quite a Catalan atmosphere in the sea side resorts.

There are tonnes of low cost carriers flying into airports in the south of France around the “Languedoc” including Perpignan, Bezier, Carcassonne and Montpellier, and you really do need to hire a car to explore the area. Fly into medieval Perpignan the capital of the Pyrenees-Orientales in southern France and drive to Canet for bustling excitement, but if you fancy something a little quieter and picturesque then the fantastic long Espiguette Beach complete with hilly sand dunes, or go to Beziers beaches, Portiragnes and Serignan, may be for you. Naturists should head to the purpose built resort of Cap d’Agde although there are plenty of beach areas for those who prefer to wear a little on the beach!

If you can tear yourself away from the beaches, do head into the Pyrenees mountain range and explore the mountain side towns and villages, or inland to the spectacular fortified town of Carcassonne, a real fairy tale castle dating back to Roman times.

Heading to the centre of France’s Mediterranean cost, is the region of Provence, and fly into Nice or Toulon. How about popping on the ferry at Giens near Toulon and sailing to Iles d’Hyeres where white sandy beaches follow the whole circumference of the island?

As you travel onto the area popularly known as the Cote d’Azur or French Riviera, you will come across the well known and popular, upmarket town of St Tropez. Plage de Tahiti (Tahiti Beach) is as well known as the town and popular with topless and nude bathers. Not far away is the long sandy beach at Port Gimaud which is also where actress Joan Collins owns a home. Sailing enthusiasts will love this area of France as many expensive yachts are tied up in the bustling harbours.

As you approach Cannes Mandelieu to the west of Cannes, the beaches are stunning long stretches of golden sand dotted with palm trees and great for families and groups; however, as you reach Cannes Beach in front of La Croisette and the delightful promenade, you’ll find the beach divided into “private” sections particularly during the summer, and the rich and famous taking in the rays!

Nice beach is great for people watching although this pebbly beach is not for sand lovers, but following the coast east, Monte Carlo Beach is by far the most fashionable although the sand is imported.

By October British summer time is generally over! The temperature has dropped but the variety of places to visit hasn’t decreased, you just have to be a little more inventive!

European beaches are generally very quiet as the weather can be a little unpredictable, but if you choose a city break destination that is close to a beach, then you may enjoy the best of both worlds; quiet beaches if the weather is warm and dry, and cultural visits and shopping if it is too chilly or wet!  Barcelona and Malaga in Spain both boast historic cities by the sea, or how about Faro in Portugal or Athens in Greece both of which are short distances from beaches and islands, or you could head to the south of France to Nice or Cannes? See our separate blog on more October City Breaks.

If you are thinking of travelling further afield during October, then how about Hawaii, may be with a stop off in either Los Angeles or San Francisco?  A tropical paradise, the island of Kaua’i is north of Ahu where Honolulu is located.  Giant ficus trees, the beautiful Hanakapi’ai Falls, colourful flowers, dramatic rainforest; an island perfect for surfers and walkers!

October holidays exploring the Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Australia is perfect, staying either in Brisbane or on Hayman Island – or both!  Visit the Koala Sanctuary, take a jeep safari along the Gold Coast, relax on one of the world’s most fabulous beaches on the Whitsunday Islands, snorkel, scuba dive, bungy, kayak…

If the other side of the world is too far, Africa is of course warmer than Europe although October can be very wet especially in Morocco; however the hot and sunny climes of the Red Sea resorts in Egypt such as Sharm El Sheik, Hurghada and Taba boast a very low annual rain fall and can generally be relied on for warm weather, although there may be strong winds.   Should you prefer to holiday in October away from well know resorts, then consider Tanzania and the islands of Mafia or Zanzibar.

Closer to home, and with the October half term holidays approaching, renting a cottage in England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales is worth considering.  Take t-shirts and jumpers, flip flops and wellies, and always waterproof clothes, but if you’re strolling in the Brecon Beacons or dipping your toes in the sea along the Cornish coast, there will always be plenty to do, especially if you take the car or hire car!

Nice Cote d’Azur Airport is the gateway to the French Riviera or Cote d’Azur located on France’s south coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and the second largest airport in France.

Only 3 miles from central Nice, the journey into the city takes about 15-20 minutes.

Nice Airport has two terminals: One and Two. Airlines flying in and out of Terminal Two including Air France, easyJet and Air Corsica (CCM), whilst airlines using Terminal Two include BMI, flybe, flyglobespan and Ryanair.

There are Nice Airport car hire desks at both terminals which are represented by the major car hire companies (booked by easyCar) and the desks are generally open until 10pm (alternative arrangements can be made for those arriving out of hours).  The car hire desk at Terminal 1 is to the right of the Information Desk near Gates A1 and A2, with the Terminal 2 car hire desks between gates A2 and A3.  Having completed the necessary documentation, the vehicles may then be collected from a separate zone, “Zone Loueurs”, at Nice Terminal 2 behind P5 car park, accessed either by foot from Terminal 2 Arrivals or by free airport shuttle bus from Terminal 1 bus stop 1 to bus stop 8.

When collecting your hire car remember to take both parts of your International driving licence; the photo card and printed sheet.  You will also need to leave a credit card deposit even if you have “paid” for your car hire in advance, so ensure that you have enough credit to cover this as it can be many hundreds of pounds depending on the car type.  The amount isn’t physically deducted from your card (do check terms and conditions) but authorisation will be processed.

Remember to drive on the right, and if possible to arrive with Euros to pay for any tolls.  Should you be considering driving from France to Italy or Spain, check that the car hire company is happy with you doing so.  Do not drink and drive. The blood alcohol limit is 50mg, which for many is a very small glass of wine.  The French police are strict if this rule is broken, so it is best just not to drink at all when you know you will be driving.

The French roads are a dream to drive on, especially the toll roads, but do watch the speed limits which on the motorways varies depending on the weather.

The drive time between Nice Airport and Cannes is about 30 minutes, with Antibes just 20 minutes from the airport. A little further afield is the bustling seaside towns of Frejus and St Raphael which are around 45 minutes from Nice, although should you choose to drive along the coast (and do make sure you have plenty of space on your camera’s memory stick), the journey can take considerably longer.

If holidaying in France, do as the French do and drive!  Many don’t believe in leaving their country, and come August, the city dwellers head straight for the many spectacular French beaches – it won’t be long before you realise why!

Head to the French Riviera otherwise known as the Cote d’Azur and pick up cheap Nice airport car hire with easyCar.  Overlooking the glorious Mediterranean Sea, Nice is the perfect location for a weekend break with its fantastic shopping, Promenade des Anglais walks, historic buildings and popular beach.  Just 20 minutes away by road is Cannes famous for the May Film Festival when it is full of the rich and famous. Take a stroll down la Croissette and see who you can spot (any time of year)!

If you prebook Nice car rental however, the south of France becomes so much more!  The scenic views as you follow one of the coastal roads, Corniches de la Riviera, between Nice and Menton is both spectacular and dramatic, so why not consider hiring a convertible car?  Look towards the east if driving from Cannes Mandelieu through Theoule sur Mer, and you should be able to see the striking mountain ranges – perfect photo opportunities!  There are the pretty villages of the Luberon, the bustling sea side resorts of Saint Raphael and Frejus, trendy and popular St Tropez and just so much more to explore!

Arrange car rental from Toulouse airport and you either drive towards the Languedoc Rouission region and the delightful family friendly beaches close to Perpignan such as Canet and St Cyprien, or closer to Beziers and popular Cap d’Agde.  Driving to the Pyrenees is also easy from Toulouse and the scenery again is spectacular and the villages delightful.  Car hire at Carcassonne airport is popular and having stopped for lunch in this medieval city, just a short drive from the south coast too.

When travelling any distance in France be it through Normandy, Brittany, the Dordogne, Provence or the mountainous Rhone-Alpes, collecting a hire car does make driving easier when using the tolls roads or when overtaking.  The charges to use the toll roads can add up, but there is nearly always less traffic and the roads are well maintained as well as offering numerous picnic stops and toilets.

Accommodation is plentiful and available at any budget for holidays in France. Choose a deluxe four star hotel in the south or a privately run gite in the north. Pick an apartment in a family friendly complex from a huge choice of locations around the coast (north, west or south) or a luxury villa with spectacular countryside or sea views.