22 Wednesday 1 August 2018 evening standard evening standard Wednesday 1 August 2018 23 News in Focus | | N ews in Focus It’s August and you’re dreaming of sundowners on the beach. From the Croatian coast that’s the star of the new Mamma Mia! to Kate Moss’s favourite Greek getaway, Katie Strick has a guide to the best breaks to book now Wish you were here... greece wales croatia

chool’s out and August is are new hotspots a-plenty: from a came out a decade ago and this summer Calder: there are more flights to Croatia finally here, which means it’s souped-up Croatian lighthouse to a final we’re taking a chance on Croatia: from the UK than ever this summer and time to get away. The heat- pre-Brexit EU jaunt. This is where to though the sequel is supposedly set on holiday bookings are reportedly up 67 wave was fine while it lasted have a jolly holiday this year. the Greek island of Skopelos, most of it per cent week-on-week since the but that was just the warm-up was actually filmed on the remote country’s great run in the World Cup. actS and we’re thirsty for more. The film star choice Croatian island of Vis. Apparently the rivalry hasn’t put us And the good news about keeping Croatia and Montenegro The Balkan peninsula is quickly off. things last-minute (“flexible”) means The buzz: Here we go again. We laid all becoming the hottest new mid-haul Who goes there: Last month the there are deals to be had. This year there our love on Greece after Mamma Mia! destination, says travel writer Simon Beckhams spent their family holiday in Montenegro. Our unofficial first family reportedly stayed at the five-star resort of Aman Sveti Stefan, near Budva: a one-night stay in the Sveti Stefan Suite, which comes with its own private pool and terrace, costs from around £5,380 a night (aman.com). Where to stay: Most of scenes in the Balearic Islands bulgaria latest Mamma Mia! film were shot in Kozima, a sleepy 12th-century Croatian fishing village. Andy Garcia, who plays Fernando in the film, stayed at the £312- a-night three-floor Villa Serena while Amanda Seyfried reportedly slept at the 17th-century Palaca Jaksa — you can rent a two-bedroom studio apartment inside the palace for £71 a night on Airbnb (airbnb.co.uk). The site also offers some other Mamma-Mia!-inspired options: for just £56 a night four of you can stay in a rustic hilltop ranch called Selca on the Croatian island of Brač (complete with outdoor hammocks), and for £178 a night you and seven friends can stay in a clifftop lighthouse, Crna Punta, in the hamlet of Koromacno, which comes with its own private beach. alamy The pre-Brexit blast Balearic Islands, Spain over. A week in the luxury eight-bed poolside bistro, spa facilities and 304 whitewashed walls, blue domes, Kivotos Hotel’s three-storey Noah’s According to the National Trust, more The buzz: Spain has always been top hideaway costs from £4,572 to £7,417 at rooms with balconies and indulgent summer party atmosphere and 25 Villa, which has its own sandy beach than 40,000 of us have already sought of the UK holiday charts but this year Villa Retreats (villaretreats.com), while walk-in showers. It’s just a five-minute beaches. (Kivotos is currently offering 20 per out the spectacular sun-drenched sands the spotlight is firmly on the TripAdvisor has a list of Love Island- stroll to Sunny Beach and TUI is Halkidiki, in northern Greece, cent off stays if you book via its website, of Barafundle Bay beach in Balearics, and it’s all thanks to — you worthy villa rental suggestions in the currently offering seven-night self- meanwhile, is said to have the best kivotosmykonos.com). Pembrokeshire this summer, while the guessed it — Love Island. The show’s region, including a nine-bedroom catering stays from £363 per person. white sands on the Med — Jet2 now runs Where to stay: Mykonos is home to “the village of Benllech, near Anglesey, has sweeping seascapes and romantic hot house, Vivienda Duplex, with a pool and 12 weekly flights to Thessaloniki from coolest spa in Europe”, a rock-walled emerged as the top trending UK air balloon shots has put Mallorca private garden for £311 a night. The island life the UK and has almost trebled its spa called The Cave at Kenshō Boutique location among Airbnb customers, with centre-stage again. For something more intimate, TUI is Greece number of seats. Hotel, with tropical rain beds and hi- an inbound guest arrival boost of 350 The latest series was based at a villa offering 54 per cent off stays at its two- The buzz: “You know what you’re Who goes there: Last month models tech sunbeds (kenshomykonos.com) per cent. in Ses Salines, a small town in the bed Villa Ca’n Tolo in Pollensa in the getting in Greece: calamari, Greek Gigi Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and Kate while Jenny Graham, managing director Who goes there: Wales is a favourite south-east of the island. The area north of Mallorca (tui.co.uk). salads, crystal-clear waters, wall-to-wall Moss touched down on Mykonos by of Quintessentially Travel, recommends among the rich and famous for a rural boasts unspoiled beaches, pretty sunshine,” says travel expert Roz helicopter for the opening of luxury the Myconian Villa Collection that has retreat — they say its rugged coastline towns and charming al fresco The not so basic beach Webster, from London travel agent shopping centre Nammos Village and a saltwater infinity pool overlooking and mountain rambling clears the restaurants, while Mallorca’s second Sunny Beach, Bulgaria Cream Travel. many of the nearby hotels attract a Elia Bay. mind. Adventurer and TV presenter largest wine region, Felanitx, is a day The buzz: Brexit is making our holidays It’s now the second most popular steady celebrity crowd: Nicole The island is awash with wellbeing Bear Grylls goes there with his family trip away if you want to recreate more expensive so those in the know destination for British tourists, Scherzinger recently celebrated her retreats: Helios’s fitness and yoga every summer while Theresa May Megan and Eyal’s first date. Flights are heading outside the EU — but not according to travel agents, and it’s a 40th birthday at Nammos’s beach bar holidays feature daily training sessions, famously decided to call an election take less than three hours from too far. Bulgaria hits the sweet spot: hotspot for the A-list set — especially while John Legend and Calvin Klein are guided meditation and walking following a walking holiday in London. flights take just three hours from the island of Mykonos, known for its among the guests to have stayed at the excursions from a luxury villa. Prices Snowdonia last year. Ibiza remains a firm favourite among London and the climate is continental for the next retreat in September start It has royal approval: the Duke and the global party set — England but it’s still incredible value. at £1,300 (helios-retreats.com). Duchess of Cambridge spent three footballer Raheem Stirling jetted to the The place to be see is Sunny Beach on In Halkidiki in the north, Webster years living in a farmhouse on Anglesey White Isle after the Three Lions’ semi- the Black Sea, where a beer costs just recommends the award-winning five- while Wills worked as a search-and- final exit from from the World Cup. 80p. There’s also plenty of wine, and a star Sani Resort, which is made up of rescue pilot on the island — on his Who goes there: Michelle Obama is steady supply of fresh fish. As the name five different complexes. The resort departure, the duke said he had never among the VIPs to have stayed at Cap suggests, the area averages about 1,700 offers a Football Academy in association in his life “known somewhere as Rocat in south-western Mallorca, Kate hours of sunshine between May and with Chelsea FC, a personalised beautiful and as welcoming”. Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow have also October while the 8km-long stretch of sommelier service and even its own Where to stay: Benllech may only have holidayed on the island, while Ibiza fine golden sand is Blue Flag-certified music festival, Sani Festival, which runs a population of 3,000 but its Blue Flag draws a heavy stream of A-listers each for its cleanliness. It’s also home to until mid-August. Half-board prices sandy beach draws holidaymakers from year. Actors Michael Fassbender and some of the coast’s last remaining start from £92 per night and the resort afar. Airbnb offers a romantic glamping Alicia Vikander tied the knot at Yemanja natural sand dunes. The Unesco- is currently offering 30 per cent off pod for two for £45 per night, complete Beach Club last year, Portuguese certified town of Nessbar is just a 15- holidays booked now for October (sani- with a log burner and sea views, or you football icon Ronaldo heads there every Balearic bliss: minute drive away. resort.com). can choose from a number of holiday summer, while Calvin Harris, David left, Michelle Who goes there: the annual Solar homes on the nearby Bodorgan Estate, Guetta, Craig David and Idris Elba are Obama stayed at Summer Festival on Cacao Beach The super-staycation where Kate and Wills first lived as all taking DJ residencies on the White Cap Rocat in attracts tens of thousands of party-goers Wales newlyweds. Melin Y Bont is a grade II- Isle this summer. Mallorca. Right, and world-famous DJs every year — The buzz: Last weekend’s washout may listed, four-storey windmill that sleeps Where to stay: Unfortunately (or Michael Fatboy Slim and Pete Tong have played have dampened your spirits but six and there is availability left for perhaps thankfully) the Love Island villa Fassbender and in previous years. Sunday’s storms were just a temporary September and October. A seven-night is not available to rent, but its sister Alicia Vikander Where to stay: The five-star Barcelo blip — the heatwave is officially set to stay costs £500 (boltholesandhideaways. lodge, Casa Amor, is back to being a got married Royal Beach is one of the most rated on continue. The staycation is back on and co.uk). a ep holiday home now that the series is in Ibiza the Bulgarian Riviera, offering a news splash Wales is the hotspot of the moment. @katie_strick