Indian Ocean

• Go in the summer silly! - Indian Ocean
• Lovers in Luxury - Maldives
• Feet first into the Maldives - Maldives
• No news, No shoes - Maldives
• My wedding pact with David Walliams - Maldives
• Push the boat out - Seychelles
• Relaxation Addict - Seychelles
• Mauritius the Delicious - Mauritius
• Mr Perma-Tan in Paradise - Mauritius
• Never seen you looking so lovely - Mauritius
• Island Iffy No Longer - Sri Lanka
• Having a swell time! - Seychelles
• Perfect, even for the world’s pickiest guest! - Maldives
• Do not disturb - Mauritius

Mauritius

SUMMER AVERAGE: 24°C

Over the school summer hols, Mauritius will be warm and dry with an average temperature of 24°C and a monthly rainfall of 51mm (during our winter the rainfall can be as high as 203mm per month).

Mauritius is known for its HUGE swimming pools, wonderful sands and excellent kids’ clubs with plenty of activities.

Le Telfair is one of Mauritius’ newest resorts and set in 36-acres of a former sugar estate in Bel Ombre along the south coast. It has stunning views of the foothills of the Champagne Mountain as well as the sea and there are plenty of activities – golf, spa, huge outdoor swimming pool, a range of water sports, tennis club and kid’s club for children aged between 2 - 11.

Bermuda

SUMMER AVERAGE: 28°C

It always strikes me as odd that most people head for Bermuda once the frost starts settling over Britain – during the winter months, the temperature doesn’t much stir itself above 20°C whilst in summer it soars to 29°C.

If you haven’t been, think pinky white beaches, pastel painted homes and warm currents. The 181 islands which make up Bermuda have some of the best reefs to explore and the summer also sees beautiful flora blanketing the islands.

One of the best views of all is from the five-star equivalent (ie US fourdiamond) Fairmont Southampton which is perched on the highest point of Bermuda, offering fabulous ocean views. There are six restaurants, three bars, a large swimming pool, 18-hole par-three golf course, six tennis courts, spa, dive centre, jet skiing and other water sports.

All in all then, more than enough then to keep even the fidgetiest holidaymaker occupied.

Seychelles

SUMMER AVERAGE: 30°C

Despite its huge popularity as a winter sun destination, the Seychelles is really a year-round destination with the temperature rarely budging either side of 28°C and 32°C.

What the snowbirders don’t realise however, as they jet in in January, is that our summer is a far better time for families to visit because not only is it the driest period of year, but also because the temperature from becoming uncomfortably hot and humid.

Between June and August huge whale-sharks come in close to the shores for breeding and it is possible to swim with these gentle creatures from boats just off-shore.

The best base for families is Praslin, the second largest island, where they can visit the Vallee de Mai National Park, home of the rare, indigenous Black Parrot.

From Praslin it’s easy to arrange day-trips to the islands of Cousine and Curieuse to visit the giant tortoise and bird sanctuaries. The four-star Paradise Sun on the edge of Praslin’s gorgeous Cote D’Or beach is a good base as the shallow, sheltered bay is ideal for children.

The friendly 80-room hotel has a restaurant and beach cafe, swimming pool, PADI dive centre and free non-motorised watersports, including windsurfing and snorkelling.

Bali

SUMMER AVERAGE: 32°C

Although Bali is a year round destination with temperatures a consistent 31-33°C, our summer is the best time to visit as there is so little rainfall - August gets just 5mm whilst in February expect 275mm!

The 4 star, four-storey Sanur Beach Hotel combines modern facilities including two outdoor pools, with Balinese charm and traditional atmosphere, and is located slap-bang on the blinding white sands of Sanur beach (with offshore reef ensuring safe swimming).

Handily equidistant between the airport and the bustling capital, Denpasar, it’s surrounded by landscaped gardens and offers really good value for families as well as a perfect setting.

The nearby popular village of Sanur is home to numerous restaurants and there are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars surrounding the hotel itself.

Australia

SUMMER AVERAGE: 28°C

Although most Brits see Oz as a place to escape to in winter, the top half of this massive country in fact enjoys its best weather in our summer by which time the rains will have been and gone (12mm in August; 161mm in December!). At this time of year it’s balmy (max 29°C) with low humidity, so it’s an ideal time for touring.

If you can stretch the holiday to three weeks, it even makes those expensive long-flights feel a little more affordable.

Even with just two weeks, however, a family could enjoy a blend of beach (at Port Douglas) with bush camping (in Kakadu National Park), some exploring of the Red Centre (including Uluru, aka Ayers Rock), and still fit in a final few days in Sydney, arguably the world’s most alluring city and justification on its own for an entire trip Down Under.

Port Douglas combines Four Mile beach, a lively restaurant and shopping scene and excursions out to the islands of the Barrier Reef, whilst bush camping in Kakadu, in the heart of the rugged landscape of the World Heritage Site, is original Crocodile Dundee country.

Red Centre is not just home to Australia’s iconic red Uluru but a world of vast horizons, solitude and spirituality all deeply rooted in Aboriginal ‘Dreamtime’.

Thailand

SUMMER AVERAGE: 30°C

Whilst the south-west monsoon lashes the west coast over the summer, on the island of Koh Samui, off the east coast, the sun shines, the temperature hovers around 30°C and average rainfall drops to 125mm per month (in December it’s 425mm).

Central Samui Beach Resort has been built in a colonial style with 208 rooms situated on the island’s main stretch of beach in Chaweng, with shops and restaurants close by. Children’s facilities include playground, pool, kids’ club and baby sitting.