Last minute holidays: 10 brilliant hotels you can book in August

Wildly disorganised but desperate to get away for a few days of sun? We asked i-escape to let us know which fabulous hotels still have some last-minute availability
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Jake Hamilton31 July 2018

It's the end of July. How the hell did that happen?

If summer holiday season has snuck up on you quicker than a cheap rosé hangover, don't fret.

Sure, you've left it last minute and it can be tricky to bag a decent bargain at a truly gorgeous hotel this late in the day, but it's not completely impossible.

We've asked boutique hotel specialist i-escape to research the hip hideaways which still have availability in August. And, boy, have they come up with the goods...

1. Cool for couples

Teima, Alentejo, Portugal

There’s just one rule here: take it easy. A laidback rural retreat within striking distance of Portugal’s finest beaches, it’s the perfect summer sanctuary for stressed-out couples. Just nine romantic rooms, plus two glamorous suites, a classy pool, idyllic gardens, and some adorable donkeys strolling the grounds. Lounge away the days by the pool, or take a stroll to the wild, dramatic beauty of Alentejo’s coastline. It has a three-night minimum stay during the week.

Doubles from £159 per night B&B.

Book here.

Teima
i-escape

2. The family favourite

Ekies All Senses Resort, Macedonia, Greece

This brilliant family-friendly hotel with a fabulous restaurant and fancy suites (sleeps up to 6) is a double-whammy winner. For kiddies it’s pure heaven — there’s a playground to explore, a Kids Club, painting and cooking lessons, supervised daily watersports and a safe beach with shallow waters. For mums and dads, it’s simply paradise with a barefoot luxury vibe. Sensational gourmet food, a fabulous pool with an open-air spa, plus plenty of hammocks for serious snoozing in the sun. It has a three-five minimum stay during high/peak season.

From £305 per room sleeping up to 3 per night B&B.

Book here.

Ekies
i-escape

3. The wellness sanctuary

Vigilius Mountain Resort, South Tyrol, Italy

Here’s a spa with serious style credentials. This impossibly cool eco-sanctuary in South Tyrol mixes ultra-minimalist designs with bang-up-to-date treatment facilities. Its remote location may seem like you’re on a quest, but it takes just seven minutes by cable-car to whoosh up the mountainside, and once here you’ll want for nothing: stylish bedrooms with Scandi-interiors; mouthwatering Mediterranean cuisine; a wealth of massages; steam rooms and go-naked saunas, plus pampering to the max. As for the stunning mountain views, it’s like floating in the clouds.

From £277 for a double per night B&B.

Book here.

Vigilius Mountain Resort
i-escape

4. The foodie paradise

Font Santa Hotel, Majorca

One for the bon vivants, this luxury five-star bolthole near Mallorca’s best beach (Es Trenc) gets full marks for total indulgence. Being an adults-only hotel, the scene is populated by attractive pleasure seekers. You’ll love the immaculate white bedrooms, the private Jacuzzis, the complimentary granitas served by the pool, and the thermal spa with its whirlpool tub and fancy vaporium. But the gourmet food steals the crown. We’re talking fresh Mediterranean masterpieces served with sensational wines and world-class cocktails. As for the buffet breakfast, you have experience it to believe it.

From £292 per double B&B per night.

Book here.

Font Santa Hotel
i-escape

5. Friends on a budget

Le Mas des Oules​, Provence, France

Assemble your squad and make for this stylish farmhouse conversion in sun-kissed Provence. It’s incredible value for money. Surrounded by dreamy vineyards and chocolate-box villages, this cluster of two-to-five-bedroom houses and apartments (sleeping up to 11) is a brilliant base for BFFs looking to lively up the French countryside. Well-equipped kitchens, spacious living quarters, a classy outdoor pool, tranquil courtyards, lavender-scented gardens — the entire property is an Instagram heaven. A three-night minimum stay applies.

From £170 for a two bedroom apartment per night.

Book here.

Le Mas des Oules
i-escape

6. Luxury splurge

Torralbenc, Menorca

Luxury beach hotels are two-a-penny in Menorca, but rural retreats are rare finds worth hollering about. This five-star gem is a glamorous yet low-profile hideaway on Menorca’s southern coast, and a marvel of understated taste. Think beautifully crafted suites, a superb restaurant with discreet service, a flawless infinity pool, a spoiling spa and glorious pastoral views. It gets an A+ for atmosphere, yet it’s remarkably well-priced. Just five minutes from the famous Cova d’en Xoroi bar.

From £234 per double B&B per night.

Book here.

Torralbenc
i-escape

7. The city retreat with a beach

Astoria 7, San Sebastian, Spain

Once a beloved picture house, now the coolest hotel in town, the Astoria 7 pays homage to its cinematic past with a stylish movie theme that runs throughout its gorgeous interiors (Alfred Hitchcock looms in the reception). The stylish rooms have spotless bathrooms, there’s a magnificent movie library, plus a smart restaurant. Location-wise, it’s a 15-minute stroll to the vibrant Old Town and the city’s majestic beaches. Fully booked for the film festival, but lots of availability in August and early September.

From £136 per double room only per night.

Book here.

Astoria 7
i-escape

8. Honeymoon Hideaway

Carpe Diem, Santorini, Greece

Sometimes, all we need is seclusion. These 10 sleek suites with private pools and spellbinding views of the Mediterranean are what makes this tranquil hilltop hideaway perfect for honeymooners, or frazzled couples looking for quality time. Have a romantic balcony breakfast, a succulent seafood lunch, then pop to the spa for an afternoon’s pampering. When evening falls, head to the infinity pool for cocktails and watch in awe as the sun sets behind a collapsed volcano. Afterwards, gaze at the stars — and each other’s eyes! — over candlelit dinners.

From £329 per double B&B per night.

Book here.

Carpe Diem
i-escape

9. The supersize villa

Boutique Villas Ibiza, Ibiza

The big sister to a cluster of gorgeous handpicked villa rentals, including three funky fincas (sleeping 4-11), this stylish supersize villa is a regular venue for film stars and fashion shoots, and excels on all levels. Perched on a hill above Cala Carbo, it boasts spectacular 180-degree sea views and is strikingly designed by Ibiza-legend Rolph Blakstad. Sleeping up to 15, there’s a gargantuan loft-style living area, eight bedrooms (five doubles, two twins, one single), and a further eight bathrooms with freestanding baths and washbasins made of solid river stone. Our perfect candidate for groups of friends or a couple of sun-seeking families wanting total privacy with a big dollop of style.

From £3,571 per night for the villas sleeping up to 15 (August) or £2,296 (September) – minimum 7 night rentals.

Book here.

Boutique Villas
i-escape

10. The quirky option

Hezen Cave Hotel, Turkey

Out-the-ordinary hotels may be trending right now, but few could match the primal buzz you’ll feel when entering this stylish cave hideaway. Set in the hillsides of Ortahisar, in central Turkey, the Hezen Cave Hotel blends the contemporary with the caveman. The enormous lounge lobby sets the tone: sleek white banquettes, funky artwork and antique carpets that provide plenty of colour. The spacious ‘cave rooms’ are bright and cosy, thanks to underfloor heating, and the starry skies at night are spectacular. For a real taste of Anatolian life, visit the markets in town and lose yourself in the maze of dusty cobbled streets.

From £80 per double B&B per night.

Book here.

Hezen Cave Hotel
i-escape

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