There are two ways to look at this time of year. The first goes something like this: “That’s that, then. The summer holidays are virtually over. Swimsuits off, thermals on, heads down until Christmas. After you with the cyanide.”

And the second goes like this: “Lighten up. Nobody goes to the Med in August anyway, unless they’re tied to the school holidays or they’re a total chump - it’s overcrowded, overpriced and overheated.

"September and October are the time: much better value, no hordes of schoolkids and perfect weather.”

You might have guessed that we take view number two. But where to find that perfect weather? Not gas mark five, but not autumnal either - just a proper, can-I-take-this-T-shirt-off blast of summer to warm our bones all the way through to spring.

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Forget France. Too unreliable. Ditto northern Spain, Tuscany, Croatia - anywhere mountainous or too bracing-sounding. The destinations below, though, are just what the thermotherapist ordered, with temperatures ranging from balmy to baking. See you at the beach bar. Unless stated, package flights are from London. Contact tour operator for other departure options

GREECE
What’s the weather like? Depends where you go. The northern Aegean’s a bit dodgy, but you’re safer further south - Naxos averages 25C, with hardly any rain until late October. And Crete is pretty much perfect: high 20s, clear skies with the odd (spectacular) nighttime storm.

What’s on offer? In Crete, it’s all about character. Take the Villa Veneto, a seriously gorgeous 17th-century Venetian house outside the village of Hromonasteri. It’s got the sense of history (3ft-thick walls; vaulted, beamed ceilings; exposed stone), but luxury too (air-con, posh kitchen, pool, hammam). It sleeps eight, for which you’d pay £2,500 in August, when it would be too hot to sit on the lovely terrace. Go on September 16 and a week is £1,650, with Vintage Travel (0845 344 0420, www.vintagetravel.co.uk ). That’s for the villa only: grab a charter flight to Chania with FlyThomasCook (www.flythomascook.com ) or Thomsonfly (0870 190 0737, www.thomson fly.com ).

If it’s just the two of you, try Rebecca’s House, a quirky little one-bedroom cottage in Platan-yas, east of Chania. It’s at the top of the village, a steep 100yd climb along an alley just wide enough for two donkeys to pass (it’s the sort of place where they still measure things in donkeys). The reward is a spectacular view back over the village and down to the sea, 500yd away. It’s comfy rather than flash, with a pretty terrace, and Rebecca herself will pop by with home-baked cheese pie. A week’s rental is £345 from September 16, £220 in October, with Freelance (0845 094 8871, www.freelance-holidays.co.uk ); flights as above.

Crete’s historic sites are a nightmare in high summer but a treat in October. Andante’s Bare Bones tour (01722 713800, www.andantetravels.co.uk ) departs on October 7, taking in the 3,500-year-old Minoan palace of Knossos, but also finding time for Gortyn, Archanes, Armeni and a walk through the spectacular Samaria gorge. The eight-day trip costs £1,100pp, including transfers, B&B in hotels and a specialist guide.

If you want glamour, make for Mykonos and the elegant Villa Okyroe, all carved marble floors and teak day beds, with a jaw-dropping view over to Delos from the infinity pool. It sleeps eight at a pinch (the fourth bedroom is fine for two little ones), and a week’s rental from September 13 is £880pp, with Wimco (0870 850 1144, www.wimco.co.uk ). As a tempter, they’re chucking in a complimentary posh dinner, too. EasyJet (www.easyjet.com ) and XL (0871 911 4220, www. xl.com ) fly direct.

Corfuis just cool enough for a serious walk, which is what you’ll get on a two-week group trip along the Corfu Trail, a 130-mile path that skips the spoilt bits and sticks to the ancient landscape of olive groves, vineyards, whitewashed monasteries and blue lagoons. No luxury here - you’ll stay in some pretty rustic places - but you’ll eat and drink well, and watch the harvest coming in. Departing on September 13, it’s £1,055, with Explore (0844 499 0901, www.explore.co.uk ), including guide and some meals.

Also in Corfu, literary nostalgics can rent Lawrence Durrell’s old place. He wrote Prospero’s Cell in the White House, by Kala-mi beach, and the top-floor apartment is now available, with inspiring views across the bay to the mountains of Albania. There’s a taverna downstairs these days, but it’s pretty quiet and the food’s excellent. Sleeping eight, it costs £420pp with CV Travel (020 7401 1026, www.cvtravel.co.uk ) for the week from September 15.

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