Typical, isn’t it? A curtain of gloom seems to have fallen across northern Europe, while the south is basking in a glorious heat wave. But it’s not too late to drop holiday-at-home plans and make a dash for it – here’s how to get away from the grey and feel some sun on your back. Starting right now.

THE FAST LIFE

For a quick blast of sunshine, try Marrakesh, where, if it gets too hot, you can cool off in the shady courtyard gardens or the swimming pool of the newly opened boutique hotel Les Borjs de la Kasbah – just inside the city walls (00 212 24 38 11 01, www.lesborjsdelakasbah.com ). A double room costs £78 per night, B&B, including airport transfer, and there’s an introductory offer of four nights for the price of three (just £117pp). Flights are extra: airlines to try include EasyJet (www.easyjet.co.uk ), British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com ) and Atlas Blue (www.atlas-blue.com ).

Kitesurfing will blow the grey clouds away, especially in Tarifa, southern Spain, where Europe dips down to meet Africa. There are nine miles of golden beach and reliable wind patterns, so you can be sure to get some action. Black Tomato (020 7610 9008, www.blacktomato.co.uk ) has two nights, B&B, from £599pp at La Sacristia, a beautifully restored 17th-century inn, including two full days of kitesurfing lessons, flights from Stansted and transfers.

Too active? Original Travel (020 7978 7333, www.originaltravel.co.uk) has four nights, B&B, at the laid-back Son Julia (www.sonjulia.com ), a luxurious conversion of a 15th-century mansion in Mallorca, with spa, gym, tennis and pool: £795pp, with flights from Heathrow and transfers.

THE DOUBLE LIFE

For those who fancy holidaying à deux, Inntravel (01653 617755 www.inntravel.co.uk) has cosy one-bedroom balconied apartments in Crete. They are in renovated fishermen’s cottages on the waterside in the old harbour of Makriyialos, a few minutes’ walk from the town and well restored by the Norwegian owner. A week from July 24 costs £963pp, including flights from Gatwick and a week’s car hire.

Long Travel (01694 722193, www.long-travel.co.uk) has availability at an interesting four-star hotel, best suited to couples, on Sardinia’s east coast, close to the port of Arbatax. Renovated from an old castle, it offers swimming from a private rocky cove (so, fewer kids: families prefer sandy shores). Good local food, too. From £448 per person, per week, B&B. Flights are extra: the company has Gatwick or Luton to Cagliari from £239pp, or Gatwick or Manchester to Olbia from £200pp. It also has availability in Sicily.

Voyages Ilena (020 7924 4440, www.voyagesilena.co.uk ) has a hideaway cottage for two on Corsica, situated on a hillside above the stone village of Oletta. The one-bedroom cottage, which has wonderful sea views, costs £720 (saving £400) in late July or early August. Flights to Calvi or Bastia are extra: the company has charter fares from Gatwick, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh for about £170pp; or British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com) flies to Bastia.

THE VILLA LIFE

There is still little to beat taking a house in Tuscany, and Camporempoli, at Radda, is in the heart of Chianti Classico. Decorated in traditional Tuscan style, it comes with a large infinity pool and a housekeeper who lives on site. It sleeps up to 10 and, for July 28 departures, has been reduced from £6,440 to £4,780 by A&K Villas (0845 070 0618, www.abercrombiekent.co.uk ). Flights are extra: fly to Pisa with British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com ) or Ryanair (0871 246 0000, www.ryanair.com ), and hire a car through Holiday Autos (0870 400 4447, www.holidayautos.co.uk ).

If the wallet recoils at that, try the Peloponnese in Greece, where Vintage Travel (0845 344 0420, www.vintagetravel.co.uk ) has a house just outside Methoni, with two air-conditioned bedrooms, two bathrooms and its own private pool (it’s a 10-minute walk to the nearest sandy beach). It sleeps four and costs £1,495 for a week from August 12 or 19. Car hire and flights are extra but can be arranged through Vintage. Or try Flightline (0800 541541, www.flightline.co.uk ), which has charter fares to Kalamata from most regional airports, from about £250.

Brand-new to the market, Alabanda, on an island in the Gulf of Fethiye, Turkey, is a house almost surrounded by water, with a private beach and boats, a rustic exterior and a minimalist interior, plus an infinity pool and wild gardens. It’s £856pp, including flights from Gatwick, Heathrow or Manchester, based on eight sharing, through Exclusive Escapes (020 8605 3500, www.exclusiveescapes.co.uk ).

Mallorca Farmhouses (0845 800 8080, www.mfh.co.uk ) is offering 30% discounts for the week beginning July 28, including car hire and a starter pack. For instance, Cas Teuler Petit, a 150-year-old restored farmhouse with four bedrooms (sleeps up to nine) and a pool, in the hamlet of Cas Concos in the southeast of the island, is reduced to £1,750, saving £750. Flights are extra: airlines flying to Palma include BMI (0870 607 0555, www.flybmi.com ); EasyJet (www.easyjet.co.uk ); Flybe (0871 522 6100, www.flybe.com ); Flyglobespan (0871 271 0415, www.flyglobespan.com ); Jet2 (0871 226 1737, www.jet2.com ) and Ryanair (0871 246 0000, www.ryanair.com ).

FAMILY LIFE

Penha Longa, an estate hotel situated in Sintra, 16 miles from Lisbon, has an excellent and varied pay-as-you-go programme of children’s activities (a full day with lunch costs £31), with cookery classes, football coaching and horse-grooming/riding as well as the usual pool games. Evenings bring movie and dinner packages for kids (£17). The hotel sits in 545 acres and there is a shuttle to the nearby beaches. It costs from £135 per room, B&B; one child aged up to 12 can share a room with two adults free of charge. Book through RitzCarlton (0800 234 000, www.ritzcarlton.com or www.penhalonga.com ). Flights are extra: Lisbon is served by BA (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com ), TAP (0845 601 0932, www.flytap.com ), Monarch (0870 040 5040, www. flymonarch.com ) and EasyJet (www.easyjet.co.uk ).

One of the worst things about taking children to smart hotels is the disapproving tuts of childless adults as your kids splash them with their dive-bombing. The cool and fashionable Azia Resort & Spa in Paphos, Cyprus, ensures that such conflicts are few and far between with a subtle touch of apartheid. The Azia Blue wing was built with families in mind, meaning all rooms can be interconnecting. There is also a smart mini-club for 2-to 12-year-olds, a large children’s pool and baby-sitting. Argo Holidays (0870 066 7070, www.argoholidays.com ) has late-July packages from £880 per adult, £399 per child, B&B, with Gatwick flights and transfers. The hotel is currently offering free child places if you book direct: see www.aziaresort.com .

For active families who take their sport seriously, few places can compete with La Manga in Spain, which offers tennis, cricket, football, rugby and even karate coaching – you must book the appropriate academy beforehand, however. Seasons in Style (01244 202000, www.seasonsinstyle.com ) has seven nights at Hyatt Regency La Manga from £925 per adult and £295 per child, B&B; kids under five eat free. BA flights from Gatwick are included, but sporting activities and coaching are extra.

If you’re not bothered about being bang on the sea, then Le Marche’s I Calanchi, an Italian country hotel built around a former agricultural estate, has a lot to offer. There’s a clubhouse for music and games, huge grounds, an outdoor restaurant, and horse-riding and quad-biking available locally. If you must have a beach, there is one at San Benedetto, 30 minutes away. A week in August with Real Holidays (020 7359 3938, www.realholidays.co.uk ) costs £746pp, which includes Ryanair flights from Stansted to Ancona, a week’s hire of a family-sized car, and half-board accommodation in two interconnecting double rooms (based on four sharing).

If all you’re after is a pool, a decent beach and other families around, consider Sunvil Greece (020 8568 4499, www.sunvil.co.uk ), which has seven nights, self-catering, at the spacious Afrodite Apartments, which have a good-sized pool, in the seaside village of Kalives on the northwest coast, from £483 per adult and £463 per child (aged 2-11), based on four sharing, including flights from Gatwick and transfers.

THE HIGH LIFE

What could be more luxurious than a skippered yacht? Dalmatian Destinations (020 7730 8007, www.dalmatiandestinations.com ) has a 65ft boat available from July 21 to 28 and August 18 to 25, suitable for two families with children. You embark in Split and the recommended itinerary includes the islands of Brac, Vis and Hvar along the Dalmatian coast, as well as some lesser-known isles. There will be snorkelling, fishing with the captain, canoeing and kayaking. The boat costs £7,920 a week on a full-board basis, including all drinks, local taxes and transfers (flights are extra; from £150pp). This is based on four adults and four children under 12 sharing four double cabins, all with ensuite bathrooms, and includes a 50% reduction on all the children’s food and drinks.

The vast Kempinski Resort Bahia Estepona, Spain, is one of the glitziest on the Costa del Sol, more Krizia than karaoke, with a long beach and excellent pools and gardens. There’s also a kids’ club, a wellness centre and three restaurants. ITC Classics (01244 355527, www.itcclassics.co.uk ) has seven nights, B&B, from £1,185 per person, with BA flights from Gatwick.

At the top end of family house rentals, Scott Dunn (020 8682 5080, www.scottdunn.com ) offers Quinta da Varzea in the Algarve, Portugal: a fully staffed luxury villa that sleeps 14. Ten minutes from the beach, it has a tennis court, infinity pool, and a large playroom with plasma TV. It comes with a private chef, villa host and two nannies/activity specialists, plus all meals on five days of the week. It’s available for the weeks beginning August 1 and 8, at £10,950 per week, a saving of £4,500. Flights are extra: fly to Faro with TAP (0845 601 0932, www.flytap.com ), BA (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com ) or Monarch (0870 040 5040, www.flymonarch.com ).