Where to travel in August

Salzkammergut | Austria

Fans of the great outdoors and picturesque chocolate-box towns will love Austria. It scores well across the board on our Good Trip Index, so it's a great choice for a sustainable, ethical summer holiday.

Salzkammergut, a mountainous region near Salzburg packed with pretty lakes, makes for an excellent alternative beach holiday for the whole family. Most lakes have a beach area often with showers, cafes and sun loungers. Some will even have diving platforms, inflatable obstacles and pedalos to hire. Usually there's a day rate per person and they are affordable, clean, well-kept and safe for families.

You can fly into Salzburg from London in about three hours, or if you're keen to minimise your air miles you can get there by train in a day or so.

---

Sozopol | Bulgaria

Move over Sunny Beach there's a new Bulgarian resort in town, and you can fly there with Jet2 this summer. It takes just under 4 hours to fly from the UK to Bourgas and from there, Sozopol is just half an hour down the road.

The city dates back to ancient times, when it was part of the region of Thrace, and you can see this reflected in the achingly beautiful old town with its cobbled lanes, old fortifications and cute churches. It's also got the best beaches on the Black Sea coast, with soft sand and vibrant blue water you'll have to hold yourself back from diving straight in.

The weather's near perfect in August too – it's that ideal level of hot that isn't unbearable like it can be in the Mediterranean, but enough that you may need the odd dip in the pool or sea to cool off.

---

Kalamata | Greece

Between them, the Greek islands make up some of the most popular destinations for UK travellers at pretty much any time of year. In the summer holidays they tend to be one of the first places to fill up with travellers looking for all-inclusive resorts and absolutely scorching sun.

Enter Kalamata, the coastal city on the mainland's Peloponnese Peninsula, that's perfect for sampling some traditional Greek culture – whether that's in the form of the ouzo or the world-famous olives we'll leave up to you. Take in the sights of this stunning city complete with all its stunning beaches and stunning architecture, washed by the inviting waters of the Messenian Gulf.

History nerds will be thrilled about visiting Kalamata Castle, which watches over the city from its position on a high, jagged rock. Or the Church of the Holy Apostles where the Greek War of Independence was declared in 1821. 11 years later, liberated from the Ottoman Empire, the church would host the country's first Greek Orthodox mass as a free state in 360 years.

---

Isla Holbox | Mexico

Isla Holbox is few hours north of Cancun. Its relaxed atmosphere, great weather and natural beauty make it an ideal August escape.

You won't find many vehicles on the island, plus phone and wifi signal isn't great and not all of the sandy paths that connect the island are on Google Maps – perfect if you've been looking to cut down your screen time. You'll have no choice but to ditch the phone and sunbathe on pristine beaches and take a dip in the warm Caribbean Sea.

During August the island is visited by huge whale sharks, which you can swim with on an unforgettable guided tour. Holbox is also part of Mexico's largest ecological reserve – Yum Balam. It's a great place for bird watching and witnessing the sea's bioluminescence at sunset when shimmering blue flashes light up the shores as if by magic.

---

Georgetown | Guyana

There are quite a few Georgetowns in the world, including several in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean and even Asia – King George III liked to put his name on things apparently.

But this one in particular is the capital city of Guyana in South America, a small country wedged between Suriname and Venezuela. And you can fly there on a new British Airways route that stops over in St Lucia. A few hundred kilometres north of the equator means it's firmly in the tropical region, so you know the weather's going to be good.

This unique English-speaking city is packed with colonial-era architecture to explore – St George's Cathedral is thought to be the world's tallest wooden building, and you can't miss the lively atmosphere of Stabroek Market. The food's great too – think yummy curries and pepperpot, a rich stew served for special occasions.

---

New Zealand

Too hot this summer? Try New Zealand, which is currently going through its winter.

Don't be put off by the weather – New Zealand's a big place, and while lows on the South Island will fall to 1°C in August the North Island tops 15°C even in winter – by UK standards a pleasant spring or autumn day. And if the cold isn't a problem, August tends to see the best snow. So if you're visiting to ski, snowboard or heli-ski – increasingly popular with extreme sports fans – this is the month to do it.

For Lord of the Rings fans, the key filming locations are at the top of the North Island, which is mild in August. The permanent Hobbiton that was built at Matamata will feel like an English spring in August, or if you're going to visit the dramatic mountains of the South Island, they're all the better (and authentic) for the snow.

---

Salina Turda | Romania

If you fancy taking the family somewhere weird, wonderful and naturally stunning this summer, Salina Turda is a great shout.

A former salt mine painstakingly carved out without the help of machinery, it's now a major tourist attraction complete with a museum, amphitheatre, Ferris wheel, bowling alley, mini golf and a spa. It's perfect for a family day out. The kids will love the amusement park, and you can explore the various levels of the caves on guided tours and even by boat.

To get there you'll need to fly to Cluj-Napoca, which is worth exploring too. The Transylvanian 'capital' has a lively old town filled with historic sites, museums and bars, and there's a great arts scene too.