Time to find a villa bargain

The continuing no-show by US tourists has meant that Italy, particularly Tuscany, is underbooked compared with previous years.

And concerns over the economy have left luxury villas in the South of France going begging and Spanish operators kicking their heels as bargain-hunters switch their attention to Greece and Turkey. Here's the best of what's left.

Italy

Operators admit to taking a tumble this summer - with prices following suit. Bridgewater Travel (0161 703 3000, www.bridgewatertravel.co.uk) is offloading properties in coastal Tuscany at half-price in mid July, with offers for late July and August on the way.

From 13 July, a week at an ultra-modern, architect-designed villa with hillside terracing and pool for eight near medieval Pietrasanta has been reduced from £2,995 to £1,500, flights extra.

Tuscany Now (020 7272 5469, www.tuscanynow. com) is shaving 10 per cent off the brochure price of £1,426 on a traditional cottage for four with pool surrounded by 1,000-year-old olive trees, overlooking the Niccone Valley near Cortona, flights extra, depart 27 July.

Magic of Italy (020 8939 5453, www.magictravelgroup.co.uk) is lopping £200-£300 off brochure prices on properties in Tuscany, Umbria and Sardinia in July, with plenty of August availability.

Also try ... Invitation to Tuscany (020 7603 7111, www.invitationtotuscany.com).

Greece, Cyprus and Turkey

All three are close to capacity, but you can squeeze in somewhere. On car-free Hydra, International Chapters (020 7722 0722, www. villarentals.com) has a blue-shuttered house for four with floodlit plunge pool overlooking the harbour for £1,470, flights extra, departing 27 July.

Simply Crete (020 8541 2201, www.simplytravel.com) has one of a group of restored village houses at Merheri with wine cellar and shared pool for four at £600pp, including flights and car hire, departing 30 July.

Sunvil (020 8568 4499, www.sunvil.co.uk) and Greek Islands Club (020 8232 9780) both have a few Greek properties peakseason. At Cyprus's sandy Coral Bay, a fortnight at a tranquil villa for four with pool costs £1,022pp, including flights and car hire, departing 7 August. To book, call Something Special (08700 270 520, www.somethingspecial.co.uk)

In Turkey, Tapestry Holidays (020 8235 7777, www.tapestryholidays. com) has a mountainside villa with pool for four with views over undeveloped Patara beach for £550pp (£850pp for a fortnight), including flights and Jeep hire, departing 28 July.

Also try ... Simply Turkey (020 8541 2204, www.simplytravel.co.uk).

Portugal

Typically chocker - the Algarve is always booked up early - with a few fresh finds. Affinity Villas (01428 727277, www.affinityvillas. com) has availability throughout the school holidays at two new-to-its-books villas, both with pools, one modern and overlooking the beach at Alvor; the second, in Luz Bay, is comfortably traditional. Each sleeps six and costs £2,200 a week, flights extra.

A sexy circular pool and views over Faro are the selling points of a peaceful villa for four near Santa Barbara de Nexe on the Algarve, which costs £930pp, including flights and car hire, departing 25 July or 1 August. Meon Villas (01730 268411, www.meonvillas.co.uk).

Couples craving tranquillity should snap up a week at Fig Tree Cottage or Lemon Tree Cottage, in a converted winery five kilometres from Falesia Beach on the Eastern Algarve. Fig Tree costs £650pp, Lemon Tree £675pp, including flights and car hire, departing either 20 July or 10 August. Simply Portugal (020 8541 2207, www.simplytravel.co.uk). Individual Travellers (08700 773773, www.indiv-travellers.com) also has availability.

Also try ... The Villa Agency (01392 424 400, www.thevillaagency.co.uk).

Spain

Despite increased bookings after England's exit from the World Cup, Spain still has masses of availability. Expect good offers by the end of the week. In southern Ibiza, bag two weeks for the price of one (£3,115) from 20 July at a modern hillside villa sleeping six with pool, five minutes from Talamanca beach, flights extra.

International Chapters (020 7722 0722, www.villa-rentals.com). On the least-spoiled stretch of the Costa del Sol between Nerja and Frigiliana, The Real Spain (020 8686 3638, www.citalia.com) has a villa for four with a pool set in an orchard garden and coastal views for £599pp a week, including flights and car hire from 20 July onwards. More vertiginous vistas are the selling point of an Andalucian white village house for nine with pool outside Gaucin for £1,995 a week, flights extra, departing 18 or 25 July. CV Travel (0870 606 0802, www.cvtravel.net).

Also try ... Spain at Heart (01373 814222, www.spainatheart.co.uk), Simply Spain (020 8541 2277, www.simplytravel.co.uk), Magic of Spain.(020 8241 5019, www.magictravelgroup.co.uk).

France

Just a soupcon of choice, though some surprising gaps in the South. Balfour France (020 8878 9955, www.balfourfrance.com) has reduced the price of a week (available between 17-30 August) at a vine-covered villa with wraparound verandah and pool for eight, 10 minutes from St Tropez, from £3,290 to £2,495.

International Chapters (020 7722 0722, www. villarentals.com) also has a couple of good CÙte d'Azur offers. A 16th century olive mill for four near the Provencal market town of Carpentras is available from 10 August for two weeks for £271pp a week, including car hire or Channel crossing.

To book, call Individual Travellers (08700 771771, www.indiv-travellers.com). Close to Allemans du Dropt in the Dordogne, Just France (020 8780 4480, www.justfrance.co.uk) has a week from 20 July at a comfortable family house with pool for 10 for £214pp, including Channel crossing for three cars. Shoehorn your way into Corsica with Corsican Places (01903 748180, www.corsica.co.uk), which has apartments for four with shared pool at the pretty harbour town of Propriano for £581pp, including flights and car hire, departing 4, 11 or 18 August.

Also try ... Allez France (01903 748155, www.allezfrance.com), and VFB (01242 240 340, www.vfbholidays.co.uk).