A sun-soaked holiday in the Netherlands? Trust us, once you've enjoyed a barefoot escape along the sandy shores that run from the Belgian border to the Wadden Sea Islands, you'll have your friends convinced to switch the Algarve for Ameland every year. This clapboard property in Buren is just 500m from the expansive beaches edging the West Frisian isle. A group of eight will have the run of four sharp, contemporary bedrooms, a breezy, open-plan living space and an outdoor terrace. Worried about grey days? The basement cinema room will keep you busy if the weather refuses to play ball. The cosy gas fireplace helps with keeping warm post-swims in the - admittedly - chilly sea, but we'd play it safe and stick to beach strolls exploring the picturesque island, taking in the handsome lighthouse, taste-testing the loca Nobeltje liqueur and scampering across the sand dunes for fresh seafood at Stranders.

What it costs: From £63pp per night

Balancing Arcadian charm with design-focused sophistication, this idyllic hilltop stay has been meticulously converted into a stylish 12-person spa escape in Italy's storied Le Marche region. Connected by stone pathways crisscrossing a verdant pasture dotted with oak trees, the three shuttered buildings - including a separate spa house - have been carefully revamped with soft, neutral tones throughout. Flit through the light-flooded bedrooms to lounge on comfy sofas or head outdoors into the fragrant gardens. Days are best spent dipping into the pool; nights, in the unique wellness space for group sauna, hammam and jacuzzi sessions. If you're a restless group, requiring further entertainment, the owners will be happy to organise cooking classes, winery tours and olive oil tastings in the surrounding countryside.

What it costs: From £84pp per night

An ochre-painted, 18th-century farmhouse transformed into a rural retreat for eight in the almond and carob tree-dotted countryside of Mallorca? It's a yes from us (and our friends). Lovingly redeveloped by award-winning local architect Antonio Obrador, the interiors of this Búger property showcase the best of Mallorcan craftsmanship: expect terracotta floors, reed ceilings, Mallorcan ceramics and a natural colour palette. Outside, the wraparound 15 acres of terraces, gardens and orchards are fragrant with Mediterranean planting, and house a 16m aquamarine pool for serious water games, all backdropped by the undulating silhouettes of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains.

What it costs: From £140pp per night

Tucked between the rolling hills of Alentejo's agricultural landscape, near the small village of Sabugueiro, this rustic stay is an ode to the slow-paced lifestyle of Portugal's bucolic interior. Standing between ancient olives and thickly leafed cork oaks, the collection of four stone bungalows sleeps 10 in elegant, whitewashed bedrooms, all with polished concrete floors, minimalist furnishing and accents of natural wood. There's also a glorious swimming pool, a large living room, impressive dining space and a fully equipped kitchen. This is a stay for the gourmands in your circle: farmhouse breakfasts are included in the price, and you can organise for a local chef to prepare a feast of Portuguese favourites for an evening banquet on the terrace.

What it costs: From £42pp per night

Sometimes, the best way to snag an affordable escape is to head out early in the season. Case in point? This atmospheric eight-sleeper finca perched in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. Plan to arrive before the summer season kicks off and you and your gang will have free run of the organic smallholding for much less than the high-season price. Four bedrooms reflect the pastoral colours of the Mallorcan farmland outside - all soft, earthy tones with characterful farmhouse features - while the elegant living spaces showcase the original stone-flagged floors and beamed ceilings. Outside, guests are encouraged to take their pick from the fruit trees, before diving into the inviting saltwater pool.

What it costs: From £140pp per night

Casa Nova is a property to fall in love with. Framed by rolling hills, olive groves and the neat ridges of local vineyards, this Tuscan bolthole combines traditional architecture with impeccable country-chic interiors. You and your besties will have the run of seven beautifully furnished bedrooms and cosy, calming living spaces that showcase regional antiques alongside chateau-inspired soft furnishings, high ceilings and idyllic rural vistas glimpsed through the windows. The villa is surrounded by Chianti's hazy hills, and sits less than an hour from Florence, making it the perfect crash pad for a low-key week away spent exploring the region's famous wineries and soaking up the city's Renaissance culture. Truly la dolce vita.

What it costs: From £100pp per night

Forget what you think you know about Málaga - this walled hilltop property offers total seclusion in the Spanish hills outside of town. The traditional Andalusian architecture conceals quirky interiors and uninterrupted views of the tree-blanketed mountains around the property. Four bedrooms (sleeping eight) have been sympathetically refurbished, with hand-stitched tapestries above the beds and hand-crafted furniture from local artisans dotted throughout. You'll spend days lounging on terraces and in shady corners hidden throughout the gardens and quirky interiors, exploring the property's private vineyard and dipping into the pool, from where you can admire far-reaching views of the glittering Mediterranean, 24km away.

What it costs: £107pp per night