Ah, holiday time. A chance to leave the stressful everyday routine behind and spend a few weeks indulging in endless food, drink, sun and relaxation.

But you don’t have to completely neglect your health and fitness while you’re away. Check out our 5 top tips for how to stay in great shape during your villa break, while still kicking back and enjoying yourself.

1. Eat mindfully

It’s hard to resist the lure of all the tasty cuisine on offer when we’re on holiday. Who could say no to another cooling scoop of that delicious gelato? But if you want to still fit into your favourite jeans when you get home, you’ll need eat consciously rather than on autopilot.

So balance out those naughty treats with healthier choices. Savour rather than scoff each mouthful. Don’t pile your plate too high. And instead of dining out every day, why not stay at your villa and whip up a wholesome feast with fresh produce from the local market?

2. Go easy on the booze

It’s not just holiday food that can wreak havoc with your waistline. Alcohol also packs a calorific punch and too many tipples will quickly pile on the pounds. What’s more, it can make you pee more often and lead to dehydration – which is bad news if you’re in a hot climate.

Instead of downing lots of drinks at once, pace yourself and try not to exceed the recommended maximum of 14 units a week. And if you’re watching your weight, choose your drinks wisely and consider swapping that calorie-laden wine or beer for a skinnier spritzer or shandy.

3. Keep active

After an exhausting few months at home, it’s tempting to spend all of your well-earned break lazing and lounging in the sun. But by staying active for some of the time, you’ll keep your fitness levels up and burn off those extra calories too.

Why not swim a few lengths of your villa’s private pool? Have a rally on your private tennis court? Or get out and explore the local area on foot or by bike? Just be careful to avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.

4. Stay hydrated

We all know we should be drinking eight glasses of water a day. And it’s even more important to get plenty of H₂O while holidaying in the heat, as dehydration can lead to nasties like headaches, nausea, dizziness and even heatstroke.

To keep your water levels topped up, make sure you always carry a bottle with you and take regular slurps even if you don’t feel thirsty. You could also munch on yummy snacks with a high water content, like watermelon or cucumber.

5. Protect yourself from the sun

Most of us can’t wait to escape the typical British weather and soak up some rays in warmer climes. But too much UV light is is hazardous to our health, causing painful skin burns and even cancer.

To enjoy the sunshine safely, generously apply a good high factor sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside and reapply this regularly throughout the day. And when the sun is at its strongest, it’s best to seek out shade, wear a wide-brimmed hat and cover up with loose-fitting clothing.

It’s time to pour the Pimms and bring out the strawberries – the nation’s favourite tennis tournament is here once more! If you’re feeling inspired to dust off your racket and perfect your backhand, here are some of our holiday villas with tennis courts available to book this and next summer.

Villas with tennis courts available for summer 2019

Villa Horizon, Chania, Crete

This amazing 7-bedroomed property can be found to the northwest of Crete. With two self-contained living areas and spacious grounds, it’s the ideal choice for large groups. You’ll find sleek contemporary furnishings, a pergola for alfresco dining and a floodlit grass tennis court where you can challenge your friends and family to a match. Not to mention the heated pool and truly special setting with fabulous sea views.

Many beaches are within easy reach, including the sandy Kalathas Beach a short 5-minute car ride away. Or venture a just little further afield to the romantic historical town of Chania and wander around its pretty Venetian harbour, bustling indoor market and narrow alleyways.

Villa L’Aresta, Puerto Pollensa, Majorca

If you’re looking for secluded countryside charm, you can’t go wrong with Villa L’Aresta in northwest Majorca. This fantastic 5-bedroomed property combines traditional décor with spectacular views of the Tramuntana Mountains. And when you’ve finished relaxing in the lawned garden, you can work off all that excess energy with a dip in the swimming pool or a rally on the private tennis court.

Just a 5-minute drive away is the picturesque resort of Puerto Pollensa, with its lovely marina, sandy beach and scenic Pine Walk along the waterfront. Or you can make a trip to neighbouring historical Alcúdia where you’ll discover cobbled streets and fun-filled water park!

Villas with tennis courts available for summer 2020

 Villa Apanemia Mare, Boukari, Corfu

This modern 3-bedroom property lies in the peaceful village of Boukari in southeast Corfu. Just a few steps away from a shingle beach, it boasts contemporary furnishings, a spacious mature garden and wonderful views over the glittering Ionian Sea. Not only that, but there’s a stunning infinity pool – perfect for cooling off after working up a sweat on the private tennis court.

You’ll find shops, bars and tavernas aplenty at Boukari’s harbour, which is only a short walk away. Or hop in the car for a 10-minute drive to the pretty traditional village of Chlomos.

Villa Caminho, Almancil, Algarve

Located in the Algarve’s affluent Golden Triangle, this impressive 7-bedroomed villa in Portgual’s southernmost region has it all. You can sunbathe in the extensive gardens, make a splash in the swimming pool or cook up a sizzling storm with the brick BBQ. And if you feel like unleashing your inner Federer or Nadal, you can do so on your very own private tennis court.

There’s plenty to do nearby, too. Vale do Lobo, one of the Algarve’s most luxurious and chic resorts, is the perfect place for a spot of shopping, an indulgent meal or a round of golf. Or take a daytrip to the traditional town of Loulé and soak up the authentic Portuguese atmosphere.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Browse our whole range of holiday villas with tennis courts.

Do you travel light or tend to over-prepare? We reveal the packing habits of UK holidaymakers, revealing the most popular items we like to cram in.

How do you tackle packing for holidays? Some of us will get started weeks in advance, while others will still be stuffing bits in as we walk out the door. From changeable weather forecasts to the length of our stay and the type of holiday, there’s a lot to factor in!

The majority of us do tend to overdo it, however. Here at Villa Plus, we found in a survey that more than 60% of Brits overpack for our holidays, while the rest of us prefer to travel with the bare minimum.

But what exactly are we cramming into our suitcases?

Our top overpacked items

Unsurprisingly the top thing we pile in is clothes, followed by shoes, toiletries, makeup and books. Just under 8% of holidaymakers go big with gadgets, while 6.6% admit to bringing too much food and drink from home. Handbags and hair accessories also make the list.

Of those items, we typically overpack with six unnecessary clothing items, five additional bits of food and drink and five extra makeup products. Four supplementary toiletries find their way into our bags, while three is the magic bonus number for our shoes, books and gadgets. We also admit to travelling with two handbags and two hair accessories that we don’t need.

Home comforts

Whereabouts in the world are you heading to next? Whilst trying new cuisines is a key part of many of our trips away, we still like to bring a few essentials from home.

The top items we take are Heinz tomato ketchup, vinegar and Hellmann’s mayonnaise; but we can’t miss out on our Cadbury’s chocolate and tea bags either.

Is there a gender divide?

Packing can lead to arguments, especially when it comes to who’s taking up more room in the suitcase. We found that women tend to be worse than men for overpacking, though more men will overdo it on clothing, books and gadgets.

While it’s good to be prepared for every situation, 39% of women travel with too many pairs of shoes, compared to 22% of men.

A battle of the ages

Does packing knowhow come with age? It certainly looks like it, with 75% of 18-to 24-year-olds overpacking for their holidays; the highest percentage of any age group to do so. The same group also regularly overestimate their reading speed, with 13% packing too many books.

Moving up the age range, 25-to 34-year-olds are the worst for overpacking toiletries, gadgets, handbags and food and drink items.

However, it seems the older we get the more outfit changes we like to make. Those aged between 34 and 55 consistently squeeze in surplus shoes, while 98% of the over 65s pack too many clothes.

Location, location, location  

Are you setting off on your travels from Leeds, Bristol or Edinburgh? There’s a good chance you could be overpacking – residents in these three cities cram more in than anywhere else in the UK. Those hailing from Nottingham and Sheffield aren’t far behind, with 70% and 71% respectively travelling heavy.

A city better known for its hills than its garments, Edinburgh is the worst offender for overpacking on clothing, tied with Belfast. Northern Ireland’s capital is also the worst for overdoing it on shoes, while those from Norwich are most prone to taking an extra handbag or two.

Pushing washbags and makeup bags to their very limit are Cardiff and Belfast, with Cardiff residents also fitting in unnecessary hairdryers and straighteners. Bristolians are the biggest readers, while those in Edinburgh can’t resist travelling with extra gadgets. Glaswegians are the most committed to their own tastes, with 14% overpacking food and drink items.

Do you overpack for your holidays, or prefer to leave room for souvenirs? Whatever your style, you’re sure to have a good time.