We targeted three companies to ask for their best offer on a week in the south of France, departing this summer. Prices are per person; both villa and camping holidays are based on a family of four travelling together, while the train trip is based on two people sharing.

Oliver's Travels: Villa, £465

Includes flights from Gatwick to Bordeaux, departing on 3 August, plus a week's self-catering in the west wing of the Château de Pitre which has three bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. Garden steps lead down to the Dordogne river, where there is a roped-off area to swim in (0800 133 7999; oliverstravels.com).

Canvas Holidays: Camping, £878

Includes a Dover to Calais return crossing with P&O Ferries, departing on 22 August, plus a week's self-catering at Camping le Soleil, Argelès-sur-Mer near Perpignan in a "Maxi" tent. The resort has a large pool complex and access to a sandy beach (0345 268 0827; canvasholidays.co.uk).

Railbookers: Train, £860

Includes standard-class rail travel on 25 July from St Pancras to Aix-en-Provence, then from Aix-en-Provence to Nice, and from Nice to London. The trip includes six nights' accommodation with breakfast: three nights in a three-star hotel in Aix-en-Provence, and three nights in a four-star hotel in Nice (020 3327 0869; railbookers.com).