MONTHLY SUGGESTIONS


Jan - Skiing in the French Alps (if you have pre-school children, it's much cheaper in Jan than in Feb with half term prices). See www.aito.com and click on skiing for a wide range of options across Europe.



Feb - Take a family trip to Egypt with Explore Worldwide over the half-term break; educational and interesting, with other children to pal up with, and designed specifically for families, not to mention some great sunshine and warmer temperatures! www.explore.co.uk



March - swim with dolphins in the beautiful islands of the Azores. Just a three-and-a-bit hour direct flight from Gatwick, the Azores sit in the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic. Great offers at this time of year, and plenty to see and do - walking, geothermal springs, cycling, pineapple and tea plantations, golf for the parents maybe ... and the spring flowers will be out, too. www.sunvil.co.uk


Vale do Lobo (www.valedolobo.com) the beautiful Algarve golf, beach and spa resort is offering 7 nights for the price of 5 on stays between 1st March and 31st May 2010 (except 1st to 5th April 2010).
Prices start from €63 per person per day depending on size and standard of villa or apartment booked. This includes 7 nights self catering accommodation, complimentary welcome basket, 50% discount on golf green fees, 10% discount at the Royal Spa, and free use of Tennis Academy courts.
For further information email: tourism@vdl.pt quoting "Spring 2010 Special Offer" or telephone 00 351 289 353 333.
Located 20 minutes from Faro International Airport, Vale do Lobo is an ideal family holiday destination. This tranquil self-contained resort is three times the size of Monaco and features two 18-hole championship golf courses; tennis academy with 14 courts (including a mini-court for kids) 2km sandy beach; Wellness Centre (incorporating the Royal Spa and state-of-the-art gym); 15 restaurants and bars; medical centre; and 24 hour security service.



April - Easter holidays. Maybe pop across the Channel for a week in a gîte and some nice seafood and crepes in Brittany or Normandy? It's low season so it won't cost much, and low mileage too, so no wear and tear on the car or Mum and Dad. www.vfbholidays.co.uk



May - try Austria's Kinder Hotels; you'll enjoy a break while your children learn to swim, go for walks, play with other children, get lots of fresh air and eat lots of fresh, organic food. They will look after babes-in-arms, too, while Mum and Dad get used to their new little bundle of joy! www.kinderhotels.com



June - this is the best time to take your summer holiday if you don't have school-age children; you'll save a fortune, and destinations are much nicer before peak season anyway. Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia and Greece are all warm but not usually horribly so, and the seaside resorts are particularly pleasant before the crowds. See www.aito.com for a huge range of holidays - all with 100% financial protection, guaranteed.



July - Thought of heading north for your summer hols? In West Sweden, just two hours' flight away, it's warm and sunny, with uncrowded roads, and you can island-hop hundreds of islands by bridge or small ferry and find your favourite beach. The food is organic as well as yummy, and children will find lots of activities, from pottery to painting, plus you’ll all get to savour the wonderful Scandinavian love of outdoor life. There's the biggest amusement park in northern Europe to try in Gothenburg (www.liseberg.com/en/home/), plus canal cruises (duck to get under some very low bridges!) and much more. www.vastsverige.com (click on the Union Jack for the English version).

FOR TEENS:
Annie B's Spanish Kitchen in the historic Andalucian town of Vejer de la Frontera is a perfect way for teenagers to learn more about the delights of cooking modern Mediterranean cuisine. With Annie’s enthusiasm, teens soon to set off on their own journey, whether university or the world of work, will enjoy this enchanting region of Southern Spain while indulging in everything that’s lip-lickingly good. During the week-long course, they will learn how to menu plan and create nutritious meals, whether fish, meat or vegetarian dishes. On this hands-on fun-filled cookery course, young women and men can immerse themselves in creating flavour-filled Mediterranean meals using fresh, healthy ingredients while later eating the ’fruits of their labour’. Salads from ingredients found at the market, Gazpacho, paella, Tortillas, marinades, dressings and confits are just some of the many yummy delights on offer to young people at Annie B’s Spanish Kitchen .

Activities are certainly not confined to the kitchen. Guests may like to take an escorted visit to the bustling fish market in Cadiz or join Annie on her favourite tapas crawl while there is plenty of time for trips to the beach.
Lead in Price: Annie B’s Spanish Kitchen (www.anniebs.co.uk T +34 620 560 649 ) offers a week’s course for teenagers in July 2010 from 1,000 euros pp based on two sharing a room, including all meals, instruction, escorted visits, and recipe file. Flights (to a choice of 4 airports) are extra. Airport transfers from Jerez cost from €60.


Aug - if you like it hot, and are looking for low, low prices - head for North Africa. In Marrakech, Morocco, it's low season so you can enjoy a week in a boutique riad hotel (just 18 rooms, but complete with its own swimming pool and spa plus hammam) for around £225 pp, two sharing. Go out in the cooler morning and early evening hours, and relax and perhaps take a siesta or flop by the pool under a parasol in the heat of the midday sun. www.lesborjsdelakasbah.com



Sept - the temperature is cooler in Europe's Mediterranean resorts now, but the sea is beautiful and warm! Try a villa with private pool in Cyprus - sheer bliss! www.sunvil.co.uk



Oct - perfect for walking holidays - or perhaps a painting trip? You can all join in. Try mainland Greece, in the little-known Peloponnese, for beautiful scenery and amazing history, whatever you choose to do. Perhaps start with a night or two in Athens – children will soak up the atmosphere of the Acropolis and imagine it back in its heyday, and it might spark a renewed interest in lessons back at school, too. www.greekislandsclub.com



Nov - the perfect time to enjoy Andalucia, in southern Spain! There are many cultural attractions to enjoy, the amazing Alhambra Palace in Granada for one – plus of course tapas and excellent Spanish wine to enjoy. If you can, treat yourselves to a short break sans kids. www.kirkerholidays.com Or try a cultural weekend of chamber music down in Cornwall, with beautiful coastal walks to savour and to build your appetite for another excellent meal in between concerts – food for the soul as well as for the body. www.musicattresanton.co.uk



Dec - Christmas shopping is back on the agenda! There are Christmas markets all over Europe - a delightful and traditional way to buy stocking fillers and the like. Try West Sweden, with its millions of Christmas lights and many Christmas trees (www.gothenburg.com) or head south for some bright, sunny winter days on the Med in Monaco (www.visitmonaco.com), with its excellent spas to relax you after a hectic afternoon's shopping.


Other Holidays -


Butler, Chauffeur, Chef & Luxury Cyprus Villa – all for less than a week at Butlins!



The first all-inclusive, butler serviced, holiday villa in Cyprus opens in January 2010, providing guests with a private chef, car and chauffeur, maid and their own private massage room, all for a recession busting £545 per person per week.



The luxurious Villa Frances in Larnaca is designed to offer guests a luxurious home from home, without all the stresses of washing, cleaning and cooking. With Six tastefully themed double bedrooms, the Villa features private gardens with a swimming pool, Spa pool and outside BBQ area, as well as an indoor garden and lounge area.



With all food and drinks provided for, guests can even make meal requests in advance and choose their dining times. All food is bought fresh and cooked to order, whether it is grilled fish that still smells of the sea or meat so fresh that it would be fit for Carpaccio. The bar area comes stocked with beers, wine, spirits and soft drinks, so guests can order a pre-dinner aperitif or have the butler bring them their favourite cocktail as they sit back in the spa pool.



Perhaps the icing on the cake is the private beauty therapy room that guests can take advantage of by booking time with a fully trained beautician or masseuse.



Situated on the edge of the tranquil and idyllic village of Pervolia, the Villa nestles in a private mews, with glorious views from the roof garden of the mountains. Known for its crystal clear waters, unspoilt beaches - the nearest of which is less than 5 minutes away - traditional restaurants, quaint tavernas and friendly locals, the village is just 10 miles from Larnaca and 30 minutes from the lively nightlife in Aya Napa.



Available from just £545 per person per week – based on minimum of eight sharing – the villa can cater for up to twelve guests and the only costs not included in the price are petrol and any beauty therapies booked. Families can also make use of day or evening child care or baby sitting services.



Flights from the UK to Larnaca are available from a variety of regional airports with Monarch, Thomas Cook, British Airways and Cyprus Airways.



www.villafrancesv.com / 0845 388 2942


For singles, couples or families

Two brand new 5-star two-bed and studio apartments near Paphos at
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/cyprus/cy2230.htm


Rental prices:

• 2-Bed for up to 4 people: from £190 per week

• 2-Bed for 5-6 people: from £210 per week

• Studio for 2 people: from £120 per week



LUXURY UK BREAK - COTSWOLDS
The Cotswold Lake Houses are the ideal country holiday venue – they have the perfect balance of activities and peace. Children can enjoy independence, often not easily achieved at home, and adults can find enormous relaxation, all within the safety of the gated Estate.

Annie Mitchell commented, "We loved our visit. It was a particular success for us because our children were able to enjoy a real sense of freedom on their bikes for the first time ever. And you can rest assured; I have already recommended it to everyone who has asked after our holiday.”

and visit: www.cotswoldlakehouses.com




FLORIDA FOR THE FAMILY

Orlando Family Villa Holiday – 7 nights from £519

Holiday includes return airfare, eight days’ care hire and seven nights’ accommodation in a three bedroom villa with a private pool, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Gatwick.

To book call: 0844 800 8628 or visit www.flightcentre.co.uk, quoting ref: MCOCATVIL

Valid for travel between 01 – 22 Feb 10 and 03 – 31 May 10, offer ends 26 Jan 10.



Florida for Easter Holiday – 7 nights from £645

Holiday includes return airfare and seven nights’ accommodation at the 4* Buena Vista Palace, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Heathrow.

To book call: 0844 800 8628 or visit www.flightcentre.co.uk, quoting ref: CAT09JUL03

Valid for travel between 07 Apr – 09 Apr 10, offer ends 31 Jan 10.



Orlando Luxury Family Holiday – 7 nights from £659

Holiday includes return airfare and seven nights’ accommodation at the 5* Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Heathrow.

To book call: 0844 800 8628 or visit www.flightcentre.co.uk, quoting ref: MCOLONPAC9

Valid for travel between 01 Apr – 30 Jun 10, offer ends 31 Jan 10.



Jamaica Family Holiday – 7 nights from £1115

Holiday includes return airfare, return airport transfers and seven nights’ accommodation at the Beaches Boscobel Resort and Golf Club, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Gatwick.

To book call: 0844 800 8628 or visit www.flightcentre.co.uk, quoting ref: KINJAN6

Valid for travel between 04 Jun – 25 Jun 10, offer ends 15 Feb 10.



All-Inclusive Fiji Family Holiday – 6 nights from £1145

Holiday includes return airfare and six nights’ all-inclusive accommodation at the 3* Hideaway Resort, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Heathrow.

To book call: 0844 800 8628 or visit www.flightcentre.co.uk, quoting ref: NANJAN1

Valid for travel between 16 Jan – 31 Mar 10, offer ends 31 Jan 10.



South East Touring Triangle Family Holiday – 7 nights from £1215

Holiday includes return airfare, eight days’ car hire, three nights’ accommodation at the 4.5* Crowne Plaza in Melbourne, two nights’ accommodation at the 4* All Seasons Eco Resort on Phillip Island and two nights’ accommodation at the 4* Lindenderry Country House Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula, all based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Gatwick.

BONUS Save £215

To book call: 0844 800 8628 or visit www.flightcentre.co.uk, quoting ref: VICQRPAC8

Valid for travel between 16 Apr – 20 Jun 10, offer ends 20 Feb 10.



Turks and Caicos Family Holiday – 7 nights from £1249

Holiday includes return airfare and seven nights’ accommodation at the Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, based on two adults and two children sharing. Departs Heathrow.

BONUS Save £512

To book call: 0844 800 8628 or visit www.flightcentre.co.uk, quoting ref: PLSJAN1

Valid for travel between 01 Jun – 27 Jun 10, offer ends 15 Feb 10.


HALF TERM

Half term deals and availability

UK

£350/week until Saturday 20 February, sleeping six – usually £485

Oceanview Apartment, Woolacombe Esplanade, Devon

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/104558

Enviable position and views across the beach from this spacious three bedroom apartment.



£275/week until 27 Feb, sleeping four – usually £350

Hillside House, Mevagissey, Cornwall

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/82396

Casting views across the village from its hillside position. Spread over three floors with a south facing garden. You can choose whether you would prefer to be greeted by a bottle of red or white wine on arrival!



Europe

£350/week until 21 Feb, sleeping six – was £395

Villa Olivia, Qunita da Bela Vista, Praia da Luz, Portugal

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/60239

10 minute’s walk to the beach and this pretty seaside resort. Private pool and sun soaked garden with subtropical winter climate.



£267/week until 26 Feb, sleeping five – was £450

Casa Carmen, Moraira, Alicante Province, Spain

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/67833

The perfect chill out pad complete with honesty bar and extensive DVD library for a cosy night in in front of the cinema screen TV. Welcome pack includes red and white wine, Sangria and Cava. Kids and dogs both welcome.



£446/week until 22 Feb, sleeping 10 – was £500

Halfway House, Prades, Pyrenees-Orientales, France

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/20641

Fantastic for a group getaway sleeping 13 at a push. This pretty town has a twice weekly market, wonderful views from the house and plenty of sightseeing opportunities.



£260/week until 27 Feb, sleeping up to six – usually £290

Penthouse Selwo Hills, Selwo Hills, Estepona, Spain

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/19379

Third floor apartment in an exclusive, fully enclosed complex with communal pool, small gym and sauna. The golf course is half a mile away and local restaurants within walking distance.



Further afield

£325/week until 20 Feb, sleeping eight – usually £400

American Dream 2, Orange Tree, Orlando

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/32829

Typically spacious Florida home from home with heated pool, four bedrooms and games room.



£280/week until 1-28 Feb, sleeping four – usually £350

Apartment Isabelle, El Gouna, Egypt

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/105857

First floor two bedroom apartment overlooking one of this area’s many lagoons. Guests are provided with a ClubHouse discount card for the duration of their stay.



£500/week 1-28 Feb, sleeping four – usually £700

Blouberg Ocean View Apartment, Blouberg, Cape Town

www.holidaylettings.co.uk/104717

Live the beach life in this world famous kite-surfing hotspot. 20km from central Cape Town, Blouberg has the best views of Table Mountain and Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned, can be seen from the seashore.


LYKIAWORLD OFFER EARLY BIRD TURKISH DELIGHTS
- Up to 25% off Summer Holidays -
21 December 2009 Award winning Turkish hotel group LykiaWorld, is offering a range of early booking discounts of up to 25% on 2010 summer stays (April – September), at LykiaWorld Antalya and family favourite, LykiaWorld Ölüdeniz.

Book up to 31 January 2010 and save 25% on summer bookings at Lykiaworld Anatalya and 15% off at LykiaWorld Ölüdeniz.

Book throughout February and March 2010 for summer holidays and save 15% at LykiaWorld Antalya and 10% at LykiaWorld Ölüdeniz.

Family Friendly Chic at LykiaWorld Antalya

LykiaWorld Antalya features a host of fantastic children’s facilities including an activity pool with an array of water slides up to nearly 120 metres, children’s restaurants and a kid’s club called Lykie Club, perfect for children aged 6 months-13 years.

Set on 2.5 kilometres of private golden beach with the Taurus Mountains as a backdrop, LykiaWorld Antalya features an 18-hole LykiaLinks championship golf course as well as Sanitas Spa & Wellness Centre, impressively spanning 4000m² and boasting 24 treatment rooms including two romantic couple treatment suites, massage rooms and a hammam treatment room.

LykiaWorld Antalyaoffers aunique wellness experience for all guests: including fitness, fun, balance, creative and night areas that seamlessly interconnect, providing guests with a delightful choice of enjoyment options to match their mood. For example, in the fitness area, guests can enjoy nordic walking and Tai-Bo; there’s dance and cooking in the Creative area; archery, beach volley and boomerang in the fun area and pilates, Tai Chi and yoga in the balance area.

Where kids take the parents at LykiaWorld Ölüdeniz…

The highly popular and award winning LykiaWorld Ölüdeniz overlooks the Aegean Sea and offers the perfect setting to enjoy a wide array of outdoor pursuits or family holiday. Open from April to November, the resort features one of the Mediterranean’s leading dive centres providing a full range of PADI courses for beginners and intermediate, right through to instructor certification.

Recently voted one of Europe’s top 10 resorts for tennis holidays by ACE magazine, the resort has 19 courts of clay and artificial grass, five of which are floodlit for evening games. For those wanting an extra buzz, LykiaWorld Ölüdeniz offers rafting, canyoning, mountain biking, paragliding, jeep tours and a plethora of water sports (some are an additional cost). For the truly intrepid, there are six and 12-day paragliding courses available. The resort also features a 22,000 sq m Children’s Paradise, with 20 water slides and playgrounds such as Treasure Island, Pirate’s Forest and Hidden Caves.

Prices at LykiaWorld Antalya start from £623 per person (based on two sharing a standard double room) and £1435 per family of four (two adults and two children) for a seven night stay on an all-inclusive basis.

At LykiaWorld Ölüdeniz prices start from £245 pp (based on two sharing a standard room) and £791 per family of four (two adults and two children) for a seven night stay on a full board plus basis. Infants up to two years of age can stay for free, all subject to availability.

For reservations or for further information visit www.lykiagroup.co.uk

British Airways flies three times weekly from Gatwick to Antalya from £234.30 return in May including taxes. Visit www.ba.com or call 0844 4930787.

easyJet fly direct from London Gatwick to Dalaman with return flights starting from £109 per person. For more information visit www.easyjet.com


HANDS UP HOLIDAYS ADDS MORE DESTINATIONS IN 2010

AS VOLUNTOURISM INCREASES IN POPULARITY



With voluntourism hotly predicted to be one of the biggest travel trends of 2010*, increasing numbers of holidaymakers are opting to travel with a conscience and give something back to local communities during their stay. To cater for this demand, Hands Up Holidays (www.handsupholidays.com), which cleverly combines amazing tailor-made holiday experiences with a taste of volunteering, is extending its programme to include Rio de Janeiro and Colombia. Several more destinations will be introduced to this ethical voluntourism programme later this season, among them Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Portugal and Zambia.

HANDS UP HOLIDAYS - VOLUNTEER TRIPS WITH THE FAMILY

www.handsupholidays.com/read/family-trips

Hands Up Holidays specialises in luxury tailor-made volunteering adventures, blended with eco-sightseeing. They dispel two myths that one has to:

i) rough it in order to volunteer by offering upmarket accommodation packages; and

ii) volunteer for several weeks or months. Hands Up Holidays has identified meaningful volunteer projects that one can make a difference in for just 3–5 days.



On a Hands Up Holiday, guests enrich their travel adventures by helping deprived communities and interacting with local people over a few days, whilst also having time to explore their holiday destination and get off the tourist trail. Guests return home with treasured memories and incredible stories by interacting meaningfully with the local people, enjoying superb local guides and taking part in diverse activities. Among the broad range are clearing up coastal areas of the Galapagos Islands, teaching English in the remote mountain regions of Vietnam, and renovating schools on the island paradise of Vanuatu.



Covering Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Pacific, the holiday options are varied, while the methods of volunteering can include anything from building, repair and renovation, environmental conservation, teaching, IT and administration to medical work. Some volunteer projects recommend specialist skills while others require just enthusiasm and a positive attitude.



Comfort and activity levels are carefully rated, from its specialty 5-star boutique properties to welcoming homestays, and from ‘no fitness required’ to a ‘high level of fitness’. There is something for all types of traveller from family volunteering to honeymoon volunteering, from solo travellers to senior volunteers, and from small groups to tailor-made independent travellers.



Among the 64 meaningful adventures offered by Hands Up Holidays are:

· Helping to build a school library in an impoverished Berber village in Morocco combined with spectacular hiking in the Atlas Mountains and relaxing in a luxurious riad at Essaouira.

· Monitoring humpback whales in Mozambique combined with relaxing in this tropical paradise, scuba diving and walking through the bush.

· Assisting with the conservation of endangered bears and chamois and taking scenic mountain hikes in Slovakia’s Tatras Mountains.

· Working in impoverished areas of Delhi, renovating slum living quarters, before seeing the region’s must-see sights including the Taj Mahal and the pink city of Jaipur.



NEW FOR 2010



Renewing Rio in Style - Combine volunteering in Rio with a luxury holiday exploring the sights. Step off the beaten track and, on a colourful journey, experience some of Rio’s hidden treasures including the wetlands of Marapendi. As well as discovering this cosmopolitan city in style, spend five days helping to improve favela (slum) life, by volunteering to paint walls with colourful murals, repair buildings and help to reinforce a sense of community. Stay at a new luxury boutique eco-hotel located in the trendy bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa. From £1,950pp inc. 10 nights’ B&B with 5 lunches.



Colours of Colombia - Choose from two fulfilling volunteer projects. Either help former coca leaf growers (used for making cocaine) to develop a new livelihood, an eco-tourism project near the stunning Tayrona National Park, or volunteer at a family-run fairtrade coffee plantation and inject passion back into this dying art. After five days’ volunteering explore Colombia with guided visits to Bogota, the famous Salt Cathedral built 200m below ground at Zipaquirá, the colonial city of Cartagena, and unwind in the soothing volcanic mud of ‘Volcan de Lodo el Totumo’. Stay in a mix of luxury boutique hotels and simple ensuite accommodation during volunteering. From £2,100pp inc. 13 nights’ B&B with 8 dinners and 5 lunches.



Founder and Managing Director Hands Up Holidays, Christopher Hill comments, “Our holidays are designed to give travellers a meaningful taste of voluntourism. Though not enough time to save the world, it’s sufficient to make a positive impact upon the destination, to have an authentic interaction with the local community, and for your worldview to be challenged as a result. We can react to worldwide events so, for example, we are in the process of looking at ways to help in Haiti following the devastating earthquake, and we’ll be introducing a new World Cup holiday in South Africa that will include a few days of sports coaching in townships.”