Maybe the Olympics as well as Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will entice one to stay at home this year… or perhaps they’ll make you long to escape. Whatever you choose, here’s your lowdown on 2012’s holiday shows…
FOR FAMILIES
Mark Warner’s second five-star hotel will be opening on May 19 on the Greek island of Rhodes. Set on the sands of the holiday resort of Afandou Beach, each of the 80 contemporary rooms have the balcony or a terrace – eight even have their own non-public swimming pools.
There will be the usual variety of activities, kids’ clubs and spas. Several nights’ half-board starts at L765pp including BA flights coming from Heathrow. For more details go to www.markwarner.co.uk or call 0844 273 5010.
Fancy doing something a tad bit more adventurous with the family this year? Virgin Holidays has launched a whole new range of trips that are tailored for adults and children and give the chance to investigate more exotic corners of the world.
Worldwide Journeys offers holidays in China, India, Costa Rica, Tanzania as well as Egypt, with itineraries that encompass pursuits kids will love, while mothers and fathers will get a fascinating insight into local life and culture. Your tours range from eight to fifteen days and cost from L1,295 for an Egyptian Family Adventure. Notice www.virginholidaysjourneys.co.uk
Force the boat out with no making waves in your financial institution balance when you stay at Keycamp’s new River House at Chateau des Ormes parc in Northern Brittany. It’s built on a floating podium, so you can float the thatched-roofed house – complete with double bed, bunk beds and decked terrace – out on to the lake then punt back.
Book by February 29 and two nights within the Lake House followed by five nights in a Villanova mobile home (sleeps two adults and two children six-12) will cost from L300 including Dover/Calais crossings on May 19. Go to www.keycamp.co.uk or call 0844 406 0319.
HOTEL STAYS
On the front doorstep of Faro airport, the Palacio Valverde Resort & Spa in Portugal is due to open in November, making the Algarve a great choice for a weekend break.
The hotel will have 158 rooms dotted in between lakes, beautiful gardens as well as swimming pools with buildings designed to create a palace feel. Notice www.conradhotels.hilton.com
Further afield you can combine natural beauty and winter months sun with a trip to your Southern State of Kerala. Teletext Holidays is offering a 5 Star luxurious trip to Kerala staying at the Leela Kempinski for just L1119 per person.
Getting passes for the Olympic or Paralympic Games could have been difficult, but finding an easily affordable hotel room in London may be perhaps harder. Grab a bargain simply by booking a room at the fresh Travelodge in Stratford, right in the heart regarding Games territory, which starts in March. Doubles commence at L59 per night, where there are also family rooms which sleep up to four. E-book on www.travelodge.co.uk
Get up close to the wildlife once you stay at one of eight fresh lodges at Whipsnade Zoo, Furniture. Opening in April, every single sleeps up to four using prices from L115pp including breakfast every day, an evening barbecue and a twilighting tour of the zoo.
Plane tickets
Berlin opens a brand new air port in June next year, making Germany’s most exciting and diverse area easier to get to. Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.co.uk) will launch everyday flights to the city coming from Birmingham and Manchester if the airport opens.
And easyJet (www.easyjet.com) has five fresh routes starting this summer. The first time Naples will be accessible from Edinburgh and Bristol (starting April 18 and May 12 respectively) whilst travellers from Scotland will have fresh flights from Edinburgh for you to Dalaman (from April 17). A fresh route between Southend and Jersey will begin on May 2, while from March Thirty-one you’ll be able to fly from Luton for you to Corfu.
More good news for Scottish travellers coming from Jet2 (www.jet2.com), which starts off flights from Glasgow to Barcelona three times a week and two routes a week to Murcia from March 29.
Manchester gets three new routes – 4 flights a week to Paris from March 29, twice-weekly for you to Milan Bergamo (starting May 16) as well as three flights a week for you to Toulouse (May 12).
HOLIDAYS
Cruises from the UK have become increasingly popular in recent years as they avoid the hassle and cost of hurtling, and P&O is set to increase its departures from Southampton this year, with more effective new cruises.
The new itineraries include a 28-night trip to the Caribbean on Adonia, along with cruises to the Canary Islands, your Western Med and the Atlantic Coast. From next winter three ships – Oriana, Oceana and Adonia – will sail year-round from Southampton. Check out www.pocruises.com for more.
Disney Cruises is setting sail from three new plug-ins in 2012, meaning that it’s just not just kids who have every one of the fun. From May Twenty five, Disney will be sailing coming from New York – as well as Seattle and Galveston in Texas – making a couple of nights within the Big Apple the perfect way to circular off a child-friendly cruise. Visit www.disneycruise.co.uk
Great news for Irish cruising fans: MSC Cruises is adding Cork and Dublin for you to four new itineraries in August and September. Customers could embark and disembark from the luxurious MSC Lirica, with itineraries that eat the German port of Hamburg along with Amsterdam and the Shetland Isles. More info at www.msccruises.co.uk
Croatia also has beautiful coastlines and offers fantastic value money compared to various other Mediterranean resorts. In Croatia the most beautiful cities are Split,Dubrovnik and Makarska. Try this 7 night cruise along the Dalmatian Coast for just L699 per person. Saving up for you to L200pp.
RAIL BREAKS
Holidays simply by rail are gaining popularity, as well as Great Rail Journeys carries a number of new itineraries, including many in the British Isles. Discover Scotland’s stunning countryside and vibrant cities on a nine-day Western Highlands and Hebrides tour (coming from L825pp), or take a short break in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales (from L448).
More high-speed trains are making Europe more accessible by rail than ever before, as well as GRJ has new trips for the continent including a 10-day trip to the astounding Harz Mountains and Rhine Gorge in Germany (from L1,298pp), and the chance to explore lesser-known Southern Italy, which has a 13-day trip to Puglia and Basilicata (from L1,925pp). More information at www.greatrail.com or call 01904 521936.
Spoil your loved one on Valentine’s, or surprise your mummy on Mother’s Day with a particular journey aboard the Navigate Express, writes tagza.com. Superbreak is offering a wide range of day trips across the UK on sister trains the British Pullman and Northern Belle from London and other cities. The Valentine’s Day time round-trip costs L195pp on the Northern Belle coming from Manchester or Liverpool including five-course dinner, champagne and 50 percent bottle of wine. Book at www.superbreak.com or call 0871 222 3055.