BRITISH ISLES

Rent a cottage in the Dartmoor National Park, Devon, and save up to 30 per cent with Helpful Holidays. Old Orchard barn sleeps four and has shared use of a pool, sauna and games room. A week from August 23 costs £754. The Mission Chapel in Murchington sleeps six and costs £714 for the same week. Details: 01647 434063 quoting refs A18 and A68, www.helpfulholidays.com

Castle Cottage on the border of the Golden Valley and Black Mountains, sleeps two and is ideal for long walks in the countryside. A week's stay from August 22 costs £240 with Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages. Details: 01874 676446, www.breconcottages.com

Take on the Battle Galleons interactive water ride at Alton Towers with Superbreak. A family of four can spend a day at the park with an overnight stay at the Quality Hotel Stoke-on-Trent, a 30-minute drive away, for £212, including breakfast for the adults. Stay from August 22 to 25. Details: 0871 2223055, www.superbreak.com

SHORT-HAUL

Book a Bank Holiday weekend to Ghent and get the third night free. Through Railbookers, a three-night break from August 22 costs £199pp staying at the four-star Marriott Ghent Hotel, with breakfast and return Eurostar Travel. Details: 0844 4821010, www.railbookers.com

Directline Citybreaks has a three- night break to Prague for £412pp, including B&B at the Ametyst Hotel, a short walk from Wenceslas Square, and flights from Gatwick on August 22. Details: 020-8239 3399, www.directline-citybreaks.co.uk

LONG-HAUL

Save up to £500pp on a week at the Banyan Tree in the Seychelles. Abercrombie & Kent has a stay in the Hillside Pool Villa for £2,369pp including breakfast and flights from Heathrow. Travel until September 28. Details: 0845 6182212, www.abercrombiekent.co.uk

Deals from the Sunday Times...

Lake District, £288
Cumbrian Cottages (01228 599960, www.cumbrian-cottages.co.uk ) has seven nights, self-catering, at Half Crown Cottage, sleeping two, in Lamonby, from £288 (saving £72), from August 30 or September 6.

Rio de Janeiro, £878
Expedia (0871 226 0808, www.expedia.co.uk ) has six nights, room-only, at the four-star Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort from £878pp (saving £376), flying from Birmingham on September 10.

Madeira £746
Cadogan Holidays (0845 615 6793, www.cadoganholidays.com ) has seven nights, B&B, at the five-star Hotel Savoy, in Funchal, from £746pp (saving £255), flying from Gatwick on September 8.

Times recommends

• Travel advice: what to do if your flight is disrupted
• Top 10 unmissable events in 2010
• Seven spa breaks for January