UK

Try pumpkin carving as part of a posh camping experience, staying in a yurt in Devon, which comes with wood-burning stoves and king-size beds. There are 40 acres of woodland to explore and an assault course with a zip wire. It costs from £17pp per night. Details: 01626 824666, yurtcamp.co.uk

Spend a thrifty Christmas in the Scottish Highlands. Four nights from December 23 at the three-star Eight Acres Hotel in Elgin on half board are from £219pp. The price includes Christmas Eve tea party, Christmas dinner, mulled wine, entertainment and “Grand Buffet”. The hotel has a leisure club with indoor pool. Details: 0800 1958852, travelcounsellors.co.uk .

Short-haul

One of the world's biggest aviaries has opened in Loro Parque, the wildlife theme park in Tenerife. In Katandra Treetops, visitors can wander through the tropicasl vegetation and watch exotic birds, from Australian Kookaburras to Pink Cockatoos. The park also has an aquatic park, Orca Ocean, an aquarium, Tiger Island, home to a white tiger, a parrot nursery, and more. Entrance to Loro Parque and twin aquatic attraction Siam Park, costs €49.50 for adults and €33.50 for children, www.loroparque.com.

Chocolate heaven! Head to Perugia’s annual EuroChocolate festival, starting on Friday (until October 25), for a chocoholic holiday Italian-style. There will be tastings, chocolate art and cocoa spa treatments. Double rooms at the five-star Brufani Palace Hotel in the centre are from £127 with Hotels.com (0871 2000171, hotels.co.uk) .

One Off Places has discounts on a variety of attractive self-catering properties in Europe. For example, there is a third off a restored farmhouse in the Andalucian countryside, for £167.50 a week from October 17, and 15 per cent off a luxury apartment on the Giudecca in Venice, where three-night stays in November are £480. Details: 01494 881196, oneoffplaces.co.uk

Pleasant weather in the Algarve makes it perfect for a family tennis holiday, with group classes divided according to age and ability. Seven nights’ self catering at the Vale do Lobo Resort, including ten hours’ group coaching, plus car rental, costs about £500pp. Flights are extra but are available with Monarch (monarch.co.uk) for about £100 return. Details: 00 351 289 353 333, valedolobo.com

Go ice fishing and snow rafting in Norway on an active holiday in the snow in the Gala Hogfjellshotell north of Lillehammer. There is downhill and cross-country skiing too, and a visit by Santa at Christmas. Inntravel (01653 617000, www.inntravel.co.uk) has one week leaving December 20 from £3,786 for a family of four, with children aged 5-15 sharing the parents’ room. The price includes flights and full-board accommodation but not activities.

Long-haul

SeaWorld and Busch Gardens in Florida are offering three parks for the price of two, giving theme park fans access to the two parks, plus SeaWorld’s new waterpark Aquatica, across 14 days. The ticket costs £64, see http://3-4-2-parks.co.uk

Fly by helicopter from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon for a horse ride and roping demonstrations at the Grand Canyon West Ranch, then return to the city for a wander down the famous “strip”. Airtours (0844 8716636, airtours.co.uk) has seven nights’ room only in Las Vegas, leaving Manchester, from £949pp. The helicopter and ranch adventure costs an additional £269pp.

Stay in China’s most luxurious hotels and save £1,345pp on a 12-day tour with Audley (01993 838220, audleytravel.com ). Book this month and depart by February 23 to get 35 per cent off a stay at the five-star Puli hotel in Shanghai, the Banyan Tree in Lijang and the Intercontinental in Hong Kong. The price, from £2,495pp, includes B&B, private guide and driver and flights.

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