Take a luxury Caribbean cruise on board Silver Cloud and get free flights from the UK to Barbados and home from Puerto Rico. The seven-night voyage, sailing on March 10, also calls at St Lucia, Grenada and Antigua. The cost, from £1,928pp, includes drinks and onboard gratuities. Details: 0844 7709030, silversea.com

Unlike Oscar Wilde, you can stay as long as you like at the Cadogan Hotel — and for only £117 a night (down from £347). The price, for a double room, is for bookings made between November 30 and December 6 for stays from December 20 to April 11 next year — a five-star bargain and a handy base for the London January sales. Details: cadogan.com

Book by Thursday and save £130pp on a week’s skiing in Méribel in January. Four people sharing a self-catering apartment at the three-star Résidence Cybèle pay £189pp (was £319), including flights from Manchester on January 9 and transfers. Details: 0800 3580448, directski.com

Pop on your warm woollen mittens and come home with brown paper packages tied up with string from a shopping trip for a few of your favourite things at the twinkly Salzburg Christmas market. Fly from Gatwick on November 29 for three nights’ B&B and afternoon tea daily at the four-star Hotel Wold Dietrich in the Old Town. From £435pp with Inntravel (01653 617000, inntravel.co.uk).

Five days of St Andrew’s celebrations start in Scotland on Thursday. Shindig in George Square, Glasgow, is a long weekend of music and dancing; visit homecomingscotland2009.com/finale. For accommodation see visitscotland.com or call 0845 2255121.

Escape the chill for a break in Andalusia, staying at the country hotel Casa La Siesta, less than an hour’s drive from Jerez airport. Book by tomorrow for a stay of at least three nights before December 22 and get 50 per cent off, with double rooms starting at €85 (normally €170) a night, including breakfast and non-alcoholic drinks. Riding and golf are available near by (00 34 699 619 430, casalasiesta.com).

Here’s the deal of the season — £657 to take a family of four skiing in the French Alps. The price includes flights leaving Luton on December 19, half-board accommodation at the ClubHotel Morgan in the ski resort of Risoul (part of La Forêt Blanche) and a four-course Christmas dinner, before returning on Boxing Day. Details: Rocket Ski (01273 810777, rocketski.com)

Get dressed up and don your mask for the Venice Carnival on February 16, with parties and events for families of all ages. Stay for the week from February 12 at Ca’Sagredo from £1,495 per adult with one child sharing the same room from £1,000, on a B&B basis and including flights. Book with Bailey Robinson (01488 689700, baileyrobinson.com). Details of carnival events are announced in January.

Motorhoming on the West Coast of America gives you the freedom to stop and start when you want, which means it’s a great way to see the sights. Thomas Cook Signature (0844 8710661, tcsignature.com) is offering a week’s rental of a motorhome sleeping four from LA, San Francisco or Las Vegas, from £854 including unlimited mileage. International flights cost extra.

Don’t assume that flotilla holidays, when you crew your boat but sail in a group of ships under the guidance of a lead crew, are just for the Med. Sunsail (0844 4636495, sunsail.co.uk) lets you sail in the Solent from £1,499 per boat, which works out as £187pp based on eight sharing. If you don’t have your Day Skipper qualification, hire your own skipper from £175 per day, or gain the certificate at Sunsail’s Sailing School.

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