Worldwide Journeys Offers Holidays In China, India, Costa Rica, Tanzania And Egypt, With Itineraries In Which Encompass Activities Kids Will Love, While Parents Will Get A Fascinating Insight Into Local Life And Way Of Life.

Maybe the Olympics along with Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will entice one to stay at home this year… or perhaps they’ll allow you to long to escape. Whatever you choose, here’s the lowdown on 2012’s holiday shows…

FOR FAMILIES

Mark Warner’s second five-star hotel will be opening in May 19 on the Greek island of Rhodes. Set directly on the sands of the vacation resort of Afandou Beach, each of the 80 contemporary rooms have either a balcony or a terrace – eight even have their own personal swimming pools.

There will be the usual array of ­activities, kids’ clubs and spas. Several nights’ half-board starts at L765pp ­including BA flights via Heathrow. For more details go to www.markwarner.co.uk or contact 0844 273 5010.

Fancy doing something a little more adventurous with the family this year? Virgin Holidays has launched a new range of trips that are targeted at adults and children and give the chance to investigate more exotic corners of the world.

Worldwide Journeys offers holidays within China, India, Costa Rica, Tanzania along with Egypt, with itineraries that ­encompass pursuits kids will love, while mom and dad will get a fascinating insight into neighborhood life and culture. The particular tours range from eight to fifteen days and cost from L1,295 to have an Egyptian Family Adventure. Observe www.virginholidaysjourneys.co.uk

Push the boat out without making waves in your financial institution ­balance when you stay at ­Keycamp’s new River House at Chateau des Ormes parc within ­Northern Brittany. It’s built on a floating program, so you can float the thatched-roofed residence – ­complete with double bed, bunk beds and decked terrace – out on to the lake then punt back.

Book by February 29 and two nights in the Lake House followed by five nights in a Villanova mobile home (beds down two adults and two kids six-12) will cost from L300 including Dover/Calais crossings in May 19. Go to www.keycamp.co.uk or contact 0844 406 0319.

HOTEL STAYS

On the home of Faro airport, ­the Palacio Valverde Resort & Club in ­Portugal is due to open within November, making the Algarve an ideal choice for a weekend break.

Your accommodation will have 158 rooms ­dotted between lakes, beautiful gardens along with swimming pools with buildings made to create a palace feel. Observe www.conradhotels.hilton.com

Further afield you’ll be able to combine natural beauty and wintertime sun with a trip to the Southern State of Kerala. Teletext Holidays is offering a 5 Star high end trip to Kerala staying at the Leela Kempinski just for L1119 per person.

Getting tickets for the Olympic or Paralympic Games could have been difficult, but finding an easily affordable hotel room in London may be also harder. Grab a bargain through booking a room at the fresh Travelodge in Stratford, right in the heart regarding Games territory, which unwraps in March. Doubles start at L59 per night, there are also family rooms which in turn sleep up to four. Publication on www.travelodge.co.uk

Get up close to the wildlife whenever you stay at one of eight fresh lodges at Whipsnade Zoo, Beds. Opening in April, each sleeps up to four with prices from L115pp including breakfast time, an evening barbecue and a twilighting tour of the zoo.

Travel arrangements

Berlin opens a brand new air port in June next year, generating Germany’s most exciting and diverse city easier to get to. Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.co.uk) will launch day-to-day flights to the city via 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) even though 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 31st you’ll be able to fly from Luton for you to Corfu.

More good news for Scottish ­travellers via Jet2 (www.jet2.com), which begins flights from Glasgow to Barcelona three times a week and two plane tickets a week to Murcia from March 29.

Manchester gets three new routes – a number of flights a week to Paris from March 29, twice-weekly for you to Milan Bergamo (starting May 16) along with three flights a week for you to Toulouse (May 12).

HOLIDAYS

Cruises from the UK have turn into increasingly popular in recent years as they prevent the hassle and cost of flying, and P&O is set to increase their departures from Southampton this year, with several new cruises.

The new itineraries incorporate a 28-night trip to the Caribbean on Adonia, and also cruises to the Canary Islands, the Western Med and the Atlantic Coast. From next winter three ships – Oriana, Oceana and Adonia – will sail year-round from Southampton. Go to www.pocruises.com for more.

Disney Cruises is setting travel from three new plug-ins in 2012, meaning that it is not just kids who have each of the fun. From May 25, Disney will be sailing via New York – as well as Seattle and Galveston in Texas – making a couple of nights in the Big Apple the perfect way to spherical off a child-friendly cruise. Visit www.disneycruise.co.uk

Good news for Irish cruising fans: MSC Cruise ships is adding Cork and ­Dublin for you to four new itineraries in August and September. Customers could embark and disembark from your luxurious MSC Lirica, with itineraries that take in the German port of Hamburg and also Amsterdam and the Shetland Isles. More info in www.msccruises.co.uk

Croatia also has beautiful coastlines and offers excellent value money compared to additional Mediterranean resorts. In Croatia the most beautiful cities are Split,Dubrovnik and Makarska. Try this 7 evening cruise along the Dalmatian Coast just for L699 per person. Saving up for you to L200pp.

RAIL BREAKS

Holidays through rail are gaining ­popularity, along with Great Rail Journeys has a number of new itineraries, including several in the British Isles. Discover Scotland’s stunning countryside and vibrant ­cities on a nine-day Western Highlands and Hebrides tour (via L825pp), or take a short break in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales (from L448).

More high-speed trains are making Europe more obtainable by rail than ever before, along with GRJ has new trips for the continent including a 10-day trip to the astounding Harz Mountains and Rhine Gorge within Germany (from L1,298pp), and the chance to explore lesser-known Southern Italy, using a 13-day trip to Puglia and Basilicata (from L1,925pp). More information at www.greatrail.com as well as call 01904 521936.

Spoil your loved one in Valentine’s, or surprise your mother on Mother’s Day with a special journey aboard the Navigate Express, writes tagza.com. Superbreak is offering a variety of day trips across the UK in 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 via Manchester or Liverpool which includes five-course dinner, champagne and 50 percent bottle of wine. Book at www.superbreak.com or call 0871 222 3055.