Maybe the Olympics along with 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 upon May 19 on the Greek island of Rhodes. Set close to the sands of the 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 through Heathrow. For more details go to www.markwarner.co.uk or get in touch with 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 explore 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 mother and father will get a fascinating insight into nearby life and culture. The actual tours range from eight to fifteen days and cost from L1,295 for an Egyptian Family Adventure. Observe www.virginholidaysjourneys.co.uk

Drive the boat out with out 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 platform, so you can float the thatched-roofed home – ­complete with double bed, bunk beds and decked terrace – out on to the lake after which punt back.

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

HOTEL STAYS

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

The resort will have 158 rooms ­dotted among lakes, beautiful gardens along with swimming pools with buildings built to create a palace feel. Observe www.conradhotels.hilton.com

Further afield it is possible to combine natural beauty and winter months sun with a trip to your Southern State of Kerala. Teletext Holidays is offering a 5 Star high-class trip to Kerala staying at the Leela Kempinski for L1119 per person.

Getting passes for the Olympic or Paralympic Games may have been difficult, but finding a reasonable hotel room in London may be actually harder. Grab a bargain by booking a room at the fresh Travelodge in Stratford, right in the heart of Games territory, which opens up in March. Doubles commence at L59 per night, and there are also family rooms which sleep up to four. Guide on www.travelodge.co.uk

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

Routes

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 day-to-day flights to the city through Birmingham and Manchester once 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 whole new 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 through Jet2 (www.jet2.com), which starts flights from Glasgow to Barcelona three times a week and two travel arrangements a week to Murcia from March 29.

Manchester gets 3 new routes – four 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 out to be increasingly popular in recent years as they prevent the hassle and cost of traveling, 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, your Western Med and the Atlantic Coast. From next winter 3 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 locations in 2012, meaning that its not just kids who have each of the fun. From May 25, Disney will be sailing through New York – as well as Seattle and Galveston in Texas – making a couple of nights in the Big Apple the perfect way to rounded off a child-friendly cruise. Visit www.disneycruise.co.uk

Good news for Irish cruising fans: MSC Vacation cruises is adding Cork and ­Dublin for you to four new itineraries in August and September. Customers may embark and disembark from the luxurious MSC Lirica, with itineraries that eat 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 great value money compared to various other Mediterranean resorts. In Croatia the most beautiful cities are Split,Dubrovnik and Makarska. Try this 7 nighttime cruise along the Dalmatian Coast for L699 per person. Saving up for you to L200pp.

RAIL BREAKS

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

More high-speed educates are making Europe more available by rail than ever before, along with GRJ has new trips towards the continent including a 10-day trip to the spectacular Harz Mountains and Rhine Gorge within Germany (from L1,298pp), and the possiblity to explore lesser-known Southern Italy, using a 13-day trip to Puglia and Basilicata (from L1,925pp). More details at www.greatrail.com or call 01904 521936.

Spoil your loved one upon Valentine’s, or surprise your mummy on Mother’s Day with a specific journey aboard the Navigate Express, writes tagza.com. Superbreak is offering an array of day trips across the UK upon sister trains the British Pullman and Northern Belle from London and other cities. The ­Valentine’s Morning round-trip costs L195pp on the Northern Belle through Manchester or Liverpool such as five-course dinner, champagne and 50 percent bottle of wine. Book at www.superbreak.com or call 0871 222 3055.

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