Six top destinations

Hong Kong: £377
Lufthansa from Heathrow via Frankfurt. Must be booked by November 29. Valid for departures January 2-March 24. Minimum stay seven days, maximum two months. Thomas Cook Flights Direct (0870 752 0066).

New York: £187
Icelandair from Heathrow via Reykjavik. Must be booked by November 30. Valid for departures until December 14. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum 30 days. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).

Sydney: £585
Qantas/British Airways from Heathrow via Bangkok or Singapore. Valid for departures November 27. Minimum stay six nights, maximum one year. Travelbag (0870 7377779).

Los Angeles: £235
American Airlines from Heathrow. Same fare available to San Francisco. Valid for departures November 15-22. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Quest Travel (0870 4423508).

Amsterdam:£64
British Midland from Heathrow. Must be booked by December 11. Valid for departures until March 19. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum three months. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).

Paris: £65
British Midland from East Midlands. Valid for midweek or Saturday departures. All travel must be completed by March 21. Minimum stay two nights, maximum three months. British Midland (0870 6070555).

The pick of the rest

Fuerteventura: £99
Air 2000 charter from Manchester. Departs December 5 for seven nights. Avro (020-8695 4440).

Rio: £399
Varig from Heathrow via São Paulo. Valid for departures November 12-30. Minimum stay seven days, maximum one month. Bridge the World (0870 44474747).

Miami: £219
Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick. Valid for departures November 15-22. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Quest Travel (0870 4423508).

Rome: £109
Alitalia from Heathrow or Gatwick. Must by booked November 30 and at least seven days before departure. Valid for outbound departures until March 20, excluding December 19-31. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Alitalia (0870 5448259).

And the rail alternative

Paris/Brussels: £79. Lille £69
Eurostar from Waterloo. Must be bought at least 14 days before departure. Minimum stay one Saturday night or two other nights. Eurostar (0870 5186186).

· NB Fares can change rapidly. These were available in reasonable quantities at the time of writing, but they can sell out in a sudden rush.