Sydney: £544

Emirates from Heathrow via Dubai. Same fare available from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham, though taxes may vary slightly. Must be booked by June 15. Valid for each of two travelling together and for departures May 1-June 30. Minimum stay seven nights, maximum six months. Travelbag (0870 8901458, travelbag.co.uk).

New York: £186

British Airways from Heathrow. Valid for departures April 20-May 15. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Bridge the World (0870 4441716, bridgetheworld.com).

Los Angeles: £225

British Airways from Heathrow. Valid for departures April 20-May 15. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Bridge the World (0870 4441716, bridgetheworld.com).

Cape Town: £515

KLM from Heathrow, London City, Bristol, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Humberside, Leeds-Bradford, Newcastle, Norwich, Teesside, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow via Amsterdam. Must be booked by April 25. Valid for departures May 1-June 27. Minimum stay five days, maximum one month. Trailfinders (020-7938 3939, trailfinders.com).

Paris: £64.90

bmi British Midland from Heathrow. Must be booked online (£5 extra if booked by phone, 0870 6070555). Valid for departures indefinitely. No minimum stay, maximum one year. bmi British Midland (flybmi.com).

Amsterdam: £69

British Airways from Birming ham. Must be booked online (£10 extra if booked by phone, 0845 7733377) and at least 30 days before travel. Valid for departures indefinitely. British Airways (ba.com).

The pick of the rest Buenos Aires: £455

Aerolineas Argentinas from Gatwick via Madrid. Valid for departures until May 29. Minimum stay five days, maximum one month. Quest Travel (0870 4423513, questtravel.com).

Malaga: £89

Britannia charter from Manchester. Departs April 26 for eight nights. Britannia Direct (0800 000747, BritanniaDirect.com).

Orlando: £279

British Airways from Gatwick. Valid for departures from tomorrow until May 15. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. British Airways (0845 7733377, ba.com).

Mahon: £99

Monarch charter from Gatwick. Departs April 25 for seven nights. Avro (0870 0360116, avro.co.uk).

And the rail alternative Paris/Brussels: £59. Lille: £55

Eurostar from Waterloo or Ashford (no advance purchase required but may not be available at last minute). Same day weekend return fare. Valid for Saturday and Sunday departures. Eurostar (08705 186186, eurostar.com).

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.