Six top destinations

New York: £187

Kuwait Airways from Heathrow. Valid for departures until December 14. No minimum stay, maximum six months. Thomas Cook Flights Direct (0870 7520066).

Los Angeles: £278

Delta from Gatwick via Atlanta. Book by November 28. Valid for departures until December 11. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).

Sydney: £595

British Airways from Heathrow via Singapore or Bangkok. Must be booked by December 1. Valid for departures April 12 - June 15. No minimum stay, maximum one year. Travelbag (0870 8901458).

Hong Kong: £407

Emirates from Gatwick or Birmingham via Dubai. Valid for departures December 1-9, then December 25-April 3 and April 12 - July 15. Minimum stay seven days, maximum two months. Quest Travel (0870 4423513).

Paris: £69

British Airways from Manchester. Must be booked online (£10 extra if booked by phone, 0870 8509850) and at least 30 days before travel. Valid for departures indefinitely. British Airways.

Amsterdam: £59.40

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

The pick of the rest

Beijing: £379

Lufthansa from Heathrow via Frankfurt. Book by November 30. Valid for departures January 10 - February 29. Minimum stay eight days, maximum one month. Bridge the World (0870 4441716).

Palma: £66.90

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.

Funchal: £89

Monarch Airlines charter from Gatwick. Departs November 17 for seven nights. Avro (0870 4582847).

Melbourne: £585

Qantas from Manchester via Frankfurt and Singapore. Valid for departures April 12 - June 15. No minimum stay, maximum one year. Thomas Cook Flights Direct (0870 7520066).

And the rail alternative

Paris/Brussels: £59. Lille: £55

Eurostar from Waterloo or Ashford. Must be booked at least 21 days before departure. No advance booking required if trips include a Saturday night away or for same-day returns on Saturdays or Sundays. Eurostar (08705 186186).

· 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.