Take me there: wild skating in Sweden
The skating season is almost upon us, but if the thought of jostling for elbow room with kamikaze teens and boozed-up office workers on a synthetic rink leaves you cold, check out the new wild-skating trip from Swedish tour operator Nature Travels. Accompanied by an expert guide, you can experience the thrill of speeding over the frozen lakes of south-eastern Sweden this winter, covering distances of up to 25km per day, followed by a sauna in the evenings. The four-day trip costs £699pp, including hostel accommodation, meals, skating equipment and transfers. Flights to Stockholm are extra. For details, see naturetravels.co.uk.
It's a good time to... book a Christmas cottage
Escaping to the coast or countryside with a group of friends or family can make a refreshing break from the festive routine, and if you shop around you'll find many cottage companies prepared to throw in little extras to take the hard work out of your holiday.
Beach Retreats (beachretreats.co.uk), which specialises in houses and apartments on the Cornish coast, has compiled a list of "Santa-friendly" properties (basically, places with open fires which have availability for Christmas). The company will advise on everything from carol concerts to where to buy a Christmas tree. A five-night break at Sea Lodge, near the surf beach at Watergate Bay, costs £765 (22-27 December) for five people.
At Dorset Cottage Holidays (dhcottages.co.uk) they've gone one step further. Book a stay at one of the company's Isle of Purbeck cottages and not only will you arrive to find a decorated tree but you'll also get a visit from Santa himself, bearing a hamper of Christmas goodies.
Cranmer Country Cottages (norfolk-luxury-cottages.co.uk), a cluster of cottages with a heated indoor pool on the Norfolk coast, is offering a 25% discount on Christmas bookings. Cottages will be decorated and a hamper of local food, including bronze turkeys, can be provided.
Give me a break: the week's best deals, home and away
Houseboat, Wales
Here's one for landlubbers who want a taste of life at sea: a 1950s pleasure launch converted into a cosy holiday home and set in its own paddock with views of Cardigan Bay. Under the Thatch is offering a 20% discount on its quirky new property until the end of November, bringing the price of a three-night break down to £224. The offer expires on 25 October (underthethatch.co.uk/boat).
Winter sun in Nice
Arty but affordable, the Hotel Windsor is one of the Côte d'Azur's best-value boutique hotels and has a tropical courtyard garden and a top-floor hammam. From 1 November to 31 March (excluding New Year) guests get four nights for the price of three when booking through i-escape, with low-season rates starting from €82 per night (i-escape.com/hotel-windsor/rates).
