Desert island delights

A new direct flight to Porto Santo will bring this peaceful little island out of the shadow of Madeira and within easy reach of the UK. Bob Maddams gets a sneak preview

Bone idyll

Rejuvenate on an Iceland retreat where you bathe in the healing waters while experiencing cranialscaral therapy and water-based Shiatsu

A cool, green oasis in the kasbah

If you are looking for a peaceful retreat in the heart of Marrakesh with strong eco-credentials, look no further than Les Borjs de la Kasbah, says Rebecca Seal

Escape’s picks of the week

The festival | The experience | The spa | The flight | The hotel | The bargain | The short break | The culture crawl

Sun and spa but without the jet lag

A new spa resort in the Canary Islands is the perfect antidote to the winter blues for Joanne O'Connor. And best of all, it's just a four-hour flight away

Massif attack

John Brunton heads to the peace and quiet of Auvergne to recharge his batteries

Mod and rocky

Gavin McOwan discovers the finest room with a view he's ever seen in a unique modernist hotel in the Dolmites

Ride of passage

This year, Britons will take 24.6 million trips to Spain, France, Italy and Greece. But you don't have to follow the crowds. Kevin Gould escapes to the Sierra de Gredos on horseback

Expert traveller

How to speak foreign languages without trying | Where to change your life while you sleep | What is sightjogging?

The perfect Cotswold boltholes

We've scoured the pretty hills and sleepy villages to find the ideal hotel for every personality - from a grand castle for aspiring aristocrats to a funky treat for fashionistas

Recycle yourself

Be good to yourself and the environment with Natalie Walsh's guide to 10 top green spa resorts

Down the thatch

Donegal's Cruit island is about as far away from it all as you can get - nothing but thatched cottages, peat fires and the wild Atlantic coast. The perfect place to see in the new year, says Isabel Choat

Stay in good health

Whether learning Tai Chi in Vietnam or detoxing in Ibiza, these are the best vacations for the body as well as the mind