The Ultimate Marine Wildlife Experience – Up Close and Personal on the Miracle of Migration Wildlife Cruise to Denmark. The perfect break for wildlife lovers and families.

Prices from £140pp

Discover the wildlife and beauty of the Danish coastline and the island of Fanø on this fully guided three night break to Denmark,

Sailing from Harwich to Esbjerg in Denmark this Mini Cruise is a fantastic opportunity to take in the marine wildlife and learn from the experts.

Once onboard step out on deck in search of seals, porpoises and birds with the expert wildlife spotters. Then relax and enjoy the interactive wildlife presentations.

Arriving in Esbjerg the next day you head to the nearby island of Fanø, an internationally important breeding ground for migrating birds, as well as having beautiful beaches and dunes.

Here you discover why birds share our passion for travel, and watch thousands of birds in action as they make their fuel stops en route between their wintering and breeding grounds.

In 2009 we saw over 50,000 birds of over 100 species in just one day!

Denmark’s largest colony of Common and Grey Seals is also on the agenda, plus there is time to explore old Scandinavian villages.

Prices from £140pp and includes 3 nights onboard, (2 sailing, 1 in port in Esbjerg), 1½ days of guided bird and wildlife watching on Fanø including ferry and local transport, presentation and fun activities onboard. Or including breakfasts and evening meals onboard from £208pp.

Departs from Harwich on the 2nd May, 19th September and 10th October 2010

Visit Leeds (www.visitleeds.co.uk) the city’s official tourism body, has released the Top 10 things to do and places to stay to help visitors plan their Valentine’s Day 2010.

Top 10 Things to do in Leeds

1. Book a box at Leeds Grand Theatre for Opera North’s spellbinding performance of La Boheme .
2. Hold hands as you ice skate on the UK’s largest temporary ice rink The Ice Cube and warm up afterwards with a mug of hot chocolate!
3. Your funny Valentine will love nothing more than a few giggles at The HiFi Club comedy night.
4. Take half an hour out to visit the Elemis Spapod at Harvey Nichols. Highly skilled therapists perform power-booster facials in the world’s first intelligent massage chair.
5. For a special Valentine’s night treat pick up some lingerie at the risqué Agent Provocateur boutique in the Victoria Quarter.
6. If you’re thinking about popping the question visit the Amore jewellery showcase at Leeds Craft Centre & Design Gallery for unique, affordable pieces.
7. Raise a toast to yourselves at Epernay champagne bar. They stock an extensive range of vintage, rare and exclusive bottles and the stylish surroundings are perfect for sampling bubbles until the early hours.
8. Experience James Turrell’s Skyspace artwork at sunset followed by a delicious evening meal at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
9. If you fancy a romantic meal with lively entertainment book a table at Bibi’s Italianissimo restaurant and enjoy the 9- piece ‘Schwing’ band playing classic tunes to get you up and dancing.
10. Snuggle up with your loved one at one of the UK’s oldest cinemas The Hyde Park Picture House showing both the heart-warming French favourite Amelie and touching Norwegian vampire flick Let The Right One In over the Valentines weekend.

Why not book a short break in Leeds to make the most of all the events on offer? If you’re spoilt for choice, find inspiration with Visit Leeds’ list of the 10 most romantic places to stay in the city:

1. Chic, unique and boutique, Quebecs’ elegant bedrooms and suites provide the perfect oasis for a romantic stay. Enjoy a glass of Champagne on arrival with nibbles, discover rose petals on the bed, luxury bubble bath to unwind, L’Occitane’s ‘Try Me’ travel kit to keep, a luxury double room plus breakfast from £150 per night. www.theetoncollection.com
2. The Queen’s Hotel is Leeds landmark hotel, with a beautiful art deco interior, located on City Square. Double rooms start at £89 including breakfast. Tickets for the hotel’s Valentine’s dinner dance featuring a 4 course meal and a Frank Sinatra tribute act are just £34.95 each. www.qhotels.co.uk
3. For pure relaxation head to the Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa. For £149 enjoy a 3 course dinner in the restaurant, a full English breakfast, unlimited use of the spa and fluffy robes for use during your stay. www.thorpeparkhotel.com
4. Book a Valentines break at the stylish and contemporary Woodlands and receive a bottle of Champagne in your room on arrival, a 3 course candlelit dinner and full Yorkshire breakfast in the morning from £199 per room. www.tomahawkhotels.co.uk
5. De Vere Oulton Hall is a lavish retreat with a golf course and spa alongside luxury accommodation. A 2 night break for 2 people in February starts from £149 including dinner on the first night, wine in your room on arrival and a late checkout. www.devere.co.uk
6. If you fancy a view of the city from a hot tub, check into the penthouse suite at The Chambers serviced apartments. Book a superior apartment this Valentine’s weekend and receive a complimentary bottle of champagne! www.morethanjustabed.com
7. From £195 per night you can enjoy a glorious suite at Malmaison, champagne on ice, chocolate dipped strawberries, aromatic oils and candles, a chilled Mal CD and that all important champagne breakfast in your room. That’s Mal life. www.malmaison-leeds.com
8. Snuggle up with this romantic package for one night at the riverside 42 The Calls hotel in Leeds. Stay in a deluxe double room with an ice cold bottle of Champagne, rose petals on the bed, sensual bath oil, delicious chocolates and a full Yorkshire breakfast for two in the morning. Prices from £170 per night. www.42thecalls.co.uk
9. Treat your loved one to an evening away from it all, with the Romance @ Roomzzz package. Pamper yourself with Espa soothing massage oil and chill out and watch one of a wide selection of movies in the privacy of your luxury apartment. Enjoy some Haagen Dazs ice cream & a huge bar of Green & Blacks organic chocolate and chocolate drink. Prices from £69 per apartment per night at weekends, plus £29.95 for the Romance package. www.roomzzz.co.uk
10. Whisk your loved one off to City Inn Leeds to celebrate Valentines. 2 nights from £149 includes a bottle of Champagne on arrival, a romantic 3 course evening meal on one night, special free gift for your loved one, a double room, delicious breakfast on both mornings and a 2pm checkout. With stunning views of the city, the Skylounge bar is also a fantastic place to propose! www.cityinn.com

Haven’s nationwide search for new FunStars to entertain guests at their 35 family holiday parks ends this week at Bristol City Football Stadium.

Britain’s favourite family holiday company has been auditioning at football stadiums around the country for hundreds of new FunStars to help their existing Team deliver a fantastic new programme of entertainment this year.

Bright, bubbly and talented the FunStars make Haven Holidays extra special, organising a whole range of fun daytime activities and live performances after dark with interactive games and competitions, singing, dancing and glittering stage-shows.

‘Our FunStars make sure there’s always something to look forward to’, say Haven.

Families can get up and moving with early morning Wake and Shake sessions; there are Kid’s Clubs with a whole range of FREE activities including arts and crafts, music and dancing, games and competitions; cake decorating for kids in Annabel’s Creative Kitchen and plenty of opportunities to join the FunStars on stage with games and competitions as well as the popular ‘Haven’s Got Talent’ contest.

Daytime entertainment includes character shows featuring cuddly favourites Rory the Tiger and friends, all season pantos and wrestling. And when the sun goes down there are lively evenings with stage-shows, circus performances, variety nights and some of the UK’s top cabaret acts. Many Haven Holiday parks have more than one evening venue, with different shows taking place at the same time.

Best of all in these budget-conscious times, entertainment comes as part of the package.

With prices from as little as £129 for a three or four night Spring break for a family of four in Superior 2 bedroom accommodation it’s cheaper than treating the kids to a night out at a West End show!

The special early booking deal is available at a wide choice of Haven parks including Cala Gran, Golden Sands, Berwick and Wild Duck. Check the website www.haven.com or call 0871 230 1900 for immediate bookings and more information.

Travellers – particularly those of Scottish descent or lovers of Scots culture – now have the perfect place to immerse themselves in hundreds of years of Auld Reekie’s vibrant history during their next trip to Scotland.

Not only does Fraser Suites Edinburgh offer luxury accommodation, its location in one of the Scottish Capital’s most historic buildings and just steps away from some of Scotland’s most famous heritage sites, means guests can really step back and sample the history of one of the world’s great cities.

The hotel, which officially opened its doors last November, is located in the heart of the city’s Old Town – just a few hundred yards away from the ancestral home of Scotland’s kings and queens, the site of the city’s most notorious underground prison and the hunting grounds of some of Edinburgh’s nefarious criminals.

The Victorian-era building also sits directly above one of the city’s most haunted hidden streets, Mary King’s Close – a former plague-ridden thoroughfare in Edinburgh’s Old Town which has been the focus of numerous paranormal investigations and historical surveys in recent years.

Heather Gilchrist, Regional General Manager Frasers Hospitality Scotland, said: “There aren’t many venues in Scotland – let alone Edinburgh – that can boast as much history as our new hotel. It’s location in the heart of the oldest part of the city makes it the ideal place for visitors interested in Edinburgh’s heritage to come and stay.

“The building that Fraser Suites Edinburgh is actually located in was originally the home of some of the city’s major newspapers, and the street we are located on – St Giles Street – was often referred to as the Fleet Street of Scotland. It’s an area brimming with historical interest and that has graced many famous figures from throughout the ages.

“For those who like to explore things a little spookier, we’ve also got one of the city’s most haunted streets just a few yards away and our very own cellar could be harbouring a resident ghost or two. Some of our housekeeping staff have reported hearing strange thumps coming from behind the door a couple of times – and when you go into the old cellar there is a definitely strange chill at a certain spot in the room.

“I’m certain that anyone looking to explore the historical heart of Scotland’s capital city will not find a better place to stay than Fraser Suites Edinburgh.”

St Giles Street was initially created during the construction and subsequent remodeling of the Bank of Scotland Headquarters by renowned Scottish architect David Bryce in the 1860s.

The 12-18 St. Giles Street part of the hotel was designed by Bryce in 1871 as the head office for the Edinburgh Courant newspaper – one of the earliest regional newspapers in Britain which counted Robinson Crusoe author Daniel Defoe as one of its editors. Fraser Suites Edinburgh have now secured a rare early copy of a Courant which is to put on display.

From the late 19th century until the middle of the 20th century, St. Giles Street was the ‘Fleet Street of Scotland’, hosting (over the years) the offices of not only the Edinburgh Courant and Edinburgh Daily Review, but also the Glasgow News, Glasgow Herald, Glasgow Evening Citizen, the Edinburgh Daily Mail and the Mercat Press.

During the refurbishment – in which much work was done to retain the original features, including restoring high ceilings and ornate cornicing – a number of long-forgotten features were discovered. These included a set of stained glass panels celebrating one of Scotland’s most famous sons, Sir Patrick Geddes, who was celebrated across the world for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning and education.

The central panel bears the inscription Vivendo Discimvs (Latin for ‘by living we learn’) and historians now believe that building was pioneered by Geddes as student accommodation for the University of Edinburgh.

The new Fraser Suites Edinburgh hotel has 75 individual styled bedrooms which provide guests with the ultimate in comfort and sophistication.

Guests can choose from seven room types, ranging from classic rooms to plush one bedroom suites, including the hotel’s top-of-the-range four themed suites, such as the Princes Suite which overlooks Princes Street and boasts the Geddes stained glass panels. Published room rates start at £295 – although promotional rates are regularly available from £105.

Standard features in all rooms include kitchens or kitchenettes (all with microwave and fridge and some with full hobs), satellite television, designer furniture, Villeroy & Boch bathrooms, iPod docking stations and broadband access. Other features include an on-site gym, restaurant and complimentary city centre shuttle bus. The hotel also features bespoke art commissioned from Edinburgh College of Art throughout.

In a unique first for Edinburgh, the luxuriously appointed rooms provide kitchen amenities – offering all the facilities of a hotel whilst maintaining the comfort of home.

Created by PURE Holdings, the parent company of PURE International Property Ltd and PURE Destinations, pureholidayhomes.com is capitalising on the growing trend for holidaymakers to choose self-catering properties over traditional hotels and resorts as they seek better value, more flexibility and greater choice.

Families will also benefit from having greater space, the freedom to do what they want when they want and a chance to fully immerse themselves in the local life and experiences.

pureholidayhomes.com offers fast, efficient and user-friendly ways to search and book that perfect holiday rental. Holidaymakers deal direct with owners so there are no hidden costs or fees. The website currently features over 4,000 unique properties, state-of-the-art search functions, and opportunities for last minute deals as well as fantastic early bird savings.

Easter Holidays

Celebrate Easter the Spanish way and join colourful “Semana Santa” processions and extravagant fiestas in Malaga. The processional floats are renowned for their size, some requiring up to 200 “costaleros” to carry them. Stay in a beautiful four bedroom rural home which is available for £825 per week based on 8 people sharing (£103 per person per week). This house is a perfect base from which to enjoy the Easter celebrations and explore the outstanding beauty of the Sierra Tejada National Park, coastal towns and local villages.

View more holiday homes in Spain

Families looking for an active break can venture further afield and enjoy awesome surf on Glen Beach in South Africa. Located only 15 minutes drive from Cape Town, it offers seclusion and a more exclusive vibe than neighbouring Camps Bay. Glen Beach Villa sits just above the beach and offers spectacular vistas of the 12 Apostles mountain range and the ocean. Available from £510 per week based on 6 people sharing (£85 per person per week), this contemporary three bedroom house is only a short walk from local restaurants, theatre and convenience shopping.

View more holiday homes in South Africa

Those staying close to home must not miss the annual Easter Egg Challenge at Blenheim Palace, which takes the little ones on an exciting Easter egg hunt in the beautiful Pleasure Gardens. A tastefully converted stable, Aintree Cottage in Bruern, Chipping Norton, is ideally located to enjoy the Easter celebrations at Blenheim and many activities in the surrounding Cotswolds, such as walking and horse riding. The cottage is available from £500 per week based on 6 sharing (£83 per person per week).

View more holiday homes and cottages in England

Summer Holidays

Non-Eurozone destinations are popular with holidaymakers this year as they seek better value for money. Bulgaria is known for its unspoilt and empty beaches, and there are still many parts of the country to be discovered. Bansko is one of the most developed ski and winter resorts in Eastern Europe and its proximity to Pirin National Park (a UNESCO site), pine woods and lakes makes it also an ideal spot for summer holidays. Families can enjoy the Bansko Jazz Festival which is the most prestigious music festival in the country. Amazingly, prices for mountain chalets and apartments start from as little as £100 per week.

View mountain chalets and apartments in Bulgaria

Turkey’s Aegean shores are home to vast and pristine beaches, idyllic fishing villages and ancient ruins. There is something for everyone – sun lovers, culture enthusiasts, as well as the more active types. From £105 per week for a city apartment to £1,500 per week for a stunning villa for 10 people, there is a home to suit every taste and budget.

View holiday home options in the Aegean region, Turkey

Families looking for unspoilt and rustic Italy should look no further than Puglia. The area combines all the charm, beauty and history of Italian culture with incredible food and wine. Families can stay in a “trullo”, a traditional stone dwelling with a conical roof. Available from £1,200 per week, Trullo Cattevodda has been painstakingly restored to provide an idyllic setting for an unforgettable Puglian holiday for a family of four.

While Britain has shivered in ice and snow over the last few weeks, the rich and famous have decamped to the warmth of the Caribbean. For anyone tempted to join the celebrities in their winter playground the new Great Winter Thaw package from Half Moon, the luxury resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, offers a free night and discounts on activities such as horse riding or swimming with dolphins.

Prestbury Travel offers 7 nights at Half Moon from £1,350 per person – a saving of £280 per person – based on two adults sharing a superior room on a room only basis. Price includes return flights from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic and private return transfers from Montego Bay airport. Book by 28 February for stays up to 15 April. For reservations visit www.prestburytravelcaribbean.co.uk or call 01625 855 844.

With the Great Winter Thaw package holidaymakers pay for 6 nights and get the 7th night free in all rooms, suites or staffed villas. In addition Half Moon is offering a 10 per cent discount on a range of activities such as horse riding and dolphin swims, treatments at Fern Tree, the Spa at Half Moon and sightseeing tours or excursions.

Up to 2 children aged under 12 years can stay for free when sharing with two adults.

Half Moon is set in 400-acres with two miles of white sand beach and features an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed championship golf course, the Half Moon Golf Academy, full equestrian centre, 13 floodlit tennis courts, fitness centre, superb cuisine, 54 swimming pools, the colourful children’s activity centre Anancy Children’s Village, water sports, Dolphin Lagoon, bars, restaurants and shopping village.

Blackpool is taking on brighton and Southport will go head to head with Scarborough, Skegness and Southend as the World’s Original Marmalade Festival, based at Dalemain mansion and historic gardens near Penrith, encourages landladies nationwide to achieve marmalade supremacy for their seaside resort in what is being dubbed ‘The Battle of Tastings’.

Weapons will be drawn over the next few weeks, with pans, sugar and Seville oranges at the ready, in what will be a fiercely fought contest between Britain’s seaside resorts.

Landladies running bed and breakfast accommodation in any location can enter the B&B category of the World’s Original Marmalade Festival – one of Britain’s quirkiest events, sponsored by Tiptree, Robertson’s, Rose’s and Frank Cooper’s.

This is one of 11 competition categories and likely to be one of the most competitive, as the Festival wants to see which seaside resort’s landladies do best in the eyes of the judges who are scoring their location’s entries.

“If we were to run a book on this, we would probably put our money on Blackpool, as we know how the North West’s most famous landladies have great pride in their resort. They could also concoct a tangerine marmalade, in honour of their football team.

“However, we also reckon that Bournemouth might put up a good fight, along with Southport and feel that some of the less fancied places, such as Chichester, brighton and Torquay, could surprise us with some fabulous tasting marmalade.”

Taste, colour and set are the three things the judges will be looking for and now is the time to get the marmalade on the boil, to enter by the closing date of February 7. Artisan cooks have a deadline of February 1.

The Festival is all about raising money for charity, with Hospice at Home and Help for Heroes being the charities supported in 2010. Entering a jar of marmalade costs £5, with this money going to the charity. An artisan entry costs £25, but a double gold winner in that category can have their marmalade sold in Fortnum & Mason.

Landladies wishing to battle it out as ambassadors for their resort can visit www.marmaladefestival.com and download an entry form.

The Festival takes place on February 14, during National Marmalade Weekend. Until then, there’s a lot of peel to be chopped by Britain’s Shred and Breakfast contenders!

Britain’s experiencing the ‘big freeze’, but with an array of holidays to look forward to starting from only £129 per party with Keycamp, there’s ‘snow’ reason to miss out on a fantastic getaway this February half-term.

Thrills and spills in Holland – Four nights for £129, accommodation only
Located next to the thrilling Tiki tropical waterpark, Keycamp’s Duinrell parc has enough waterchutes, whirlpools and wave pools to ensure the kids can let off some steam this half-term, while you enjoy a much-deserved winter break. Amsterdam is also within ideal day-trip distance and the local countryside is perfect for a spot of walking and cycling.

A four night break from 17 February for a family of two adults and up to four children staying in a Villanova mobile home, with heating, at Keycamp’s Duinrell will cost just £129, accommodation only.

Algarve adventure – Seven nights for £448, accommodation only
Overlooking the quaint village of Carvoeiro, with its winding streets and white-washed houses, Keycamp’s Algar Seco Apartment Resort is the ideal place to experience some traditional Portuguese charm. With the Algarve coast just minutes away and Faro and Lisbon within day-trip distance, there’s lots for families to enjoy.

Seven nights from 13 February for a family of two adults and two children staying in a one bedroom bungalow at Keycamp’s Algar Seco Apartment Resorts will cost just £448, accommodation only.

Relax on the French Riviera –Seven nights for £421, accommodation only
For a spot of glamour on the Côte d’Azur, check out Keycamp’s Pont Royal Apartment Resort, a traffic-free village situated in the heart of Provence, with an 18 hole golf course. As well as the activities in resort, there’s plenty of opportunity for a dose of culture as well, with the scenic town of Avignon and its famous bridge, the Roman ruins at Nimes and the home of Van Gogh all close at hand.

Seven nights from 13 February for a family of two adults and two children staying in an apartment at Keycamp’s Pont Royal will cost just £421, accommodation only.

Yorkshire Airline To Rescue 13 Lions From Run-Down Romanian Zoo

Friendly low fare airline, jet2.com has pledged to fly a pride of neglected lions from a Romanian zoo to Yorkshire free of charge this February as part of what is planned to be the biggest ever big cat rescue to date.

jet2.com has joined forces with Yorkshire Wildlife Park, who is leading the mission, to charter a one-off flight to rescue a pride of 13 lions which are being held in cramped conditions, facing an uncertain future at Oradea Zoo, Romania.

Under the supervision of leading wildlife veterinarians, the big cats, which range in age from one to 27 years old, will be flown to Doncaster Robin Hood Airport and re-housed at a specially built 10-acre enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster.

Philip Meeson, Boss of jet2.com said,

“When we heard about the plight of the lions at the Romanian zoo, we immediately offered to provide a jet2.com charter aircraft and the support of our highly trained staff free of charge to transport the big cats to their new home near Doncaster this February.”

“As Yorkshire’s leading leisure airline, it’s a great honour to be involved in what is looking to be one of the biggest ever cat rescues. We are working closely with the wildlife park to ensure the campaign runs as smoothly as possible so that these majestic animals will soon, quite literally, be the pride of Yorkshire.”

Cheryl Williams, Director of Yorkshire Wildlife Park said,

“This is a huge project for the Park and we are extremely grateful to jet2.com for chartering a flight specifically for these magnificent creatures that desperately need our help.

“Without jet2.com’s generosity, we would now be facing a long and arduous journey by road which would have been particularly treacherous with temperatures now dropping to minus 20 throughout central Europe. We just can’t thank them enough.”

John Minion, Animal Director at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, commented on his visit to Oradea Zoo,

“The zoo is in a very poor state of repair, with lack of money for even food for the animals. The Romanian zoo now must now abide to European legislation; therefore these issues are now being addressed, which is why we have planned this mission.”

“Despite the dreadful living conditions, their spirit was still very evident as seen by one of the lionesses who came over to greet us, purring like a family cat. Some of them had health problems that veterinary care, good diet, exercise and appropriate housing will help greatly.”

Yorkshire Wildlife Park who has raised over £120,000 for the welfare mission, but is still in need of another £30,000 to pay for veterinary care, building a lion house, transportation costs and creating the reserve for the big cats. Further donations can be made at www.lionrescue.co.uk

Blaze a trail through Slovenia’s glorious alpine countryside on a world-famous Lipizzaner horse, which originated in this central-European country.

Situated on a picturesque plateau overlooking the valley of the Soca River in the north west of Slovenia with the Julian Alps acting as a magnificent backdrop, Pristava Lepena, a holiday village built in the traditional style of the region, offers an idyllic natural setting in which to ride Lipizzaner horses.

Novices who have no riding experience are given the chance to get acquainted with the horses and learn about their character and habits, as well as grooming and saddling practices, and are taught basic riding skills in a calm and reassuring manner. When they are ready they may join a guided trek through surrounding forests and pastures. Friendly ponies are also available for children.

Accommodation is in a group of wooden cottages where the charm of traditional architecture is combined with the comfort of contemporary living. Features include a fireplace in addition to conventional heating, a kitchenette for preparation of warm drinks, a refrigerator/mini-bar, a bathroom with shower and hair dryer, a direct telephone line and, if desired, a TV.

Guests may choose to dine in the restaurant where daily specialities and local delicacies include home-made spirits, lamb on a spit, grilled trout, home-made bread and delicious local desserts.

Prices based on two sharing, including return flights, car hire, seven nights’ b&b accommodation and 10 hours of riding lessons or trails, start from £914 per adult and from £718 per child (age six to 12 years) in May. August prices start from £970 and £759 respectively.