Holidays

She weighs more than 80,000 family cars or 32,000 adult elephants and at 1,112 ft, and is longer than 37 double-decker buses, but if you don’t fancy rubbing shoulders with 3,999 other passengers (imagine the scrum for the deckchairs), a holiday aboard the brand new 160,000-ton, 15-deck Independence of the Seas - the world’s largest cruise ship, may not be for you.

A new game, free to mobile phone users, is the latest way to highlight the threat to Rwanda’s endangered Mountain Gorillas. ‘Silverback’ simulates the life of the gorillas and is the brainchild of designer, Ken Banks, in association with campaign group Flora and Fauna International (FFI). Although sitting in the comfort of their own home may seem riveting for some – why not stop playing games and join Dragoman Overland on their 21-night East Africa & Gorilla Encounter expedition, through Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, departing Nairobi 20th September 08.

It’s official, Chelsea have booked their place in Moscow, completing the all-English line-up in the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 21st. For those whose knowledge of footie would just about fill the back of a postage stamp, Peregrine Adventures offers a different approach – a 6-day exploration of Russia’s glorious past and present, from cosmopolitan and bustling Moscow to the stunning palaces of St. Petersburg.

There is much more to Holland than clogs and windmills, with spectacular sceneries, historic castles a rich history and beautiful cosmopolitan cities making it a fantastic destination for a cultured family holiday.

M&S Money offers travel tips as 42,000 Brits converge on the world's most expensive city. On 21st May 2008 more Britons than ever before are likely to be travelling to Moscow for the first all-English final in the history of the Champions League.

Eurocamp Independent is offering up to £150 off their 2008 ferry-inclusive summer holidays. Book at one of 34 selected sites across Europe and Eurocamp Independent will reduce the campsite supplements by 50%.

Guests of Collett’s Mountain Holidays’ new summer walking programme centred on Panticosa in the Spanish Pyrenees will be able to combine an exhilarating mountain holiday in Alto Aragon with a fascinating side trip to Expo 2008 in the provincial capital of Zaragoza from 14 June to 14 September 2008.

Hands Up Holidays, the operator that specialises in blending travel with meaningful volunteering experiences, is this month highlighting three discounted set departure date holidays to Thailand, Kenya and South Africa.

The quality of holiday cottages on the Suffolk coast just keeps getting better and better, supporting the growing trend for taking holidays in the UK, saving carbon emissions and avoiding the expensive Euro.

Despite the credit crunch woes, there seems to be no sign of a drop in demand for exotic holidays this summer. And Latin America is no exception, with Journey Latin America's best-selling holiday being its 18-night "Luxury Peru" tour. But we do seem to be booking later and all still love a bargain.

Despite the credit crunch and the strong Euro, Brits can still get their hands on some great holiday deals according to online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com. Here are some expert top tips on how to bag yourself the best value for money holidays on the market.

Swap the Euro for the Turkish Lira and head to North Cyprus this summer where you’ll be guaranteed to make the pound in your pocket stretch further. Just a four hour flight from the UK, you don’t have to go long haul to benefit from a healthy exchange rate when you visit North Cyprus and with direct flights available to Larnaca with Direct Traveller, there’s no better choice of destination for your summer holiday.

Hands Up Holidays (handsupholidays.com), the operator that specialises in blending travel with meaningful volunteering experiences, is highlighting three of its Australia itineraries.

Choosing a holiday where the children are happy and the adults get to relax can often be a chore, but not when booking with Mallorca Farmhouses. As a family-run business and with 20 years expertise in luxury self-catering holidays to Mallorca, the specialist villa company has everything covered to ensure a fret-free break for the whole family.

Britons searching for holidays online since the start of 2008 have been looking for more information on the Algarve than other popular summer holiday destinations, new research leading by online travel agency Holidays-Direct.co.uk reveals.

Canter across a wild and remote landscape and take in magnificent panoramic views during Equine Adventures’ 4-day ‘bring-your-own-horse’ riding breaks in rural Mid Wales. Miles of bridleways and open moorland in the Upper Teme valley are just waiting to be discovered, with idyllic accommodation in Brandy House Farm, a family run traditional Welsh stone farmhouse. Brandy House riding break now departs daily from Felindre throughout 2008.

For a family holiday with absolutely no bored kids, this trip has it all - adventure, wonderful hotels, desert camping and the chance to climb Mt. Toubkal (4,167m), North Africa’s highest mountain. Haggle in the souks of Marrakech, explore ancient kasbahs, ride camels across the dunes of the Sahara and relax on the Atlantic beaches of Essaouria.

An 80-year-old Californian has shunned retirement in favour of walking around the world. In 18 years, Harry ‘Hawk’ McGinnis has crossed all 50 states of the USA and 66 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America, and expects to ‘retire from his retirement’, hang up his boots and publish a book of his epic journey in 2-4 years (give or take a few years).

For May and June, guests can stay for 10-nights and pay for just 8 as tailor-made specialist, Trips Worldwide, has thoughtfully included an extra night free in each of its two favourite Jamaican resorts, the mountaintop retreat of Strawberry Hill and laid-back Jake’s on Treasure Beach.

Not just horse-riding! Parents with children of different ages often struggle to find a holiday which suits everyone, including themselves. This is especially important for single parents trying to please everyone. Look no further.

Despite the growing sense of economic uncertainty and rising concerns in the retail and travel sectors about a slow-down in consumer spending, nearly 60% of respondents in a Kayak.co.uk survey have revealed they will not cancel or alter their summer holiday plans. While 66% of respondents confirmed they are starting to feel a budget pinch and fully expect to see increased daily expenses such as housing, fuel, food and transport, the majority of those surveyed also told the leading travel search engine Kayak.co.uk they would rather ‘trade down’ on luxuries than deny themselves a summer getaway.

Luxury villa and hotel specialist VIPvillas.com has launched a new range of exclusive hotels and lodges in South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique, expanding its portfolio of ultimate holiday experiences to the African continent.

European Waterways, Europe’s largest luxury hotel barge company, has announced that its elegant, 12-passenger hotel barge, L’Impressionniste, which currently tours through the Provence region of France, will be cruising the canals of Southern Burgundy in 2009. According to Derek Banks, European Waterways Managing Director, the vessel’s route was changed to meet the demand for more wine–orientated cruises in Southern Burgundy, a region whose popularity continues to grow.

Late May signals the arrival of Collett’s Mountain Holidays’ first ever guests to the small town of Luz St Sauveur in the Midi-Pyrenees region of South West France.

Leading ferry company Stena Line is offering families an affordable and easy way to travel across the Irish Sea with a two night hotel break in Donegal from an amazing £250 including travel, accommodation and breakfast.

Head to the beautiful sub tropical island of Madeira this June and enjoy unforgettable music and firework shows during the annual Atlantic Festival. The festival features the Madeira Music Festival and the International Fireworks Competition in which contestants from different countries organise firework displays to accompany the music on every Saturday in June. It will also include performances by philharmonic bands in the city centre.

Head to Switzerland this Spring Bank Holiday – taking in mountain peaks, cities and lakes – on a three-night break, courtesy of the Switzerland Travel Centre.

The wedding season is fast approaching and brides-to-be everywhere need to celebrate their last nights of freedom in style. With Hen-dos abroad increasing in popularity, Flight Centre has picked out five top weekend destinations to suit anyone planning the ultimate party night.

After a long winter’s hibernation of four to five months, come April, Europe’s Brown Bear population is waking up, and are at their most active and most visible as they forage for food after their self-imposed winter fast.