Short holiday ideas for Spring

Bigger and better than ever - that's the promise of the New Orleans Jazz Festival which celebrates its 40th anniversary over the weekends of 24-26 April and 30 April-3 May.

The line-up is one to savour for jazz fans with just some of the names appearing during the first weekend being James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Joe Cocker, the O'Jays and Bonnie Rait. Tickets are available via ticketmaster.com and cost from $40 for a single day or $105 for three days.

Premier Holidays offers a wide choice of accommodation in New Orleans, together with flights and car hire. For example, a four-night, room-only stay at the four-star Chateau Le Moyne hotel in late April is from £659 per person (twin share) with return Continental Airlines flights from Heathrow. For more information, see premierholidays.co.uk.

'Take the plunge' and learn to swim is the offer to children on a family self-catering holiday at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks in North Devon this Easter.

The pre-bookable lessons, which cost £5 per 30-minute session, are open to youngsters aged between three and 16 years and take place in a large, warm pool. Tuition is by fully qualified ASA teachers whose aim is to remove fear, build confidence and make swimming an enjoyable experience.

Easter family getaways with the company cost from as little as £105 for a party of four (less than £27 per person) for a three-night weekend or four-night weekend break with accommodation in a fully-equipped two-bedroom caravan holiday home. For more information, visit woolacombe.com/bp.

For families with small children, www.toddlepembrokeshire.com from Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire features more than 50 properties which come fully equipped with cots, highchairs, baby listeners and stair gates.

Also pre-bookable are buggies, back carriers and special baby hampers, while a pre-booking service for early sittings at child-friendly restaurants is also available.

As an example of prices, a week's stay at Ty Canol, a quaint cottage (sleeps four) with enclosed patio and large lawned garden, near to the seaside village of Whitesands, is £407 in early June. For more information, visit Toddlepembrokeshire.com.