New Year, new you, new skills

As the festive season approaches, the dilemma of making a New Year's resolution is one that will inevitably be preying on many people's minds.

Kick-starting your resolutions with a holiday is so much easier to do than going to classes on a dark wet winter night so why not start off your New Year by learning a new skill or taking up a new hobby on holiday with GoLearnTo.com?

If the winter blues have been getting you down then how about combining your New Year's Resolution with a spot of sun: a restorative yoga holiday in Thailand, a scuba diving and yoga holiday in Egypt, or even an Australian cowboy holiday for the more adventurous?

For those of you who fancy staying closer to home whilst fulfilling your resolution how about an aromatherapy course in France, or a luxury cookery course in Umbria?

Whatever your interests and resolution, we have something for everyone here at GoLearnTo.com, and here are a selection of our New Year, New You highlights:

Wellbeing

Revive and restore with yoga and spa treatments in Thailand
This Yoga holiday, in luxury beach-side accommodation on the Island haven of Koh Yao Noi, is the perfect break for anyone wanting a healthy and stress-busting holiday where they can beat the winter blues. The course includes daily morning and evening yoga lessons and unlimited use of the Thai herbal steam bath.

In the 1 week package, you'll also receive 3 Thai massages or aromatherapy sessions (your choice) to relax and revive you and a perfect complement to the yoga.

3 nights / 4 days at this luxury retreat is just £315 and 7 nights / 8 days from £630. Prices include luxury resort accommodation, breakfast, yoga lessons, herbal steam room and Thai massages or aromatherapy.

Koh Yao Noi is just an hour from busy Phuket and is a tranquil retreat where health and relaxation are priority. Daily swimming and snorkelling trips are included.

The yoga lessons take place in a purpose-built yoga studio overlooking the bay, and in your free time you can kick back and relax on the beach, go snorkelling in the crystal clear waters or go trekking in the jungle.

There is also the option of taking Thai cookery lessons with a gourmet chef, with whom you can learn the secrets of fresh and healthy Thai cuisine, in the alfresco beach-front kitchen. Not only do you kick-start the yoga but a healthy eating habit to boot!

Feed the body and soul on a Yoga & Cookery Holiday near Rome

Stay in a beautiful 13th century historic house in the beautiful medieval village of Casperia, where you can enjoy both cookery and yoga lessons at this yoga retreat deep in the Sabina Hills. After your morning yoga session, head off for your cookery lessons at a local agroturismo where you'll pick home grown veg and herbs and learn dishes from the seasonal cuisine of the region, including risottos, pastas, meats and traditional deserts.

You can also book treatments or holistic therapy for your free time, or visit the local hot sulphur springs where you can flush out your toxins, tensions and aches, or enjoy a beauty mask made from the organic sulphur-rich mud. There are also numerous walking opportunities in the area, or if you're an artist then make sure you pack your camera or painting materials, as you're sure to be inspired by the beautiful nature of the area.

7 days for just £760 including accommodation, breakfast, 2 cookery lessons and daily yoga.

Indulge your senses on this unique Aromatherapy and Massage Course in Brittany

Harness the healing power of plants and healing hands as you learn the art of holistic aromatherapy and massage. You will also learn how to make your own perfume or therapy oil, as well as learning about how each oil can benefit your health and mood so you'll be able to treat yourself throughout the year to really commit to a New Year, New You resolution.

You will also learn about how to use aromatherapy, hand, head and foot massage in your daily life, meaning that you can put your new found skills to good use when you return home.

You'll be staying in a beautiful Breton cottage in orchards, only 40 minutes from the northern coast of France.

4 days for just £395 includes 3 nights' accommodation, all aromatherapy products, a mini treatment, massage and aromatherapy tuition and a four course meal every evening.

Combine three complementary disciplines on this unique Yoga, Pilates and Surf course in the warming Canary Islands and kick start 3 new hobbies for the New Year.

This unique 7 night break is the perfect course for anyone who wants to combine a wellbeing holiday with adrenalin sports. Although they might seem like an odd combination, these three activities are extremely complementary, since the benefits of Pilates and yoga on surfing have long been recognised, and both are frequently included into the training routines of professional surfers.

You will be staying in tranquil bungalows set amidst beautiful gardens, which have two swimming pools and tennis courts available to use at no extra cost, and your accommodation is only a short stroll from the surf school.

8 days just £524 for 3 new skills. Includes: 7 nights' accommodation, breakfast, daily yoga and Pilates classes and 3 days of surf lessons, with all equipment included and a return airport transfer.

Sports

Learn how to ride horses, muster cattle & shear sheep on a Jackaroo/Jillaroo course in Bingara, Australia (Australian cowboys)

If you are a new rider, then 'no worries mate' as you'll start off nice and easy at your own pace and all horses are 'bombproof' to ensure you get familiarised with all of the animals and machinery in no time at all. If you are an experienced rider, there are plenty of zippy horses to suit all riders.

You'll be welcomed on the farm just like one of the family as you learn the skills of a real life Jackaroo / Jillaroo. You'll get lashings of country cooked meals and sleep soundly in station style comfort as well as experiencing sleeping out under the stars one evening.
Go learn to muster sheep, cattle and horses, get involved in yard work, fencing and whip crack away on this learning holiday experience with a difference.

14 glorious cowboy and cowgirl days on this real working farm for just £1007. Includes: 13 nights' accommodation, jackaroo training with all equipment, and home cooked meals and all the cowboy skills you could ever dream of gaining.

Take a deep breath on this unique Yoga and Scuba Holiday in Dahab, Egypt

For a relaxing yet active holiday, how about combining Yoga and Scuba on this unique holiday in the village of Dahab on the Red Sea coast?

Scuba and Yoga might seem like an unusual combination, but think again; yoga is about breathing, concentration and inner calm - exactly the qualities needed to enjoy scuba diving. The morning yoga sessions will prepare you perfectly for your day of diving, by working on your breathing, concentration, relaxation and flexibility.

Dahab is world-renowned for the quality of its diving, and there are numerous shallow, easy locations for beginners to learn to scuba dive in open waters. Discover life at a different depth using the power of yogic breathing to enhance your diving experience.

Your daily yoga sessions will take place in a purpose-built yoga room which has been built in a cave in the side of a mountain, meaning it is both cool and calm, as well as being protected from any sea breezes.

This course is also available for more experienced divers. 8 days for £570 including yoga classes, accommodation, breakfast and scuba diving to PADI open water standard and return transfers to and from Sharm El Sheikh airport.

If the 'New You' is a surfer dude then why not live the surfer-dude lifestyle on this surf holiday on one of Portugal's best surfing beaches

Learn to surf on one of Portugal's best surfing beaches Baleal in Peniche, where you'll be learning from highly qualified and experienced instructors, whilst staying in accommodation only 100m from the beach. As a result of the location of this school, the course is ideal both for beginners and for more experienced surfers, so no matter what your level is, you'll still have a rewarding and exciting holiday.

You'll be staying in the 'Surf House' just 100m from the beach, meaning that you can totally live the surfer dude lifestyle on this short break.

Amazing value, 4 days from just £172. Including 3 nights' accommodation right by the beach in Baleal, all equipment and video monitoring of your surf lessons.

Creative

Save money in 2011 by making your own unique pieces on this fun Jewellery making holiday in South West France,

Spend a long weekend in a lovingly restored farmhouse in Aveyron learning to design and make your own jewellery, using a range of top quality materials including silver, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and semi-precious beads. You'll make a wide variety of jewellery including earrings, bracelets and necklaces, all of which you'll be able to take home with you.

Some people even go on to follow their dreams and open their own jewellery making business after this course so design away and create your own unique pieces that may even lead to a completely different New Year New You!

8 days, from just £550. Includes 7 nights' accommodation, daily breakfasts, all equipment and materials and all the jewellery you can make in a week as well as return airport transfers and sightseeing excursions.

Finally learn to take pictures to be proud of and capture the unique beauty of Morocco through the lens on this unique photography holiday

Experience Morocco through the lens and capture the beauty of North Africa under the guidance of your photography tutor. You will be photographing the diverse North African landscape from beaches to mountains and deserts, as well as the culture as you learn to capture the vibrancy of the souks and local life meeting a local Berber community and visiting a Argan oil production cooperative taking your photography skills to a new level.

Essaouira has a temperate year round climate from 19 degrees in winter to 25 in summer and the sea breeze ensures it's comfortable and a great location for a year round holiday.

A great value week for just £895 includes: 7 nights' accommodation, daily photography tuition, and daily breakfasts and suppers, all transport to the shoot locations and an insight into local Moroccan life that money can't buy...

Sharpen your pencils and grab your brush and get ready to unleash the creative within on a fabulous eco painting holiday in rural Andalucía.

Stay in an eco-retreat in the Spanish Mountains and appreciate the beauty of nature through art. This eco-friendly holiday will introduce you to the beautiful countryside of Andalucía where you will learn about the natural forms and patterns occurring in nature, and interpret them through the media of painting and drawing.

Your accommodation will be in an 'off-grid' eco-chic guest house with wood burning boilers, solar panels and wind turbines, meaning that any carbon footprint created by your flight to Spain will be offset.

Words cannot describe the beauty of this national park which makes it an ideal location to capture what you see on paper. Be inspired by your location and learn with your patient and knowledgeable tutor Simon to come home with art to be proud of.

Prices start from £788 including 7 nights' accommodation, all meals, 6 days of painting and drawing tuition, plus all painting equipment. There really is no need for spending money as everything is included making this a great value week in a truly inspiring location.

Cookery

Cook healthy gourmet Thai food and learn the techniques behind the flavours of Thai cooking while staying in a beautiful luxury island haven.

The secluded retreat is surrounded by lush forests and gardens, and the luxurious cliff-side resort, where you'll be staying in a beautiful suite, has a stunning infinity pool with 270 degree sea-views. As well as learning all the secrets of Thai cooking, you'll have the opportunity to visit the local market with your teacher, to pick out the best possible ingredients for your culinary creations

This luxury break doesn't come cheap at £3022 for a week but it really is great value for the standard of accommodation and gourmet Thai cooking tuition will ensure you take home skills and memories that will last long after the holiday is over.

Price includes 7 nights luxury accommodation, daily gourmet breakfast, 5 fabulous cookery lessons and a tour of Kamala food market.

Make 2011 the year when you come over all Italian. Try a Truffle Hunting and cookery holiday in Umbria with wine tasting for the very best of Italy.

It doesn't get more authentic than this with the very best of Italian life combining the fabulous flavour of truffles, wonderful local cooking and a wine cellar bursting with locally produced wine all begging to be sampled.

Stay in a stunning 18th century luxury hotel with spa and extensive wine cellar in Umbria and learn the secrets of one of the world's most elusive ingredients; the truffle.

A four day course based in an 18th century villa which has been converted into a luxury hotel in the heart of Umbria, near Lake Trasimeno is the setting for this holiday. There are beautiful manicured gardens including a unique secret garden, a mulberry tree orchard and olive grove, a wellness spa where you can unwind after a day's cooking, and a fine dining restaurant with well stocked wine cellar.

You'll spend a day hunting for truffles with trained dogs and local truffle hunters before learning to cook with the truffles, as well as cooking gourmet lunches accompanied by fine wines from the cellar.

4 days from £463 includes: 3 nights luxury accommodation, daily breakfast, a fun cooking lesson and a truffle hunting expedition with professionals and a translator.

Don't just watch Master Chef, get the skills to be a 2011 contestant on this French cookery weekend in the pretty village of Gramont.

Impress your friends with your cookery and knife skills after this weekend in the Gascony region of South West France. Get ready to be spoiled rotten by your wonderful hosts Vikki and David who'll take you on a culinary and cultural journey.

On this fabulous weekend course you'll learn how to create a delicious traditional French meal so you can impress your friends with an amazing dinner party upon your return. As well as cookery skills, you'll also learn specific knife skills such as how to fillet a fish, plus how to serve up your food like a pro.

The menu will revolve around authentic French cuisine, with potential menu options including Cassoulet, foie gras, crème pâtissière and crêpes suzettes. You'll be staying in a lovely tastefully restored farmhouse with a hot-tub on the terrace with beautiful views of the village, where you can relax after a hard day in the kitchen.

3 days for £420 includes: 2 nights' accommodation, 3 French cookery lessons, all equipment and daily breakfast and dinner.

Reach for the Michelin stars in 2011 on a Michelin star cookery holiday in Provence

If you've taken cookery holidays in the past and are ready for Michelin star standards then go learn to cook in a magnificent 19th century country house 'La Bastide des Saveurs'. Get kitchen envy in this countryside kitchen complete with vegetable allotment where you will cook with the fresh Provencal herbs and seasonal vegetables grown in the gardens.

Born in the village, Chef Rene's superb and richly innovative cuisine is based on the traditional flavours and fragrances of Provence and the Mediterranean. Using only the finest local products and teaching in an informal, fun and friendly way, Chef Rene deserves his Michelin star status and will teach you the tricks and tips needed to take your cooking skills to a higher standard.

Visit the local producers either at a local vineyard, honeybee farm, olive grove or cheese farm to find out more about the quality of local foods all whilst sipping Bandol wine from the region.

£1286 includes: 5 nights' accommodation, 4 days of Michelin Star cookery lessons and all ingredients and materials. You even get to meet the producers with 4 trips to local producers of wine, cheese and more to get closer to where your food comes from.

Treat yourself in 2011 and live, eat and drink the Chateau life.

Stay in a stunning 19th Century French Chateau in Bordeaux and immerse yourself in French gastronomy on this fabulous cooking experience.

This really is the ultimate cooking experience for any gastronome. Stay in a stunning chateau set in 7 acres of landscaped parkland, you'll enjoy excursions to wineries, oyster farms and the local town of St. Emilion, as well as indulging your taste buds with beautifully prepared meals and wines. You'll learn the skills behind the French delicacies of Foie Gras and confit in the duck workshop, as well as learning other typical French recipes as your prepare a full meal in the cookery lesson.

7 days for £2538 includes: 6 nights' accommodation in a 19th century French Chateau, 2 cookery lessons, a duck workshop, 3 hours of wine-tasting and numerous food-related excursions.

Go all 'Jamie Does' in 2011 and visit Spain for an outdoor cookery experience with a difference...

Set in the countryside in the Andalucian triangle between Cordoba, Malaga and Granada with over 300 days of sunshine per year is the outdoor kitchen and the setting for a cookery holiday in rural Spain.

Do as Jamie did on his 2010 TV series and cook traditional Spanish dishes outside under the Spanish sunshine in the beautiful outdoor kitchen surrounded by olive groves and almond blossom.

This course is based in a stunningly restored 150 year old Finca overlooking Lake Izjnar in true rural Spain. As there are only 4 rooms, this course is perfect for a group holiday, and you can chill out after a hard day's cooking by the pool.

Spain's food is often overlooked in favor of Italian or French but this course will teach you that Spain can really step up to the plate and deliver delicacies to tempt even the most sophisticated palate.

Reduced for 2011, this amazing value 4 day break costs just £402 including accommodation, meals, 3 cookery classes and wine.

Tongue twisters for 2011

The government has announced that all school children will have to learn a language in the future so get ahead and start your language learning with a fun, language course in over 30 countries worldwide.

Forget boring stuffy classrooms, this is brain stimulating stuff where you'll be taught in the language you are learning from day 1 really getting your head around the language and accelerating your confidence and linguistic skills.

Language courses also include fun excursions and cultural activities to help you mix with locals and get off the tourist trail.

A 1 week course in the country where the language is spoken is similar to spending a whole term in a packed classroom at night school in the UK and the cost is similar so why not take a week in 2011 and amaze yourself on what you can learn.

Try French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese or why not follow Joanna Lumley's advice and go Greek for a holiday with a difference.

It gets even better as with GoLearnTo.com you can also combine language classes with fun activities such as surfing, cooking, wine tasting, salsa dancing, tango, flamenco, horse riding and more.

Prices start at under £150 for a week's course and courses are on offer in over 17 languages in 30 countries worldwide. Stay for 1,2,3,4 weeks or more... whatever your level, we have a language course to suit your New Year's learn a language resolution.

To Book all courses: GoLearnTo.com