at the Potting Shed for advice on bringing autumnal colour into your home. Time: 10.30am–5pm. Cost: £13 adult, £7 children 5–15 (castle and gardens). Ages: All. Tel: 01732 865224; www.hevercastle.co.uk3. Escape to Brownsea Island, an island in Poole Harbour

January Spring blossoms in CyprusCyprus is gorgeous in winter – which is really their spring. The trees are heavy with pink almond blossoms and the temperature is cool enough to take hikes, gentle bike rides and explore some of the island’s

there – if you are unlucky enough to lose your wedding ring or keys on one of the island’s many beaches, simply ring Steve. He will arrive on his moped with a metal detector and try to find it – for free. It’s just that sort of place.If, like us, your recipe

to explore Kinabalu Park, visit the Gomantong Caves, spot rhinoceros and elephants near the Kinabatangan River and take a trip to Turtle Island before ending with five nights of luxury at the deluxe Shangri-La Rasi Ria hotel. The holiday costs from £1

Mountains, which form a spine along the centre of the republic, while Limassol has some stunning antiquities nearby at Kurion, as well as easy access to the central Troodos and the island’s wine-growing districts. If you’re looking for a real escape, head

’s adventure at Aquatica.It was already thronging by 10am, but we found a shady spot on the huge man-made beach to use as our base. Once Joe was safely ensconced in his life jacket, we set about exploring the six rivers and lagoons – and 36 water slides. Grace

Matterhorn view on a sunny afternoon!Family beach holiday The quintessentially laid back Italian vibe is a huge draw at the Hotel Hermitage on the beautiful Tuscan island of Elba and has a strong following with our clients. It’s the kind of quirky yet

to the Chicago River. There’s a flamboyant procession with free activities that set the festive mood for the coming weeks, including a ice-skating rink at a festivally decorated Millennium Park with the impressive Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan as a backdrop

and the Apartment havePhilippe Starck furnishings, wood-burning fireplaces and amazing viewsof the Hudson River and Manhattan.Bestof all about this hotel, if you’re travelling with children, is itslocation, right by Central Park and a stone’s throw from FAO Schwarz

and the ancient market town of Hexham. Heading further north, stay at the Raasay Schoolhouse in Scotland, where electricity is provided by a hydro turbine powered from the nearby stream, and drinking water is from a private spring. Situated on a beautiful island