Six top destinations
New York: £195
Kuwait Airways from Heathrow. Valid for departures until December 10. No minimum stay, maximum one month. Thomas Cook Flights Direct (0870 7520066).
Sydney: £599
Japan Airlines from Heathrow via Tokyo. Must be booked by December 7. Valid for departures January 14-June 30. No minimum stay, maximum one year. Travelbag (0870 8901458).
Los Angeles: £257
American Airlines from Heathrow. Must be booked by December 5. Valid for departures December 25-March 31. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Trailfinders (020-7937 5400).
Hong Kong: £399
Emirates from Gatwick via Dubai. Valid for departures until December 9. Minimum stay seven nights, maximum two months. Bridge the World (0870 4441716).
Paris: £63
bmi British Midland from Heathrow. Must be booked online (£5 if booked by phone 0870 6070555). Valid for departures indefinitely. No minimum stay, maximum one year. bmi British Midland.
Amsterdam: £69
British Airways from Manchester. Must be booked online (£10 supplement by phone 0845 7733377) and at least 30 days before travel. Valid for departures indefinitely. British Airways.
The pick of the rest Auckland/Christchurch: £645
Singapore Airlines from Heath row or Manchester via Singapore (stopovers permitted in Singapore in both directions/ side trips to other Asian destinations available from £55 extra). Must be booked by December 31. Valid for departures April 16-June 30. No minimum stay, maximum one year. Quest Travel (0870 4423513).
Nice: £92.70
bmi British Midland from Heathrow. Must be booked online (£5 if booked by phone 0870 6070555). Valid for departures indefinitely. No minimum stay, maximum one year. bmi British Midland.
Alicante: £79
Britannia charter from Birmingham. Departs December 5 for seven nights. Britannia Direct (0800 000747).
Mexico City: £431
United Airlines via Chicago or Washington. Must be booked by December 8. Valid for departures until December 14. Minimum stay one Saturday night, maximum one month. Journey Latin America (020-8747 3108, )
And the rail alternative Paris/Brussels: £59. Lille £49
Eurostar from Waterloo (£49/ £39 from Ashford). Must be bought at least 14 days before departure. Must be booked by December 15. Valid for departures to February 9. Minimum stay one Saturday night or two other nights. Also available for day trips, Saturday/Sunday only but any day between December 16 and January 3. Eurostar (08705 186186).
· NB Fares can change rapidly. These were available in reasonable quantities at the time of writing, but they can sell out in a sudden rush.
