Under £200
Check out the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival in Bruges before 6 January held in a temperature controlled enclosure (so wrap up well). Three nights B&B at the three-star Hans Memling Hotel with Eurotunnel crossing for one car and passengers is £124 with Eurotunnel Motoring (0870 333 2001).
Take time out from Christmas to see the Velázquez, Manet and Spanish Mannerism Exhibition on until 8 January at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris through ShortBreaks (020 8402 0007). Depart Fridays on Eurostar for two nights B&B at the three star Newton Opera Hotel for £186 including exhibition ticket.
Learn to fly an owl like Harry Potter at the Isle of Wight's Owl and Falconry Centre in Wroxall (01983 840188). The course on 25 and 26 January costs £135 including lunch. Wightlink Holidays (0870 582 0202) offers two nights B&B at nearby Little Span Farm for £71 including ferry crossings.
Under £300
Depart 3 January for the sales in Lucca, Tuscany, a jumble of ancient squares, historic churches and red-tiled houses. Stay at the Piccolo Hotel Puccini, named after the city's most famous son, for two nights B&B with scheduled flights from Gatwick at a cost of £298. Inntravel's Shortbreaks (01653 629021).
How about a llama-lovers break at the Dunsley Hall Hotel close to Whitby in North Yorkshire (01947 893437). Highlight is a two hour guided 'walk with the llamas' trek (one llama per couple) with a stop for mulled wine and a talk on llama care and behaviour. There will also be a Taste of Peru menu with Latin American wine and Columbian coffee. And to take home - a woolly alpaca hat and a CD of panpipe music. £225 two nights half board.
Under £400
Attend Puccini's opera La Bohème in Budapest. Depart Heathrow 27 December for two nights B&B at a three-star hotel with best- category tickets for Saturday night for £375 with JMB Travel's Opera Holidays (01905 830099).
A city break in New York between 9 January and 8 March with Tradewinds (0870 600 4002) staying at the Astor on the Park for a three night (room only) break costs £359. Flights from Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester. Stay must include a Saturday night.
Under £600
Beijing, China's capital city, for an unusual winter destination. A five night/eight day holiday with Magic of the Orient (01293 537700) costs just £575 including flights from Heathrow, transfers, accommodation with breakfast at the four star Marco Polo Beijing and other extras if you book by 31 January. Sunday departures between 1 January and 15 March.
Under £700
How far will you go for a bargain? The unique Filene's Basement department store in Boston opened in 1908 and has become the second most popular tourist attraction in the city. New England Vacations (01582 469771) has five nights in Boston during February and March from £639 on a room only basis at the Hilton Boston Back Bay with return flights.
Under £900
Lakes and Mountains Holidays (01329 844405) has a luxury three nights in Venice during Carnival time departing Gatwick 21 February. The cost is £810, the accommodation with breakfast is at the four star Hotel Carlton. A ticket to the traditional, masked Casanova Ball and dinner, which takes place in an old Venetian palace, is included as is a guided walking tour by 'Codega', a well-known old Venetian character.
Over £1,000
Luxury hotel La Residencia in the Mallorcan village of Deiá has five-night painting and drawing courses during February and March. The price of £1,028 covers tuition, materials, B&B accommodation, excursions and three dinners but not flights. Contact hotel direct 0800 783 0526.
· All prices are per person unless indicated.
