The Romantic Getaway, near Crewkerne, Somerset

Who'd have thought that a building that started life as a pump house could be one of the most romantic hideaways in England? Secreted away in its own meadow, the Pump House has stone floors, woodburner and spiral staircase up to a galleried bedroom. You'll soon be cooing like lovesick teenagers. Lower Severalls Gardens (lowerseveralls.co.uk, entrance £3) is a short stroll away along the Parrett river. Just don't spoil the mood with a feeble joke about rumpy-pumpy.

• The Pump House costs from £294 a week with Classic Cottages (01326 555555, classic.co.uk). A single from London to Crewkerne is from £11 with South West Trains (0870 906 6649, southwesttrains.co.uk)

The City Break, Budapest, Hungary

Budapest was founded by the Celts and adorned over the centuries with more fine buildings than is probably good for one city. Tucked between the Danube and Castle Hill is the stylish four-star Art'otel, its rooms designed by American artist Donald Sultan. Join one of three free city walking tours (triptobudapest.hu) – a cultural one, a "Communist" one and one taking in "the Jewish Quarter and Best Pubs". Egészségetekre! (that's cheers!).

• From £89pp, including flights from Luton and two nights' B&B, with Dreambookers (0844 482 0070, dreambookers.com)

The Beach Holiday, Albufeira, Portugal

The Sol e Mar is the antidote to all those hotels that advertise themselves as "a stone's throw from the beach" while omitting to mention that the stone in question has to be hurled by a siege engine. Set into a cliff, with eye-easing views of the bay, the hotel has its own lift down to the sandy strand. For yummy food at reasonable prices head for the old town and Tequila Bistro, just off the main square.

• From £105pp per week B&B based on two sharing, including flights from Stansted, with On the Beach (0800 085 8859, onthebeach.co.uk)

The French Chateau Stay, near Pau, France

The problem with chateaux is that they can cost a king's ransom. Not so at Fontaines d'Escot, a former monastery in the foothills of the Pyrenees which has been welcoming visitors on and off since the 15th century. The thermal waters enjoyed here since Roman times come free, as do the mountain walks (the chateau is on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route).

• Self-catering gîtes (sleeping four) at Fontaines d'Escot (+33 5 5934 5440, fontaines-escot.com) from €45 a night, doubles from €31 a night. Returns from London to Pau from £111 with Rail Europe (08448 484070, raileurope.co.uk)

The Rail Journey, New York to LA or San Francisco, US

Poor old Amtrak – all the ugly sister of American public transport has to offer is wonderfully swish long-distance trains and astonishing prices. Choose one of five 3,000-mile routes from New York to LA or San Francisco and the three-night trip can cost as little as 4p a mile while giving you a taste of Chicago, the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada, or Route 66 and the Grand Canyon. Choo-choo-cha-boogie.

• Rail tickets from $187 each way with Amtrak (+1 215 856 7953, amtrak.com). Return flight London to New York from £279 through Flightcentre (01254 676967, flightcentre.co.uk)

The Big Get-Together, Elterwater, Cumbria

Anyone who has ever had a significant anniversary or birthday (not you, of course – you're far too young) and has tried to go away with their nearest and dearest knows how expensive it can be. Three cheers, then, for the YHA which is currently offering a storming 50% discount for exclusive use of its gorgeous 17th-century converted barn in the quiet village of Elterwater. There's fabulous walking, climbing and mountain biking thrown in for nowt.

• Elterwater Hostel (0800 019 1700, escape-to.co.uk), which sleeps 40 in 11 bedrooms, is £304 for a two-night midweek break (Sunday-Thursday)

The Ski Resort, Arinsal, Andorra

This attractive and buzzing village has excellent runs for beginners and intermediates, a superb freestyle area, and access to the Pal and Arcalis ski areas. The après-ski is inexpensive too, thanks to Andorra's duty-free prices, while the Quo Vadis bistro offers breakfast for €7.50 and dinner for €15.

• A week at the Poblado Apartments costs from £195pp (based on four sharing) including flights from Gatwick with Inghams (020-8780 6680, inghams.co.uk)

The Family Holiday, Canna, Inner Hebrides

How about a luxurious bell tent kitted out with futons, a woodburning stove and solar lighting on an island you'll have almost entirely to yourselves (the population of Canna is a mere 21)? Throw in some sandy beaches, a range of exotic wildlife and an eye-popping view towards the Isle of Rum and you'll wonder why you ever paid more for a family holiday.

• A week in a bell tent (sleeps four – extra beds or cots provided on request)costs from £200 with Canna Camping Holidays (01687 460166, cannafolk.co.uk). Tickets from London to Mallaig from £15.50 single, child from £7.75 with Virgin Trains (virgintrains.co.uk). Return ferry tickets from Mallaig to Canna cost from £18.60 adult, £9.30 child (five-15), under-fives free with Calmac (0800 066 5000, calmac.co.uk)

The Backpacking Adventure, Kochi, India

India has an enduring reputation as the place to go for backpackers on a budget, with food, accommodation and travel all as cheap as chapatis. Add an extraordinarily cheap flight to Kochi – the self-styled "Gateway to Kerala" – and let the adventure begin. Before going off to find yourself, spend some loose change in Kochi on a boat ride to Bolgatty Island, a visit to Fort Kochi and a gander around St Francis' Church, completed in 1516 and the oldest church in India.

• Return flights from Heathrow to Kochi costs from £322 with Tickets To India (020-8518 9100, ticketstoindia.co.uk). A double room with air conditioning at Daffodil Homestay (+91 484 221 8686, cochinhomestays.org) costs from £20 a night

The Rural Idyll, near Hay-on-Wye, Powys

Long gone are the days when city slickers could rent a rustic cottage for a few shillings to live out their bucolic fantasies. However, there are some pastoral bargains to be had, including the sumptuous new-kid-in-the-meadow Hay Bluff Cottage. Hidden below the Black Mountains, the homestead is blessed with glorious views across the Wye Valley and a garden with its own orchard, pond and stream. Indulge in further money-saving adventures by wandering down to Hay-on-Wye to plunder the town's secondhand bookshops.

• Hay Bluff Cottage (sleeps six) costs from £220 for four nights midweek with Under The Thatch (01239 851410, underthethatch.co.uk)