Escapism
A new South America specialist, High Lives (020-8696 9097, highlives.co.uk), is run from London by Bolivian Bibiana Tellez-Garside. It will specialise in fitness holidays that focus on high-altitude training, in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, plus more unusual trips, including the Oruro Carnival, pictured, the Bolivian equivalent to the Rio Carnival, held at 3,708m, from 18 February. An eight-day trip, which also includes a visit to Lake Titicaca and La Paz, costs from £1,500pp. Flights from £1,000
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Holiday rip-offs
• £16 for two bowls of Coco Pops at a B&B in Marseille @beckybarnicoat
• Fell for a student wanting to practise her English over tea in Tiananmen Square. Tea house cost us $100! @elizadele
• I paid £8 in Marrakech for a henna foot tattoo – she wanted £30! @caits_
• Man asks 5,000 Leones (75p) to take picture of anti-corruption mural by Freetown Airport, Sierra Leone @ladydaventry
• Lost in 'Nam – jumped on the back of locals' mtrbikes, drove around in circles & dropped where we started – £5 @berti01
• $16 for a cauliflower in Ukraine @littlemissmoi
We had lots of great stories from you about your holiday rip-offs – see our pick of the best here on Storify
Next week: holiday bargains. Tweet us @GuardianTravel #TravelCorkboard
What's new?
Website
Away from the luxury hotels, beaches and golf courses, the Caribbean has plenty to offer those looking for something more authentic, but it can be hard to find information on that side of the islands. A new website fills the hole, with independent content, brilliant ideas and detailed guides to every island, events, accommodation and activities. See definitivecaribbean.com
Teach abroad
Teachers International Consultancy (ticrecruitment.com), which arranges placements at international schools around the world, is calling for qualified teachers (NQT plus one or two years' experience) to sign up now if they want to find a job for next year. Around 6,000 international schools employ more than 250,000 English-speaking teachers, and the number of schools is predicted to grow to 10,000 by 2021. Next year's opportunities include a placement at Harrow International's new outpost in Hong Kong. It's free to sign up and all jobs are paid.
Courses
A new website featuring courses, learning holidays and classes geared towards women has launched at idlovetodothat.com. As well as a girlie cupcake course (5 March, £125pp, Chelmsford) and a dating masterclass (10 March, £298pp, London), there's training for a pilot's licence (from £140 a day, Hertfordshire) and a gourmet break in Provence (4-9 March, £396pp excluding flights).
In other words …
• Campbling – the next level up from glamping – new dedicated website coming soon
• Metronatural – cities near amazing countryside, eg Seattle, Vancouver or Sheffield
• Grillzebo (gas BBQ under a gazebo, find one at Incleborough House's self-catering properties in Norfolk)
Snow watch
There's still loads of snow in most resorts across Europe, the US and Canada. Fresh snow improved already great conditions all over France last week. In Italy, Austria and Switzerland, pistes remain in "excellent" condition (skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/snowreports/snowconditions.aspx)
Where's hot now?
La Gomera (20C)
This island is just a ferry ride from Tenerife (try easyJet or Thomson for flights), but a world apart. Gomera Walking (gomerawalking.com) has group trips there 29 February-7 March and 14-21 March, from €699pp. Or stay at boutiquey Hotel Palacio Marqués (hotelpalaciomarquesdelagomera.blogspot.com, doubles from €78)
