Take me there: Zagreb
Zagreb has long been overshadowed by the photogenic charms of medieval Dubrovnik, but that could all be about to change with the launch of a new direct flight to the Croatian capital and the opening of the city's first "boutique B&B". BA will launch a daily service from Heathrow to Zagreb from 9 December with fares from £69 one way (ba.com). In the heart of the old town, Studio Kairos (studio-kairos.com) offers a budget alternative to bland business hotels with just four quirky rooms, a communal area with internet access and bike rental enabling you to explore the city's lively café scene and handsome boulevards. From €48 per night.
It's a good time to… go to a winter wonderland
You don't have to travel to the Arctic to experience a frozen wonderland this winter. Liverpool will be bringing a little slice of Lapland to the north-west with its first-ever #IceFestival (liverpoolone.com), featuring a pop-up ice bar, outdoor skating rink, Santa's Grotto with a gallery of ice sculptures and a 30m ice slide. The festival will run from 7 November to 13 January in the city's Chavasse Park and tickets can be purchased on the door or in advance (ticketmaster.co.uk/icefestival).
Not to be outdone, London's Hyde Park has upped the ante at its ever-popular Winter Wonderland event with the addition of a Magical Ice Kingdom, a "winter palace" featuring 500 intricately carved ice and snow sculptures and an ice slide. This will join regulars such as the ice rink (the UK's largest), observation wheel and Christmas market. Tickets for the Magical Ice Kingdom cost from £7 per adult and £5 per child and can be purchased in advance (23 November to 6 January; hydeparkwinterwonderland.com).
In Bradford's City Park you can follow an Ice Sculpture Trail and watch artists at work every Saturday from 15-22 December (bradford.gov.uk/events).
Give me a break: the week's best deals
Home Budget chain Premier Inn has extended its nationwide room sale for the festive period, adding a further 50,000 rooms at £29 between 15 December and 13 January in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and elsewhere. The rooms sleep up to two adults and two children, so it's a great value alternative to bedding down with the relatives over Christmas (premierinn.com).
Away If you like your turkey served with a side order of sunshine, the family-friendly and stylish Martinhal Beach Resort in the Algarve is offering 25% off its best-available rates on stays of four nights or more between 21 December and 6 January. Christmas menus will be on offer in the restaurants or you can order a special hamper. Rooms from €228 (martinhal.com).
