Escapism
Janapar … Love, on a Bike, an independent film released on 24 January, is perfect for vicarious adventurers. It's the story of Tom Allen, a British IT expert who gave up his career to travel the world by bike. His self-shot film, made over four years in 32 countries – including Armenia, the Middle East, east Africa and Iran –covers the meteorologial and emotional hurdles he encounters along the way.
• tomsbiketrip.com
Snow watch
The mountain village of El Tarter, Andorra, has 50 new holiday flats as of 20 December. They are next to the main gondola up to Grandvalira, the largest ski area in the Pyrenees, with 210km of ski and snowboard runs. Some apartments have a fireplace and most have balconies.
• From £466 a week for a one-bedroom apartment sleeping four, pv-holidays.com
Cheap date
Okko is a new mini-chain of cool, affordable four-star hotels springing up a handful of French cities. The designer, Patrick Norguet, uses a minimalist, almost Nordic style. The first opens in Nantes in January, next to the castle, and will be followed by others in Grenoble and Lyon in 2014, and a further six by 2017.
• Doubles from €94 a night, okkohotels.com
How much?!
While most of us celebrate New Year's Eve but once a year, the mega-rich can party twice. With jet charter company Private Fly they can celebrate in Sydney until 2am, then hop on a plane to LA, moving backwards across the international date line and arriving at 8.15pm – and get mashed all over again.
• From £9,157pp, or £137,355 for the whole (15-seater) plane, privatefly.com
Book ahead
Thinking about next summer's family holiday? Center Parcs is taking bookings for its fifth "village" in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, opening in spring. "Exclusive lodges" come with sauna, hot tub and games room. There'll be the usual pools, restaurants and outdoor activities, too.
• Family lodge from £779 for three nights, centerparcs.co.uk
• This article was amended on 2 January 2014. The Center Parcs accommodation includes 'exclusive lodges', not tree houses or chalets as we stated. We incorrectly stated that lodges come with staff – they do not.
