Under £200

Ice skating in Brussels. Between 16 December and 6 January you can waltz and whirl on the Marché aux Poissons which is transformed into a giant ice rink. Two nights B&B at the four-star Hotel Floris Grand Place and travel by Eurostar costs £125 with Eurotours (0870 380 7380; www.eurotours.co.uk).

· Art fair in Ghent, Belgium. Depart 30 November and attend the Lineart International Art Fair (from 30 November to 4 December) where 1,000 artists are represented. When you've done that Ghent has plenty of its own art and architecture to offer. Eurotours (details above) is offering two nights in three-star accommodation, including Eurostar, for £135.

· Golf in Carnoustie. The price of a two-night B&B stay at the Carnoustie golf course hotel and resort in Scotland has been reduced to £90 (or £130 to include dinner). Facing the course and with spectacular ocean views and its own health club this break is available from Crystal Britain (0870 848 7002; www. crystalbritain.co.uk) for stays before 23 December.

· Culture in Madrid. Benz Travel (020 7462 0000; www.benztravel.co.uk) has Lufthansa flights from Heathrow for £149.60. With its fabulous galleries, museums and theatres you could keep busy for days. Benz will also arrange a hotel booking at extra cost.

· Ski bargain of the week out of Manchester is £199 for one week's skiing in Banff in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The price includes charter flights with Airtours International, transfers and room only accommodation in a two star hotel to be allocated on arrival. Or a three star for £239. Departures throughout January. Call Iglu (020 8544 6362; www.iglu.com).

· Regaldive (0870 2201 777; www.regaldive.co.uk) has a number of discounted diving deals in Egypt. For example a week with breakfast at the Rosetta Hotel in Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula starts at £259 for departures on 9 and 16 December including Air 2000 charter flights from Gatwick and transfers. There's also a chance to book a PADI Open Water diving course for £175 (a second diver would get the same for free).

Under £300

Salsa in Barcelona. Stay two nights' B&B in a central three-star hotel with salsa lessons on Friday and Saturday afternoon and a chance to practise on two evenings at the hottest clubs. Departing 7 December with Go flights from Stansted to Barcelona for a total of £299. Dance Holidays (01206 577000; www.danceholidays.com).

Under £500

Racing in Dublin. A luxurious two nights' B&B at the five-star Merrion Hotel and tickets to the races. Irish chocolates to greet your arrival and a post-race dinner for two with wine to celebrate (or commiserate). Package available until l April for Friday and Saturday nights for £437 by calling the hotel direct (00 353 1 603 0600; www.merrionhotel.com).

· Prices are per person based on two sharing. All flights are return. For more late deals visit www.observer.co.uk/travel

· Long weekend in the Chinese capital of Beijing anyone? B&B accommodation for four nights in either four star Hotel Qianmen or five star Shangri-La. Thursday departures with Air China from Heathrow from 29 November through to March from £445. Voyages Jules Verne (020 7616 1000; www.vjv.com).

Over £500

· La Gomera in the Canary Islands is a spectacular winter destination and there's still time for a seven night stay before Christmas at the four star Jardin Tecina if you leave on 7 December. The cost is £656 (children under 12 £481) including scheduled BA flights from Gatwick, transfers and half board accommodation. Contact Cadogan Holidays (02380 828 313).

· A magical upgrade offer by Walt Disney Travel Company (0870 24 24 910) of a seven day ticket to the four Florida theme parks for the price of five. Prices from £671 (£305 for children), charter flights are with Britannia Airways, accommodation is at the Holiday Inn Express between 30 December and 31 January, choice of car rental or airport transfers and booking to be made by 30 November.

· For the ultimate in world cruises superliner Oriana sets sail from Southampton on 5 January for her 92 night eastbound itinerary via Africa, across the Indian Ocean to the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, USA and Caribbean. The all-inclusive price is from £5,790. Reservations P&O Cruises (020 7800 2222; www.pocruises.com).