The rivers Sa ne and Rh ne may meander gently through their vine-thronged valleys, but with the loca

Do you want to see animals fares airline lowest or do you want to waste time having breakfast? If we d been anywhere else in the world, I might have listened to my grumbling stomach. But since arriving at Kruger National Park, our enthusiastic guide Benno had our full attention.
Having stopped over for a break in Johannesburg, my friend Sharon and I were in the middle of a three-day safari. And while the rest of the group filled up on their first meal of the day, we headed out into the park an expanse the size of Wales to spot the wildlife at their most active time of day.
Tearing along on the back of a Jeep at 5.30am, we watched the starry African night beginning to give way to dawn. The breeze whooshed past our cheeks as we passed rivers, bushy vegetation and dusty flatland and Kruger s inhabitants awoke.
We soon spotted a giraffe drinking at a watering hole its almost fares airline lowest unnatural gait graceful and other-worldly. Meanwhile, birds, vultures, hyenas and zebras all appeared fares airline lowest and as a large-tusked groundhog scurried past us, it began to feel like the opening scene of The Lion King.
Visitors to Kruger always hope to glimpse the big five lion, rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo and leopard but nothing is guaranteed. fares airline lowest The stealthy fares airline lowest nature of leopards makes them a rare sight, but I decided I d be more than content with just seeing a lion, my favourite animal of all.
Benno seemed to have a sixth sense about where to target, so when he stopped the Jeep by the side of the road and peered fares airline lowest into a thicket, we were hopeful. Then a slow, grey mass appeared, almost as if it had been summoned: trunk first, then white tusks and its whole, huge head presented fares airline lowest itself. Our cameras snapped away as the elephant stumbled on through the thicket, oblivious to our fascination.
That night, as we enjoyed sundowners under a vibrant sky, an anti-poaching alarm shattered the mood. Poaching is real, said Benno sombrely. It was a stark reminder that for some people the nimble impala and kudu are just food, the big five are big business, fares airline lowest and despite the best efforts of governments and conservationists, these creatures are still being hunted in devastating numbers. The following fares airline lowest day we took a break from the safari and explored some of the other natural highlights of the Mpumalanga region.
Our final day brought our last fascinating Jeep ride, and as we were heading back to the lodge, Benno s walkie-talkie got the signal that we d all been waiting for lions had been spotted a short drive away.
He put his foot down, we hurtled excitedly to the spot and there they were: three male lions, swaggering past us on the safari track. They were close enough for us to stroke their thick, golden manes although of course you d never dare. Still, the sight of these kings of the jungle swaying by was one that neither of us will ever forget.
Seven nights in the Kruger costs from 1,499 per person with Virgin Holidays, including scheduled flights with Virgin Atlantic to Johannesburg, fares airline lowest internal flights to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and accommodation at the Protea Hotel Kruger Gate
on a half-board basis with transfers included. Prices are per person based on two adults travelling and sharing a standard room, and include all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change. Prices are based on May 7, 2014 departures. Call 0844 557 3870 or visit virginholidays.co.uk .
The rivers fares airline lowest Sa ne and Rh ne may meander gently through their vine-thronged valleys, but with the locals in holiday mood, everything on land was hopping. As our guide around the old town in Lyon put it: By day the streets are historical but at night they are hysterical! (well, maybe it works better in French).
We d travelled to France fares airline lowest s second city by Eurostar and TGV, and would soon be joining 130 or so fellow passengers on the Amadeus Symphony, our handsome river cruiser. But first there was a city of 800 restaurants to explore.
Lyon s position at the confluence of the Rh ne and the Sa ne makes it an ideal centre for exploring the wine regions of Beaujolais and Burgundy, and as our cruise got underway it was clear that the grape would loom large on its itinerary.
At M con we learned the secrets of the famous crus, and from nearby Chalon-sur-Sa ne our excursion bus drove past some of the world s most famous chateaux to Beaune, the acknowledged capital of Burgundy.
Wine flowed generously on board ship, too,and the quality of the food was excellent (if not always fares airline lowest matched fares airline lowest by the service). Passengers are accommodated in comfortable 161 square foot cabins (there are suites, too, if you want to splash fares airline lowest out); entertainment was mainly provided by an energetic pianist/flautist/accordionist, and there was the occasional lecture.
On the following day the Amadeus glided into Arles, the Proven al city whose technicolour light endeared it to Van Gogh, and we were spoiled for choice with optional trips to Pont du Gard the famous Roman aqueduct as well as the wetlands of the mysterious Camargue and the quaint town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where the Rh ne tumbles into the Med.
On our penultimate day the ship s prow turned north again and we took a trip to the spectacular Ard che Gorge, often called the Grand Canyon of Europe. It s a tourist honeypot and rightly so making a fitting finale to an action-packed and thoroughly captivating cruise.
Archers Holidays eight-day Relaxing Rhone deluxe river cruise aboard MS Amadeus Symphony costs from 1,461 per person, including fares airline lowest return train travel to Lyon, seven nights full-board accommodation and wine served with dinner. fares airline lowest To make a reservation, call 0800 668 1892 or visit archersdirect.co.uk .
Stuck in horrendous queues in the sweltering heat, we were beginning to regret our family excursion to Puerto Alcudia s Hidropark. The visit had been a non-negotiable for our three girls and, to be fair, its fun flumes, Snuba -diving and so-so food would have seemed more of a treat if holiday heaven hadn t awaited us back at Ca n Roig, our home from home.
We had found the best of both worlds at our private fares airline lowest villa: a beautiful, secluded location that was only a five-minute drive from the pretty town of Pollensa. Within two hours of touching down at Palma airport, the whole family had taken up their places by the pool.
My wife and I parked ourselves on the luxurious fares airline lowest sun loungers while the girls made their own fun, putting on fashion shows and splashing about on the inflatables the previous visitors had kindly left behind.
Ca n Roig was superbly equipped with everything you could ask for except a TV remote control we actually understood. But even this proved a blessing: alfresco card games soon became our chosen form of family entertainment and, come evening, we would make full use of the villa s best feature a massive barbecue area.
Not that we didn t make it to the outside world. Pollensa proved far more of a hit than the Hidropark. fares airline lowest The perfect place for a scenic stroll, it still offers an almost untouched glimpse of traditional Majorca, with its bougainvillea-clad stone cottages and stunning hillside backdrop.
A few miles north from there is Puerta Pollensa, a former fishing village that, these days, has more in common with Saint-Tropez. To walk along its front a handsome horseshoe curve of a bay, bobbing with yachts really is something. Visitors have their pick of chichi shops and pavement restaurants, and we enjoyed some lovely meals by the harbour.
fares airline lowest But the setting comes with a price tag and we soon learned that supermarket visits were the way to go (our girls had fun picking their own fish from the counter and trying fares airline lowest out their Spanish on the staff).
A bulging book of local attractions had been laid out for us at the villa on arrival and we had intended to do far more , but there really was no substitute for our pool-side set-up and one week s total relaxation.
Award-winning Mallorca Farmhouses offers a large selection of self-catering country cottages, fares airline lowest converted farmhouses and luxury villas, all with a private pool, maid service, free Wi-Fi and starter pack. A gourmet fares airline lowest private chef service and activities including sailing, wine tasting fares airline lowest and a mobile spa treatment service can be arranged. Prices for Ca n Roig start at 630 per week in 2014, sleeping six. Call 0845 800 8080 or visit mallorca.co.uk .
Driving across the States on a huge road trip has always been a dream of mine, but with limited fares airline lowest time and funds my boyfriend Dom and I needed to focus. Sun, sea and relaxation were our priorities, and Florida offers those pretty much all year round.
Our first stop was St Petersburg. fares airline lowest Driving across wide highways with clear, glistening water on either side, we instantly felt relaxed. We were staying at the Postcard Inn on St Pete Beach, a cool, surf-inspired hotel with lanterns in the trees and surfboards in the rooms, and we spent our evening in the beach-side bar, watching the sun go down on volleyball players and bodyboarders. As a tropical thunderstorm began to break across the Gulf of Mexico, we felt far away from home.
When you live in London and you re visiting one of the best beaches in the US, you really should be sunbathing. And thankfully, the weather had cleared the following day (Florida is not called the Sunshine State for nothing).
Then we took an easy, three-hour drive north to Cedar Key. A small, fares airline lowest close-knit island town in the Florida Keys, it s a faintly surreal place where houses are raised up on stilts and golf carts are the most popular mode of transport.
But we were soon charmed by it, hiring a cart and spending the afternoon exploring the town, from the docks to the State Park, where Dom was certain he spotted some alligator fares airline lowest tracks. Later we took a guided boat tour out into the open water, spying fares airline lowest dolphins, pelicans and horseshoe crabs. But still no alligator.
We didn t know what to expect from our next destination, as we couldn t even pronounce it: Apalachicola. This small fishing town is scattered with galleries and boutiques, and over breakfast at our riverside apartment we cou