Holiday deals, hotel deals, new tours and offers Updated Wednesday 10.44 STA Travel is offering return flights from London Heathrow to Melbourne from £499 per person. From today (November 6) until 5pm Friday November 8. Call 0333 321 0099 or visit an STA store (see http://www.statravel.co.uk/find-a-branch.htm). Updated Wednesday 09.05 Mexico adventure Access Trips has launched a new seven-day trip to Mexico, combining mountain biking in the Sierra Madre mountain range with surfing lessons on the Pacific coast. The first tour departs on December 15. See www.accesstrips.com/sports/mexico-mtb Flights to Phuket The first direct flights from Britain to Phuket have taken off. The Thomson Airways service from Gatwick uses the technologically advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The flights will operate once a week. See www.thomsonfly.com Capital wines Central London's only fully-functioning winery will open its doors next week. Visitors to London Cru can attend monthly supper clubs with some of the city's best chefs, take a tour of the premises, or even create their own wine. See www.londoncru.co.uk. Direct to Manila Philippine Airlines has returned to Europe for the first time in 15 years with a new service from Manila to Heathrow. The airline will operate the route five times a week on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. See www1.philippineairlines.com W/C October 28 London's Threadneedles Hotel is offering an exclusive package of a one-night stay and entry for two to the Cheapside Hoard: London's Lost Jewels exhibition at The Museum of London. Priced from £265, the offer includes breakfast and is based on two sharing a room. See www.hotelthreadneedles.co.uk or call 020 7657 8080 Austravel is offering an 11-day Western Australia motorhome holiday from £899 per person (saving of £345 per couple). The holiday includes a one night stay at the three star Ibis Hotel Perth followed by Apollo motorhome hire for 10 days. Also includes return flights from London Heathrow with Qatar Airways. Based on selected departures in May 2014. Book by November 19. See www.austravel.com or call 0800 988 4834 The adventure tour operator Exodus has launched 12 new cultural adventure holidays in its brochure for 2014/15. New destinations include northern Namibia, Angola and Bangladesh. See www.exodus.co.uk; or call 0845 863 9601. Small ship cruise company, "The Majestic Line," is offering their 2014 cruises at 2013 prices until November 15. Cruise itineraries specialise in sailing out of Oban to explore Argyll and the Hebrides. See www.themajesticline.co.uk or call 01369 707951. Hayes & Jarvis is offering an all inclusive holiday to the Dominican Republic from £995 per person, (savings £340). Departing on December 11, this offer includes a seven night stay at the four star Occidental Grand Punta Cana hotel, transfers and return flights from London Gatwick to the Dominican Republic with British Airways. See www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk or call 01293 735831. Ryanair is offering 'Monday Madness' fares from £14.99 on a 100,000 seats across 1,000 of its European routes for travel on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in December and January. The sale begins midnight tonight (October 28) and must be booked before midnight October 31. See ryanair.com or call 0871 246 0000. Dive Worldwide is offering a diving break to the reefs, turquoise waters and pristine beaches of Maldives, in the Noonu Atoll. Stay at the luxury 5-star Zitahli Resort. From £3,370 per person based on two sharing (saving £800 per person), including flights, seven nights" half board accommodation, six boat dives with tanks and weights. Valid for travel in November 2013. Winter offer includes upgrade from b & b to half board and "stay seven nights, pay for six" deal. See www.diveworldwide.com or call 0845 1306980. Rainbow Tours is offering £620 off a seven-night trip incorporating three nights at the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in Uganda and four nights on a big five safari at the Sanctuary Kusini in Tanzania. Now £4,280 per person, between November 1 and December 15. See www.rainbowtours.co.uk or call 020 7666 1250. W/C October 21 High Mountain Holidays (01993 775540, highmountain.co.uk) is offering 20 per cent off all remaining chalets and apartments for the opening week of the ski season, from 14- 21 December 2013. There is also 25 per cent off ski passes for that week. Lime Wood hotel (023 80287177, limewood.co.uk) in the New Forest has opened two forest cottages and a forest cabin in its grounds, built using natural materials and housing snug log fires. Prices start from £650 per night available from October 2013. Regent Holidays (regent-holidays.co.uk, 020 7666 1244) is launching two new World War II focused holidays - "Journey through the Soviet Hero Cities" and the "History of Stalingrad" departing on September 20 and September 27 2014 respectively. The small group tours take in some of the conurbations named as "Hero Cities" after the Second World War, in recognition of their bravery during some of the conflict's fiercest and cruellest battles. Bailey Robinson (01488 689700, baileyrobinson.com) is offering a new driving tour from Chile to Argentina, taking in Patagonian highlights such as the Torres del Paine mountain range and Mount Fitzroy. There are self-drive and guided options available. Prices for a seven-night stay start at £3,950 pp (two sharing) or £5,150 pp including international flights. Flight Centre is running a flash sale offering return flights to Hong Kong departing from London Heathrow and Manchester from £399 per person including all taxes and fees. See flightcentre.co.uk/flashsale or call 0844 499 9285 LD Lines is launching a new ferry service from Poole to Santander in northern Spain. It will start on November 3 with fares from £399 return (for two passengers in a cabin, plus car). See ldlines.co.uk The Ampersand Hotel, "spurred by reports of the demise of the printed word," is running a series of events in its library. Throughout October and November, guests at the South Kensington hotel can enjoy readings from authors. See www.ampersandhotel.com Hoseasons has unveiled a new collection of luxury boating holidays. "Starboard" will take to the water next year, with boats sleeping from two to eight guests. See www.hoseasons.co.uk for more information. easyJet will launch 10 new routes next year. Travellers at Gatwick will be able to visit Newcastle, Brittany, Paris and Jersey; those at Belfast will be able to head for Bordeaux and Jersey; Edinburgh fliers will be visit Heraklion and Bodrum; while Split (pictured below) and Kos will be within reach of those at Glasgow. See www.easyJet.com Great Escapes is offering three nights for the price of two at several hotels in Ghent and Bruges. The two cities are billed at "perfect for a Christmas market break." See GreatEscapes.co.uk Inghams is offering seven nights in ski-in/ski-out, self-catering accommodation in the Alpine resort of Avoriaz, France, from £299 per person, a saving of £156 per person. Price includes return flights from Gatwick to Geneva and transfers. Flights from other airports are available at an additional cost. For more information visit inghams.co.uk or call 01483 791 114. Wild Frontiers has launched 14 new tours for 2014, including 'Kyrgyzstan Explorer'. This 15-day tour includes the spectacular Son Kul Lake, the old silk-route caravanserai of Tash Rabat, eagle-hunting demonstrations and stays in traditional yurts. Departs 10 Aug 2014, cost £1,625 pp ex. flights (wildfrontierstravel.com; 020 7736 3968). Viator is offering an exclusive chance to rub shoulders with Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, the 'real owners' of Downtown Abbey, on a half-day trip to Highclere Castle from London on November 5. Guests will arrive for champagne and hors d'oeuvres and explore the elaborate rooms where the ITV series is filmed. Dress is formal, naturally - men are asked to wear suits, and women are asked to wear cocktail dresses. Costs from £199 per person, including coach transfers from London, and proceeds will go to the Nembury Cancer Trust. Book with Viator.com Song Saa Private Island Resort in Cambodia is offering 25 per cent off all-inclusive four, eight and 12 night stays between November 1 and December 15. The resort is located across the two private isles of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong in Cambodia's undiscovered Koh Rong archipelago and comprises 27 private villas. Discounted rates start at £750 per villa per night on a double-occupancy full-board basis. This includes all meals and drinks, laundry, minibar, speedboat transfers from Sihanoukville and most activities and excursions (00 855 236 860 360; songsaa.com). Tropical Sky is offering an all-inclusive week from £1,579 per person at the four-star Turtle Beach Hotel in Barbados during the Dream Cup tennis tournament featuring Andy Murray. The price includes return flight from Gatwick and is valid departures on November 28. Must by booked by November 20. See tropicalsky.co.uk or call 0843 249 5361. Ski Solutions is offering a free lift pass per person for holidays in Chamonix, France, as well as savings of up to £100 per person on selected dates in February and March next year, if booked by October 31. See skisolutions.com or call 020 7471 7749. MyFerryLink is offering 2000 Dover-Calais tickets from £19 each way for a car and up to nine passengers. The deal is available on selected crossings between now and December 18 2013 (myferrylink.com, 0844 2482100) I-escape is offering 50% discount on 20 hotels when you book by October 31 for bookings up to end September 2014. Eg a 5-night stay at La Locanda delle Donne Monache in Italy is now available from £132.50 per person for five nights. See www.i-escape.com/fifty Sovereign Luxury Travel is offering a saving of up to £1,204 per couple on a seven-night stay at the five star Reid's Palace in Madeira, with prices from £1,099 per person. Departing on November 4 2013, the trip includes two free nights if booked before October 31. See sovereign.com or call 0843 770 4526 Intrepid Travel is offering adventure-seekers the opportunity to accompany Tim Jarvis, the expedition leader who recreated Shackleton's escape from Antarctica voyage, on a special trip to the Arctic in June 2014. Departing Longbearyen on June 9, the 12-day voyage is on the Spitsbergen Explorer. See intrepidtravel.com Aurora Travel have launched their brochure for 2014, which includes one tour with overnight stays in both the Treehotel and the ICEHOTEL in Sweden. From £2,795 per person including flights (London), transfers, seven nights accommodation (including a night in a snow room), most meals, activities and warm clothing. Departs January-March 2014. See theaurorazone.com Wexas Travel is offering 13 nights for the price of 10 for its 'South Africa - New Cape, Wine, Garden Route & Safari' tour. Prices from £1,999. See www.wexas.com Qatar Airways have a four-day promotion to destinations including South Africa, Australia, Myanmar and India. Promotion fares are for travel until June 19 Highlight fares include Goa from £525, Melbourne from £775. From Manchester, there are flights to Oman from £415 amd Cape Town from £550. See qatarairways.com/uk/en/offers/4-day-promotion.page On the Beach are offering a one-week holiday to Morocco staying at the 4* Golden Beach Hotel. Price includes return flights on November 14 and seven nights" accommodation on a b & b basis. See www.onthebeach.co.uk or call 0871 474 3000. Citalia is offering a saving of up to £78 per person on a three-night holiday to Florence. The holiday starts from £235 per person and includes a 15 per cent early booking discount, one free night, return flights from London Gatwick with Easyjet and a three-night stay at the three star Palazzo dal Borgo on a b & b basis. Price based on departures December 8, 2013. See citalia.com or call 0843 770 4443. Expert Africa points out that Zambia is likely to introduce VAT on tourist-related products in January and suggests now would be a good time to book its Oribi Safari, a 12-night safari in Zambia's South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi, following part of the route that David Livingstone took when he journeyed through the area. Currently from £6,414. See expertafrica.com or call 020 8232 9777. Also in Africa, Gecko is offering almost £400 off its Animals Like You tour. The trip to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda goes for 15 days, departs December 15, and is now available from £1296 per person, down from £1690. See geckosadventures.com/trips/gamg Hayes & Jarvis (01293 735831; hayesandjarvis.co.uk) is offering a seven night holiday to Mexico with prices from £899 per person, with savings of £471pp. Departing on December 5, 2013, this deal includes a week at the five star Dreams Tulum on an all inclusive basis. This offer includes transfers, return flights from London Gatwick with British Airways. W/C October 14 Discover Adventure has a new trekking trip to the Chapada Diamantina National Park, in Brazil, with two departures in 2014. From £2,399 pp (two sharing) including ten nights" accommodation (hotels, guesthouses and home stays), international (London) and domestic flights (Salvador to Rio de Janeiro), most meals, entry to sites listed in the itinerary and Discover Adventure support team. (discoveradventure.com; 01722 718444). Wow House Company is offering three nights for the price of two at a Cornwall country house. Maryfield House, a Grade-II Iisted property sleeping 15, is now £1,645 for a three-night stay from November 8. See www.thewowhousecompany.co.uk or call 01242 220006. The Dorchester Collection is offering what it describes as "The Ultimate Grand Tour," incorporating stays at The Dorchester, London; Le Meurice, Paris; Le Richemond, Geneva; Hotel Principe di Savoia, Milan; and Hotel Eden, Rome. During the 12-day trip, guests will have the chance to travel in style by boat, train, limousine, classic car and helicopter. See www.grand-tourist.com/the-ultimate-grand-tour Travelsphere is launching a new Return to Kashmir small group tour for 2014, making them the first escorted tour operator to head back to the region. Highlights of the "Return to Kashmir" tour include a cruise aboard a traditional shikara, and four nights staying on board a deluxe houseboat. This nine day tour starts at £1,899 per person. Departures between April 2014 and June 2015. (travelsphere.co.uk; 0844 567 9961). The Ritz-Carlton in Tianjin (pictured below) opened its doors today. The Art Deco building features 277 rooms and 53 suites, four restaurants, a spa, and a 1,050m² ballroom. See www.ritzcarlton.com/tianjin. Y Talbit Inn in Tregaron, Wales, is offering a three-night break in a family suite, including breakfast and dinner, for £560. Y Talbot is a great base for exploring the Cambrian mountains (ytalbot.com, 01974 298208). Tour operator World Expeditions has drawn our attention to several of its one-off departures, including its 12-day 'Pushkar Camel Fair, Taj and Tigers' tour (from £1,690), departing November 7, a 12-day trip to the Jaipur Literature Festival departing next January (from £1,990), and an 11-day trip to the Holi Festival of Colour next March (from £2,090). Prices do not include flights. See www.worldexpeditions.com Air New Zealand has launched a competition for someone to join National Geographic photographer Jason Edwards and go to New Zealand's Scott Base in Antarctica. According to the press release, the winner of 'Antarctica: No Ordinary Place, No Ordinary Assignment' will "help draw attention to global environmental issues and the key scientific research under way." Apply via www.airnewzealand.com/voiceforantarctica by November 7. The walking charity Ramblers has released details of some of its free festive walks, being led by volunteers around the country this Christmas time. For more information, see www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks Trident Hotels is offering a winter deal for a total of six nights in Agra, Jaipur and Delhi, from £778, including accommodation and breakfast at each of the Trident Hotels as well as access to the Kid's Club in Agra and Jaipur. Those who book before the end of October 2013 are being offered an extra night's stay at Trident, Jaipur, for no additional cost. See tridenthotels.com The latest offers from Telegraph Hand-picked include 26 per cent off a northern lights tour of Iceland; 68 per cent off stays at the Hotel Imperial Vienna; and 40 per cent off bed and breakfast at the Saturnia & International Hotel in Venice. See www.hand-picked.telegraph.co.uk/current-sales Norwegian will launch low-cost transatlantic flights from London next summer. Tickets are on sale now, with prices from £149 one-way to New York, £199 one-way to Los Angeles, and £179 one-way to Fort Lauderdale. On sale now. See www.norwegian.com The cruise ship Regal Princess will make its inaugural voyage earlier than scheduled, while two additional sailings have been announced. The new cruises depart on May 20 (Venice to Athens via Corfu, Mykonos and Istanbul) and May 27 (Athens to Venice via Ephesus, Santorini, Olympia and Dubrovnik). See www.princess.com On The Go Tours has launched four new tours to Borneo, on which travellers can visit UNESCO-listed caves, traditional longhouses, endangered orangutan species, and the highest peak in Malaysia. From £779 (onthegotours.com, 0207 372 1113). Intrepid Travel has announced a host of new tours for 2014 "taking travellers further off the beaten track" and adding more "real life experiences." Included is a sailing trip through Burma's Myeik archipelago, a chance to learn percussion in Cuba, and a tour of South American using public transport. See www.intrepidtravel.com/new-trips-2014 A North Sea ferry isn't the most obvious place to spot wildlife, but DFDS Seaways claims wildlife sightings has soared this year on its Newcastle-Amsterdam route. A total of 699 sightings have been made, it claims (up from 183 last year), including 267 white beaked dolphins, 392 porpoises and 23 minke whales. Passengers are invited to spot and record the different animals they see, with expert guidance provided by an on board wildlife officer. See www.dfds.co.uk Global Golfers, a free magazine aimed at golfers with a penchant for travel, has been launched. See www.globalgolfermag.com Ryanair's latest sale will begin at midnight tonight, with 100,000 seats available at a discounted price until Monday. A trip from Stansted to Malmo in Sweden, for example, will start at just £14.99 one-way. See www.ryanair.com. Classic Cottages has 20% off an October half-term stay at The Lookout (sleeps four) in Brixham, Devon. Arriving October 26, a week's stay now costs £396 (was £495). (classic.co.uk) Arblaster & Clarke is introducing "Free Wheeling Wine Holidays" to its 2013/14 wine touring programme. The trips feature gentle cycling routes and plenty of detours to France's best vineyards and wineries. See www.winetours.co.uk Berns Hotel in Stockholm has partnered with the Stockholm Film Festival (November 6-17) to offer a break with movie-themed cocktails and food, and the chance to party in the same chandeliered concert hall as the legendary Ingrid Bergman did 60 years ago. The two-night package costs from SEK 3,375 pp (approx £325 pp based on two sharing), including breakfast, a film festival pass and one three-course dinner. Flights extra (berns.se; 00 468 566 322 00) Boutique Retreats has just added The Cuttlefish in Mousehole, Cornwall, to its portfolio of properties. Sleeping four in two bedrooms, the property is just minutes' walk from the beach, and has panoramic sea views. Availability is currently good. Prices from £713.25 for a long weekend in winter to £2,550 for a week in summer (boutique-retreats.co.uk; 01872 553491) Just Grenada (www.justgrenada.co.uk; 01373 814214) and Just St Lucia (www.juststlucia.co.uk; 01373 814204) are offering a selection of chocolate-themed holidays in St Lucia and Grenada to celebrate National Chocolate Week in Britain. The offers include seven-night b&b stays from £1,150 per person featuring cocoa plantation tours, chocolate factory visits, chocolate-based menus and cookery lessons. Etihad has unveiled a selection of 10th anniversary fares, valid for travel during November. They include Bangkok from £455 return, Kuala Lumpur from £535, and Sydney from £755. See www.etihad.com Political Tours returns to Turkey this autumn with an eight-day trip, offering a "thought provoking insight into the region." The itinerary is designed for people with a passion for travel and current affairs and looks at the rapid changes sweeping across the region. The trip, which starts in Gaziantep, close to Turkey's border with Syria, and weaves its way via Ankara to Istanbul (below), combines visits to key historical and political sites with meals in award-winning restaurants. See www.politicaltours.com Rainbow Tours Latin America (www.rainbowtours.co.uk 020 7666 1260) has reduced the price of a two-week trip incorporating the highlights of mainland Ecuador with a cruise of the Galapagos Islands to £4,825 per person - saving £590, departing on selected dates in late October and November. Virgin Atlantic is offering discounts of up to 43 per cent on various late deals. The biggest saving appears to be for 3V Savannah Beach in Barbados - but you need to book by October 17. Call 0844 557 3870 or see virginholidays.co.uk St Albans is hosting its first European-inspired Christmas Market this year, from November 28 until December 21. Discover the World is giving new, free Northern Lights, Snow and Ice Photography lectures with award-winning photographer Ragnar TH Sigurddson on special departures to the ICEHOTEL and the Abisko National Park in Swedish Lapland. See www.discover-the-world.co.uk Cresta is offering savings of up to £177 per couple on city breaks to destinations including Prague, Amsterdam, Venice, Vienna, and Bruges. See www.crestaholidays.co.uk The Grill at The Dorchester is offering a set menu of three courses, plus a glass of wine, for £35 per person. Dinner; Monday - Sunday until November 30. www.thedorchester.com Cox & Kings has introduced a new range of tours for single travellers. Destinations include Russia, Turkey, Morocco, India (pictured below), China, Burma and Cuba. See www.coxandkings.co.uk/single-travellers Colorado's ski season has officially begun. "Several resorts in Colorado have taken advantage of cold night time temperatures and ideal humidity conditions over the past weeks," said the state's tourist board. Arapahoe Basin and Loveland Ski Area began making snow on Friday, September 27, and have made snow or received natural snow most days since then. New snowmaking equipment upgrades, ideal snowmaking conditions, and recent natural snowfall have added to Arapahoe Basin's base accumulation resulting in the resort's current packed powder conditions. Skyscanner has flights to Edinburgh from £88 (Virgin Atlantic/Little Red; book by 11 Nov); Hanoi from £599 (Cathay Pacific; book by 31 Oct); Shanghai from £487 (KLM; book by 6 Nov); New York from £441 (Virgin Atlantic; book by 23 Oct); Istanbul from £182 (Turkish Airlines; book and travel by 31 March 14); and Doha from £370 (KLM; book by 6 Nov). Visit www.skyscanner.net for more information. Sovereign Luxury Travel (0843 770 4526, www.sovereign.com) is offering savings of up to £1,451 per couple on trips to the Maldives, Tenerife, Cyprus and Turkey. Ski Solutions has flagged up the following: Courmayeur, Italy - four night's B&B, staying at Centrale Hotel and departing London Heathrow on January 23, from £495 per person; Engelberg, Switzerland - four nights all-inclusive at the Hotel Terrace, departing Heathrow on January 9, from £945pp; and La Plagne, France, four night's half-board accommodation at the Bellecote, from £785 per person. The Hambrough hotel and restaurant on the Isle of Wight is offering "dine and stay" packages from £99 per person. The price includes one night's accommodation, a three-course meal and travel from Southampton with Red Funnel Ferries. Wednesdays and Thursday from October 30 until February 12. See thehambrough.com. Thomas Cook is offering savings of up to £440 per booking on breaks to Turkey and Spain. See www.thomascook.com, or call 0844 412 5970.