15 top holiday deals

If you're hoping to escape the winter blues, but don't want to break the bank, take a look at these bargain holiday deals...

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little fed up with the cold weather at the moment - perhaps not helped by the fact that my flat is currently like an ice box. Fortunately for me, I'll be jetting off to the heat soon when I head off for a week in Barbados. Yippee!

But if money is looking a little tight and you still fancy escaping the cold for a while, where can you pick up some bargain holidays?

Flights

If you're looking for cheap flights, both the British Airways January sale and the Virgin sale are well worth checking out - providing you book before 26 January.

For example, British Airways is offering return flights to New York from £299, and flights plus a seven night hotel stay in Barbados from £519. Meanwhile, at Virgin, you can fly to Asia from £324, and Africa from £398.

easyjet is also offering spring flights from just £24.99 for travel up to 30 June. And at netflights, you can pick up bargain flights if you book before 25 January. So if you fancy a trip to Dubai, you can get a flight for £273, or if you'd prefer to go to Hong Kong, it will only set you back £356. Both of these offers are for travel until 30 June.

Hotels and holidays

Lastminute.com is offering some great deals on holidays right now. So if you fancy escaping the cold and heading to the heat, you can pick up a week's holiday in Costa Brava, Spain, from £244 per adult. Alternatively, if you'd prefer a trip to Tunisia, you can enjoy a seven night stay from £248 per person.

Hotels.com is also offering up to 30% off selected 3 and 3.5 star hotels in New York, providing you book and travel before 31 March. And if you're only after a weekend break, you can also enjoy 50% off weekend stays at the Hilton until 31 January.

Websites such as Discounthotels.co.uk, hotelclub.net and hoteldiscount.com are also worth browsing as these are often packed with cheap deals.

If you're very flexible about when you can travel, Expedia is offering a range of fabulous last minute holiday deals. For example, you can enjoy a seven night stay in The Gambia from just £259 per person (on a bed and breakfast basis), providing you can travel on 22 January from either Bristol or Gatwick.

Teletext is also offering some great last minute holiday bargains for under £300. A seven night all inclusive stay in Lanzarote will cost you £204 per person, flying on 4 February from Luton.

Skiing breaks

If the recent snowfalls haven't been enough for you, and you fancy heading off with your skis, easyJet is currently offering flights to several ski resorts from just £23.99 (single fare, including tax).

Teletext is also offering some fabulous ski deals, including a seven night half-board stay in Bulgaria, for £177 per person, or a seven night bed and breakfast stay in Austria for £143 per person.

Similarly, CrystalSki is also packed with bargain deals, including a seven night self-catering stay in France from £199 per adult.

And if you are booking a skiing holiday, don't forget to check out Eight top tips for skiing on a budget for more advice.

UK breaks

If you're not too fussed about the weather, and you're planning to have your holiday in the UK this year, have a browse of Lastminute.com.

Here you can enjoy 30% off selected Thistle hotels, as well as great bargains for UK city hotels. For example, you can stay in the four star Cosmopolitan Hotel in Leeds from just £49 per room - and if you book three nights, you'll only have to pay for two.

Alternatively, you can book the three star Best Western York Pavilion in York from £69 per room - and again, if you stay three nights, you'll only pay for two.

You can also book rooms at the Travelodge for just £19 per night for stays between 2 May and 5 September. And at Premier Inn you can stay for £29 per night if you stay by 18 April.

Disneyland Paris

If you've got young children (or you want to relive your youth) and fancy paying a trip to Disneyland Paris, book a three night, five day ticket package and you'll enjoy two more nights completely free!

This offer is valid for arrivals through 29 April, with travel completed by 4 May. You will also need to book by 1 April. 

Cruises

Fancy putting your feet up and relaxing on a cruise? Then make sure you check out the Virgin Holidays Cruises sale which runs until 31 January.

Here you can pick up a seven night Mediterranean Cruise from £499 (including flights) for travel between April and November 2010. Alternatively, you could enjoy a seven night Canaries Cruise from £549 (including flights) for travel between January and March 2010.

Meanwhile, if you book a P&O cruise through Thomas Cook and pay your balance in full, you can save 15% on all new European and Mediterranean 2010 Cruises and Caribbean 2010/11 sailings. This offer is available until 31 January.

Final tips

If you are booking your holiday, don't forget that as well as saving money on flights and accommodation, you also need to consider how you can cut costs when it comes to travel money, car hire, and mobile phone charges. And if you're flying, make sure you don't get caught out my airport rip-offs!

For tips on the best places to get your travel money, make sure you read The best way to get your foreign currency, for tips on mobile phone charges, take a look at Cut the cost of calling from abroad, and for tips on car hire, read Five ways to cut the cost of car hire. It's also worth having a look at Avoid these six holiday rip-offs to make sure you don't get caught out.

Finally, don't forget to pack your travel insurance and an EHIC card, if you're travelling in Europe! Happy holidays!

Get help from lovemoney.com

If you'd like further advice about how to cut your travel costs, lovemoney.com can help.

First, adopt this goal: Travel for less

Next, watch this video: The worst holiday rip-offs

Finally, why not have a wander over to Q&A and ask other lovemoney.com members for advice?

More: How to pay for your summer holiday | Avoid budget airline card charges