7 Full Moon

The unsung backwoods hero of the guidebook scene, the Moon collection (www.moon.com) covers each of America’s states, offering far more detail, history and local lore than any rivals, with excellent maps, spot-on recommendations and an easy-to-navigate layout. Also featured in the series are country guides to Central and South America, region guides covering Mexico and Canada, and nifty niche topics such as fishing in California or West Coast RV camping. New publications include Scotland, Buenos Aires and Thailand.

8 Cheap but sexy

It’s a bold boast, but we’re saying the Mediterranean’s most romantic spot is Santorini – and now even bankers can afford it. The Santorini Grace (00 30 21096 81852, www.santorinigrace.com) has the same virginal-white architecture as the island’s six-star hotels, and the same sunset views over the caldera, but peak-season rates start at £270 – about £150 cheaper a night than its rivals.

10 classic wintersun destinations

Now wouldn’t that be nice? Chris Haslam laughs in the face of the impending cold and takes a fresh look at 10 classics

• The 13 hottest hotels for winter sun

• Eight winter sun hotspots

• Do the hippies still run Goa?

The world's 50 best walks

From a grade-one pub stroll to a grade-five yeti hunt

6 wintersun breaks at the hottest prices

Get the timing and destination right and you could still bag a hot holiday bargain, says Julia Brookes

• The 10 best winter sun music festivals 2008

Related Links

• The 50 little luxuries of travel

9 Cheap but tasty

Another bold boast: Robert Thompson is the UK’s best young chef. He won his first Michelin star at 23, headed the kitchen at Cliveden at 25 and, still only 26, has taken over the Hambrough hotel, in Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight (01983 856333, www.thehambrough.com; doubles from £130, B&B). You pay £45, you get three outstanding courses that wouldn’t be out of place in swanky London. Deal.

10 A cinema with wings

This is genius. Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.co.uk) now starts its in-flight entertainment from the moment you sit down and doesn’t turn it off until the wheels touch the ground again. It’s a godsend during those oh-so-predictable two-hour delays on the tarmac at Heathrow. Full marks: when are other airlines going to catch up?

11 Need a lift?

We’re loving the Peak 2 Peak gondola, in Whistler – the extraordinary new lift that links two separate mountain peaks in the flagship Canadian resort, allowing you to ski the top halves of both mountains without ever having to drop to the valley floor. In a resort with two climates – one high, alpine and cold, the other mild, maritime and slushy – it’s wonderful.

12 Give something that’s actually useful

When you’re travelling to poorer countries, you often come across schools or communities that need stuff. If only you’d brought what they lack, you could help. Well, you can. On www.stuffyourrucksack.com, organisations post what they’re short of – chalk, clothes, guitar strings, hearing aids – so you can pop a genuinely helpful donation in your suitcase and deliver it personally.

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