August Bank Holiday sees, as always, the fabulous annual Red Sea Jazz Festival, taking place from August 25- 28. As usual, the venue is the Eilat Port, which will again be miraculously transformed into a series of open-air concert halls, with bars, cafés and stalls.
The programme features around 30 concerts, from solo artistes to New Orleans bands. As usual, too, there will be six post-concert gigs at sponsor Isrotel’s King Solomon’s Palace, where music lovers can dance the night away (www.isrotel.il; 00972 3519 7777).
For families who have been inspired by the film The Water Horse to visit Loch Ness, cottage specialist Ecosse Unique is offering a selection of properties around the picturesque lake. These include Polmaily Bothy, three miles from Castle Urquhart, seen in the film. The stone bothy, sleeping five with architect designed interior, costs from £345 for a week (01835 822277; www.unique-cottages.co.uk).
If you are planning a trip to New York for some serious retail therapy while the dollar stays in the doldrums, and you want to do it in style, travel operator Carrier is offering three nights in a deluxe room at the city’s super-chic Mandarin Oriental from £975 per person (based on two sharing) — with a free BA flight from London or Manchester thrown in. Offer is valid until April 30 (www.carrier.co.uk; 0161491 7640).
Singles planning an up-scale voyage can sail from Barbados to Madeira, on a nine-night cruise aboard the bijoux SeaDream II, from £1,095. The cost includes sea-view room, all meals, open bar and champagne and wines at lunch and dinner. Book it with BAway (0208 248 2355; BAway.co.uk). The Willard InterContinental, one of Washington’s swankiest hotels, has teamed up the Washington Ballet for its upcoming production of Cinderella, to create a package in May. Priced at $799 (£395) per person per night, based on two sharing, it includes transfers from Union Station or airport; accommodation in an Oval Suite with afternoon tea and a “Cindi” cocktail; aromatherapy massage, horse-drawn carriage to the theatre; top seats; limo pick-up with gourmet picnic and lots more (001 202-628-9100; www.washington.interconti.com).
Seasons in Style is offering a tempting deal at the stunning Huvafen Fushi Resort in the Maldives. If you book seven nights in a beach bungalow, you pay for five nights and receive an upgrade to an ocean bungalow (with plunge pool) and breakfast. With flights and speedboat transfers, the package, valid from May 10 to July 31, costs £1,885 per person, based on two sharing (01244 202 000; www.seasonsintyle.com).
If you are heading to Verona this summer for the opera festival, you can arrange tailor-made packages with specialists International Festivals Bureau, with four-star hotels from £53 per person per night, based on two sharing, and tickets from £22 to £168. This year’s season — which runs from June 20 to August 31 — includes Aida, Tosca, Carmen, Nabucco and Rigoletto (0870 247 1204; www.ifbarts.com).
Opera lovers can take advantage of a Glyndebourne Festival package at the Felbridge Hotel and Spa, a 35-minute drive away in East Grinstead. Available throughout the festival (May 18 to August 31), the package includes a gourmet — on request, kosher-friendly — picnic with Champagne (in a hamper to keep), then overnight in a junior suite with breakfast. The price is £180 per person, based on two sharing (www.felbridgehotel.co.uk; 01342 337700).
Black Tomato, the specialists in off-beat and adventure travel, are offering a three-night spring break in Moscow, based at the Golden Apple, the city’s first boutique hotel. With milder weather in April and May — plus two major public holidays — spring is the perfect season to enjoy the Russian capital, while the Bolshoi has just re-opened after renovation. The package, including breakfast, flights and transfers, costs from £799 per person, based on two sharing (020 7610 9008; www.blacktomato.co.uk).