Music in the Tuscan hills and books on the ocean

 If you are heading to Israel and need some serious chilling-out time, Hendon-based Israel travel specialist Travelink is offering four-night packages at the luscious Carmel Forest Spa, deep in the Carmel Hills, for £274 per person (based on two sharing), including full board accommodation and use of the superb facilities including indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts and Turkish and sauna baths but not flights (020 8931 8000; www.travelinkuk.com).

 If you are afraid of missing your book club meetings if you head off on holiday next year, ultra luxe line Crystal Cruises is introducing its Interactive Literary Review, a book club moderated by the best-selling author and literary critic Robert Adams on each of the seven segments of its 2009 World Cruise.
Adams and guests will discuss three internationally acclaimed novels on each segment of the 106-day "Pacific Circle Celebration" departing Los Angeles on January 21.

For the less sedentary, the cruise visits 45 ports in 22 countries throughout the South Pacific, Asia, Africa and Europe, with prices from £3,261 per person (based on two sharing) excluding flights 020 7287 9040; www.crystalcruises.co.uk).

 And if you are planning a holiday in Israel, the latest brochure from Superstar, El Al's package arm, features Eilat, the Dead Sea, tours, city breaks, fly-drives, kibbutz fly-drives, and spa breaks (020 7121 1500; www.superstar.co.uk.