Holiday details: Treat your loved one to 3 nights at the 4* superior Santa Maria Novella hotel in Italy this Valentine’s day.  Located on one of Florence’s main squares, it is only 5 minutes walk from the Duomo and the prestigious Via Tornabuoni shopping street.

Guide notes and entry to the Uffizi Gallery are included in the package for those who wish to view the works of great Italian artists, including Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo and Raffaello.

Price: £589 pp includes flights from London, private transfers, 3 for 2 accommodation with breakfast, concierge service and a complimentary bottle of Prosecco and a red rose in the room on arrival.

Date: 9 – 20 February 2012

Book with: Kirker Holidays

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By Holly Cave

Forget the glossy high rises of Dubai, Middle East expert Maria Laborde introduces us to the delights of Abu Dhabi in her latest photo essay, Abu Dhabi: The rising Emirate. With some really interesting background on the status and history of the United Arab Emirates – most of which I must admit was completely new information to me. This blog article acts as a great introduction to the region and highlights some of the best attractions, both man-made and natural, that can be accessed from Abu Dhabi. If it’s a more laidback Middle Eastern holiday you’re in search of, Maria suggests the desert oasis of Al Ain, on the border with Oman, might be an alternative to the crowds of Dubai. Follow Maria on Twitter.

Heather Carson at BootsnAll transports us from one desert to another. She spent this week musing over Mongolia and has come up with her eight experiences not to miss. Surrounded by many countries that travellers have higher up on their ‘to do’ lists, Mongolia is yet to really make the most of its tourist dollars. If your image of this huge country is little more than a brown-coloured collage of scrubland, livestock and Ghengis Khan, reading this blog post will change your mind. Why not time your visit to coincide with the Thousand Camel Festival?

Sand of a different kind rings the magnificent Cook Islands, although Tiffany and Greg of Coast Guard Couple were more interested in the food and drink than the beaches. In their light-hearted review of the islands’ intoxicating options, they bit the bullet for their readers and spent a day sampling Cooks Lager and local ‘Koteka’ wine. We’re only sad we’ll have to go all the way to the Cook Islands to try wine made from bananas.

If you’re thinking about how you couldn’t possibly afford a holiday to the Cook Islands right now, spare a thought for Ryan Brown, who spent most of his nights in Wellington, New Zealand, kipping in a hammock. So ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Guerrilla Camping. Reading about his fear of being hunted down by wood-dwelling axe murderers gave us a chuckle and while we can’t condone anything illegal, we can’t help thinking that perhaps there should be different rules for Hobbits. Follow Ryan on Twitter.

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Holiday details: Escape for some Rajasthan winter sun to the Tree of Life near Jaipur, India. Brand new in October 2010, this romantic resort offers  garden spa villas set on 7 acres of land, with a sparkling infinity pool at its centre.

Price: £418 pp (saving £342) for 7 nights accomodation, including breakfast.

Dates: February 2012 (excluding 7-15 Feb)

Book with: i-escape

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Holiday details: Take the family skiing his March and stay at the Chalet Alpenblume in Austria.

Close to the popular Chalet Verwall, which houses the resort’s Snow Club, it’s a 2 minute walk from the nearest piste and the main Festkogel gondola-lift, giving speedy access up into the heart of the Obergurgl ski area.

Esprit Classic Child Care is available from £195 for a week of ski lessons.

Price: £1,599 for a famlily of 4 (saving up to £1,265 per family). Includes includes flights from Gatwick-Innsbruck, transfers, 3 days free ski hosting, free baby listening and 7 nights’ catered accommodation with afternoon tea, children’s high tea and 4-course dinners with wine.

Date: 4 March 2012

Book with: Esprit Ski

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Holiday details: Take a 11 day (9 night) guided tour of China and see the changes the world’s second biggest- and most populus- country  is going through.

Start the tour in Beijing and finish in Shanghai, visiting the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Imperial Summer Palace, and the famous Terracotta Warriors in Xian. Explore the breathtaking ancient lanes and parks and discover the spectacular landscape of Guilin.

Price: £2058  (saving £125 pp if you book by 21 February 2012). Includes international flights, accomodation and most meals, transport and an English-speaking guide throughout.

Date: 24 March 2012 – 03 April 2012

Book with: Cox & Kings

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Here at 101 Holidays, we like to get to know the people behind the world’s finest travel companies. This week we talk to Parik Laxminarayan, founder of Enchanting Travels.

Parik started Enchanting Travels in 2004 with a friend he met at INSEAD, the international graduate business school, “because we thought there was a better way to do tailor-made travel to exotic destinations”. What began as Enchanting India  has grown into a global company with 150 employees in seven countries offering bespoke travel to 27 countries around the world.

* Where did you go on holiday in 2011, and why? Any plans for 2012?

A lifelong dream has been to do a walking safari in the wilds of Africa. This dream came true last year on my trip to Zambia, which is arguably the best destination on earth to get up close with amazing wildlife on foot. It’s clearly not a destination for the faint hearted, but of course with excellent guides, great safety standards and top notch safari experts, Zambia was unforgettable.

In 2012, I plan to explore Brazil; it’s our next expansion destination in South America. Given that Brazil will be in the limelight with the World Cup Football in 2014 and then the 2016 Olympic Games, I expect that the country is thriving with energy and excitement and I want to feel and be a part of it.

* What is your favourite bolthole in the UK and why?

Having travelled the world and visited some of the most amazing destinations on the planet, the UK is still one of my favourite travel destinations. I love the countryside of Scotland and in particular, the city of Edinburgh. With golf, mystery, history and quaint landscapes all around, Scotland is top of the list when I dream of a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

* If you could spend a long weekend in any city abroad, which would you pick, and why?

Buenos Aires, Argentina – it’s chic, trendy, friendly, and has a great vibe at the weekends.

* Please tell us three items that are always found in your luggage.

Running shoes, mosquito repellent (I obviously love travelling to wild places) and my new iPad.

* What one thing would most improve people’s overall holiday experience?

Slow down! A lot of holidaymakers want to try to see as much as possible in as little time as possible. Isn’t a holiday about relaxing and taking in the experiences, savouring that feeling of freedom and enjoying the most important luxury of all – time? My advice is to visit fewer places in the destination and spend one or two more days in each place. There’s so much to explore in the hidden street corners and nothing is more fulfilling than feeling the vibe of a place in a local restaurant.

* What has been your worst holiday experience?

A recent over-ambitious holiday to a remote national park on safari, not because of the place but because both my kids, aged four and one, fell sick. It was a harsh reminder that young children can’t do an eight-hour safari in an open jeep through a remote national park. There’s a reason the minimum recommended age for safari experiences is five. On the flip side, the kids seem tougher after that holiday and can’t wait for our next one!

* Tell us your favourite hotel in the UK.

UK: Turnberry Resort, Scotland

Mainland Europe: Mandarin Oriental, Munich

Rest of the World: Banjaar Tola, Taj Safaris, Kanha National Park, India

* What is the most exciting project your company is working on right now?

A technology tool to enable a traveller to automatically tailor-make an itinerary using smart, interactive questions and information.

* Thanks, Parik.

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Holiday details: Visit the Dominican Republic this March and join in with the Punta Cana Carnival; a feast of colour, parades and music taking place on 10 March.

Stay at the 5* Now Larimar, located on a picturesque white-sand beach. The resort features gourmet restaurants, premium cocktails, a world-class Spa and countless daytime and nighttime activities.

Price: £999 pp, including scheduled flights from Gatwick, resort transfers, and 7 nights accomodation on an all-inclusive basis.

Date: Book by 31 January 2012 to travel 8 March 2012

Book with: Tropical Sky

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You could be taking photos like this on your iPhone

By Holly Cave

From the wild to the whimsical, New Orleans is ramping up a gear in preparation for the annual Mardi Gras celebrations. This year, organisers of the US version of ‘Fat Tuesday’ won’t just be throwing the usual strings of beads from their floats. Glen over at Travelin’ Gringo brings us a colourful preview of the eye-catching ‘bead dogs’ popping up all over the city. Follow Glen on Twitter.

Glen is quick to explain that Paws on Parade is all about raising money and awareness for the local animal charity, but on the face of it, Glen’s pictures are evocative of the spirit and culture of this Louisiana city. And if you’re keen to visit New Orleans, then Mardi Gras is the time to go!

Jordan seems to be a country that keeps finding its way into our favourite blogs of the week. This time, it’s Matt at Landlopers’ sun-scorched photos and descriptions of the little details that ticked our boxes with Five reasons to visit Jordan in 2012. Containing reflections on the Arab Spring, the humble but delicious food and the warmth of the people he met, this is a great post to read if you’re thinking of travelling to this mystical country. Follow Matt on Twitter.

An empty beach in Jordan. Photo: Matt Long

The fabulously titled Stop Having a Boring Life blog focusses this week on a lens less ordinary – the Apple iPhone and how to take great shots with it. Who said you need a smart SLR to capture the essence of a place. And Larissa should know all about it – every photo posted on her blog has been snapped with an iPhone. With links to other articles she’s written on the tips and tricks to try with an iPhone, this post has your lazy Sunday afternoon sorted. Be sure to check out the link to her photo essay of Istanbul. Follow Larissa on Twitter.

If you’re trying hard not to have a boring life, but are struggling to get away from work or pay off those bills, Marsha is here to remind us that not all adventures have to be far flung. In her latest post, 5 highlights of Edinburgh Castle, this solo female traveller casts her eye not only on the view of Scotland’s capital from the turrets, but more closely at the tourist offering inside its walls. We had no idea there was so much to see and Marsha’s little insights and snippets of history add colour to the descriptions of her favourite bits. Follow Marsha on Twitter.

Personal stories left to one side, we also like to keep an eye out for quirky new sites that offer an alternative perspective on travel. Via Twitter, we learnt about Rambler! this week, a site that helps you put down the Lonely Planet guidebook and treats travel as a game for a change. And this site could be a game changer. Especially great for solo travellers, it generates ‘quests’ for you to undertake in your chosen destination, which in Italy for example, might be to get a kiss from a gladiator. Sweet on the social media aspect, it’s a work in progress but we love it already.

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Holiday details: Stay at the 5* luxury Amathus Beach Hotel in Paphos this May and enjoy great discounts.

Sovereign Luxury Travel is offering complimentary half-board, 15% early booking discount,€50 spa credit per room per stay, complimentary room upgrade, 5% Sovereign discount and a £150 sale – which amounts to savings of up to £1,141 per couple.

Price: £879 pp. Includes 7 nights accommodation, flights from London Gatwick and private transfers.

Date: 17 May 2012

Book with: Sovereign Luxury Travel

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Holiday details: Mix great skiing and great cuisine with a trip to La Villa in Italy.

Stay at the fully-catered 4* Chalet Hotel Al Pigher and enjoy unlimited complimentary wine in the Dolomiti Superski area. The region offers excellent snow-sure skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers, and boasts 3 restaurants with Michelin stars should you wish to venture out.

Price: £569 pp (was £769 pp). Includes 7 nights accommodation, return flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers. Regional airports available for no additional supplement.

Departs: 18 February 2012

Book with: Inghams

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