Hats off to the Cook Islands dancers and drummers who are currently performing in the UK – braving the cold and wet weather in traditional outfits better suited to their South Pacific home.

Organised by Cook Islands Tourism, the European Roadshow kicked off in London with performances in iconic sites from Trafalgar Square to Westminster.

Many of the dancers have never left the Cook Islands before – we can only imagine they can’t wait to get back there to warm up.

Find out more about the Cook Islands.

Holiday details: Ideal for couples, enjoy the 5-star Evason Hua Hin and Six Senses Spa, based in 10 acres of tropical garden in Pranburi, Thailand. Indulge in Skin Food treatments, jump into a jacuzzi or simply relax in the meditation cave.

Thirty minutes south of the regal town of Hua Hin, the resort offers daily shuttle buses for those who wish to explore the area. For thrill seekers, snorkelling, kiteboarding and Thai boxing facilities are also available.

Departs: 28 May.

Price: £699 pp (original price £955). Includes Thai Airways flights and transfers from London Heathrow, 7 nights bed and breakfast based on 2 sharing.

Book with: Hayes & Jarvis

By Catherine Leech, Director, 101 Holidays

“A room with a private plunge pool” exclaimed my mum. “That sounds a bit extravagant”.

What the hell – we went for it and paid up for 3 nights of R&R in the Andalucian sunshine at DDG Retreat in the hills behind Estepona. Travelling at the end of April, it was a dead cert dream mini-break for me and post-pneumonia mum.

I can only imagine that our disappointment in the weather was somewhat akin to arriving at the Ice Hotel to find there has been a hot spell.

We flew with Ryanair from Bournemouth. Who needs checked baggage for 3 nights in the sun…? We each had a carry-on bag with the bare essentials – 3 swimsuits, a couple of skirts, sandals, 100mls of decanted sunscreen and a cotton sweater, just in case, for me.

Much like seeing an unfavourable horoscope, I chose to ignore the weather forecast which indicated some cloud. This was the Costa del Sol in late April – a little cloud cover wasn’t going to rain on our parade.

En route to the hotel, we found a great spot on the seaside in Estepona for a stellar lunch of arroz mariscos – a yummy soupy shellfish-rich delight – and a drop of chilled white. So far, all was going to plan. We opted to sit in the shade in case we got hot and bothered. Big mistake – huge – it was the last we were to see of the sun for the rest of our stay.

We arrived at DDG Retreat to the warmest possible welcome from the owners, the fabulously hospitable Alex and Olga. Casa Oleandro, with its private plunge pool and outdoor claw bath, was indeed heaven. By now, it was feeling a tad chilly but we were higher up in the mountains and the staggering views of the nearby pueblo blanca of Casares and soaring eagles more than compensated.

It’s all about romance, seclusion and tranquility at DDG Retreat – ideal for a minimoon or battery recharge. There are just five casas, a stunning pool, a spa room with one open wall facing out to the mountains and an eclectic but appealing collection of antiques, artworks and fabrics from around the world. Alex and Olga, who come from Siberia, are a well-travelled couple who built their home in this idyllic spot and then decided to share it with others by developing a small hotel, with discreet buildings dotted around the hillside. They are rightly proud of their creation.

If you opt to have dinner there, cooked to perfection by Olga, you sit in pretty cabanas for two in the charming courtyard. That night, however, we headed in to the main house where a log fire had been lit and a pile of soft cream blankets were more than welcome. Still – tomorrow was another day and we crashed out full of hope and excitement.

And then the rain started, the temperature dropped further and we found ourselves in a freak cold snap…..the car’s ice alert pinged as we headed up to Ronda and it was clear that I had under-packed! I didn’t even have a pair of socks.

The next two days were spent huddled up in blankets playing cribbage, gin rummy, doing crosswords and snoozing back at DDG – and heading off in the car to Estepona (with its charming and atmospheric old town), Ronda (picturesque but heaving with umbrella-brandishing coach tour groups) and for some long lunches and longer dinners.

We scored with all our restaurant choices and were seriously impressed by the reasonable prices, warm welcome and delicious food. I particularly recommend Venta Garcia (a contemporary take on traditional Spanish cuisine) and La Sal (+34 952888369), on the beach as you turn up to the Casares road from Estepona.

My mum and I giggled our way through it all, reminisced about perishing cold holidays in Scotland years ago and a change is as good as a rest, they say. We honed our cribbage skills, met possibly the most solicitous and charming hotel owners in the business and I found a perfect bolt hole to recommend to friends (and visitors to 101 Honeymoons).

For the final irony, Alex and Olga chatted to family who told them is was an unseasonably warm 24C in Siberia – as we shivered in an unseasonably cold 8C on the Costa del Sol.

From 101 Holidays newsdesk

We can always rely on the social accommodation specialists, Wimdu, to come up with something quirky – this Jubilee number is a smasher.

Margaret Tyler, 68, has gathered something of a global reputation as a royal memorabilia collector. For the first time ever, she is opening her doors for guests to stay overnight for an up close and personal view of what is believed to be the most extensive private collection of royal memorabilia in the UK.

Margaret has redecorated her ‘Sandringham Room’ to give overnight guests a truly unique Jubilee experience. It’s a dedicated shrine to the Queen’s 60 years on the throne and is packed with authentic collectors’ items. Commemorative mugs and plates adorn the walls, framed photos depict the Queen’s reign and there are Union Jacks, even Corgis, to complete the picture.

Located in Wembley, in easy reach of central London, a night costs £75 for 2 people – with a guided tour of Margaret’s collections (including the “Diana Room”) and a traditional royal breakfast of kedgeree thrown in.

Margaret comments, “It makes me very proud when I see other people enjoying the Royal Family and taking an interest – I feel it is my duty to promote them and get people interested in their history. The ‘Sandringham Room’ is my tribute to the Queen’s reign and I believe that anyone who spends the night here will come away feeling truly patriotic.”

Wimdu is all about finding unique alternatives to traditional accommodation – we can’t think of many if any better examples than this.

Find out more about this Jubilee cracker.

Abandoned Israeli tank. Photo: Angela Corrias

Donkey riding, Italy. Photo: Cheryl Howard

By Holly Cave

In Chasing the Unexpected, Angela Corrias was pushing boundaries with her post In Mleeta, a meeting with Hezbollah. And while it doesn’t sound like my idea of the perfect holiday, there’s something to be said for visiting a destination brimming with so much history in the making. The post is an intelligent reflection on the recent events in Lebanon and proof that the complexities of war can often only be understood at first-hand. Follow Angela on Twitter.

The way man upsets the natural balance of things isn’t always so destructive. Laurel over at Monkeys and Mountains was writing this week about her visit to a man-made waterfall in Italy’s Umbria region. I’d never heard of it, but Marmore’s Falls: The world’s tallest man made waterfall was created by the Romans over 2,200 years ago. Now it’s used to generate electricity. Read Laurel’s tips for the best time to visit. Follow Laurel on Twitter.

Also recounting adventures from Umbria this week was Cheryl Howard, who decided to do something a little different with some other travel blogging pals (who’d met up for the Travel Bloggers Unite conference) and go donkey riding around the Castelluccio Plateau. And why not? Monti Sibillini National Park isn’t your typical image of Italy but Cheryl’s photos are starkly intriguing. Follow Cheryl on Twitter.

Closer to home, Danish-born Malene published a photo-based description of the coastal journey between Belfast and Londonderry in her blog Views En Route. Eager to show us that a trip Along the Causeway Coast has a lot more to offer than just a sighting of Giant’s Causeway, it certainly looks beautiful in her photographs. Follow Malene on Twitter.

Skipping back to Italy again, I was drawn to Yvonne’s Instagram diary of Rome on her blog Just Travelous. I’m massively into Instagram at the moment and this city, dripping with beauty and culture, seems (and looks!) to be the perfect place to play around with some snaps. You have to look through this post whilst listening to the included snippet of Dean Martin’s That’s Amore – a multimedia treat! Follow Yvonne on Twitter.

Holiday details: Experience one of Austria’s best-loved traditional Tyrolean resorts, Niderau in the Wildschonau Valley, this May.

The area has over 300km of walking trails, from gentle rambles to longer challenging hikes. Enjoy 4 night’s half-board accommodation at the 4-star Hotel Harfenwirt, which boasts a great location, just a short stroll from the centre.

Departs: 26 May

Price: 249pp, includes return flights from Gatwick to Salzburg, resort transfers, free daily lunch packs and a free E-bike taster session.

Book with: Inghams

From 101 Holidays newsdesk

This year’s Jersey Food Festival takes place from 19 – 27 May 2012. Events from food trails to food markets celebrate the best of Jersey fare from the famous Jersey Royal potatoes to fresh seafood and rich dairy produce.

The Michelin-starred Atlantic Hotel and Ocean Restaurant is offering a special two-night Gourmet Break from £350pp during the festival.

The price includes car hire (excluding tax), full English breakfast, a seven course Tasting Menu on one evening and a three course table d’hôte dinner in Ocean Restaurant on the other plus a signed copy of Executive Head Chef Mark Jordan’s cookbook Ocean Voyage.

Mark will accompany special behind-the-scenes tours to local seafood and dairy producers throughout the week – each tour will be followed by a three course lunch paired with wines chosen by the hotel’s Head Sommelier, Sergio dos Santos. Mark is also holding Shellfish (24 May) and Chocolate (25 May) Masterclasses. Tickets are priced at £95pp.

Jersey can be reached by ferry (from Poole and Weymouth) and by air from a huge range of regional UK airports (British Airways, FlyBe, EasyJet).

Find out more from The Atlantic Hotel.

Holiday details: Stay at the Sheraton Rhodes Resort in Rhodes and receive an online discount and a complimentary room upgrade to Super Sea View.

This 5-star hotel is just steps away from the beach and enjoys an enviable spot in the beautiful Iallysos Bay, surrounded by landscaped gardens. The Resort is only 4 kilometres from the fashionable capital of Rhodes Town. There is a diverse range of facilities available, including a children’s programme, tennis and squash courts, watersports and a fully-equipped health club, while the hotel offers 3 restaurants to dine in.

Departs: 16 May

Price: £549pp (saving 15%) for 7 nights, includes bed and breakfast, Monarch flights from London Gatwick and private transfers.

Book with: Sovereign Luxury Travel

Holiday details: Viva Las Vegas – last minute savings are available when you book a 3-night stay this month.

The 5-star Vdara Hotel  is designed for those craving an exclusive non-gaming, non-smoking environment. It offers views overlooking the surrounding mountains and Las Vegas Strip, and combines high tech amenities with the latest sustainable designs and green iniatives for which the CityCenter is now recognised. The Vdara Health and Beauty spa also boasts a full menu of treatments.

Departs: 19 May

Price: £799pp (saving 25%), includes room only accommodation and Delta Air Lines flights from London Heathrow

Book with: Hayes & Jarvis

Holiday details: Spend Jubilee week enjoying the Fal River Festival in South West Cornwall.

Take advantage of the long Bank holiday week and join in the festival fun, which runs from 1-10 June with events and activities up and down the river from Falmouth to Truro. Briony Cottage, a detached family home sleeping 4, is ideally situated in the creek-side village of Mylor Bridge, almost midway along the river.

Date: Week starting 2 June

Price: £683 per week. Sleeps 4.

Book with: Helpful Holidays