Advice for holidaying in Turkey, mountain biking in the Lake District, and the best deals.
Take me there… Bodrum Peninsula, Turkey
What better way to get through the dark days of January than by taking a sneaky peak at this gorgeous new collection of holiday houses on theBodrum Peninsula? Luxury villa specialist Scott Williams is expanding into Turkey with this handpicked selection of seven private homes. From the cool, contemporary Loft House with its whitewashed walls and concrete floors (sleeps four, from £2,850 per week) to the romantic stone-built Little House with its Turkish rugs and shady terrace (sleeps two, from £1,600 per week), all of the houses ooze comfort and style – and the bright lights of Bodrum are just a short drive away (scottwilliams.co.uk).
It’s a good time to… get on your bike
Britain is in the grip of a cycling boom, one of the legacies of the success of Team GB in the 2012 Olympics. The latest figures from British Cycling, the sport’s governing body, suggest that some 2 million people are cycling at least once a week, an increase of 200,000 on a year ago, and the London Bike Show is anticipating record visitor numbers when it opens at the ExCel centre this week (17–20 January,thelondonbikeshow.co.uk).
The 100th anniversary of the Tour de France this summer will only add to the buzz around the sport. Tour operators have been quick to capitalise on the “Wiggins effect”, resulting in a biking holiday bonanza for 2013. KE Adventure Travel (keadventure.com) has added 11 new cycling holidays to its programme for 2013, including a road circuit of Gran Canaria (eight days, from £795), while two-wheeled holiday specialist Saddle Skedaddle (skedaddle.co.uk) has added seven guided trips, including a mountain bike weekend in the Lake District (three days, from £245). Corsican Places, meanwhile, will be offering free bike carriage on its flights from Stansted to Calvi for those wanting to follow the route of the Tour on the island (corsica.co.uk). Sideburns optional.
Give me a break: the week’s best deals
Country house escape The Cottage in the Wood, a cosy country-house hotel in the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, is offering a two-night Winter Cheers Break this January and February. The break is available from £134 per room Sunday to Thursday, or from £154 Friday and Saturday, and includes dinner each night, and full English breakfast (cottageinthewood.co.uk).
Scandinavian sale Scandinavian Airlines has launched a January seat sale, with savings of up to 35% on flights from regional UK airports to cities such as Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen. Flights from Manchester and Birmingham to Stockholm start from £63 one way. Bookings must be made by 15 January for travel between 1 February and 15 September
The Guardian
