Great getaways: Slope off to the Swiss Alps, warm up in Mauritius, get a culture hit in Cambodia and a grape escape to the Champagne region
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Skiing in the Swiss Alps is often an expensive endeavour, but if you travel immediately after Christmas/New Year there are plenty of deals that can keep prices down. For example, fly from Gatwick to Geneva on 4 January for a week in the small resort of Saas Fee and Inghams will charge £499pp including half-board accommodation at the Hotel Europa, Monarch flights and transfers (inghams.co.uk).
Warm up
You can get cheap winter sun by travelling a few weeks before Christmas. Virgin Holidays has an all-inclusive week in Mauritius, flying on 4 December from from Gatwick via Dubai on Emirates for £1,315pp. Accommodation is at the four-star Le Méridien Ile Maurice in the bay of Pointe Aux Piments on the island's north-west coast (virginholidays.co.uk).
Culture hit
On 29 January, Journeys of Distinction has an 11-day "Secrets of Cambodia" group tour for £1,660pp. It visits Siem Reap, the temple site of Angkor Wat, the capital Phnom Penh and the beach resort of Sihanoukville, with Vietnam Airlines flights from Gatwick via Ho Chi Minh City, accommodation, transfers and breakfast. A shorter eight-day option costs £1,395pp (jod.uk.com).
Grape escape
Wine specialist, Arblaster & Clarke, has two coach tours from London to France's Champagne region for £555pp. One runs from 16-18 November, the other 30 November-2 December. Each includes visits to Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Taittinger and Bollinger. The price includes two nights in a four-star hotel in Reims, with breakfast and one evening meal (winetours.co.uk).
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