Travel: Canada | Costa Rica | Isle of Lewis
The Winter Olympics may be over but Canada remains a holiday hotspot whether it's snow, scenery or shopping that are the big draw. As skeleton queen Amy Williams packs up her gold medal and heads home with the other athletes, many travel companies are offering cut-price deals to Vancouver and its neighbouring cities of Richmond and Whistler.
Vancouver is a mix of cosmopolitan and countryside where you can browse one of the many malls then when you've maxed the plastic, wander through the peaceful pine forests in Stanley Park.
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Hide AdThompson Tailormade are currently offering flights and five nights at the five-star Delta Vancouver Hotel for a reduced rate of 849.
For more information, visit www.thomsonworldwide.com
Be happy
The World Database of Happiness – yes, there is such a thing – has named Costa Rica the happiest place in the world. But the good feeling doesn't stop there, especially if you're female. In March, women travelling to Costa Rica with Reef & Rainforest Tours will get a 100 discount to celebrate Laura Chinchilla becoming Costa Rica's first female president.
A 13-night sightseeing tour, which takes in the country's rainforests, volcanos, wetlands and beaches, includes all domestic and international flights and full board accommodation costs 3,095. For more information visit www.reefandrainforest.co.uk.
Right away
Scots have a multitude of options when they need a little breathing space away from the bustle and noise of the city but for those really wanting to get further away from it all, the award-winning Broad Bay House, on the Isle of Lewis, reopens on 9 March. This five-star beach-front hideaway offers four luxury rooms, each with private deck from which to enjoy the tranquil waterfront views.
After a day enjoying the beauty and solitude of the island ,wind down with a delicious meal in the hotel's dining room, with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. And if the peace and quiet gets too much for you, the town of Stornoway is only a few miles away. Double rooms start at 109 per night.
For more information, log on to www.broadbayhouse.co.uk
This article was originally published in Scotland on Sunday on 28 February 2010