Easter and the royal wedding bank holiday mean an 11-day holiday is possible with just three days off work. From Cornwall to the Caribbean, we pick great ways to make the most of it
Thanks to a late Easter, the extra royal wedding bank holiday on 29 April and May Day all falling in neat succession, many Brits can take an 11-day break ? from Good Friday (22 April) to Monday 2 May ? by only taking three days off work. So how best to use them? We've shopped around for cheap flights and late deals so you can make the most of the bank holiday bonanza. And we've thrown in some shorter breaks and trips in the school holidays too.
INDEPENDENT TRIPS
Food and fun, Marseille
Marseille is perhaps the least French of French cities, with its North African culture and cuisine mixing with the traditional. By day you can explore art galleries, the food markets and the old port, then take a boat trip out to the beaches of the Iles du Frioul. Le Souk (98 quai du Port) does tajines well, or to experience modern Marseille's foodie scene, try Le Moment on place Sadi Carnot (+33 4 9152 4749, lemoment-marseille.com), and don't miss the 1950s-style Le Crystal bar on the Vieux Port.
The New Hotel of Marseille (+33 4 9131 5315, new-hotel.com) is a funky design hotel with rooms available over Easter from ?135 a night. Fly from Gatwick on Sunday 24 April for �72, returning Saturday 30 April for �68 (�140 total) with Easyjet (easyjet.com).
Family beach boutique, Algarve
Sagres in the Algarve is a lively town with excellent fish restaurants, near several pretty beaches, some of which (Praia do Tonel) are good for surfing. Lovely hotel Memmo Baleeira (+351 282 624212, memmohotels.com) still has availability. Here minimalism meets pop art, and there are fantastic sea views. There's a pool too, and a spa. A seven-night stay in its duplex suite from 19-26 April costs �1,120 B&B (�280 per person) based on four sharing through i-escape.com.
Fly to Faro with Ryanair (ryanair.com) or Easyjet (easyjet.com) from Stansted from about �124pp, or from Glasgow, Bournemouth, East Midlands or Gatwick for the same or less.
Clubbing and kayaking, Estonia
If you're looking for an unusual adventure that won't cost the earth, try Estonia. Fly to Tallinn for a day or two exploring the pretty turreted Old Town, interesting nightlife and perhaps stay in Olevi Residence (+372 6 277650, olevi.ee), in a 14th-century building in the Old Town, which offers three nights for around ?165 for two people. Then drive out to Soomaa national park, known as the "Land of Bogs" (it's a far more magical place than the name would suggest). There you can hire a traditional dugout canoe to explore, or go horse-riding, cycling or hiking. Eight nights' half-board at P�nka Puhketalu (+372 52 26 909, ponkaland.com), an Estonian farmhouse close to the park, costs from �204pp.
Ryanair (ryanair.com) flights to Tallinn from Luton, departing on 22 April and returning on 1 May, currently cost about �160.
Beachside bliss, Brazil
Now that the carnival is over, Brazil is all about blissed-out relaxation, and nowhere offers it like Bahia, on the north-eastern coast, land of beaches and bars. Hotel Anima is a simple but stylish retreat on the island of Tinhar�, right by a palm-fringed beach, with pool and sundeck. A nine-night stay with breakfast from 22 April?2 May costs �426pp, based on two sharing through i-escape.com.
Fly with TAP (flytap.com) from Heathrow to Salvador, currently around �900 return. Then from Salvador port it's a two-hour boat trip to Morro de Sao Paulo on Tinhar�.
Orthodox Easter, Rhodes
This year Greek Orthodox Easter coincides with "western" Easter, on 24 April. At this time there will be many ceremonies and events: the locals will eat tsoureki ? sweet braided bread, and spit-roasted lamb, and there will be parties and boiled egg-fight games.
There are lots of characterful hotels in Rhodes Town, or head slightly out of town to the K Boutique Hotel (+30 22 410 96980, kboutiquehotel.com), which has a candlelit pool, outdoor pool and spa, and still has availability, with doubles from ?810 for eight nights.
Fly on Ryanair's (ryanair.com) new route from London to Rhodes, currently �77pp one way departing Thursday 21 or Saturday 23 April, returning for �67pp on Thursday 28 or Saturday 30 April, (�144 total). Flights from Liverpool (on Mondays and Thursdays only) cost about �112 return.
Culture and adventure, Bulgaria
There's a lot more to Bulgaria than low prices. The capital city, Sofia, has a fascinating history as an arts and crafts centre. Invading Ottomans filled it with stunning mosques, fountains and hammams, and there is plenty to entertain a city-breaker on a budget. After seeing the churches and museums, take a day trip to the Iskar Gorge for a picnic before clambering over rocks and into caves; another day hike Vitosha mountain, then look around Bankya, a small city below Lyulin mountain, famous for its natural spa. The luxurious Kempinski Hotel Zografski (kempinski.com) has four restaurants and a spa, and rooms from ?55 a night during the Easter period.
Fly from London with Easyjet (easyjet.com) on Saturday 23 April for �87 one way (or Sunday 24 for �64) and return on 1 May for �148 (or �116 on Thursday 28 April) so �235pp return. Or from Manchester on Saturday 23 April for �61, returning on Saturday 30 April for �146, so �207 return.
Costa del Sol, Spain
The south of Spain may be a popular choice, but there are still flights available for Easter. From Malaga you can play it by ear and set off by bus or car to explore the coastal towns such as playboy central Puerto Banus and windsurfers' favourite Tarifa, then perhaps get the ferry over to Tangier, Morocco, from there.
Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from Glasgow to Malaga, departing Friday 22 April for �104pp and returning on Sunday 1 May for �100 (total �204pp return). Or fly from Luton on Friday 22 April for �98 and return on Monday 2 May for �121 (total �218pp return).
PACKAGES
Simple life, Zakynthos, Greece
Limni Keri on the Ionian island of Zakynthos is a small seaside village surrounded by olive groves and vineyards (fact: not all Greek wine is rough!), near a beach and a harbour, where you can arrange boat trips to sea caves and other islands. Here Sunvil Holidays (020-8568 4499, sunvil.co.uk) has a special deal to the Markella Apartments, set in gardens with a swimming pool, so a 10-night stay departing 21 April costs from �733pp (based on four sharing), including self-catering accommodation, return flights (from Gatwick with Easyjet) and transfers.
Bargain beaches, Mallorca
A 10-night self-catering trip to Alcudia in Mallorca, with Jet2 Holidays (0800 408 5599, jet2holidays.com), costs �367pp departing from Leeds Bradford on 22 April, and staying in an apartment at the three-star BelleVue Club, with eight pools to choose from. The BelleVue Club is 10 minutes from the historic town centre, with its ruins and markets. The long sandy beach is 800m away. Boat trips can be arranged to Formentor for snorkelling and great views.
Family camping, Tuscany
Contrary to what you might think, it is possible to do Tuscany on a budget. Venue Holidays (01233 629950, venueholidays.co.uk), a camping and mobile home operator, is offering 10 nights for the price of seven in a fully equipped tent, at San Vincenzo on the coast just south of Pisa, for �215 for two adults, two children, arriving on 22 April. Staying in a three-bedroom mobile home with decking and air-con for the same dates costs �383 per family. Flights to Pisa from Stansted currently cost around �225 return with Ryanair (ryanair.com) flying out on 22 April, and returning on 2 May.
Beach retreat, Zanzibar
A trip to Zanzibar will prove one of the most exotic of your life. The island has loads of chilled-out beach bars and gorgeous stretches of sand. The Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort in Nungwi in the north-west of the island is a stylish rustic resort with a thatched bar on stilts overlooking a stretch of beach. It has four pools, and offers dhow cruises, snorkelling and kayaking. Somak (020-8423 3000, somak.co.uk) has a nine-night all-inclusive trip there departing on 22 April from �1,395pp, including flights from Heathrow.
Chocolate and processions, Sicily
Sicily goes all out at Easter, and in the southern town of Modica, Holy Week is celebrated with the Madonna Vasa Vasa (kiss kiss) procession, a parade of statues that are carried around the crowded hilly streets full of baroque buildings. Modica is also famous for its Aztec-inspired, milk-free chocolate which comes in wacky flavours, including chilli.
Real Holidays (020-7359 3938, realholidays.co.uk) has a trip to the nearby Relais Torre Marabino, part of a winery and organic farming estate, with a pool and a restaurant. A week departing 23 April costs �612pp, including flights with BA, car hire and B&B in a double room.
Glacier skiing, Austria
Head to a resort with a glacier, where there is year-round snow cover, such as the Stubai valley in Austria, and you may be lucky enough to ski some end-of-season snow. The Stubai valley is scattered with villages such as Sch�nberg, which make a good base. Glacier access is from Mutterberg, and you can ski the Schlick 2000 area above the village of Fulpmes.
A four-night stay at the Four-Star Hotel Bergjuwel this Easter, commencing 21 April, costs �530pp (based on two adults and two children under 11 sharing). The price includes flights (Gatwick to Innsbruck) and transfers, four-nights' half-board accommodation and unlimited use of three wellness centres in the resort (facilities include swimming pool, Finnish sauna, steam room, bio-sauna and relaxation area). Zenith Holidays (zenithholidays.co.uk).
Culture and wilderness, Oman
Oman hasn't really been affected by the Middle East uprisings, and is a sunny and fascinating escape at this time of year. From Muscat you can take boat trips to see hundreds of dolphins leaping out of the sea just a few minutes out of the harbour, explore the mosques and souks, and drive into the desert to see forts and wadis. Trailfinders (0845 050 5892, trailfinders.com) has seven nights at the Grand Hyatt Muscat B&B, including Gulf Air flights from Heathrow, from �1,099pp, departing on 21 April.
InterRailing Europe
Make use of the InterRail Global Pass, which allows five days of rail travel within a 10-day period, across 30 countries. It costs �230 per adult (or �150 for those aged 12-25) with Rail Europe (0844 848 4064, raileurope.co.uk). London-Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin-Paris-London could be a rather fun route. You'll need reservations for high-speed and overnight trains.
Single parent family trip, Sweden
A great new company, The Kids And Me (01892 530193, thekidsandme.co.uk) specialises in helping out single-parent dads ? though single mums are welcome too ? who aren't sure where to take their children on holiday. Group trips (of 10-15) mean you meet other parents in the same position, and get an itinerary of activities to entertain you all. Kids must be at least 10 years old for most of the holidays.
At Easter, there's a wilderness adventure to the Arctic Circle area of Sweden with dogsledding, huskies, cross-country skiing to a frozen lake, fishing and igloo-building. You will also learn how to track wild animals. Accommodation is in a rustic cabin, with one night in the ice hotel at Jukkasj�rvi. The holiday costs �725 for the adult, plus �595 per child, all-inclusive except flights, and departs on 10-17 April and 18-25 April. Flights to Kiruna with SAS (flysas.com) cost around �829 return for one child under 12 and one adult.
UK BREAKS
Family fun, Wales
Cottages4you (cottages4you.co.uk) has 10 properties for under �10pp per night over the Easter period, for seven days starting from 16 April. For example, Llanfair House (property W8844), in Lampeter, in Wales's Teifi Valley, sleeps eight to 10 people and costs �584 for seven nights. The area is great for sea trout fishing, and for spotting kites, buzzards and otters. It lies between the Brecon Beacons and New Quay on Cardigan Bay.
Fine foods, Cornwall
In the new edition of the Lonely Planet guide, author Oliver Berry claims that innovative cooking plus organic, locally sourced and ethically produced food put the south-west well ahead of anywhere else in the UK, including London. Get yourself a top table before the summer rush on a culinary tour of Cornwall, including perhaps Nathan Outlaw's restaurant in Rock (nathan-outlaw.com), Jude Kereama's Pacific rim fusion at Kota (kotarestaurant.co.uk) in Porthleven and those in Port Isaac and Padstow.
Three miles from Port Isaac is Trewane Mill, a former flour mill with high vaulted ceilings, a large veranda, an Aga and a surrounding orchard, which sleeps six and is available for 10 nights from 23 April for �799 (�133pp) with Classic Cottages (classic.co.uk).
Road trip, Scotland
With 11 days, you could explore a large chunk of Scotland. Loops could include Edinburgh-Perth-St Andrews-Scone Palace, hiking into the Perthshire countryside. You could also do Aviemore and the Cairngorms. Or you could start from Inverness, taking in Loch Ness, then the Kyle of Lochalsh and the bridge over to Skye. Pack a tent and you can wild camp wherever you like, or find last-minute hotels and guesthouses on visitscotland.com. For example, the luxury Highland Apartments (highlandapartments.co.uk) overlooking the River Ness in Inverness cost from �110 a night, sleeping two. On Skye, the Gairloch View B&B or Apartments (gairlochview.co.uk) can host four people for five nights for �1,075 (�268pp).
? This article was amended on 14 March 2011. The original said that this year Greek Orthodox Easter coincides with Christian Easter. This has been corrected.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/mar/12/easter-bank-holiday-spring-break
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