Do it this month

Book an overseas mountain break

OK, OK – we know that January is probably not the best time to be spending large amounts of money on fancy holidays, as even those of us who aren’t skint feel skint. The solution is, don’t. You can book a cheap flight to somewhere truly spectacular for a bargain if you’re smart, and use the time between now and then to save the pennies for strudels, churros, bunks in alpine huts, pitches on campsites, the celebratory fondue, whatever the local tipple is at your destination... The destinations of choice – well, where to you want to start? The Picos De Europa in northern Spain are truly spectacular, and as astonishing as anything you’re likely to see on the planet, let alone within Europe. At the time of going to print, EasyJet flies to Bilbao for less than £50 return for a week in June. A hold bag is extra but you could go halves with a pal. Or you could go Italian – a trip to the Dolomites anyone? Colossal spires of limestone riddled with via ferrata, long distance walks and mountain huts serving Birra Moretti. A flight to Innsbruck, just north over the border in Austria, will cost you about £150. Fly there and catch a bus heading the other way, and you’ve also got the Alps as your oyster. You get the idea. Our point is, plan early and reap the benefits. If nothing else, it will give you something stonking to look forward to during those long, dark January days!