LittleLife's new Animal Wheelie Duffles, in Ladybird and Turtle designs, will delight your little ones and nurture a sense of responsibility. The 20-litre bag has a zip top and telescopic handle; £39.99 (littlelife.co.uk).

Now... Set off for Greece on Sunday. Ionioan Island Holidays offers seven nights' self-catering at the Stella Apartments on Lefkada for £401pp. The price includes flights from Gatwick, car hire and welcome hamper. ionianislandholidays.com

A heartbroken man who bought a holiday to Malta for his girlfriend has decided to give it away for free after they split up.

UNDER £200

BA Holidays has a fly-drive trip to Barcelona, with a week's car hire and flights from Heathrow in May, for £179pp. Accommodation is not included, but the package gives you the flexibility to roam the north-eastern Catalan region and book hotels along the road. Ba.com

Each year, approximately 230,000 young people in the UK plan their gap year. If you haven’t travelled abroad for a substantial amount of  time it can be a daunting task.

Tens of thousands of British holidaymakers have seen their summer travel plans wrecked by the announcement that the low-cost airline, Bmibaby, is to shut down.

South Africa

British travellers to Spain risk seeing the cost of a rental car trebled by “hidden fuel charges”, researchers for Which? Travel have found.

Sydney and the Blue Mountains

According to the recent Engineering UK 2012 report the UK is going to need a few more workers with skills in science, engineering and technology over the next five to 10 years. Some two million more, in fact, based on estimates from industry skills councils, which suggests now might be a good time to consider enrolling for a science, engineering or technology (SET) degree.

1. Travel Republic

travelrepublic.co.uk

Create your own package with this site, which allows you to pick up last-minute everything, from flights and car hire to hotels.

Car owners are to face fines of £100 if anyone throws litter from their vehicle.

The View From Here

Now... Dominican delight

The Dominican Republic offers a host of natural wonders including the Caribbean's highest peak at Pico Duarte, and its largest lake at Lake Enriquillo. Fly out on 25 January from Manchester for a 14-night stay at ClubHotel Riu Mambo in Bahia Maimon on the north coast for £935 per person, all inclusive, with Thomas Cook. Thomascook.com