This week's tips for travellers

The holiday
Balearic Discovery (balearic discovery.com) has recruited private chef Tyrone Power to lead its new cookery holidays in Mallorca. Groups of no more than six will learn how to source ingredients in local markets and vineyards, plan menus and cook dinner-party fare.

The book
New on the bookshelves this month, Everyman Library has expanded its range of Everyman MapGuides to include four new destinations – Krakow, Las Vegas, Riga and Tokyo. The pocket-sized books open out to reveal large-scale maps for easy use on the move. Price £5.99.

The bed
Backpackers can now look forward to a good night's rest courtesy of the AeroBed Explorer (aerobed .co.uk). The new blow-up mattress is easy to carry, weighing less than 5lb and folding into a small sack. It's also got environmentally friendly credentials, being 100 per cent PVC-free. From £49.99.

The deal
Spend a week in a luxury four-bedroom villa on Cyprus for £83.50 per person, departing 7 May. The offer from Premier Holidays (premier-holidays.com) applies to the Villa Amalthia Springs, which sleeps up to nine: the total rental price is £752. Flights with XL Airways cost an extra £213 per person.