Tips and deals of the week: 07/02/2010

Deals of the week

Sail to France for £20

Snap up a cheap ferry ticket from LD Lines during half-term between Dover and Boulogne, Newhaven and Dieppe, and Portsmouth and Le Havre. Go to ldlines.com

Whale-watching for £99

P&O Ferries is running four three-night whale-watching trips this summer, between Portsmouth and Bilbao, led by research scientists. Call 08716 646464

Ski in the Alps from £209

Rocket Ski is offering discounted seven-night snowsport holidays, including Risoul from £209 per person and Les Deux Alpes from £289. Go to rocketski.com

Tips of the week

The cottages

Check out Sheepskin, a new cottage rental company which is offering nine stylish self-catering properties in North and South Wales. Go to sheepskinlife.com

The service

Smooth your way through the airport experience with the help of a new tailor-made concierge service called No 1 Traveller. Go to no1traveller.com

The exhibition

Visit Stoke this Saturday to see the Staffordshire Hoard. It's 1,500 pieces make it the largest ever find of Anglo-Saxon gold treasure. Go to visitstoke.co.uk

The hobby

A novel short break for antique collectors, led by an expert, is being offered at The Hotel in Cheltenham from 28 February to 3 March. Go to thehoteluk.co.uk