Travel agenda

From apps for self-drive breaks to bobsleighing in Lillehammer

SJ Villas has two new Brazilian properties. Choose from Casa Samba in Trancoso, on the coast of Bahia in the north-east, or The Plantation House, with room for 17, on an island in the Bay of Angra.

1. House party

SJ Villas has two new Brazilian properties. Choose from Casa Samba in Trancoso, on the coast of Bahia in the north-east, or The Plantation House, with room for 17, on an island in the Bay of Angra. The former has a pool, the latter a resident peacock. From £550/ £2,533 per night. sjvillas.co.uk

2. Sea sights

Just in time for half term, Sea Life at the London Aquarium reveals CLAWS, an exhibition dedicated to crustaceans. Visit from 15 February to see giant Japanese spider crabs and lobsters, alongside a huge mechanical claw, 3D graphics and a crawl-through tunnel. visitsealife.com

3. Picture this

Keen travel photographers might consider taking Lollipod for their next trip. The lightweight tripod weighs only 320 grams when inside its portable case and measures 32cm. It works with smart phones and cameras to create the perfect shot and comes in a range of cool metallic shades; £29.99. lollipod.co.uk

4. Ring thing

With the Winter Olympics beginning in Sochi this weekend, you might like to try some of the events yourself. The bobsleigh features in a new four-day tour from Exodus. Based in the 1994 Olympic venue of Lillehammer, Norway, it costs £999pp with flights, B&B hotels and activities on 21 March and 22 November. exodus.co.uk

5. Oink, oink

Bookings are now open for The Pig near Bath. The third little piggy from Robin Hutson's porcine mini chain, after The Pig in the Forest and The Pig in the Wall, is taking bookings from 14 March. A fourth property, on Dorset's Studland Bay, will open this summer. Doubles £139.thepighotel.com

6. Monte done

Boutique hotel website, i-escape.com, has launched a collection of properties in Montenegro. Options bookable through the site include Aman Sveti Stefan, an exclusive island retreat; Palazzo Radomiri, an Italianate hotel on the Bay of Kotor; and a pretty apartment in the town of Perast. i-escape.com

7. White Isle

Ocean Beach Club in Ibiza, renowned for its live entertainment and pool parties, will launch a hotel for the new season. Opening in May, it promises four-star facilities, open-plan rooms and a beach-front location in San Antonio. Bookings are now open, with doubles starting at €67, room only. oceanbeachhotelibiza.com

8. Tour manager

Discover the World is launching iPad touring for its self-drive Iceland holidays. From May, travellers will be dispatched with a pre-loaded device, featuring their itinerary, tips, links and apps. A four-night Volcanic Exporer short break costs £509pp, with car hire and B&B hotels; flights extra. discover-the-world.co.uk